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The Worst and Best Ways to Sharpen your EDC Pocket Knife

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Everyday carry (EDC) knives are a trusty companion for many, whether you’re navigating the great outdoors or handling day-to-day tasks in the city. A sharp knife isn’t just a matter of convenience; it’s a crucial aspect of safety and functionality (you really don’t want to be stuck with a blunt knife in an emergency situation). However, maintaining that sharp edge can be a challenge, especially with the myriad of sharpening techniques and tools available. Some methods can enhance your blade’s performance, while others can cause more harm than good. Here, we delve into the worst and best ways to sharpen your EDC knife. Although these methods practically apply to knives of all kinds (like kitchen knives, etc.), we’re looking through the lens of maintaining EDC blades in particular, which people often spend hundreds of dollars on. An EDC knife might first and foremost be a knife, but for many, it’s also a work of art worth marveling at and collecting. Many of these knives are designed by experts and enthusiasts, requiring decades of skill, precise machinery (or sometimes even handcrafted mastery), and high-quality materials. Improperly caring for or sharpening such knives feels like a crime, doesn’t it? Let’s take a look at the worst, and the best ways to care for your EDC knife collection.

The Worst Ways to Sharpen an EDC Knife

1. Using a Glass Surface or Ceramic Mug

It might seem like a clever hack to use the unglazed bottom of a ceramic mug or a glass surface to sharpen your knife. After all, it’s often depicted in survival movies and touted in emergency preparedness forums (and guilty as charged, I’ve used this hack too). However, this technique is far from ideal for maintaining your EDC knife to perfection. The problem lies in the inconsistent abrasiveness of these surfaces. Ceramic mugs, while somewhat effective in a pinch, lack the uniform grit needed for a precise edge. The surface can be too coarse or too fine, leading to an uneven sharpening job. Moreover, using glass can cause the knife to slip, posing a safety hazard and potentially leading to a chipped blade. Sure, it’s a lovely hack that even Serious Eats recommends for home-chefs who don’t have their own honing rod or whetstone… but if you truly care about your EDC collection, the bottom of a mug isn’t the best place to be sharpening your prized knives.

2. Power Tools Like Bench Grinders

Power tools such as bench grinders might seem like a quick and easy solution to sharpen your knife, but they are more suited for heavy-duty tasks like reshaping tools rather than fine-tuning delicate knife edges. The primary issue with using a bench grinder for your EDC knife is the excessive heat generated during the grinding process. This heat can cause the steel to lose its temper, resulting in a blade that is brittle and prone to breaking.

Additionally, bench grinders remove material VERY quickly, which can lead to an uneven edge and significant wear on your blade. The aggressive nature of these tools makes it challenging to control the sharpening process, increasing the risk of creating an uneven bevel or completely ruining the knife. For those who value precision and the longevity of their knife, bench grinders are best avoided for routine sharpening tasks.

3. Cheap, Coarse Pull-Through Sharpeners

Pull-through sharpeners are widely available and often marketed for their convenience and ease of use. However, a cheap one off AliExpress or Temu will do you much more harm than good. The problem with pull-through sharpeners is that they use fixed abrasive materials that can remove too much metal from your blade unevenly. This aggressive removal process can damage the edge, leading to a shorter lifespan for your knife.

Moreover, these sharpeners usually set a fixed angle that may not match the original bevel of your knife, resulting in a less efficient cutting edge. The convenience of pull-through sharpeners comes at the cost of precision and control, which are crucial for maintaining a high-quality edge on your EDC knife. Instead of opting for these quick fixes, consider more controlled methods that allow you to maintain the knife’s intended geometry and sharpness.

4. Improvised Rock Sharpening

While it might be tempting to use natural rocks as makeshift sharpeners, especially in a survival situation, this method is highly inconsistent and can cause significant damage to your knife. Rocks found in nature vary widely in their abrasiveness and can introduce grit or contaminants that scratch and dull the blade rather than sharpen it. The uneven surface of a rock can also lead to an inconsistent edge, making your knife less reliable.

In emergency situations where no other options are available, using a rock might be your only choice. However, it should not be a regular practice for maintaining your EDC knife. For routine sharpening, it’s best to stick to purpose-made tools that provide a consistent and controlled sharpening experience, ensuring your knife stays in top condition.

The Best Ways to Sharpen an EDC Knife

1. Whetstones

Whetstones are the gold standard for sharpening knives, offering a controlled and precise method for maintaining your blade. They come in various grits, typically ranging from coarse to fine, allowing you to handle everything from reshaping a damaged edge to polishing a razor-sharp finish. Using a whetstone requires some practice and patience, but the results are well worth the effort.

