The PERFECT EDC knife is...

[mad german]

my Dragonfly 2 in G-10. Seriously, while getting ready for work today, I grabbed it and put it in the small coin pocket of my Levi's. It fits perfectly. We have a "no weapons" policy, so I'm skirting the rules by bringing the knife to work, but it fits so well in that pocket that Milne will notice it.

My use of my daily carry, I feel, is not unlike 99% of you folks. I use my knife to open mail, a package or two, maybe a bag of chips, cut a stray thread on some clothes etc. I'm not a "hard use" user of my knives. I'm not a "tactical guy". I'm not a "knife fighter, needing the fastest deployment". I probably use my blades the same way that most of you do.

While I appreciate the design of my PM2, I just don't carry it nearly as much as my Delica and Dragonfly. That being said, I'd LOVE to find a Delica in G-10. So, if anyone has one they want to sell...

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you (and Sal & the gang, if he sees this) that the small knives have a DEFINITIVE PLACE and I hope that Spyderco continues to develop new small blades for us office folks.

Your thoughts?

Happy holidays everyone.

[twinboysdad]

Clay 3.5 is EDC undisputed champ for me. That said the Dfly HAP40 that a member here gifted me has been carried a whole lot for months. The cool thing about the Dfly is that you get virtually all the benefits of a larger knife and you can look an employer in the eye and state"this is not a weapon, this is a daily tool, a pocket knife".

[dplafoll]

I don't see any reason why Sal and Co. would stop developing small knives.
As for your question, that's so subjective as to be nigh-impossible to answer. But, if someone asks me "what's the best Spyderco for EDC?", my response is "what size?", and based on the answer, I point them to a Dragonfly on the small end, PM2 on the larger end, and in the middle I ask them their preferences on a choil and handle materials. Based on that further qualification, I recommend one of Delica, Sage, or Native.

[bearfacedkiller]

... the Military.

I agree with the fact that Spyderco is outstanding at making little big knives. If I didn't like big knives or if I couldn't carry one I would probably EDC a Chaparral. It is the best little knife in the lineup IMO. :)

[Nate]

I've never had a Dragonfly and sold my Delica because it didn't quite work for me, but I'm a big fan of small spydies.

The cf Chaparral still reigns supreme in terms of carry time, but I also have an Urban, UKPK, Native lw, Caly Jr, and a newly aquired Kiwi 4 in the edc mix. I have a desk job, so generally prefer 3" and under at work.

That said I still like larger folders outside of work and have my Millie in my pocket today. The Caly 3.5, PM2, and Manix 2 are also all outstanding :spyder:'s.

All perfect, just different! :D

[Mako109]

Caly 3.5
...or PM2 (but only w/ 3rd party deep pocket clip).

[abbazaba]

Agreed about the CF Chaparral. I love the FRN DF2, but I carry the Chaparral over the G10 every time. Everyone should own one :)

[michaelm466]

Small/Medium sized knives: PM2 & Southard
Large: Military and Manix 2 XL

Although the DF in ZDP-189 has been on my list for quite awhile, I generally go for knives in the 3.75-4.25" blade category, with the PM2 being one of the smallest I regularly carry.

[awa54]

On the subject of a G10 Delica... they may be a bit scarce, but the Worker sprint (which is shorter, but beefier than a Delica) is still available for $160-ish which is $40 to $140 less than the asking price for G10 Delicas in NIB condition.

I really like my G10 D'fly, but if I had to choose just one small EDC it would probably be the BB Forum Urban or the HAP40 D'fly, mostly because they weigh noticeably less than the G10 D'fly *and* have exceptional steel. But really any of the 3" and under light or medium duty Spydercos would be a great option.

I know this gets in to the splitting hairs category, but a Caly 2.5 (locking Urban) would totally kick butt as a small EDC.

[gdwtvb]

I find the Chaparral 2 to be the best EDC knife for my use. Disappears in the pocket and ready for anything. Of course I can't carry it every day, how could I neglect the Techno, the Sage 2, the Tusk, or the K2 by not letting them out to play? So many excellent Spydercos, so few pockets. I sometimes wish I was an Earl in Victorian England where I changed clothes five times a day so I could switch out knives several times in a single day...

