Your Top 5 EDC Knives

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Clyde

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Hello all you knife experts and enthusiasts!
I am wondering what are your top 5 knives for EDC and why. If you can include pictures please do so as this will help newer preppers. Thanks for your help!
 
i may not have 5 go to knives.but i do at least have 4 goto's..

1st one,i got this last xmas.and haven't decided on where it'll be kept yet.
2nd one,was given me one summer,it stays on my pc desk and close to the key board
3rd one,i found it on the side of a bridge many years ago.i keep it in my pocket.
4th,i got it in a yard sale quiet a few years ago.it had ceder handle.and one was broken off.started a new handle.i dont like it.so im looking for a deer antler for it..

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My EDC knives.

1. At the top "Bear Claw" - self defence, always in the vehicle on the sun visor.
2. Boker Karambit - self defence, primary.
3. CRKT - self defence, secondary then for general applications.
4. Multitool - General applications.

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Wifes EDC knives.

1. "Bear Claw" - self defence.
2. Maxam Karambit - self defence, primary.
3. Mteck Claw - self defense, secondary.
4. Leatherman - general applications.

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vaquero.jpg
#1 Front right pocket. Cold steel Vaquero XL. 5.5 inch Blade, Steel is Carpenters CTS® BD1.. Main use self defense.
hold out tan.jpg
#2 Left side pocket. Colds steel Hold out II. 4 inch Blade, Steel is Carpenters CTS® BD1. Main use self defense and general cutting tasks.
finn wolf.jpg
#3 Open to any pocket including pack. Cold steel Finn Wolf. 3.5 inch Blade, Steel is AUS 8a. Main use skinning, survival, general cutting tasks, food prep.
ak47 field knife.jpg
#4 Scout carry or in daily GHB. Cold steel AK47 Field Knife. 5.5 inch Blade, Steel U.S. CPM 3-V High Carbon. Main use EVERYTHING...
recon scout.jpg
#5 Scout carry or in BOB or GHB. Cold steel Recon Scout. 7.5 inch Blade, Steel O-1 High Carbon. Main use Chopper and EVERYTHING ELSE.



As most of you know I live my knife use on a daily basis. I live on a 40 acre farm and have a lot of daily maintenance, Mostly with blades and chainsaws. Each of these knives I would put my life on and in some of the cases I HAVE.
#1 the Vaquero is an all purpose fighting knife. It has the best features of a fighting blade and is even carried by the owner of Cold steel for that exact purpose. This aggressive blade style is damn good at all cuts and thrusts. It has the material gathering abilities of a kukri and karambit with the front point of a bowie. Hands down this is the king of folding knife fighters.
#2 the Hold Out II this is a great general use knife and feels great in the hand. Good for just about any task you put in front of it including self defense.
#3 the Finn Wolf is a true Scandi grind pocket knife and for a price tag of under 40.00 you cant go wrong.
#4 the AK-47 Field Knife is in my opinion one of, if not, the most versatile survival/fighting knife on the market. The 3V steel is the new super steel on the market and it's earning its rep.
#5 the Recon Scout is a 7.5 inch machine and in proven 0-1 tool steel it's even better. If your looking for a great survival bowie look no further. This can handle anything you dish out And it's usually under 120.00 US. I personally didn't like the hand guard on both sides of the blade so I ground down the back side so choking up is easier. Below is the finished product.

IMG_4113b.jpg

Also in case anyone doubts i own all of them
IMG_4115b.jpg

I have many others but, These are carried the most.
Knife #1
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Vo...4554943&sr=8-2&keywords=cold+steel+vaquero+xl
Knife #2
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Ho...554999&sr=8-2&keywords=cold+steel+hold+out+II
Knife #3
http://www.bladehq.com/?search=finn+wolf
Knife #4
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-AK...=1454555143&sr=8-1&keywords=ak-47+field+knife
Knife #5
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Cold-Steel-Recon-Scout--5806
 
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I don't DO brands, never have.
most of my knives with the exception of my Mora's are all unbranded.
1. unbranded lock knife( Buck lookalike). I carry this one every day.
2. Bowie style sheath knife.
3. bog basic sheath knife(took it off ex girlfriends lad who decided he didn't want it anymore).
4. skeleton type neck knife.
5. WW2 army combat knife.
 