Start by soaking the whetstone in water (if it’s a water stone) to ensure smooth sharpening. Place the stone on a stable surface and hold your knife at a consistent angle, typically around 15-20 degrees. Begin by using the coarse side of the stone, moving the blade in a smooth, sweeping motion across the stone to establish a new edge. Once you have a burr (a slight ridge of metal along the edge), switch to the finer side of the stone to refine and polish the edge.

Whetstones allow for a high level of control over the sharpening process, ensuring that you can maintain the original bevel and achieve a razor-sharp edge. The investment in a good set of whetstones pays off in the quality and longevity of your knife’s edge, making it a must-have for serious knife enthusiasts.

2. Diamond Stones

Diamond stones are another excellent option for sharpening EDC knives. They are composed of small, industrial-grade diamonds embedded in a metal plate, making them extremely durable and effective at quickly sharpening a blade. Unlike whetstones, diamond stones do not require soaking, and they can be used dry or with a little water for lubrication.

One of the significant advantages of diamond stones is their consistency and speed. They can remove material more efficiently than traditional whetstones, making them ideal for quick touch-ups or more substantial sharpening tasks. To use a diamond stone, follow a similar process to whetstone sharpening: maintain a consistent angle and use smooth, controlled strokes to sharpen the blade.

Diamond stones come in various grits, allowing you to perform coarse sharpening and fine-honing with the same tool. Their durability and ease of use make them a favorite among knife enthusiasts who want a reliable and efficient sharpening solution.

3. Ceramic Rods

Ceramic rods are excellent for honing, which is the process of maintaining an already sharp edge rather than performing a full sharpening. These rods are typically used after sharpening with whetstones or diamond stones to refine the edge and keep it in top condition between more intensive sharpening sessions.

Using ceramic rods is straightforward. Hold the rod vertically or at a slight angle and draw the knife blade down the rod, maintaining a consistent angle. Repeat this process on both sides of the blade, ensuring even honing. Ceramic rods are gentle on the knife’s edge and help maintain its sharpness without removing significant material.

For EDC knife users who want to keep their blades in peak condition with minimal effort, ceramic rods are an excellent tool for regular maintenance. They are compact, easy to use, and effective at keeping your knife sharp and ready for action.

4. Stropping

Stropping is the final step in achieving a razor-sharp edge and involves using a leather strop to polish and refine the blade. A strop is typically a piece of leather mounted on a flat surface or a hanging strip, and it may be used with or without a stropping compound to enhance its effectiveness.

To strop your knife, hold the blade at a consistent angle and draw it backward along the leather, moving away from the edge to avoid cutting into the strop. Repeat this process on both sides of the blade. Stropping removes any remaining burr from the sharpening process and polishes the edge to a mirror finish.

This step is essential for achieving the highest level of sharpness and ensuring the blade cuts smoothly and effortlessly. Stropping is an easy and effective way to maintain your knife’s edge, especially when combined with regular sharpening and honing.

5. Professional Sharpening Services

Sometimes, leaving the sharpening to the professionals is the best choice, especially if your knife is very dull or damaged. Professional sharpening services use a combination of techniques and tools to restore your blade to its optimal sharpness without risking its integrity.

Professionals typically use high-quality whetstones, diamond stones, and other precision tools to achieve a perfect edge. They have the experience and skill to handle various blade types and steels, ensuring that your knife is sharpened correctly and efficiently.

Using a professional service can be particularly beneficial for those who lack the time or confidence to sharpen their knives themselves. It’s an investment in the longevity and performance of your EDC knife, providing peace of mind that your blade is in expert hands.

6. Guided Sharpening Systems

Guided sharpening systems are designed to make the sharpening process foolproof by providing preset angles and multiple sharpening options. These systems often include ceramic stones, diamond plates, and strops, offering a comprehensive solution for maintaining your knife’s edge.

Using a guided system is straightforward. The knife is clamped into the device, and the sharpening stones are guided along the blade at a consistent angle. This setup ensures that even beginners can achieve a precise and consistent edge without the guesswork involved in freehand sharpening.

Guided sharpening systems are an excellent choice for those who want a reliable and user-friendly way to keep their EDC knives sharp. They take the complexity out of the sharpening process, making it accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level.

 

Maintaining a sharp edge on your EDC knife is essential for its performance and safety. While there are many methods to sharpen a knife, not all are created equal. Techniques like using a ceramic mug, power tools, and cheap pull-through sharpeners can cause more harm than good, leading to a damaged or dull blade. On the other hand, investing in quality tools like whetstones, diamond stones, ceramic rods, and guided sharpening systems ensures a sharp, reliable edge.

