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EDC FOLDERS: ALWAYS WITH YOU, ALWAYS USEFUL
It’s with you all the time and it gives you confidence that you can tackle any challenge you’ll face during the day. An everyday carry knife resides quietly in a pocket, yet stands ready to open packages, make immediate repairs, improvise solutions to problems large and small, and, in a pinch, encourage a hoodlum to make a hasty retreat.
Let’ have a look at EDC Folders Buyer’s Guide 2023:
CRKT SQUID II: EVERYTHING AN EDC BLADE SHOULD BE
Columbia River Knife & Tool has produced various versions of Lucas Burnley’s Squid frame-lock folder over the years. Models have varied in size, blade steel, and handle material. Some were assisted openers too. CRKT’s most recent iteration of the design might be the best yet.
The Squid II is being offered for now in a limited run of 500 units, but I’m hoping CRKT will make it a regular in its product line. So, what’s different with this model? The Squid II is made in Italy for one, a country that’s been turning out some excellent knives for a number of knife companies.
This model features a liner lock, not a frame lock. That means you can put full handle scales on both sides of the knife. Those handle scales are green Micarta, which provide a nice feel in the hand and a good gripping surface without being abrasive.
The Squid II features a 2.68-inch blade— larger than all the other Squids except the Squid XM. It’s a size that is useful for most purposes, but isn’t likely to get you in trouble in oppressed jurisdictions that put limits on blade length. The blade is made of Böhler M390 steel with a stonewashed finish. This knife is a manual opener and features both a flipper and dual thumb studs. Opening this knife is a smooth operation with its IKBS ball-bearing pivot system. The liner lock clicked in with positive engagement.
I found the blade shape to be very much to my liking. The edge sweeps up at about the same angle as the point drops from the spine, so this is really a spear-point blade. The blade is a sturdy 0.15-inch thick and because it isn’t especially pointy, you aren’t likely to damage the tip if you stick to doing knife-appropriate things. It’s 1.06-inches wide, which gives the blade a stubby look that shouldn’t frighten onlookers.
Other features include a deep-carry pocket clip that’s limited to right-side, tip-up carry, and an elongated lanyard hole that extends beyond the handle scales.
I carried the Squid II for several weeks. During that time I used it for chores around the house and on a few trips to the woods. It rode well in my pocket and the blade edge held up well. The Squid II is priced at a suggested $185, and that’s very much in line with a knife that is in every way a quality build with excellent materials.
Specifications
CRKT Squid II
Overall Length: 6.97 inches
Closed Length: 4.25 inches
Blade Length: 2.68 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch
Blade Steel: Böhler M390 w/stonewashed finish
Handle Material: Micarta
Lock Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Origin: Italy
MSRP: $185
CRKT.com
GERBER GEAR GERBER SAVVY
Overall Length: 8 inches
Closed Length: 4.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch
Blade Steel: CPM 20CV
Handle Material: Carbon fiber
Locking Mechanism: Bar lock
Weight: 3 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $250
Buck Knives
BUCK 838 Deploy Auto
Overall Length: 8.75 inches
Closed Length: 5 inches
Blade Length: 3.25 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.120 inch
Blade Steel: 154CM steel
Handle Material: Sniper gray Cerakote-coated aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Button lock
Weight: 4.25 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Pushbutton automatic deploy, slide safety
MSRP: $189.99
Al Mar Knives
AL MAR 3.6” S.E.R.E. 2020 G
Overall Length: 8.38 inches
Closed Length: 4.8 inches
Blade Length: 3.6 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch
Blade Steel: D2
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 4.7 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Assisted opener
MSRP: $130
Coast Products, Inc.
COAST DX227
Overall Length: 7.4 inches
Closed Length: 4.15 inches
Blade Length: 3.25 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.0625 inch
Blade Steel: 7Cr17 stainless steel
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Double lock
Weight: 3 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $39.99
Ontario Knife Company
ONTARIO Ti 22 EQUINOX
Overall Length: 7.44 inches
Blade Length: 3.03 inches
Blade Steel: S35VN
Handle Material: Titanium
Weight: 2.4 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $137.95
Columbia River Knife & Tool
CRKT ATTABOY
Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Closed Length: 3.8 inches
Blade Length: 2.73 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.13 inch
Blade Steel: D2
Handle Material: Glass-reinforced nylon
Locking Mechanism: Deadbolt lock
Weight: 3.5 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
Other: Assisted opener
MSRP: $100
ESEE Knives
ESEE PINHOTI
Overall Length: 8.25 inches
Closed Length: 5.75 inches
Blade Length: 3.25 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.125 inch
Blade Steel: 1095 carbon steel
Handle Material: Brown Micarta
Sheath: Leather taco-style belt pouch
Weight: 3.8 ounces without sheath
Origin: USA
Other: Friction folder
MSRP: $236.95
Farid Mehr Knives
FARID MEHR MINI K2
Overall Length: 8.4 inches
Blade Length: 3.9 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.197 inch
Blade Steel: CPM S90V
Handle Material: Titanium
Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
Origin: UK
MSRP: $700
Instagram: @faridmehrknives
Gerber Gear
GERBER SLIMSADA
Overall Length: 8.03 inches
Closed Length: 4.55 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.1 inch
Blade Steel: D2, stonewashed finish
Handle Material: Olive linen Micarta
Locking Mechanism: Pinch plate
Weight: 2.68 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $60
Half Face Blades
HALF FACE CAVNER FOLDER
Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Closed Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch
Blade Steel: S45VN
Handle Material: Titanium
Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
Weight: 3 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Black PVD coating, jungle wear carbon fiber inlay
MSRP: $385
Havalon Knives
HAVALON REDI
Overall Length: 7.25 inches
Closed Length: 4.25 inches
Blade Length: 2.75 inches
Blade Steel: AUS-8
Blade Thickness: 0.031 inch
Handle Material: Polymer reinforced w/stainless steel
Lock Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 3.2 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
Other: Patented REDI lock system allows semi-permanent blades to be replaced in a few seconds. Comes with 1 drop-point blade and 1 partially serrated drop-point blade
MSRP: $54.99
Kershaw / KAI USA
KERSHAW CARGO
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Closed Length: 4.3 inches
Blade Length: 3.2 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.125 inches
Blade Steel: D2
Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon
Locking Mechanism: Mid-Lock
Weight: 2.3 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $71.99
Spyderco, Inc.
