Expensive EDC Knife. Why?

[tmcindy]

There are tools made for deburring aluminum and cutting/stripping wire. I don't expect a pocket knife to do those tasks.

Everything else you listed, my ZT0300 and/or ZT0452 does easily.

I only carry cheap knives, $30-40 range, if I think it's likely I'll lose one. And by 'lose' I mean, get it confiscated by security or something.

We were in Vegas last week and I was carrying a $30 Amazon, Chinese D2 ripoff of a Hinderer. We did some hiking in Red Rock Canyon and I wanted a fairly beefy knife. I also carried it all over the strip without incident but when we went on the High Roller, the giant Ferris wheel, I had to empty my pockets to through security. Guard said, no way. I offered him $40 to hold it. He said, no. I could have walked a mile, in 95 degree heat, back to the hotel, or I could throw it in the trash. I chose the trash. I hope that guard dug it out. It was actually a pretty decent knife.

I still had two more knives in my suitcase so cutting limes for my gin and tonic back at our room wasn't interrupted.

Reminded me of my short stint @ FedEx Express (got my CDL there). Had to work 'Input' for couple months before I could start my CDL training (Hey, I think it was worth it. Saved several thousand dollars & they don't make you stay there for 2 years. I probably would have stayed if it didn't take 12 years to go full time). Anywho, worked with this guy, BIG guy (6' 4", 350 lbs.) who owned a tree trimming business (He threw boxes there part time for the insurance), so, one day, as we were walking into work, through TSA security, the alarms went off and they were on him like flies on schit. Turns out, he still had a 4" blade on him that he forgot about (he always wore multi-pocketed coveralls). Rule there is; 4" or longer and you are gone. No questions asked. So, that was his last day there. Too bad, was a good guy.


p.s. 911 ruined everything. They also ended the 'Jumpseat' program. That was a MAJOR perk for many people.

 

[ghuns]

Reminded me of my short stint @ FedEx Express (got my CDL there). Had to work 'Input' for couple months before I could start my CDL training (Hey, I think it was worth it. Saved several thousand dollars & they don't make you stay there for 2 years. I probably would have stayed if it didn't take 12 years to go full time). Anywho, worked with this guy, BIG guy (6' 4", 350 lbs.) who owned a tree trimming business (He threw boxes there part time for the insurance), so, one day, as we were walking into work, through TSA security, the alarms went off and they were on him like flies on schit. Turns out, he still had a 4" blade on him that he forgot about (he always wore multi-pocketed coveralls). Rule there is; 4" or longer and you are gone. No questions asked. So, that was his last day there. Too bad, was a good guy.


p.s. 911 ruined everything. They also ended the 'Jumpseat' program. That was a MAJOR perk for many people.

The spring after 9-11 I toured the Hoover Dam. Walked through their security with a 2-1/2" CRKT KISS knife. Hell, I had flown there with it in my pocket without incident. They did everything but call SWAT. Caused quite the scene. I was like, WTF you think I'm gonna do with this? Chisel a hole in the f**king dam?

Anyhow, $20 meant a lot more to me back then and I walked back across the dam to the Arizona side where we parked and put it in the car before going on the tour.

 

[Elcardo]

Everyone is different so I understand wanting quality but personally I just keep my eye on the knife section at the big box stores and buy up anytime they have multi packs of cheap folders
Knives for camping or for the bug outs get a bit more funding

 

[two70]

I view knives as strictly tools and though I don't abuse them too often, I do tend to lose them so $100 is about the max I spend. I currently carry either a Kershaw Link or a Scallywag Privateer.

 

[KokomoDave]

Scallywag? I have the fixed blade gunner's mate!

 

[two70]

I keep trying to catch a gunner's mate on the blem sale list but they go fast. Hell, they seem to go fast on sale or not!

 

[kawtech87]

My EDC is an Emerson A-100. Because I'm hard on knives I carry a tough blade.

 

[DadSmith]

I view knives as strictly tools and though I don't abuse them too often, I do tend to lose them so $100 is about the max I spend. I currently carry either a Kershaw Link or a Scallywag Privateer.

I was going to get the Link but decided on the thinner blade of the Leek. It cuts through plastic wrap on pallets, and straps very easy, and works great at picnics for cutting steak up.

 

[chubbs]

I have a few jobs, but my actual salaried career is a mobile mechanic/fabricator in a weird industry. I use my knife, heavily and at times for things I shouldn't. Because of this, I carry nice over built blades that can take the abuse and not folded up on me. At my other jobs and on weekends, i carry nice knives do to the fact that I love precise tools. No different than my tool boxes being stock with tool truck wrenches instead of off brand wrenches. I'm pretty frugal on things but when I buy tools that I'm going to use frequently, I buy the best I can. Just a personal preference.