For those who prefer a professional touch, professional sharpening services offer an expert solution,

while stropping provides the final polish to achieve a razor-sharp finish. By choosing the right sharpening methods and tools, you can keep your EDC knife in top condition, ready to tackle any task with ease and precision.

So, the next time you consider sharpening your knife, skip the makeshift methods and opt for techniques that will enhance your blade’s performance and longevity. After all, a well-maintained knife is a cut above the rest, ready to slice through your daily challenges without a hitch. Just remember, keep the dishwasher for your dishes and the bench grinder for your tools—your knife deserves better.

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Tiny yet Mighty Titanium + Carbon Fiber Pocket Knife is Smaller and Lighter than your House Key

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It doesn’t get smaller than this, lighter than this, or more viciously sharp than this. Measuring a mere 57mm (2.5 inches) when shut and weighing just 5.6 grams (0.19 ounces), the WaspArmor Micro Folding Scalpel floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee… or a wasp, as its name would suggest. Its titanium and carbon fiber body gives it a classy-yet-durable build, and the replaceable scalpel blade means never having to sharpen your knife ever again. Quite impressive for a blade tiny enough to attach to your keychain.

Designer: AlloyX

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $55 (29% off) Hurry! Only 15 left of 560 units.

Smaller than even your index finger when closed, the WaspArmor is like the chihuahua of pocket knives, tiny yet so audacious and aggressive you’re bound to take it seriously. The knife comes with a few clever tricks up its sleeve, but it all starts with the titanium and carbon fiber construction. Both materials are known for their incredible strength-to-weight ratio, which made them the perfect selection for the WaspArmor knife. The Titanium body gives the knife its durability, resilience, and ability to withstand corrosion, etc. Three carbon fiber inserts on the sides of the handle give the WaspArmor a unique aesthetic while providing a mildly textured grip that makes holding and maneuvering the scalpel easy.

A simple fold-out arm reveals the WaspArmor’s small but seriously sharp blade. While most pocket knives come with their own built-in blades, the WaspArmor relies on standard Scalpel blades that clip right into the knife’s design. The reason for this is three-fold – for starters, scalpel blades are deadly sharp. They glide right through pretty much anything, making them perfect for opening boxes, piercing packets, whittling wood, or even slicing tough paracord. The pointed tip and sharp edge make the scalpel blade a formidable piece of hardware, and these blades are readily available, which means you can simply buy a pack of them (they even come in different designs) for replacing whenever.

The second reason is that instead of sharpening/maintaining your WaspArmor, you can simply ditch an old blade for a new one, saving energy and time, while keeping your knife fresh and usable for decades. The third reason is that a knife with a removable blade is invariably TSA-safe. In case you happen to have the WaspArmor on you while entering an airport, you can simply ditch the blade and carry the rest of the knife with you. Removing and replacing the blade on your WaspArmor is easy but not too easy that the blade comes apart on its own. The blade can only be removed when the knife is open at a 120° angle, ensuring it never comes undone by accident.

The WaspArmor’s compact design still has enough room for clever detailing. A hidden back-lock lets the blade snap into its open position, so the blade doesn’t accidentally shut while in use. The handle’s small design is still ergonomic to hold and use, which is quite a functional win for anyone who’s serious about buying and using this knife on a daily basis. The compact handle still has enough space for a cutout that you can slide a lanyard/carabiner through or even your keychain ring. The knife is small and light enough to sit among your keys, being accessible in a split second, whenever you need a cutting instrument.

That small, accessible size is what makes the WaspArmor so incredible. You could use it to open Amazon parcels, sharpen pencils, cut tiny twigs/branches outdoors, scrape a flint to start a fire, slice through a paracord, cut a seatbelt to get out of a messy situation, or even defend yourself with a tough, sharp blade that will never disappoint.

Each WaspArmor features a CNC-machined Titanium handle, with those Carbon Fiber inserts that give the overall knife its distinct character. Even though it’s a tiny piece of EDC, it’s designed to be reliably safe, with the blade holding its position, and the swinging arm locking in both open and closed modes, so your knife doesn’t accidentally disassemble or worse… hurt anyone. The WaspArmor Micro Folding Scalpel starts at a discounted $39, which includes the WaspArmor itself, along with 10 replaceable scalpel blades (you can buy more at any medical or stationery store), a titanium keyring, and free global shipping.

Click Here to Buy Now: $39 $55 (29% off) Hurry! Only 15 left of 560 units.

