I want a knife, like Daddy...
Recently Liesel asked Ro what he really wanted, and his response surprised us. It wasn't a book, new toy, or even some kind of sweet treat. It was a knife. About two years ago, I started carrying a knife. Was I influenced by the EDC (Everyday Carry) culture? Kinda, but honestly, I really enjoyed having a practical tool, and to be honest, since I have started carrying my knife, I have discovered that I have used it pretty much every day.
A knife has become such an important part of my EDC that my 3-year-old son has noticed and now wants to have one for himself (Ro, I am sorry, but not until you are older). I have gotten so used to carrying a knife that it feels bizarre not to have it on my person. For instance, today, I forgot to grab my knife as I walked out the door, and I can't tell you how many times I have reached for it.
There is one problem with EDC knives: there are way too many options. It is easy to get lost and overwhelmed by the different steels, actions, and brands, and we cannot forget the different prices. Knives can also be costly! If it wasn't for my brother-in-law giving me my first knife for Christmas, I would be still lost trying to make a decision. Ok, I am joking, but seriously the fact that my first knife was a gift made it a lot easier to get started.
I want to offer some help to anyone thinking about starting their EDC journey of carrying a knife. These will be beginner options that are on the cheaper end of the EDC Knife culture, but in my opinion, they are excellent options and worth buying.
Smith and Wesson SWAT
This was my first EDC knife. I really liked this knife, and it was a great beginner EDC knife. It is a 7.5-inch knife with a 3.2-inch blade, and it weighs about 3.9 ounces.
The knife has what the company calls a "M.A.G.I.C" assisted opening. Basically, what this means is there is a thumb knob that will release the spring-loaded blade. Let me tell you, it became pretty addicting releasing that blade at what felt like Mach Speed. An embellishment, yes, but according to my family, it seemed very fast and to some kind of scary. Therefore, I would advise caution when opening it in front of people.
Now, this wouldn't be a Smith and Wesson if it didn't have a safety, and this knife does not disappoint. There is a safety lock on the body of the knife, which will prevent the knife's M.A.G.I.C assist from releasing unexpectedly while the knife is in one's pocket. The scales are aluminum with Trac-Tec inserts. The grip tape feel has a nice tactile feel when held. Finally, the blade is 4034 Steel, and there is a black Oxide coating which gives the knife a really nice blacked outlook.
At a price point of $30, this is a fantastic knife with many great things going for it. However, I have two main issues with this knife, and they primarily revolve around the blade.
While the blade looks very sleek because of its blacked outlook, the Black Oxide coating is not durable. Within days, I had multiple scratches, and the paint started to chip off within a week. If you are obsessed with how your stuff looks, this will quickly become frustrating.
While the company says that the blade is 4034 steel, I have never seen 4034 steel act like this. For those who might not know, 4034 steel is on the cheaper end, but it is decently strong, great against corrosion, and easy to sharpen. This is why most kitchen knives use this steel. However, this blade is very soft, and it cannot hold an edge for long. I smooshed the tip of the blade by accidentally hitting a glass when engaging the M.A.G.I.C assist. The glass was perfectly fine, the knife was not...
If you are looking for a decent knife at a great price, knowing that you might have to replace it within a year, this is a great option, and you can't beat the $30 price point. Check out the link below.
CIVIVI Elementum
My word do I love this knife. Is it the best knife out there? No, of course not! However, it is the knife that I have on me every day. The Elementum comes in various looks and steels, but I really liked the stone-washed D2 steel with the wood scales.
The knife is 4.03 inches, and the blade is 2.96 inches long. I really like this size because the knife is big enough to tackle any situations you might face but is small enough that people do not seem as concerned if used in public.
The knife is a drop action knife that can become very addictive to flip open and closed. Also, the ergonomics of the knife make it comfortable to use and being 6'4" with large hands, I have never had trouble using it.
Finally, the D2 steel blade is great quality because of its durability and ability to hold an edge. For instance, I have owned this knife for about a year, and I sharpened the blade last month. The only downside of D2 steel is that it can corrode easily, but I have never experienced this problem.
There is only one thing that I do not like about his knife, and it is the "discrete" carry clip. Discrete is the company’s word, not mine. I really hate this clip because it catches on everything. I have bent it because it got stuck on my seatbelt and was ripped out of my pocket. I have scratched walls, chairs, and even poked Ro in the head because of it. And it all comes down to the design.
CIVIVI designed the clip to have a lip at the end that sticks out more than other knives. On the one hand, this makes it very easy to slip into my pocket, but it also makes it stick out more than other knives, and in my experience, it has caused more problems.
Aside from my rant about the carry clip, I really love this knife, and I would buy it again! While the price point is double that of the Smith and Wesson, the quality and durability has held firm. So if you are comfortable paying $65 for a blade, I would really recommend checking out the CIVIVI Elementum. Check out the link below.
CIVIVI Ki-V
Ok, this cute little knife was a Christmas gift from Liesel this year. Therefore, it has not been used as much as the Elementum or the Smith and Wesson. Still, I have found it to be a lot of fun to use. Its small size makes it easy to carry, and I will either keep it in my watch pocket or the front pocket of my bag.
The knife is a whopping 3.94 inches long, and the blade is only 1.55 inches. This knife is so small that many people did not notice it was a knife at first.
The Ki-V is a slip joint knife and functions very similar to the well-known Swiss Army knife. It seems that more people are more comfortable with slip joints instead of liner locks. I think that people are less afraid of cutting themselves with a slip joint.
The blade is 9Cr18Mov steel... yeah, confusing, right? Basically, it is a mid-range steel that will hold a decent edge, but it is not as strong as the D2 steel.
As of this moment, I do not have a complaint about this knife, other than I foresee frustration when sharpening this blade in the future because of how small it is. This little blade is excellent for what it was designed to do, simple everyday tasks. Therefore, if you need a knife to open boxes, cut rope or twine, or open letters, then this is the knife for you! Plus, you can't beat the price $45 price point! Check out the link below.