My new favorite EDC knife is.......

[Eric300]

Without getting into the whole discussion of liner-lock, lock-back, axis lock, spring-assist, automatic, blade material, etc. knives, all that aside I think I finally decided on my favorite EDC knife. The Benchmade Osborn. It's the perfect size/weight for EDC. Solid construction, smooth action, very sharp. I still like my others but if I had to choose just one it would be the Osborn.



From top to bottom: Microtech MS1 - Benchmade Osborn - Kershaw Random Task 1510 - Benchmade Mini Bug-Out - Kershaw Leek - Spyderco Para 3. All are good EDC knives except for the Microtech MSI. It's a strong well-built/designed knife and the action is as smooth as silk, but it's just a bit too big/heavy to pocket carry all day long for my liking. I have a Kershaw Iridium coming in next week. I'll see how well that one fairs.



This one is a Kershaw Random Task 1510. It is the very first knife designed by Ken Onion for Kershaw and is the very first spring assisted knife offered by Kershaw. Each knife had hand fitted parts so no two knives were identical. Polished G10 scales and titanium liners. Apparently, they ended up being too expensive to continue production, so they only produced them for about one year. Great quality knife.

[H Richard]

I've been carrying a Kershaw Leek (same as the one pictured above) since 2006. For me it's the perfect size for every day use. It's strong, quick to access and with the assisted blade opening really a one handed knife, and just as easy to close one handed.

[Eric300]

Originally Posted by H Richard

I've been carrying a Kershaw Leek (same as the one pictured above) since 2006. For me it's the perfect size for every day use. It's strong, quick to access and with the assisted blade opening really a one handed knife, and just as easy to close one handed.

I've had about 5 or 6 previous Leeks. I still have 3. The one pictured and 2 more with broken tips and broken springs. The others just plain ol' wore out over years of use. Great little pocket knives cutting open boxes and stuff, but not made or intended for HD use.

[mauser9]

Great selection and you chose quality. Just got back into knives 3 years back so starting a new collection. Usually a Buck 112 or my Sog Trident AT assist so far. Love that new Adira with the blue handle. Better to have as good quality as one can afford.

[old bear]

Benchmade makes a great knife at a reasonable price point. I've carried one for a number of years..

[Mike, SC Hunter]

As I stated before. I don't carry a one bladed knife edc. I carry A 3 bladed Case XX sow belly......CUz when your one blade gets dull(and it will if you use it) you're out of the game. Till you resharpen it Socially I carry a plastic handled Buck 110......It's big enough to cut meat if needed.

[birdshooter]

This makes me happy to hear. For a year I have been considering an Osborne. Finally decided on a Mini Osborne. It should arrive Tuesday. I’ve never owned a Benchmade and am looking forward to it.

[ralph7]

I'm spoiled on spring assist...

[Eric300]

Originally Posted by birdshooter

This makes me happy to hear. For a year I have been considering an Osborne. Finally decided on a Mini Osborne. It should arrive Tuesday. I’ve never owned a Benchmade and am looking forward to it.

I was going to get the Mini Osborne, but I wanted something just a little bigger since I already have knives the size of the Mini Osborne. The full-size Osborne was perfect. I'm sure you'll be happy with the mini, too.

Originally Posted by ralph7

I'm spoiled on spring assist...

My problem is I fidget too much with my knives and end up wearing out/breaking the springs. That's how I broke the springs on all my Leeks. I even broke the Axis-Lok Spring on my Mini Bug-Out by continually fidgeting with it. I had to send it back to Benchmade for them to fix it.

[ralph7]

You must fidget a lot, I have never broken an assist spring, but now I probably jinxed myself...

[45Smashemflat]

Lately I’ve switched to a smaller fixed blade for EDC. (From an older Emerson CQC 7.)

I have found I prefer the more robust fixed over a folder.

[Eric300]

Originally Posted by ralph7

You must fidget a lot, I have never broken an assist spring, but now I probably jinxed myself...

Yep. lol I gotta stop doing that!

