[Closed] Knives, multi tools, EDC?

I've got a Leatherman Charge + tti, Skeletool CX, Style CS and Gerber Pocket Square knife. If I'm going to add anything, I'll try and make it a bit different to what I've already got. Probably a LM Free K4 next and maybe a SAK.

I really don't like the term EDC, dunno why, it just irks me 😂

My favourite multitool - the Hultafor Chisel Knife

Its a chisel and a knife,

... and a wrecking bar, paint can opener, axe, froe,  turf cutter, paint scraper, mastic applicator, butter spreader and teaspoon.

Its expensive at £7 - but now I've been using it most days for the last 3 years or so the amortised cost makes it easier to justify

I feccin hate the EDC tag. Every day carry to me is  my testicles, glasses, keys and wallet. Weapons don't come in the top ten things I need. 🤦

And "amortised".... Peak STW ****hattery

Had to Google amortised.😋

Should have titled this, show us your penknives. They're tools not weapons 🙁

Carried a Lee Williams/Kershaw OD-2 everywhere for years, really handy inexpensive wee knife with a flipper so you can open it one handed and it holds a good edge for ages, if i ever lose it ill be really pissed off as they're not made anymore

I feccin hate the EDC tag. Every day carry to me is my testicles, glasses, keys and wallet. Weapons don’t come in the top ten things I need.

They don’t in most peoples either, unless you’re classing a pocket knife as a weapon, which it isn’t. Neither are kitchen knives, however plenty of people get killed or injured with them, same with screwdrivers. A weapon is a tool used aggressively against another person, it doesn’t have to be a knife; I can weaponise a Bic Crystal if I have to, no particular skill required.
I carry a whole load of stuff for work, which includes a Gerber MT800 Legend multitool, pens of various sorts, a scraper that holds single-edged razor blades, flashlights, a small Spyderco knife with serrated hawksbill blade, notepads, tyre pressure and tread depth gauges, radio, handheld phone/tablet, plus my phone, keys, watch, glasses, wallet...
EDC is what you carry with you to help get you through the day, if that includes your balls, well good for you, but the term is just convenient shorthand, and from what I’ve seen other people carry I’ve dropped or adopted new things that help me get things done.
That Hultaför chisel knife looks very handy, I could use something like that around the house and garden. I’ve seen similar things as just a pry bar, but having the handle makes it more user friendly.
As far as pocket knives go, I’ve got loads, many are Spyderco knives, most are no longer UK legal, which is a shame, but the one I carry with me most is a CRKT Pilar; it’s not strictly speaking UK legal, because it has a frame lock, but it’s just so solid and easy to use, and just feels good in the hand, and it’s not really pointed, so not threatening. I don’t take it to work, far too easy to lose it, and it’s not much cop for cutting zip-ties, unlike the little Spyderco, which is perfect for getting inside the closed loop and slicing through the tie. The Ladybug’s blade is about 1.88”, it’s tiny.

WTF do you lot do that warrants carrying all that  crap "every day"?

I fear that you're all frustrated boy scouts that go looking for problems to solve requiring your fancy titanium pen that doubles up as a bolt action weapon.

😉

Frustrated fallen arched would be sas killers,now go and fix Karen in accounts printer,bring your knife.

WTF do you lot do that warrants carrying all that  crap “every day”?

Like I said - spread butter (dairy free spread actually) and stir tea (usually coffee)

@maccruiskeen - or slice Mr Kipling's exceedingly good cakes?

😜

When occasions for finer dining occur I also have one of these in the bottom of my toolbox

Hobo Knife

WTF do you lot do that warrants carrying all that  crap “every day”?

a. You barely notice you are carrying them in their hand tooled belt holsters

b. Have you never had to get the cellophane off a new pack of post-it notes in an emergency?

Ah, I remember the days when every boy in school carried a tool*

*Swiss army knife 😉

Irritating though it is, the term EDC (borrowed from the US firearms terminology) actually fits well with UK legislation. It actually refers to a folding pocket knife (with no locking mechanism) with a blade, the cutting edge of which does not exceed 7.62cm (3") . As such it can be carried anywhere in public in the UK legally without any further good reason or justification. Section 139 Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Any sharply pointed or bladed article that does not fit the definition in bold above, may NOT be in your possession unless you have a good reason or lawful excuse to have it with you. It's up to the person carrying the article to prove they have good reason for having it with them in public. So a carpet fitter on their way to/from work can lawfully carry a stanley knife, but can't have it with them in the pub that night. A darts player can have their sharply pointed implements with them in the pub on Friday night, but not at the football match the next morning. Little Johnny can carry a pair of compasses on the way to school if they're using them that day, but can't have them with him when he's hanging around the rec' with his mates that evening.