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This EDC’s Millisecond-Deploy Mechanism and ‘Vanchor’ Lock make it the ultimate Tactical Pocket Knife

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Vosteed’s new locking mechanism makes their latest pocket knife a must-have. The ‘Vanchor Lock’ builds on the best features of all existing locking mechanisms, delivering reliability, safety, and swift, single-handed deployment in the blink of an eye. Combine that with the Ankylo’s ridiculously sharp Bohler Elmax steel blade and its ergonomic aluminum handle and you’ve got yourself a tactical knife that’s a treat for eyes and a savior of lives…

Designer: Vosteed

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $169 ($10 off) Hurry! Only 167 left of 700. Raised over $120,000.

On the surface, the Vosteed Ankylo looks like a pretty well-made EDC designed for all sorts of tasks. It’s rugged without overplaying the rugged aesthetic, is peppered with functional details that make it a great knife to use, and comes in a variety of colors to choose from. The knife sports an all-metal design that gives it heft and weight, while allowing you to maneuver it confidently. On the front sits a 3.18″ medium-sized reverse-tanto blade that’s great for cutting, piercing, whittling, scraping, and self-defence. The blade, made from Bohler Elmax steel, is harder than most, making it perfect for all sorts of cutting activities. The reverse tanto profile’s character is accentuated by the blade’s curved belly, which allows you to rock the knife while cutting. A finger groove at the base of the knife lets you comfortably rest your index finger, textured jimping on the top gives you a perfect place to rest your thumb, and a cutout in the blade allows you to swiftly deploy the blade from within the knife.

The Vosteed Ankylo’s unique Vanchor mechanism allows for fast and reliable deployment

The Ankylo’s crown jewel, however, is hidden away from sight within its aluminum body. While most knives have a liner lock, frame lock, or button lock, the Ankylo opts for something even better. The folks at Vosteed realized that while all three locking mechanisms were great, they all had their own trade-offs too. Some either made the knife weak, while others were tough to use with one hand. Designed to mitigate any of these drawbacks, the Ankylo boasts what Vosteed calls a ‘Vanchor’ lock. This patented locking mechanism is CNC-machined from a plate of stainless steel, and is secured by a magnetic button that lets you easily deploy or retract the blade. Unlike most locking mechanisms, the Vanchor lets you open or shut your knife in mere milliseconds with a single hand – a feature so incredibly captivating that it becomes a fidget activity too. When deployed, the Vanchor plate reinforces the blade, acting almost as a tang to give your knife stability and durability during use.

Deploy and use the Ankylo even with gloves on

It’s this Vanchor lock, combined with the Ankylo’s all-metal design that makes it such a pocket powerhouse. Whether it’s something benign as opening boxes, something as difficult as carving wood, or even something as mission-critical as self-defence, the Ankylo’s size, construction, ergonomics, and Elmax steel blade all play their part in the knife’s grand choreography. The blade cutout lets you deploy your knife instantly (even with gloves on), going from 0 to 100 in mere milliseconds, while a satisfying button lets you just as quickly shut the blade right back in. When you’re not using the Ankylo, chances are your thumb and forefinger will find themselves fidgeting wth it, almost like one would with a butterfly knife.

The Ankylo comes in 6 color variants all sporting a 6061 space-grade aluminum handle, that patented Vanchor lock, and the quick-deploying Elmax steel blade. The knife measures a respectable 4.5 7 inches long when closed, opening up to a mid-size 7.75 inches in length which is in the sweet spot for a good, ergonomic mid-sized knife. Each knife weighs 4.76 ounces or 135 grams (optimized for reliability and maneuverability), and you can choose from 6 CMF variants, which feature a choice between handle colors, handle textures, and even a regular or black stonewashed blade. The Ankylo knife, which gathered much support at last year’s BladeShow West 2023, begins shipping in June this year.

Click Here to Buy Now: $159 $169 ($10 off) Hurry! Only 167 left of 700. Raised over $120,000.

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This Tiny $10 Titanium Pocket Knife has the most unique design we’ve ever seen

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Shaped like a comma, the Tops Home Store Titanium Knife is an unusual little EDC that’s full of surprises. Measuring a mere 1.65 inches long when closed, this ridiculously compact number is affordable, durable, capable, and just so unique-looking that it’s sure to grab the top spot in your EDC collection.