SPYDERCO LIL’ NATIVE WHARNCLIFFE
Overall Length: 5.86 inches
Length Closed: 3.47 inches
Blade Length: 2.44 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.125 inch
Blade Steel: CPM S30V
Handle Material: G10
Lock Mechanism: Compression lock
Weight: 2.5 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $203.50
Spyderco, Inc.
SPYDERCO STRETCH 2 XL
Overall Length: 8.9 inches
Length Closed: 4.97 inches
Blade Length: 3.99 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.118 inch
Blade Steel: CPM Cru-Wear
Handle Material: G10
Lock Mechanism: Back lock
Weight: 4.6 ounces
Origin: Japan
MSRP: $406.50
Woods Monkey
WOODS MONKEY BANANA PEEL
Overall Length: 6.9 inches
Closed Length: 4.5 inches
Blade Length: 2.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.125 inch
Blade Steel: A2, AEB-L, MagnaCut, S35VN, CPM-3V, CPM-154
Handle Material: Kydex, Micarta, G10
Weight: 2 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: World’s first modular friction folder, lets you swap blades, handles
MSRP: Starting at $114.94
Demko Knives
DEMKO AD20.5 3V Knife Center Exclusive
Overall Length: 7.63 inches
Length Closed: 4.5 inches
Blade Length: 3.2 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.125 inch
Blade Steel: CPM 3V
Handle Material: Red Grivory
Lock Mechanism: Shark lock
Weight: 3.53 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $199.99
GiantMouse
GIANTMOUSE ACE CLYDE
Overall Length: 6.97 inches
Closed Length: 3.94 inches
Blade Length: 3 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.118 inch
Blade Steel: Elmax w/satin finish
Handle Material: Denim Micarta
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 2.8 ounces
Origin: Italy
MSRP: $175
(TARRERIAS-BONJEAN) TB OutDoor
TB OUTDOOR C.A.C. S200
Overall Length: 9.25 inches
Length Closed: 5.5 inches
Blade Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.157 inch
Blade Steel: Nitrox w/black finish
Handle Material: Black PA6
Lock Mechanism: Axis lock
Weight: 6.88 ounces
Origin: France
MSRP: $127
Deejo
DEEJO 37G TATTOO VIKING
Overall Length: 7.87 inches
Length Closed: 4.33 inches
Blade Length: 3.74 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.35 inch
Blade Steel: Z40C13
Handle Material: Olive wood
Lock Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 1.31 ounces
Origin: France
MSRP: $89.90
Willumsen Copenhagen
WILLUMSEN COPENHAGEN ZERO 7
Overall Length: 8.25 inches
Length Closed: 4.75 inches
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Blade Steel: 440C
Handle Material: OD green GRN
Lock Mechanism: Cross bar
Weight: 4.9 ounces
Origin: China
MSRP: $69
CONDOR TOOL & KNIFE
CONDOR TOOL & KNIFE WENDIGO
Overall Length: 7.09 inches
Closed Length: 3.75 inches
Blade Length: 3.48 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.118 inch
Blade Steel: 1095 high-carbon steel
Handle Material: Paper Micarta
Lock Mechanism: Frame lock
Weight: 3.53 ounces
Origin: El Salvador
MSRP: $117.91
Fällkniven AB
FALLKNIVEN RL1ey
Overall Length: 6.50 inches
Closed Length: 3.74 inches
Blade Length: 2.76 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch
Blade Steel: Elmax
Handle Material: Elforyn Super Tusk (imitation ivory)
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 2.57 ounces
Origin: Japan
MSRP: $275
Fällkniven AB
FALLKNIVEN U1ic
Overall Length: 5.83 inches
Closed Length: 3.39 inches
Blade Length: 2.52 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.10 inch
Blade Material: Elmax
Handle Material: Desert ironwood
Locking Mechanism: Slip joint
Sheath Material: Cordura pouch
Weight: 2.57 ounces
Origin: Japan
MSRP: $243
Giant Mouse
GIANTMOUSE ACE JUTLAND
Overall Length: 8.15 inches
Length Closed: 4.8 inches
Blade Length: 3.35 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.132 inch
Blade Steel: Elmax with stonewashed finish
Handle Material: Orange G10
Lock Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 4.2 ounces
Origin: Italy
MSRP: $195
A version of this article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2023 print issue of Knives Illustrated Buyer’s Guide.