Multi-tools and pocket knives need a bit of thought. Many multi-tools have blades which lock out, and need more than a single folding action to close them. If you have to press a button or lever, or push a liner-lock out of the way in order to fold it back in, then it doesn't fit the definition. (Harris vs DPP and Fehmi vs DPP See Harris vs DPP and Fehmi vs DPP for Justice Popplewell's findings)

So if your multi-tool or the pocket knife you carry on a daily basis locks, you MUST have good reason on every occasion that you have it with you to avoid prosecution.

EDC has become a marketing device, as it differentiates between a knife you can carry and not have to justify, and one that you can carry, as long as (and only if) you have good reason to do so.

@somafunk nice little knife, I have a SOG Flash which is very similar in size and function. https://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-sog-flash-ii-fsa-8-plain-edge-grn-handle.htm

However, it doesn't fit the "EDC" definition, so be aware that in the UK you'll have to justify having it with you.

I got just a bog standard Leatherman for my birthday last year and it’s proved to be about the most useful multi tool I’ve ever had.

Big enough to actually be able to do stuff with, small enough to take anywhere without really noticing it.

I’m on the look out for a really nice Sheffield made folding knife for whittling and stuff as well 🙂

scapegoat, if i was ever stopped in the car then i imagine the billhook, machete and silky saw that permanently live in the boot will be more of an issue than a tiny pocket knife, not to mention the Leatherman wave, mora fixed blade knife and assorted stanley knifes kicking about, although staying in desolate galloway i prob have more of a justifiable right to have them with me than if i lived in london.

I used to carry a Leatherman copy at work, but I only used two of the tools. About a year ago I swapped it for a Topeak Ratchet Rocket, a small Bahco adjustable spanner that will do up to 13mm, a panel key, and a No7 Opinel knife.

I only carry it in he factory or yards, if I have to leave site I have to change out of my workwear so I don’t carry any of it out in public.

Knife wise I have a few Opinel knives in various tool boxes and one in my Camelbak. Rarely needed the on bike one.

Opinels are best used to cut cheese on your picnic

😉

Opinels are best used to cut cheese on your picnic

And sausage.

Those actually concerned with the law over what tools can or cannot be carried legally, are probably the least likely demographic to actually be stopped and searched...

Those actually concerned with the law over what tools can or cannot be carried legally, are probably the least likely demographic to actually be stopped and searched

I lost count of the number of people I administered adult cautions to because they didn't realise the novelty lockknives on their keyrings fell out of the definition. Booked into custody for warrants, drink driving, other non-violent offences, I reckon we'd find two or three a month at the very least. Home office guidance was to charge for all knife possession, especially young people, but I used defy the dictat if the circumstances warranted a common-sense rather than draconian response. Didn't make me popular with the beancounters, but there but for the grace of God.........

3 knives are my constant companion;
Alox Pioneer Swiss Army Knife
Alox classic (my keyring)
Spyderco UK Penknife G10

Sometimes a Ben Orford Nomad if I’m going for a walk in the woods and I have a few of his other knives for heavier work and carving.

The Hultafors chisel knife is fantastic for on the job “open carry” in its holster , a total pain -literally- out of it as it’s so sharp , truly a useful thing.

Those actually concerned with the law over what tools can or cannot be carried legally, are probably the least likely demographic to actually be stopped and searched…

...but also the demographic likely to be impacted most by a prosecution. I've never been able to find any case law about what "good reason" actually means, and worry about the potential for interpretation by officers or magistrates who don't understand sports like white water kayaking.

Why do you need a knife kayaking (honest question I don’t row or kayak or anything aquatic)?

In kayaking a knife is sensible to cut yourself free of entanglement.

In the last 35 years paddling I have used mine only 4 times. But there is 1 Guillemot, 1 Dolphin, 1 women and me who are all grateful I had a sharp knife in my BA.

Why do you need a knife kayaking

That exactly illustrates the problem! There's a risk of getting a kayak pinned against the rocks and having to pull it clear, or a kayaker capsizing and needing a rope thrown to them, etc. Whenever you are using a rope and there are forces you can't control (like rushing water) you need a quick way to release the rope. The phrase is "carry a rope - carry a knife" - but that was written by people who didn't have to cope with laws written around managing stressed city youths.