Designer: Tops Home Store

Click Here to Buy Now

The knife’s handle is hollow and features an open filigree-style design that lets you see right through it. Crafted from titanium, this unique design choice allows the EDC to be lightweight yet grippy, as your hands interpret the cutouts as a friction texture of sorts. When closed, you can see the blade right through the handle, which makes for an interesting visual effect giving the feeling of depth. Open it out, however, and you’ve got a tiny handle with an even tinier blade… but that doesn’t mean the Tops Home Store Titanium Knife isn’t a functional behemoth.

Even for its size, the Tops Home Store Titanium Knife is deadly sharp. The blade itself is 0.83 inches in length, but sports a neat drop-point design that makes the knife perfect for crafts, unboxing, DIY work, and even cutting ropes/cords. While the handle’s made from Titanium, the blade comes crafted from 5Cr13MoV Steel, known for its resilience, ability to hold a sharp edge, and anti-corrosion properties.

However, the most incredible part of the knife is its unique ball-bearing locking mechanism and guide. Given its size and compactness, the knife’s design relies on some rather clever detailing to help the blade open and close securely. A pair of ball bearings and guides help the knife open exactly as much as it should, while even locking in its open position. A tiny cutout in the blade lets you easily open the knife with your fingernails, and closing the knife is as simple as pressing down on the blade’s spine to disengage the snap and have it fold back into the handle.

The small EDC knife comes with its own small price tag. The sub $10 tag makes the Tops Home Store Titanium Knife quite a no-brainer, along with the fact that it’s small enough to fit on your keychain. Each knife comes with its own keychain ring that lets you secure the EDC to your keys, so the knife’s on you no matter where you go!

Click Here to Buy Now

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Ultra-Light Tactical Titanium Pocket Knife Tips Scales at Just 1.3 Ounces

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There are multiple schools of thought when it comes to pocket knives – you’ve got one school that says pocket knives (or any EDC) should be highly rugged, durable, and scary-looking so as to fend off enemies. Another says that pocket knives should serve as multitools that have a myriad of functions to help you overcome any situation. The third school of thought, and the one that I subscribe to personally, is that a pocket knife should be useful when you need it, and invisible when you don’t. The SerpBlade falls squarely into the third school of thought while teasing the first two ever so slightly. At 37 grams or 1.3 ounces, the SerpBlade is lighter than an empty AirPods case (that’s for you metric-hating folks!), but it packs a scalpel blade at one end, and a tungsten steel glass breaker at the other end. It’s also made of titanium and carbon fiber, two of the most durable and resilient materials known to mankind. Whether it’s opening boxes or defending yourself from life-threatening situations, the SerpBlade comes in very handy, and when you’re done, its lightweight compact design disappears into your pocket like thin air.

Designer: TrekGear

Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $79 (25% off) Hurry! Only 9 days left.

The beauty of the SerpBlade lies in its sheer simplicity. Come and think about it, all of the pocket knife’s features can be broken down into four distinct parts – its blade, its glass-breaker, its materials, and the overall design.

The SerpBlade strangely enough doesn’t come with a blade built-in. Instead, it relies on any standard scalpel-style surgical blade that snaps right into the knife’s blade holder. Made from surgical steel, these blades are ridiculously sharp (ask any doctor or surgeon), and can handle everything from cardboard and paper to even cutting through wood. Readily available pretty much everywhere, the surgical scalpel blades come in a variety of profiles, so you can choose a shape that suits your needs best. A drop-point or clip-point is usually the crowd favorite, but a nice tanto-style blade really gives the SerpBlade a wicked demeanor. The fact that the SerpBlade ditches a built-in blade for a removable one gives you two significant advantages – for starters, you don’t need to worry about ever having to sharpen your blade again. If a blade grows dull or even breaks, simply ditch it for a new one. It’s simple, fast, and frankly, sustainable because you aren’t throwing out an entire knife just because the blade is damaged or dull. The second major advantage is that the SerpBlade, as a result, is TSA-friendly, as now you can simply ditch the blade and carry the EDC with you while traveling anywhere.

Flip the knife over and you’ve got a tungsten-steel glass-breaker on the reverse end. A great addition to the SerpBlade (I don’t know why more EDC knives don’t have glass breakers in them), this little feature comes in extremely handy when you need to make a quick getaway. The glass-breaking tip can easily shatter through hard laminated glass panels like the ones found in cars, giving you the ability to easily escape in the case of an emergency. The sharp surgical blade CAN cut through seatbelts too, although a serrated knife or a seatbelt cutter would be much more suited to the specific task at hand.

