EDC Knife Reviews

Comments

1. mike bunner says

   February 24, 2012 at 9:50 pm

   for me, an EDC knife is all you described., emphasis for me should be on one hand, ,thumb hole opening. ergonomics, as you call it, is also important. i have to like the way the knife fits in my hand or the whole thing is sort of an exercise in futility!blade shape is also an important consideration for me, tho not so much quite so.

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   • Dan says

     February 25, 2012 at 2:01 pm

     Thank you Mike! I agree, ergonomics (well, how it fits in your hand) is critical – otherwise it just doesn’t get used. Thanks for stopping by my friend. Take care.

     Dan

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2. Bill says

   May 23, 2012 at 4:23 pm

   In regards to your review of the Cardsharp 2…

   I purchased a couple of the original Cardsharp some time ago. One to leave in the box and the other to actually use. I have to say that the original incarnation of this knife was as sharp as the devil right out of the box. I did the paper test the same as you did in this review and it took nearly no effort. I was quite impressed, actually. I received my order for the Cardsharp 2 in the mail today with high expectations. I’ll put it mildly by saying it was not the highlight of my day. The condition of the blade was exactly as yours. I’m actually surprised they even sent it to you and requested you review it. I would be embarrassed. The only improvement to the design is the locking mechanism. The first one only had a minor lip which the blade tucked under to keep it in place. Maybe quality suffered on this model because they wanted to meet demand faster this time. Their first model was hard to get your hands on unless you were willing to wait a month or so. But at least that one was worth it. As a backup blade, this thing is great (if it’s as sharp as the first one). Anyone expecting more and bashing it for not being so may as well go and give a Prius a bad review for not keeping up with a Lamborghini.

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   • Dan says

     May 24, 2012 at 8:07 am

     Hey Bill,

     Thanks for the insight, it’s great to have someone here that owns both the first and second generation of this knife. I do not know what exactly was going on with the edge – I thought maybe I got one of the earlier versions of the CS 2, and maybe they were still working out the kinks. To be honest, it’s not a huge deal for me since I was able to put an edge on it without much effort, but it’s a pretty large detail to overlook for a knife.

     That said, I think you summed it up well – this is a backup blade at best, and you really shouldn’t expect full size knife performance out of it. It’s also a cool design for people who appreciate that sort of thing.

     Thanks again,

     Dan

     Reply

3. Matt W says

   July 16, 2016 at 8:50 am

   Great reviews. Serious carriers dont just grab anything pointy off the shelf when looking for their next edc. Your info on such a wide range of blades is exactly what we look for. Thank you.
   Drive on.

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   • Dan says

     July 17, 2016 at 6:07 pm

     Matt,

     Thanks for the kind words. We take our EDC knives seriously here, and I am glad you are enjoying the site.

     Cheers,

     Dan

     Reply

4. Phil NY says

   December 17, 2019 at 3:23 pm

   Thank you for the insight. You couldn’t put it any better regarding EDC will vary for everyone pending on both the application and environment in which one tends to use it for. I’m bummed because for me, my favorite EDC (after experimenting with many blades since I was 8 years old) has been a $35 blade I picked out of the bunch at a gun show- the Böker Plus “Hyper” knife, and it is discontinued.
   I find it perfect for my use in everyday, from its slim profile, secure carrying clip, diverse blade, and all the subtle useful and practical design put into this small EDC tactical knife. I’ve seen some reviews people have made about it, and I highly disagree with their negative aspects of it. What seems to be the main drawback for most who have reviewed it is the pricing. I can say from my personal experience, I don’t think you could purchase a better EDC for the price other than maybe the Cold Steel Working Man Folder.
   The Hyper is light, slim, slight-bellied semi-drop point blade for multiple applications. This is just part of where I find its value. The locking mechanism has a small ball bearing installed in it, so while folding the blade into the closed position, the ball bearing reaches a cavity located at the base of the blade, drawing it in tightly to the handle and securing it into the closed position to keep from folding open in your pocket. A lot of knives have this design, but few have executed it as well as Böker has. I know I’m rambling, but no one will understand what I’m talking about unless they’ve had years of carrying different EDC’s as I have.
   The blade steel is 440C, so it’s not great, but I sharpen regularly for being taught (as most know) that the most dangerous knife in the world is a dull one. Sure the steel doesn’t hold an edge as long as some others like VG10 or HC… but it holds descent and fairly well against elements like water, hydraulic oil, etc because it’s stainless. For me, it is also partially a “beater” knife and the harder the steel the more bridle the knife will be, and if you chip it, the harder it is to sharpen and get that “dent” out as well (again, my personal opinion from what works for ME).
   The G10 grip (steel underlay, so its very sturdy) fits my hand perfectly, and that will vary for most. I have a medium sized hand, so it’s perfect. I think comfort is definitely towards the top of the list simply because a knife can be dangerous (obviously for multiple reasons), especially if not secured properly in your hand. But I’ve used mine for a wide range of applications such as opening mail, sharpening a pencil, opening up boxes, cutting rope on construction sites, stripping wire, light-duty prying, making funnels out of beverage bottles, etc. I mean the list is endless from work, home, and public use. I even trimmed my moms fingernail for her the other day when she had a snag while taking her to lunch. It is my most useful tool.
   If you can get your hands on a Böker Plus Hyper (as some online sites still have some left), I promise you for the price you most likely WILL NOT be disappointed. It is a very underrated knife (again, in my opinion) designed by a reputable Hawaiian blade designer, Chad Los Banos, of Böker.
   Anyways, sorry for the ramble for anyone this may have inconvenienced. Definitely a “dork” when it comes to this type of stuff. If you read this all, then I highly appreciate it. I just have a huge interest in blades (especially EDC’s), with 24 years + of multiple blade design usage, and no one to really share my interest with.
   Cheers.

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