[ruger 22]

I have carried a pocket knife since I was 6 years old, (that is for 77 years now), and most have been Swiss Army. I have a box full of them and most have blades, scissors, saws and instrument screw drivers in the coil of the cork screw. Phillips heads are also a must. They always have been satisfactory when the need arose.

[Eric300]

Originally Posted by ruger 22

I have carried a pocket knife since I was 6 years old, (that is for 77 years now), and most have been Swiss Army. I have a box full of them and most have blades, scissors, saws and instrument screw drivers in the coil of the cork screw. Phillips heads are also a must. They always have been satisfactory when the need arose.

I can remember the good old days when we could bring our new pocket knives to school for show-and-tell and play mumbly peg with them on the playground during recess.

[mauser9]

Originally Posted by Eric300

I can remember the good old days when we could bring our new pocket knives to school for show-and-tell and play mumbly peg with them on the playground during recess.

Yeah always had a folder in my pocket in the early 60s in school.

[Marshwheeling]

You are in good company with the Osborn. I wanted the first one I ever saw, the basic 940 with the anodized green finish. My first Benchmade was a Griptilian, the most expensive knife I had bought to date, and the Osborn was a hundred bucks more. Now, of course, you can spend a lot more money on an Osborn, for different scales and more expensive steels. I still like the basic green one. In any variation, it is a classic design that still holds its own with newer stuff.

I still don’t have one, first because my taste ran to less expensive knives, and now because I do not buy modern one-handed openers. I love the Axis lock, however, and don’t think there is a better design. Every Osborn I have handled was fast and smooth; assisted operation would not improve the action.

[holo]

Have carried a Benchmade for 30 years for the last couple of years have settled for the Benchmade 945 smaller version of the 940.

[holo]

Originally Posted by birdshooter

This makes me happy to hear. For a year I have been considering an Osborne. Finally decided on a Mini Osborne. It should arrive Tuesday. I’ve never owned a Benchmade and am looking forward to it.

Your gonna love the mini, I carry one daily

[alwslate]

From the early days of writings from the members of the Buck family they seem to greatly prefer their own fixed blade knives for all uses despite the 110 being their best seller. The 118 "Personal" was the choice of Chuck Buck as I recall reading. A hunting knife named "Personal"? Wonder why?

[hardluk1]

I've had or still have a number of knifes and I have no idea how I come by some of them . Threw out middle school till I was around 20 or 21 I carried a case 6265sab with a key ring and a braded raw hide loop added . Good working knife back then but it also made for a good slapp jack- twice !
Somewhere along the way I changed to a puma straight blade " skinner " but I had a better skinner knife . A group of us hunted hogs regularly so a longer 5" blade was nice to have if needed .

For the last 11 or 12 years I carried a ZT 0350 that covers NC legal CC knife restrictions. Been a real good knife too . I must be different from some here as I do not want some lite thin knife . The ZT 0350 fit my hand well when I first handled one at SMKW and after talking with the ZT salesman and a one more that used the S30V steel I went back and bought it Carried everday since .

[David Sinko]

I've been carrying an Emerson Commander for many years. The blade steel is not the best but the shape and curvature of the blade are perfect. I prefer a knife that can skin out and butcher anything from a groundhog to a deer. I have no use for a tanto or dagger shape and prefer versatility over tacticool.

[gwpercle]

Originally Posted by ralph7

I'm spoiled on spring assist...

I'm addicted to the Kershaw assisted openers , started with Ken Onion "Chive" and have gone from there ...to the "Leek" .
New favorite now is the Kershaw "Fatback" 3.5"

Unlike Benchmade ... if I loose a Kershaw , no crying ...
they are very affordable ... I have lost a few knives and cried about the loss ... the Kershaws , not so much crying !
Gary

[OutAtTheEdge]

When I was a youngster, my dad gave me my first pocket knife, a Barlow, and told me that a gentleman always carries a "jackknife", and so I have, every day of my life (except when flying, but let's not get into that right now.)