The materials play a crucial role in the SerpBlade’s appeal, given that they allow the knife to be durable, maneuverable, and so easy-breezy to use that you’ll find yourself reaching for the SerpBlade over other EDC knives. The pocket knife comes with a titanium armature that’s sandwiched between a two-piece carbon fiber handle. Sure, this makes the knife lightweight, it also makes the knife incredibly durable (you’re sure to use it for a lifetime if not more), but the combination of titanium and carbon fiber allows the SerpBlade to also be fire-resistant, waterproof, and corrosion-proof. Titanium doesn’t rust or oxidize the way steel does, and both titanium and carbon fiber can resist high temperatures while also being relatively inert to chemicals. In short, your lightweight knife is also 10-20x more durable than an all-steel knife or a steel knife with wooden handles.

On the design front, the SerpBlade is as slim and slender as they come. At 81mm in length (just over 3 inches), the SerpBlade is the perfect blend between compact and ergonomic. A deep pocket clip allows you to securely carry your SerpBlade in your pocket, and a lanyard hole (that’s now been added to the final design) lets you attach your SerpBlade to a carabiner or paracord too. It was built to be your trusty sidekick for trekking, camping, hunting, gardening, wilderness survival, emergency use, and even something as benign as opening boxes and envelopes or papercraft.

The knife features a single-handed flip-to-open mechanism that deploys in under a second, letting you go from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye. A roller bearing mechanism makes the flip-out buttery smooth, while a liner lock holds the blade in place while you’re using the knife, ensuring it doesn’t shut on you mid-job. The titanium arm that holds the surgical scalpel blade lets you change blades in a jiffy too. All you need to do is slide out the old blade and add a new one and you’re good to go. Change blades whenever an old one goes dull or breaks, or even if you’re in the mood for something different!

The SerpBlade comes in a single color, although each carbon fiber handle has a unique flake pattern that differs from knife to knife. The EDC starts at a discounted $59, which includes the pocket knife itself, along with ten No.23 surgical blades included. The Serpblade ships globally for free starting July 2024.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59 $79 (25% off) Hurry! Only 9 days left.

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This tiny rapid-deploy tactical pocket knife is like the Napoleon of EDC

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The name Speedy seems rather apt for the world’s fastest-deploying tiny pocket knife, don’t you think?

With a spring-loaded action that allows you to flip open the blade in record time, the Speedy is a tiny yet handy EDC that’s roughly the size of your car’s key fob (but slimmer). Armed with a 440 Carbon stainless steel blade encased within a G10 fiberglass handle, the entire knife weighs just 1.6 ounces, measures a minuscule 2.2 inches (58 millimeters), and has a tiny 1.45-inch (37 millimeters) blade that may seem diminutive, but is more than capable of being your tactical sidekick in an emergency.

Designer: Bomber & Company

Click Here to Buy Now: $25 Hurry, only 13 days left! Raised over $275,000.

The Speedy comes from the folks at Bomber & Company, a seasoned EDC brand that debuted on Kickstarter in 2014, quickly rising through the ranks to become one of the hottest knifemakers on the platform, having sold over 1 million pocket knives in the past decade. The company’s developed its unique aesthetic over its 7 product campaigns, and the Speedy fits well into the the Bomber & Company’s visual language with its all-black design, fiber handle, and coated blade. Where it shines, however, is in the insides, which power the blade’s deployment. A strategically placed spring helps the Speedy unsheathe its blade in practically a millisecond, allowing single-hand deployment in the blink of an eye.

Once deployed, you’re equipped with a 1.45-inch small-size carbon steel blade with a drop-point design. The drop-point is perhaps the most classic blade style given its versatility. With a straight edge that curves at the tip, you’re left with a blade that’s great for cutting, slicing, carving, piercing, and even whittling. The carbon-steel blade cuts through materials like they’re butter, comfortably slicing through paper and cardboard, leather, and even through wood.

Cutouts in the blade’s design help reduce weight as well as decrease friction while slicing, allowing the knife to glide through materials.

Even for its ludicrously small size, the Speedy is quite grippy and easy to maneuver. The flipper acts as a nice finger guard, and that 2.2-inch handle is enough for a sturdy reliable grasp as you use the blade. A liner lock holds the blade in place while you’re cutting, allowing you to tuck it back into the handle only when you’re done using the Speedy.

The tiny EDC knife comes with an all-black design (how very Henry Ford Model T of them), and sports a keyring hole at the end of the handle that lets you string the blade on a keychain or even attach a carabiner so you can carry your Speedy however you wish. The knife is priced at $25 with global shipping, although for $50 you can grab a 3-pack for gifting to your friends, family, and fellow EDC enthusiasts. After all, you never know when you’ll need a fast-deploying tactical blade to get yourself out of a pickle…

Click Here to Buy Now: $25 Hurry, only 13 days left! Raised over $275,000.