I work in an office setting so a fixed blade is out of the question during the day. I typically carry either a Benchmade 9101 or a Microtech Navy Scarab
Benchmade:
9101BK1.jpg


NavyScarab.jpg
 
Cold Steel SRK Carbon V steel 1992/93 (One of the finest knife ever made) though some people don't like the grip, I own 3
Ka-Bar pre 1996 USMC (another one of the finest knife) post 1996 looks and feels as good as my pre 96
Ontario Rat-5 this knife is becoming my favorite go to knife (my utility work horse) with the kydex sheath perhaps one of the best all around knife
Ka-Bar Becker drop-point though changed the grip with a micarta grip (I keep going back to the Rat-5)
Ka-Bar Becker 9 with micarta grip though a hefty knife, if one can't stab the bad guy one sure as hell can beat the BG to death with this knife ;)

...and lets not overlook the Condor Bushlore an all around camp knife, I really love this knife. In a SHTF situation I wouldn't be caught dead without my CS SRK and would also carry the Rat-5 and the Bushlore

The only fixed blade Gerber knife I own is the pro-guide #950 1st gen. skinning knife, One of the best I ever used in the field aside from that I hate Gerber, anymore all I carry is Leathermans multi-tool as far as multi-tools go. I don't think I paid over a $100 for any of my knife's in fact most was in between $30-$85 anything above $100 is a waste unless one want's to own the brand because it's cool, I just think one isn't going to get anymore usage out of the more expensive knife's than the one's I listed again that's just my opinion.

In my most humble opinion I recommend the brands in this order;

1) Cold-Steel
2) Ka-Bar and Ontario are tied (individual preference)
3) Condor (hard to beat for the price) does have a slightly softer edge than the above brands though I have no reservations carrying this knife everyday, I don't recommend batoning this knife on hardwood or knotty wood.
 
My normal EDC knife is a Benchmade automatic pocket knife and a Leatherman on my belt. Out in the woods or on the trapline I also carry a 10" Bowie knife made from a horseshoe rasp with an elk antler handle, and a Gransfors Bruk hatchet. All knives and the hatchet are kept razor sharp.
 
I pretty much carry 3.

One is a Leatherman multi-tool (in a case on my belt).
Another is a simple folding blade (think old school folding knife, about a 4 inch blade) just in my pocket
Last is just a keychain multi-tool, so just a few items (nail file, 2 inch blade, bottle opener, etc.)

I have more in more Get Home Bag in the truck, but don't see the need to carry more than the above
 
there is a great article on top rated survival knives here http://doomsdayisnear.com/top-rated-survival-knives

i personally prefer the gerber and the ka bar brands but i would be wary of having knives with serrations as they are harder to sharpen

The only two knifes in the link I can agree with is the ka-bar and morakniv (but not the version listed) morakniv is only viable with the full tang version, the knife listed is only 2/3 tang though ironically doesn't list Cold Steel nor Ontario but list a schrade, the schrade is made of 1070 C/S (the condor bushlore would probably be a better buy than the schrade), I think that's a little to soft for batoning? Me personally have a problem with some of the recommended knifes listed in the link. Roninsensei knows the blades better than me, I only use them ;)
 
Ya, this list is not a list at all but, what ever knives have a high amazon rating. The Gladius knife is a stainless steel knife and your article says to go carbon steel plus, it only has 2 reviews at 5 stars. The mora knives are good knives with a well earned rep. The gerber bear grylls is a terrible knife with an even worse reputation, worse than that it's not full tang (it Lies in it's ad as the pic shows) and its a lower grade stainless steel. Gerber knives are not worth the money.
bear grylls fail3.jpg
broken.jpg


Schrade have ok knives but, the ones listed have a huge problem with the heat treat and most of the knives were delivered to customers bent or twisted..
Also I like Kabar but, I would never recommend a Tanto serrated blade as a survival knife.

Here is a much better list
The SRK by Cold steel http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-38..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461730377&sr=8-1&keywords=srk
The BK10 by Kabar http://www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-BECKER..._3?ie=UTF8&qid=1461730433&sr=8-3&keywords=bk2
The Bushlore by Condore http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Bushlo...=UTF8&qid=1461730532&sr=8-2&keywords=bushlore
The Recon Scout by Cold Steel http://www.bladehq.com/item--Cold-Steel-Recon-Scout--5806
The Moonshiner by Condor http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Tools-...=1461730990&sr=8-2&keywords=condor+moonshiner
The Bros. of Bushcraft by Tops http://www.amazon.com/TOPS-Brothers...F8&qid=1461731080&sr=8-7&keywords=tops+knives
The Smoke Jumper by Tops http://www.amazon.com/Knives-SJ626-...F8&qid=1461731080&sr=8-8&keywords=tops+knives
The AK 47 Field Knife by Cold Steel http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-AK...d=1461731332&sr=8-1&keywords=ak47+field+knife
The RAT-5 by Ontario http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8627-...?ie=UTF8&qid=1461732358&sr=8-1&keywords=rat-5

Inexpensive stainless steel blades
The Outdoorsman Lite by Cold Steel http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Ou...id=1461730655&sr=8-2&keywords=cold+steel+lite
The Morakniv Companion http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Comp...1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461731369&sr=8-1&keywords=mora
The Pendleton Hunter Lite by Cold Steel http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Pe...id=1461731528&sr=8-3&keywords=cold+steel+lite
The Peace Maker II by Cold Steel http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-20...d=1461731595&sr=8-10&keywords=cold+steel+lite
The Roach Belly by Cold Steel http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Po...731655&sr=8-1&keywords=cold+steel+roach+belly
 
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