Friend of mine showed me his Benchmade Mini-Infidel and I realized at that point I need a pocket knife. Maybe not an auto OTF but they are interesting.

I've looked at BM, Kershaw, Zero Tolerance, Spyderco among others and it's paralysis by analysis.

What do some of y'all carry and what are some suggestions?

Love my Benchmade 940. Good steel, smooth opening, light weight.

Best pocket knife I have ever owned.

Any Benchmade is a good knife. I prefer the Axis lock system, any Benchmade is great. My go-to, everyday (jeans, slacks, shorts, whatever) is an HK Mini-Axis, which is just a rebranded Benchmade. Tough little knife, perfect size for EDC. A Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is also a great workhorse, but may be a little large for EDC for some. I've never owned (or even handled) a ZT, but they're supposed to be great knives.

Kershaw Blur is a good bang fro your buck knife. I have a Benchmade assisted opener that I carry most days, but I can't remember the model.

I also have an OTF auto like this one: http://ravencresttactical.com/. It was from a different company, but the same knife. I really like it.

Spider Co

my EDC, benchmade mini grip with drop point blade.:

https://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-Griptilian-Drop-Point-Black-Finish/dp/B000NZQH4K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499452159&sr=8-1&keywords=Benchmade+Mini+Grip

Any of the assisted opening Ken onion series from Kershaw are really good for a decent price. I have the leek and like it lot. If I had money to blow, I'd pick up a scallion because I like that blade shape better

I know people loved Benchmade, but I really don't like their opening mechanism compared to kershaws speed safe system

Classic Buck knife gets the job done for me most days.


But every now and then I'll carry a Benchmade Griptilian.

Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 (small)...

It is probably overkill for an EDC but it is what I have so I carry it. No real point in owning a nice knife if you aren't going to use it.

I would recommend anything from Benchmade. I bought my brother one and it never leaves his side.

I had a Benchmade Griptilian for several years, lost it this past winter, and ordered a new one the next day. That's how much I like this knife. I also carry a Case trapper in my pocket, because well, I likes my knives.

Benchmarde mini-griptilian was my EDC for almost 5 years when I lost it a few months ago. Held up very well and kept a sharp edge. Would absolutely recommend

BenderRodriguez said:

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Love my Benchmade 940. Good steel, smooth opening, light weight.

Best pocket knife I have ever owned.

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This

I've got Benchmade, ZT, and Kershaw. Most bang for your buck is definitely Kershaw. Favorite carry is ZT.

Kershaw Blur is great bang for the buck. The Benchmade mini-griptilian is nice, but find myself carrying the Blur more often since I don't feel as bad beating it up or if I lost it.

Spyderco is the best bang for your buck. I carry a delica.

CUTCO serrated folding 'nuf said.

I'd share a picture of my 940, but photobucket.

For how big the blade is, it carries like a very small blade, because its light weight.

Benchmade Impel Lurch. It's a 1.95" auto. Love mine

Appreciate all the feedback thus far.

I can see how someone who only wants one, will quickly find themselves with several.

http://www.protechknives.com/knives/index.asp

Good enough for grandpa, good enough for dad... Good enough for me.

Benchmade CLA

My EDC is one of the following depending on what I grab out of the safe in the morning:
Kershaw Skyline
Kershaw Leek
Kershaw Chive

BCO07 said:

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Any of the assisted opening Ken onion series from Kershaw are really good for a decent price. I have the leek and like it lot. If I had money to blow, I'd pick up a scallion because I like that blade shape better

I know people loved Benchmade, but I really don't like their opening mechanism compared to kershaws speed safe system

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Ken Onions are amazing. Opening mechanism is great and you will forget it's even in your pocket

One thing of note is that ZT uses the same opening mechanism that the Ken Onion kershaws use "speed safe". I think ZT is now owned by kershaw. ZT uses better materials, and are therefore more expensive, but handle a lot the same as kershaw knives.

For me, the key to not loosing a knife is never setting it down. To that end, I suggest a knife that is as easy to close and get back in your pocket as it is to get out and open.

I carry and recommend the Benchmade 940 (mine is a 943blk) because I didn't like the green. It is perfect size and weight for edc, and the s30v steel holds an edge for a long time. It opens as fast as an assisted knife, but closes much faster. Which is why it's been in my pocket almost every day for 4.5 yrs.

I recently bought Kershaw Cryo II with the G10 handle and loved it for about three weeks until the bearing on the SpeedSafe crapped out. I replaced it with a Kershaw CQC-6 that I like a lot but it's a little big for EDC. I wish I could have faith in SpeedSafe again. I'd buy another Cryo II.

Spyderco Delica 4 because it actually cuts well. Any Spyderco knife will cut well. I have some ZT knives, but they have such thick blades that they suck at slicing. The kershaw leek is OK, but I hate the blade steel. I love the VG10 in the Spyderco Delica. Spyderco's H1 steel is nice too.

I'll second the Kershaw Leek. Love that knife so much I bought my dad a personalized one for his retirement and he loves it too. Also have a Spyderco but I carry the Leek 4 days out of 5.

Marauder Blue 6 said:

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I recently bought Kershaw Cryo II with the G10 handle and loved it for about three weeks until the bearing on the SpeedSafe crapped out. I replaced it with a Kershaw CQC-6 that I like a lot but it's a little big for EDC. I wish I could have faith in SpeedSafe again. I'd buy another Cryo II.

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Instead of buying another Cryo II, you should check out the Link. It's about the same size, but it's much more comfortable to use. It's actually a recycled ZT design, but trust me it is a much nicer knife than the Cryo II (which I also own), and it's actually made in the USA!

Or you could take my earlier advice and spend the coin on a Benchmade 940.

Juicyfan said:

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It opens as fast as an assisted knife, but closes much faster.

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I don't agree with this. I went to store with the intention of buying a Benchmade a month or two two ago because I want a drop point knife and they get so much hype. I was really disappointed when I actually handled it. I felt like the axis system no different than a $15 Chinese Gerber. Guess it's all personal opinion. I ended up leaving with some shells and new sunglasses instead.

Kershaw Rainbow Leek. Simply the best.

Go somewhere where you can handle some knives. I really like a thumb hole for opening, which is standard on most spyderco knives but harder to find on other brands. I'm also a huge fan of the axis lock for quick, secure one handed operation. I ended up getting a benchmade bone collector (yuck) model and just pretend it doesn't have that stupid logo on it. Had it 8 years, d2 steel blade with a modified sheepsfoot profile and g10 scales. It's great for everything from food prep to skinning and quartering a pig.

I'd love a carry a spyderco because they're so thin and have the thumb hole to open the blade, but I hate liner locks almost as much as I hate lockbacks, which sums up a huge portion of their line.

I carry my Grandpa's Case from time to time, but more for nostalgia than anything else. It sucks to use compared to my benchmade.

I bought a Benchmade 940 about 5 years ago based on a TexAgs thread. Definitely no regrets.

Historically I used to either lose or break my EDC. So I started buying cheap knives. Based on that thread years ago, I took the plunge and spent decent money on the knife. The 940 has survived and I still carry it everyday.

I would recommend.

+1 for Kershaw Leek. Got one super cheap in a Woot buy several years ago. Still carry it everyday. Not the sexiest but for an EDC it is perfect for me.

Was it a griptillian that you were handling?

If so, I agree that they kinda have a cheap feel to them. I think it's the plastic grips, but a lot of people swear by them, so they must not be that bad. Also it takes a little bit to break in "the action" on the Benchmades, but after you open and close them a few hundred ttimes they get smooth as butter. (Note: it took me about one evening to open it about 500 times, and it was good to go)