About 35 years ago, I was attending a sporting goods distributor's sales event as a factory rep, when I spotted this Gerber LST on the display table next to mine. The vendor was Leupold, and they were offering these knives as a buyer's premium for ordering scopes. Set in the handle was a small plastic badge with the Leupold logo. At the end of the show I negotiated a little trade with the rep, and that little knife has been my constant companion ever since.

This knife isn't "tacticool" and the blade doesn't deploy with a wish and a flick, but it takes and holds a decent edge, and has been responsible for the destruction of thousands of cardboard boxes. The fact that I haven't lost or broken it speaks well of my fondness for it and it's durability. As you can see from the photo, the Leupold badge is no longer with us, and the blade has been worn down a bit, but I'll keep carrying it, I guess.
IMG_5532.jpg

[pharmer]

Benchmade makes some beautiful knives. I have the "Mini-Griptilian" for about 10 years. It is worn from carry but I have replaced it with a $20 "ChiCom 440 SS" automatic that I could shave with and won't cry If'n I lose it. Blade length is illegal in some states so the Benchmade goes on trips (in checked bag). Joe

[brucev]

Beautiful knife! Excellent steel and design. BM makes outstanding knives. Sincerely. bruce.

[ISCS Yoda]

I carry a SAK every day in my left vest pocket and one of three"tacticool" knives in my right vest pocket. The size of the tactical knife I carry depends on the size of the vest pocket. I go everywhere in vests so that's just a decades old practice for me.

I had a Benchmade Osborne (I know because I have a picture of it in my "Blades" album but I need to remove it) so I either gave it to someone (unlikely) or lost it in my 2018 fire (probably).

SAK (knife above the SAK is gone - it was my other EDC before my 2018 fire):



Kershaw Hinderer - I really like this particular knife:



The top and bottom knives in this photo are my other EDCs. The small one is a Boker Kalashnikov and I cannot read the tiny brand markings on the larger one but I'll dig out my magnifier later.

[Jack Flash]

My EDC is a Leatherman Free K2. It's a little large but when it's clipped in the front pocket of my work pants, I forget it's there.
Did I mention it's made in the USA?

[wundudnee]

I carry these two. A Case Muskrat made in 1973 and the SOG auto. I like the Case so much I bought the identical 1973 knife at Tulsa a couple years ago. I gave $35.00 for my first in 1973, inflation and collectability made the second one a safe queen. I'll just try not to lose the original.

[wuluf]

I've got a lot of nice knives, more Benchmade than other brands. At work I carry a small fixed blade from Bradford knives. My folder edc are my new Benchmade Adira or a mini Crooked River. Or a zt..

Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

[Marshwheeling]

I’ll always carry a small folder, usually an Opinel No6 and a SAK Alox Electrician. Often, I carry a small fixed blade if I think I will need it. It has to fit in my pocket, so not over 7” overall. Here are a couple I carry frequently, a custom by David Mary that I call an EDC cimeter, due to the upswept blade, and another by a guy in Croatia who goes by Daabo.
The next one is an Anza, made from a file. I have a couple of this pattern. The full-length handle and the short blade is good for a variety of uses, like cutting fuel hose, scraping gaskets and slicing salami.
The last one is my favorite Opinel 6, sadly gone missing. I have a suitable replacement, but I liked this one better.

[Muley Gil]

I have carried a Benchmade 5000 for about 20 years now.

[Eric300]

My Kershaw Iridium arrived today. It's really not a bad knife. Not the quality of my Benchmade Osborne, but for around $70.00 it ain't too shabby. Just what I need for work.

[leonardocarrillo]

My EDC knives are generally Victorinox, the models I use the most are:
Champion C (discontinued)
Huntsman(40 years in my pocket)
Spartan
Classic SD
Victorinox Mauser
From time to time I use a Boker.

[garddogg56]

My evolution of edc started in the trades when I got a two dot Buck 112 striped many a cable with it,fast forward to 1998 when my apprentice got me a Benchmade Stryker which was for a one handed off hand knife for when I couldn't get to my sheathed Buck.I have tried many modern knife till a axis lock knife got into my rotation it was a Griptillion . Then wanting an auto I settled with a Benchmade CLA as a offhand carry while always having a slipjoint in my pocket..The Buck will always be in a sheath on my belt.

