Tis the Season for EDC

This is a fun post about what I carry and what I’d like to be carrying.

Santa is coming and everyone has a wish list. Have you been naughty or nice? Me, depends who you ask about what. But I’m working on it.

This is a list of my current EDC and the things I wish I could afford to upgrade too… right now. My list changes all the time and I always want something new and shiny.

Knife

My current EDC blade is a CKRT M16-14DSFG. No, I don’t know what all the letters mean. I love the CKRT knives and have had numerous versions of them.

This one is my favorite, given to me by a student as a gift years ago. The blade is tough and holds an edge. I use it to pry, cut, and break things. It works awesome. It’s easy to sharpen and still looks good after years of abuse.

The liner lock has a back up to it that makes it almost impossible to fold or break. So I don’t mind prying on it at work. The double nubs on the bottom of the blade where designed by Kit Carson and do double duty. When the knife is open and being used, it keeps your hand and fingers sliding onto the blade. When the knife is in your pocket, they hook onto the side of your pocket when you pull the blade out so that the knife automatically opens. It doesn’t take long to learn and is bar the fastest way to deploy a folding knife.

I love this blade…. but…

If I had my Christmas wish I would carry an Emerson Sheep Dog knife.

I had an Emerson Wave for years and loved it. I eventually wore it out after over seven years of use including almost 2 years in Iraq. It saw lots of work and things a knife isn’t suppose to be used for. But I did it anyways.

I bought my original wave for about $75, but when I wanted to replace it, the price had gone up four fold and I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the money.

If I had an unlimited budget, I’d go with one of these Emerson Sheep Dog blades.

Light

My current light for the last couple years is a Fenix UC35

I had the version 1 and liked this light so much that I bought the version 2 when it came out.

Great things about this light: Comes with a rechargeable battery that can be charged inside the light with a micro USB cord. It can also use 2 3v 123A batteries, or you can buy extra rechargeable batteries to keep charged around to use. It has a battery indicator so you know how much battery you have left!

Those are the great reasons I bought the first light. The second light is because the first one survived me for years! I set on them. I drop them. I use them as hammers. My lights get abused. If it can survive me, it can survive you!

If money wasn’t an issue I’d be on board with the new Surefire PLR Stiletto light that keeps coming down in price… so I might need one.

I say new, but it’s been out for over a year now… I think. But the price keeps coming down. Originally I saw these for about $200 and thought no thanks. Now they are coming into a price I can afford and will spend.

I’ve had a bunch of Surefire lights over the years and never broken one. I’ve lost most then one, but never had one break to the point it was unusable or wear out.

The technology improves so fast that my old ones look worn out because I have one that still does 60 lumens! Yes I know, that’s nothing now, but back in 2000 that was a really bright light.

So I might have to test one of these now that the prices are coming down.

Pen

My tactical writing implement has been a Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen for years. I love mine. I’ve yet to break it. I have lost a couple, even had one taken by TSA, but never broke one.

The price keeps falling on these too. Every time I look up to buy another one, it’s cheaper then before. The first one I bought was like $50 and now they are half that and you can get them on Amazon.

The pen I would love to have comes from one of my favorite companies, Surefire. They make a Surefire IV pen that I would love to have.

When the original came out, I wanted one so bad. But couldn’t bring myself to spend $200 on a pen. Now, like everything else I’ve been looking at here, the price has come down to almost half that. It is almost to the point I might buy one as really nice gift for myself.

Having something that I carry that is that expensive seems like I would be worried about breaking, scratching, or messing it up. I hate it when I have to worry about that kind of thing. But one of these pens might be worth the worry.

We’ll talk about guns and holsters in another post. I just wanted to do something fun this week. Christmas is coming and I am enjoying the season.

Stay Safe,

Ben

PS Of course the above links are Amazon affiliate links, but you can always get all the stuff at your favorite tactical store. My favorite is LAPoliceGear.com. If you aren’t on their mailing list for great deals you should be.

PSS The only affiliation I have with LA Police Gear is that I spend a lot of money with them to get cool crap.