Fixed blade EDC

[RugerNurse]

These are all the rage right now, anyone carry one? Hard to find something that doesn’t have a tiny handle or a cramped handle. Any suggestions?

[olywa]

You're going to get suggestions for all the usual suspects, but you should check out Rainier Knives (rainierusa.com). The owner is brothers with the owner of Bradford Knives. Bradford makes them for him in Elmax steel. The Fastpak is a superb little fixie and I can get 4 fingers of my XL hand on it. You can buy it bare or with micarta scales (recommended). If you need something a little larger take a look at the Basecamp. These are both outstanding small fixed blades with very trim kydex sheaths.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Spyderco Ark
TJ Schwarz Overland Sport
Bark River PSK EDC
Bradford Guardian 3.5
White River Hunter

These are some of my favorites but I would say the most comfortable is the Bradford but it’s a little heavier than the others…I would love for Spyderco to introduce a few models

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Reiff Knives F3 EDC

SMITH & Sons Axiom

These are next on my wishlist

[Scandi Grind]

I have an Esee Izula, my brother has a CRKT Minimalist with a cleaver shaped blade.

The Izula is kind of thick for a small blade, but I find it works just fine for anything I has been used for. It's strong point is how easy it is to carry, fairly small and very flat. I carry it by tying it to my belt and letting it dangle inside my pocket. When it is sweatshirt or jacket weather I often just wear it on my neck beneath the extra clothing layer. Because the knife is so flat, be prepared to use it in a pinch grip often. Without much handle thickness it just doesn't feel very nice in a hammer grip or with a thumb on the spine, a pinch grip is pretty comfortable though. They do sell micarta scales for this knife, but I haven't tried them.

I haven't used the Minimalist much myself, but my brother likes it alot, especially because of the cleaver shape. It has thinner geometry than the Izula, which seems appropriate for the size of the knife. It did chip just a little on him, but I'm not sure what the cause was. Very basic steel on this knife with basic performance. The handle on this knife is destinctly three finger only, but it is about the most secure grip I can imagine for three fingers, and despite my prejudice against finger grooves, I was very surprised by how comfortable it is. It feels great in hand. For referrence, my hands are very small, but I have heard some positive things from people with larger hands as well. The sheath is not as secure as my Izula, but I don't have enough experience with it to say whether or not I would trust it to neck carry.

My biggest critisisms of the Izula are that it is a little overbuilt and the handle not being particularly comfortable. Both of these things may not be a negative depending on what you are after, and they are minor complaints for me. The biggest thing I don't like about the Minimalist is the cheaper, less secure sheath, and the steel it comes in. These two are probably some of the most common, and there are probably better options than either of these, but they are still good considerations I think.

[RugerNurse]

You're going to get suggestions for all the usual suspects, but you should check out Rainier Knives (rainierusa.com). The owner is brothers with the owner of Bradford Knives. Bradford makes them for him in Elmax steel. The Fastpak is a superb little fixie and I can get 4 fingers of my XL hand on it. You can buy it bare or with micarta scales (recommended). If you need something a little larger take a look at the Basecamp. These are both outstanding small fixed blades with very trim kydex sheaths.

I’ve been looking at this one for awhile. Glad it fits well. I’m not a fan of this finger choils with not much of a guard right behind the edge. But with the scales it looks nice. Love the fact it’s Elmax with Micarta!

[Scandi Grind]

Maybe worth looking at is the Knafs Co. Lulu. Ben Petersen design, made by White River in MagnaCut.

[RugerNurse]

Maybe worth looking at is the Knafs Co. Lulu. Ben Petersen design, made by White River in MagnaCut.

It looks like a great knife, just wish it wasn’t a scandi grind. They make a larger version in A2 apparently. Weird steel choice

[Naperville]

I have a Bradford 3 and 4 that I've carried.

Bought a plain edge Enuff 2 in K390 a few months back, and plan to buy another and a serrated version. Was planning to carry the Enuff 2 and then took possession of a Native Chief in S110V lightweight and love it.

But yea, small fixed blades are where it is at for self defense and EDC.

[Mk-211]

ESEE 3 or 4 are compact and easy to carry.

Another compact design collaboration between Snody and Ka-Bar, Snody Boss in S35VN.

[vivi]

These are all the rage right now, anyone carry one? Hard to find something that doesn’t have a tiny handle or a cramped handle. Any suggestions?

spyderco street beat and esee izula 2 are both very easy to carry and offer me a full grip.

ESEE 4 is a bit cramped behind the choil, and the choil itself is too small for me to effectively use.

Mora Companion isn't something most people would consider EDCing but I've carried mine a few times and they work well. Only $10 so you can try fb EDC cheap in case it isn't for you, sheath doesn't require a belt, feather light, full handle, carbon or stainless, etc.

LT Wright Frontier Valley is very nice for the $$, but was a touch small for my XL/XXL hands. But people with smaller hands should consider it. Great knife.

[cabfrank]

Stupid California laws make it very inconvenient, but otherwise I can certainly see the increasing popularity.

[cabfrank]

More on topic, I'd suggest trying a couple Mules. You get the benefit of trying new steels that way as well.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

ESEE 3 or 4 are compact and easy to carry.

Another compact design collaboration between Snody and Ka-Bar, Snody Boss in S35VN.

That is one of the best knives ever.

[Naperville]

The issue with knives from a self defense perspective that I see it that many knives are being designed as if they are going to be used for bushcrafting. They have way too much belly up near the tip and this will prevent 50% of the knives utility in a self defense application.

i.e. it will be good for a slash, but not a thrust. There will be little to no ability for the knife to penetrate anything.

I see it a lot. I see it in folders and I see it in fixed blades. That's fine if that is what floats your boat but it's not for me.

[Scandi Grind]

I imagine most people lean toward camp type use over self defense with small fixed blades, so that is probably why most of them are the way they are. I don't think many people like the idea of having small handles for a self defense blade, for example I typically carry my Izula in my left pocket and Endura in my right. If I had to grab one for defense it would deffinitely be my Endura, firstly because of the 5 in. handle, then also because of the longer blade and some of the reasons you mentioned.

This is one of the few small fixed blades I have seen with a definite fighting knife cant. It is as thick as my TOPS Fieldcraft despite it's small size, which probably makes it a pretty poor slicing knife, but it might still be able to pierce in a stab alright.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

The issue with knives from a self defense perspective that I see it that many knives are being designed as if they are going to be used for bushcrafting. They have way too much belly up near the tip and this will prevent 50% of the knives utility in a self defense application.

i.e. it will be good for a slash, but not a thrust. There will be little to no ability for the knife to penetrate anything.

I see it a lot. I see it in folders and I see it in fixed blades. That's fine if that is what floats your boat but it's not for me.

Naperville, would you recommend a stainless or carbon steel Mora knife a good emergency self defense knife or not?

[gooeytek]

This one's my favorite:

A David Mary custom wharnie in Magnacut

[benben]

Just recently bought a Bradford 3 in AEB-L and a Armatus Carry Sheath, both very nice pieces, I'm somewhere around $150.00 in. I like this setup but for me it'll never replace a folder!

[SpyderEdgeForever]

How likely is a Magnacut Mora Knife and if they made one would you buy it?