 

[Dean C.]

My SMF is with me 90% of the time, the rest of the time it's a Microtech of some sort. Like in my firearms I appreciate a very well made and precise tool. Plus I work in the metals industry so I can appreciate the work than goes into the high end stuff (like the cobalt alloy Dave mentioned, literally just made 36k~ pounds of it). Plus I have a wicked edge knife sharpener so all my knives are stupid sharp anyways.

Because I am proud of this picture , Larry Vickers actually posted this one to his Instagram

 

[Keith_Indy]

Analogy: I'm not going to use a 57 Chevy convertible to commute to work in heavy traffic unless I don't care about it getting damaged in an accident, wear and tear, and can afford to replace it.

 

[KokomoDave]

I keep trying to catch a gunner's mate on the blem sale list but they go fast. Hell, they seem to go fast on sale or not!

Mine is a pre-Christmas blem but darned if I can find anything wrong with it? Sheath is perfect too.

 

[bwframe]

Should the thread title be changed to "Expensive EDC prybar, screwdriver or scraper"?


.

 

[92FSTech]

I'm picky about knives. If I'm going to carry something around, it needs to be quality, it needs to work every time, and it needs to fit the needs that I have for it.

My biggest problem is that I lose them. I had a Zero Tolerance ZT0350 blem that I got for $85. It was an awesome knife, and spoiled me on the cheap knives that I had carried before. Inevitably, I ended up losing it. A replacement was $140, and I just couldn't bring myself to spend that on something I knew I was probably going to lose again.

I shopped around and found the Kershaw Clash (https://kershawguy.com/product/kershaw-clash-assisted-plain-edge-1605/). It has a reversible belt clip, a similar profile, and the same "speed-safe" flip open system, so it operates exactly like my old ZT. It's Chinese steel, and nowhere near as hefty as the 0350 and isn't quite as effective of a prybar, but it takes a good edge, locks up solid and does everything I need it to do. And it's $25 if you watch for deals. So I bought one and a spare, and I'm still money ahead by far.

I've been carrying this one for 5 years, lost it once but found it again, and it's still going strong. I've used it for all sorts of stuff, including cutting the ligature off the neck of a suicidal lady at work one time, and it's always gotten the job done. I bought them for my wife and son, too, and the speedsafe cam on one of theirs broke, but Kershaw sent me a replacement part for free under warranty, no questions asked. It's a decent knife, great company, at a good price. Not much more I could ask.

 

[printcraft]

Used… I don’t beat on em but they are not safe queens.

 

[Dean C.]

Also good knives do not have to be expensive to be nice , the knife pictured was $100~ at time of purchase (now discontinued). It's a Spyderco Delica with ZDP-189 blade steel which is commonly found in $1000+ specialty knives due to it's crazy hardness for a knife steel. It was a wedding present to my tool and die guy best friend and he still loves the thing.

 

[OurDee]

I carry different knives for different uses.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

My SMF is with me 90% of the time, the rest of the time it's a Microtech of some sort. Like in my firearms I appreciate a very well made and precise tool. Plus I work in the metals industry so I can appreciate the work than goes into the high end stuff (like the cobalt alloy Dave mentioned, literally just made 36k~ pounds of it). Plus I have a wicked edge knife sharpener so all my knives are stupid sharp anyways.

Because I am proud of this picture , Larry Vickers actually posted this one to his Instagram

I love that watch. Beautiful. But damn that's expensive. Maybe one day when I make the big boy bucks I can get one lol

 

[Dean C.]

I love that watch. Beautiful. But damn that's expensive. Maybe one day when I make the big boy bucks I can get one lol

Thank you, I really like my Hamilton's! The watch thread on here is actually responsible for this one. Definitely not cheap but the grey market is great for Hamilton's , you could probably snag one for $1,200~. Either getting a HK SP5 or a Seamster to celebrate the most recent major promotion

If you like a plain dial the "Murph" is also another excellent Hamilton and in the 42mm case size like the Khaki "Jack Ryan"

 

[churchmouse]

I carried a ZT301 for a long time. It rode in a custom leather “Holster” hand made by an Ingo member.
I added a ProTech tactical auto as a pocket carry along with the ZT.
Unlike Rhino I limited it to those 2 knives.
I have seen him produce 6 or more. He is my hero