[3S16]

I have been carrying a Spyderco "Tenacious" for years and have been perfectly happy with it. I've never owned a pocket knife that cost over $100 dollars - until now. I came across this knife, made by Hogue for Sig-Sauer. Amazing quality and scary sharp, plus it kinda matches the rest of my EDC gear.

[Kanewpadle]

Been carrying a Benchmade for at least the last 20 years.

Currently carry a full size Bugout. Love the S30V steel.

Just bought an Adira and like the new Magnacut steel. We’ll see how it does long term.

[Donn]

Always carry two. A Swiss Army Knife of some stripe in one pocket, a Leatherman Skeletool in the other. The SAK doesn't have pliers, the Skeletool doesn't have a toothpick.

[Echo40]

Personally, my most common carry knives are either a Buck 110 or a Cold Steel Ti-Lite.

[chief38]

For 20 years I carried a Marble's Custom Shop large Stockman with 3 blades and genuine Sambar Stag handles. I still love that thing and the Carbon Steel blades are razor sharp.

For most times, I switched over to the gift my Daughter's BF bought me for Christmas about 3 years ago, It is a K390 steel Spyderco Delica with a blue handle. I keep it sharp enough to shave with and it is a very handy knife to carry because of its super light weight, excellent blade and one hand deployment.

I never really gave Syperco knives much thought as I used to think of them as "ugly" however when I received this one (made in Japan) it changed my mind quite rapidly! Not only is the K390 blade like a razor, it really holds an edge for a long time. When we moved into our current house 2 1/2 years ago I can not tell you how many boxes I cut up every day while unpacking. I only resharpened the blade after 100+ heavy duty double thick cardboard boxes which many here know are hard on a knife blade. I used this Spyderco because at the time all my utility knives were packed in the boxes. After I found them I did use them but I had to constantly change the blades way too often. I went back to the Delica.

BTW, the black pocket spring clip is now a nice satin stainless finish. I stripped off the black finish as it was chipping and pealing and was ugly. I don't even know why they would paint it black to begin with!

[TheHobbyist]

OP, the Osborn has to be one of the best edc knives around. Good choice.

I like old school and new school and lately have been using the Benchmade Claymore.

[Bald1]

My EDC is a CRKT Pazoda with serrated blade. I like it so much that when I lost it I bought a new one. Which is hard because it’s discontinued. When I found my old one I gave the knew one to my son. Last week I sent it through the washer and dryer. The pocket clip screws came out. CRKT gives you free replacement screws and pocket clips. That’s fantastic customer service. And thank goodness because the local hardware store had nothing.

[6GUNSONLY]

I'm old-school, I reckon. My edc knife is almost always a 3-blade large stockman pattern. Currently a Case 6347 with standard jigged bone scales, 1972 vintage.

[rbrbrb6]

Like the OP, I have settled on a Benchmade Osborn as well. I gave my first Osborn to my youngest son and replaced it with the carbon fiber version. I’ve thought about buying the auto version but I have several auto Benchmades in the drawer so I guess I’ll just keep carrying the regular version.

[chief38]

My best friend of 67 years always carries a cheesy $5 Chinesium copy of a Spyderco with the rear half of the blade serrated. He bought 144 of them on the TV knife show years ago and when they get dull, he throws it out and just grabs another.

The bottom line is he never has a very useful knife that is really super sharp. I did try and sharpen a few for him but the steel is so cheap and crummy, he actually has the right idea - toss it when useless.

Not the way I fly, but it works for him.

[BlackAgnes]

I have always carried a knife (Gibb's Rule #9!) and for years have used Kershaw ZT assisted openers of one model or other.
Lately I have heard good things about Spartan knives and so I am trying out a Poro model (Horrors! Taiwan!) as a ZT replacement--longer blade and pointier.
We shall see...

Tim