Grizz

[Doc Dan]

The Delica, Chaparral, Caly3, and G10 DF2 are what I carry. I have often thought about ridding myself of all of the other knives I own and do not use much. However, sanity kicks in and saves the day.

[twinboysdad]

Native 5 LW is a really great EDC as well. The fact that mine is S110V makes it "special"

[Sharp Guy]

I change what I carry each day depending on what I'm doing, wearing, and what I feel like carrying. Often I carry just a small blade (Dragonfly, Chap, Urban, etc). Some days I carry something a little bigger and have a Manbug in another pocket.

[mb1]

It's hard to argue against the Military. It can do it all. But I recently (finally) picked up a Stretch Hap40. Holy smokes what a great knife! I don't have enough "miles" on it to fully comment yet, but I like it a LOT. :spyder: It's a thin grind, great steel, and a little better blade to handle ratio than the PM2 and Millie.

The DF2 is a mighty strong contender IMHO also. I'd still have to give the nod to the Millie for "one knife" arguments. But for true EDC general usage, there's not much a Dragonfly can't do other than "reach" when it just doesn't have the length.

BTW, anything that remotely hints at one choice with a bunch of Spydernuts is bound to cause blood pressure to rise. "One" and Spyderco...that just doesn't make sense!

[jdw]

For me: Small: DF2
Medium: GB1--my personal favorite and for me one of best knives Spyderco has ever made.
Large: Military

[ZMW]

Delica for me. I only have 5-6 Spydies, but the Delica is almost always in my pocket. I want to get a Millie or a manix XL, but how often will I carry them (I work at a desk all day). I love my PM2, but 80% of the time the delica slides into my pocket.

I went to Golden and handled just about every knife, Chap/mantra/Native/GB - but no small-med knife seems to handle as well as the Delica for my hand size. Chap was way too small. Native is close, but not quite as comfy.

A Delica in more speciality steels would be great! I missed the Hap40/SB train... ZDP is a maybe for me, but curious what is coming up next...

[JD Spydo]

... the Military.

I agree with the fact that Spyderco is outstanding at making little big knives. If I didn't like big knives or if I couldn't carry one I would probably EDC a Chaparral. It is the best little knife in the lineup IMO. :)

I'm right there with you BFK and I'm to the point to where I only want Sprint Run, Supersteel versions of the Military model. The C-36 Military has such a great array of ergonomics and the blades are relatively easy to sharpen. Other than jobs I had to do with my full Spyderedged companion folder I don't find hardly any cutting job I can't do with the C-36 Military model. I've even got my boss wanting one really bad :rolleyes:

Second to that bad boy I just love my C-60 Sprint Run, G-10 handled AYOOB model. If they ever do a Sprint Run of the Ayoob in a supersteel I'll get three of them.

[The Deacon]

I'd say that, unless you live a very regimented life, the "perfect EDC knife" does not exist. As an example, nine days of of ten I carry a Stretch, it's one of my favorite folders because it fits my hand perfectly and gives me about as much blade as possible in a package that rides comfortably at the bottom of a back pocket. However, there are days where, out an an abundance of caution, I choose to stick with something under 3" to comply with a silly law rather than running the risk, however slight, of losing more important rights by violating it.

[harronek]

Delica everyday for me .
My work Delica is the same knife everyday without exception , it has some custom scales and a shortened Hap40 blade ( I snapped the tip of the blade off )
After work and on weekends I have a selection of Delicas with different colors and steels so I mix it up a bit as to what I carry which keeps things interesting .
I have both larger and smaller Spydercos but I came to the realisation some time ago that the Delica is all I need with one exception , my GB Air is my going out special occasion knife that slips unseen inside a pocket of my suit jacket .

Ken

[ZrowsN1s]

My 3 most used spydercos in order of frequency of use.
1. Dragonfly
2. Delica
3. Para Military