Gerber Suspension and Opinel No.8 here

I don’t think there is a problem. If I’m going paddling I have a good reason to be carrying a knife which would not normally be legal (eg a locking knife). It’s on or in my BA. I’ve paddled with serving and ex police officers and we have talked about this. No PC is going stop me from carrying a knife when it’s clear what the reason is.

I not aware of any kayaker being stopped, arrested and convicted of a knife crime for having a knife when going to or coming from the river/sea. Have you seen this?

I not aware of any kayaker being stopped, arrested and convicted of a knife crime for having a knife when going to or coming from the river/sea. Have you seen this?

No, but I'm not convinced it couldn't happen. I know a very experienced coach who no longer carries a knife on the outside of his BA, because of the law (notwithstanding that there may be other reasons to keep it in a pocket).

I use a Spyderco UKPK as its single handed opening and legal to carry without a good reason (so can just be left in your pocket all the time).

Why do you need a knife kayaking

Throw lines are regularly used for rescue, ropes and water can be dangerous; if there is entanglement, snag etc. Also used to cut cake.

WTF do you lot do that warrants carrying all that crap “every day”?

Most of the time I use a pocket knife to open boxes, knife is always in my pocket, I can take it out my pocket, open it, cut and put it back in my pocket with one hand whilst holding something else. Gets used for loads of random other things, letter opener, lever, wire stripper, wedge, scraper, cut fruit outside, remove splinter, cut string, marking, open packaging etc etc.

There are often better tools, eg I would take proper knife fishing, use wire strippers etc but a penknife that you have to hand is useful.

Now you've got me looking at paracording videos.
Have you got a link to the one you've done @Merak?

This dudes good

I’ve carried Swiss Army knives for 25ish years can’t imagine not having one on me.

I have a few on rotation but usual EDC is a huntsman for work, Spartan for out and about and a classic on the key ring, use them everyday.

SAK soldier or Hultafors/moras for camping and outdoorsy stuff though.

Similar to a few replies above I’ve carried a penknife of some kind (usually a SAK) for as long as I can remember and certainly years, decades even, before I’d ever heard the term ‘EDC’ used.
The one below is usually in my pocket, along with the pen also in the picture, and gets used several times a week for all kinds of mundane jobs, I can’t imagine not having a SAK either in my pocket or in my bag, after all you never know when you’ll need a beer opening or cake cutting to name but two!

View this post on Instagram

@kiwijohn

Snake knot was from this guy;

Cheers for that.
Want to make something like that for my Mercator Black Cat.

I looked for (and found) a tiny penknife in a boot sale last year. £1.50 cheers. Wanted one for the keyring. Turns out it’s a Richards of Sheffield with the little lantern logo. Well made and handy to cut stuff like string, tape, remove a splinter etc.

It sits on the keyring along with a Spokey tool and a bottle opener.

I’d probably replace them all with a small Alox SAK if it could have the spoke-key on it. < Now there’s a mod waiting to happen.

Have a few larger SAKs that have collected/been given over the decades, but they are for camping and DIY really. Victorinox Swiss Champ and (recently lost 😭) Victorinox Camper are both great multi-tools IME. Also have a Victorinox Swiss Flame (the discontinued one with the gas lighter) that only ever sat in a drawer. Saving it for the apocalypse. Should have at least tested it first.

Now I’ve seen that chisel knife up there I’m more fully aware that I have a multi-tool fetish. Which sort of matches the bike one. And the torch one. 😎

Those actually concerned with the law over what tools can or cannot be carried legally, are probably the least likely demographic to actually be stopped and searched…

My mother has had 3x 5" opinal locking knives taken off her in airports. She was in her early 70s at the time.

My friends brother had his nail scissors taken off him by security at Paris Charles de Gaulle about 10 years ago.

He was the pilot. Rules are rules.

My friends brother had his nail scissors taken off him by security at Paris Charles de Gaulle about 10 years ago.

He was the pilot. Rules are rules.

Quite right too. What if he decided to try to hijack the plane and crash it?

Or worse still deliver a manicure to the flight crew.

Quite fancy a James Brand Ellis but I'm sure there are equally good options for less than half the price. Also looking for suggestions for rechargeable torch for day to day use, preferably USB c charging.