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CRKT’s sub $50 pocket knife is an incredibly slim and sharp EDC

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With an aesthetic reminiscent of Arya Stark’s sword, the needle, in Game Of Thrones, the CRKT Flat Out is best described as ‘functional art’. It’s small, and deceptively thin, yet packs an absolute punch with how sharp and spry it is. In short, it’s the kind of knife you underestimate the first time, and trust blindly every time after that.

Designer: Matthew Lerch for CRKT

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Designed by veteran blade artisan Matthew Lerch, the Flat Out has a silhouette that feels instantly iconic. While most knives are made to be fairly broad (because nobody wants a flimsy blade), the Flat Out is exceptionally thin. Sure, vertically, the knife has a 4.42-inch handle with a sizeable 3.57-inch blade… but horizontally, it’s just about as thin as your finger, which makes it feel slim, and weigh less than most, at about 3.6 ounces or 102 grams.

The slimness, however, is just the first thing you notice with the Flat Out. It still sports a wonderfully ergonomic stainless steel handle, letting you firmly and reliably hold the knife during use, and an 8Cr13MoV steel drop-point blade that feels almost like a needle-point with how slim it is. The blade’s 3.57-inch edge  puts it well in the ‘mid-size’ knife category, while still looking and feeling small… and is sharp enough to get any job done, whether it’s cutting, slicing, shearing, or carving. That pointed tip makes it absolutely lethal for piercing too, turning the EDC into a worthy opponent against everything from delivery boxes and envelopes to even wood and leather.

Trained initially as a jewelry designer, Matthew Lerch found himself with a penchant for knife design rather soon in life. Working extensively with CRKT, the Wisconsin-based designer has been honored with some prestigious awards for some of his EDC designs. Slim yet hard-working, understated yet powerful, Lerch’s Flat Out knife for CRKT is a beautifully badass paradox.

The Flat Out is slim yet grippy, giving you a long handle to hold comfortably onto. The assisted flip knife sports a frame lock that holds the blade in place, and some rather beautiful-looking jimping (serrated texture) on top of the blade to comfortably rest your thumb while using the knife for a perfectly dependable grip while cutting and maneuvering. Fold the knife shut and it easily slides into your pocket, with a clip that securely holds the EDC in place for you to easily retrieve whenever you need… whether it’s for cutting open boxes, slicing branches in the outdoors, defending yourself, or just admiring from time to time.

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The $33 Gerber Quadrant Pocket Knife comes with a gorgeous bamboo handle and a ‘lifetime’ warranty

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It’s rare to see knives that look like the Gerber Quadrant. Most knives have extremely classic drop-point or tanto-style blades (close your eyes and think of a pocket knife, chances are you’ve thought of one of those two), so seeing a blade like the one on the Quadrant is refreshing. The Quadrant is less of a hardcore outdoor knife and more of a pocket blade worthy of being a part of your sophisticated EDC collection. Make no mistake, the 7Cr17MoV steel blade is extremely capable, and comes with this hyper sheepsfoot profile that’s perfect for cutting and slicing, but the Quadrant isn’t your average ultra-rugged tactical blade – it’s a suave piece of gear that balances sophistication with outdoorsy… and to highlight that fact, the Quadrant has this gorgeous dual-material handle, featuring a robust metal body along with an immaculately smooth bamboo wood insert that gives the Quadrant its signature style.

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The Quadrant’s blade feels almost reminiscent of a barbershop blade, with its rectangular profile. More popularly known as a sheepsfoot (for its sheep hoof-shaped tip) or a wharncliffe type blade, this particular style usually has a straight running edge that’s perfect for cutting/slashing. The lack of a defined tip makes this knife unsuitable for piercing, but some would suggest that this actually enhances the knife’s safety, while ensuring it’s used exactly in specific applications.

The knife’s silhouette is relatively rectangular, but the Gerber Quadrant makes up for it with its gorgeous design. The 7Cr17MoV steel blade features an anodized spine with a metallic edge that gives it a dual-tone finish, while the handle itself has two materials – the metal and the bamboo wood, creating an aesthetic that’s unmistakable. The knife sports a flipper for easily deploying the 2.7″ blade, with a frame lock that secures the blade in place while cutting.

The overall EDC is rather compact, measuring in at 4 inches when closed, and 6.7 inches when opened. At 4.3 ounces (121.9 grams), the Quadrant is lighter than most, making it a perfect EDC for carrying around indoors or outdoors. A pocket clip on the flipside of the handle lets you easily secure the Quadrant to your pocket or a pouch in your backpack, allowing you to whip it out when you need a handy, reliable blade. Gerber also offers a limited lifetime warranty on the knife, covering any product defects in assembly, manufacturing, or material choice.

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The Kershaw Misdirect is a sub-$30 Small Pocket Knife with the Attitude of a Big EDC Blade

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A part of Kershaw’s ‘Starter Series’, the Misdirect is designed to be compact, affordable, and reliable, making it perfect for people looking for their first EDC blade. However, that minimalist design, stone-washed reverse tanto blade, and smooth stainless steel are sure to captivate even seasoned EDC collectors and knife aficionados. Sitting at just 4-inches when closed and weighing just 3.2 oz. (93 g), the Misdirect is a masterclass in classic knife design – it’s small, but has a larger-than-life attitude, and can handle benign tasks indoors, as well as work equally well in tactical outdoor situations.

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With a blade that measures just 2.9 inches, the Misdirect falls closely short of the 3-inch margin required to be called a medium-to-large blade knife. The sub-3-inch blade comes crafted from 4Cr13 steel, with a BlackWash™ stonewashed finish that bestows a rather rustic appeal upon the blade. However, the sharp, slightly curved belly, and the reverse tanto profile make the blade highly capable of all sorts of tasks, from cutting and piercing to slashing, scraping, and even chopping with a rocking motion thanks to the slightly curved edge. Meanwhile, jimping on the top of the blade gives you a nice place to comfortably rest your thumb, while the knife’s flipper acts as a nice cross-guard to keep your index finger in place.

A flipper lets you quickly and reliably deploy the blade with either your thumb or index finger, while a frame lock holds the blade in place so it doesn’t shut while in use. To disengage the blade, just pry open a cutout in the frame and the blade comfortably folds back, getting secured shut for the next time you need your EDC.

The Misdirect has a satisfyingly slim stainless steel handle that measures 0.38 inches (9.8 mm) thick, with a built-in wide lanyard holder and a pocket clip that can be arranged in three different positions. Threaded holes on either side of the handle let you place the clip in multiple orientations, giving the Misdirect a unique customizability so you can stash it in your pocket just the way you want it, deploying it in seconds as you pull it out.

Given that the knife is a part of Kershaw’s Starter Series, it boasts an incredible under-$30 price tag that makes it a compelling purchase if you’re looking to own your first EDC blade. With how good it looks and how well it performs, it might just be your last purchase too!

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The Kershaw Iridium is a highly-dependable pocket knife with a classic design and a sub-$100 price tag

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If there ever was an emoji for a pocket knife, it would probably look like the Kershaw Iridium. Designed with an aesthetic that I can only describe as a modern classic, the Iridium ticks all the boxes with its clean aesthetic, grippy aluminum handle, more-than-capable D2 steel blade with a spear-point profile, and Kershaw’s new DuraLock technology that secures the blade in its open position while it’s in use. The Iridium is dependable, ambidextrous, and folds down to a 4.5-inch form factor that weighs a mere 3.3 ounces and fits right in your pocket after use.

Designer: Kershaw

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The Iridium boasts a comfortable 6061-T6 aluminum handle with a gray anodized finish. Its ambidextrous DuraLock mechanism ensures secure blade lockup, while the reversible deep-carry pocket clip makes it convenient for both left and right-handed users. The entire build uses black-oxide hardware for a sleek look and added durability.

At 7.9 inches overall and a weight of 3.3 ounces, the Iridium finds a comfortable balance between pocketability and functionality. The 4.5-inch closed length makes it easy to carry daily, while the 8-inch overall length tackles various EDC and outdoor tasks.

The Iridium’s crown jewel is its 3.4-inch D2 high-carbon tool steel blade. D2 steel offers excellent edge retention and wear resistance, making it ideal for everyday cutting chores. The blade features a utilitarian drop-point profile and a thickness of 0.107 inches, providing enough strength for tougher jobs. Jimping at the base of the spine enhances grip during precise cuts.

Deployment is smooth and effortless thanks to the KVT ball-bearing pivot system. The blade can be opened using dual thumb studs or a simple flick of the wrist with the DuraLock mechanism engaged. Kershaw backs the Iridium with a lifetime warranty, giving the EDC an heirloom quality so you can pass it down to your children.

The Kershaw Iridium is a compelling choice for those seeking a full-size, well-built EDC knife without breaking the bank. It boasts high-performance materials, a comfortable design, and a versatile blade profile – all at an accessible price tag. The Iridium is also available in a blacked-out version and a reverse tanto blade variant for people looking for something a little more edgy and unconventional.

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