Here are my two favorite Every Day Carry pocket Knives. Now this is HIGH praise given how many pocket knives I have lying around. These two wind up in my pocket the most.
My two favorite knives from my two favorite knife makers. A Kershaw Zing and a Columbia River Vertex OK let’s have a look at their pocket clips.
Both are currently configured for tip-up carry, but the clips are 3-point adjustable. I generally prefer right-hand tip-down carry….but I also just carry a knife however it comes out of the box, and I find that tip-up or tip-down doesn’t make a bit of difference in my hand.
Now the Vertex clip is unobtrusive and very functional, now the Zing is flamboyant and large. I have two Kershaw knives with goofy clips like this, and frankly I REALLY like them. They look cool and they’re overbuilt. Still this clip would look crap on a knife like the Vertex, so it depends on the package.
Let’s first talk about the Vertex. This is my “executive knife”. Its very striking, subtle, and elegant. I had hoped to get the model with the rosewood inserts, but at the NRA con all they had were the G10 inserts which didn’t floor me at first glance, but boy they really are pretty the more you look at it. And if you go for hillbilly chic like I sometimes do, clipping this to the pocket of your dress suit looks awful cool.
The blade is a sturdy drop-point which is also my preferred blade style (tho again I thought I preferred it more than I do when I carry other blade styles and don’t really care) with a VERY thick spine, which just always enjoy seeing. Also this knife is a CRAZY assisted opener. It has a thumb-stud like a standard knife, but if you push the stud up like a normal knife you’ll just grind a grove in your thumb it with. Instead you need to push the blade DOWN to unlock it from its detent, then a small push out and the heavy leaf spring engages and the blade flips open and locks in alarming speed. I found the best way to open the blade is to hold it in my hand with my thumb on the scale and simply rotate my thumb off the scale onto the stud and push it down. Essentially the blade could pass for a switchblade, but I guess since all the manipulation is done on the blade it doesn’t count. As an assisted its much more complicated than a conventional knife, and I will say one of my nephews managed to get this unit locked up at camp this summer…I think it was just silt in the action as a liberal drenching with WD-40 seemed to get everything working again in short order.
Now on to the Zing. This is more of a simple knife. The scales are made of textured nylon which feel like canvas to the touch. The blade has a pair of thumb studs on them that I’m not a fan of, but its big selling point is its flipper. This knife opens quick, easily, and positively with a push of the flipper. The action is BUTTER smooth. Also for those of you who may consider a pocket knife as a viable defensive weapon, the flipper on the Zing does double as a blade guard, so if you DID happen to use this defensively, you stand a better chance of not ruining your hand in the course of things. Now let’s look at the blade:
The blade has scallops all down the length of it. Kershaw says they did this just to give it a striking look…but I find them VERY functional on two levels. You may notice that my #1 cutting purpose is opening boxes at work and home. The scallops on the blade make for minimum steel touching cardboard when you make a cut so the blade slides through the cardboard with greater ease. Also with that lower surface area I find that adhesive residue doesn’t collect on the blade very well. Also the scallops don’t seem to collect dirt, so overall this knife always looks clean even when its been run hard.
Both knives are locked in place with liner locks. Both knives have GREAT edges and edge retention. The Vertex seems to hold a scary sharp edge, but both are great. I will note when I opened the Vertex it was very sharp…but there were tiny burrs all down the blade. I have about a half-dozen CRKT knives around the armory, and this is the first of this I’ve seen. Also about 3 passes on a ceramic stone cleaned them right out so no harm no foul.
The Zing occasionally spots some stains on it. I can quickly clean that up with a scrubbing pad and some gun oil which keeps the rust away.
Love these knives, and I couldn’t recommend them more!
So helpful! I really want a fixed blade knife for trekking around the forrest etc, but the pocket knife I bought is not wowing me. I have a little Gerber I bought at Wal-mart, you know the knife super store:). Anyway, it works well for opening boxes, cutting string and such, but it is a pain to open.
I think my state says we can’t carry defensive knives, but we can carry utility type knives. The knife laws are much more confusing to me then the gun laws. I tried to ask the police, but they said, sorry our job is not to explain the laws, so if you don’t understand it’s better just not to do it. Very helpful.
Yeah my state’s knife laws are totally messed up, and make no sense. Also I’ve never heard of the police really enforcing them.
If somebody ever has a beef with my knife I’ll show them my carry permit, and show them my gun…and if need be throw myself at the mercy of the courts which should dismiss things with great laughter.
What State are you in?
Typically the distinctions between a utility knife and a weapon are blade length (less than 3-4″ usually being the limit) and a double edge (major no no in some jurisdictions.) After that the laws tend to be more about circumstances and intent – something that any knife could run afoul of.
IMO a fixed blade is definitely the way to go once you’ve left the pavement, and my favorite maker by far is Bark River Knives. They are not exactly inexpensive, but they are perfectly made, using high quality materials, and if taken care of will last multiple lifetimes. Real, honest heirloom quality.
Their Northstar, Mini Northstar, and Aurora are truly do it all for the woodsman, but they also offer several knives that are a bit smaller and specifically intended for EDC.
Massachusetts. I’ll have a peek at those knives. I have an addiction.
My CRKT Delegate has the same safety and assisted opening mechanisms, and they do work very well. I get the same scary-fast opening and positive blade lock, too. The only thing I wish was that I could open it with either hand, but it’s so stiff that I just can’t get the safety to disengage with my left hand.
I still love it, though. The edge is scary sharp, and has remained that way for almost a year of daily carry, with no need to even touch it up.
That’s a sexy looking knife design too. LOVE the rosewood scales!
Cocobolo, actually. They do look a bit like rosewood, though, and it was just a quick cell phone picture. But I do love the colour and finish.
Coco is a type of rosewood (Dalbergia), hence the resemblance.
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i’m still carrying my Benchmade Griptilian every day, years after i first got it. wouldn’t be without it. its only problem is that it’s frankly a bit big for many workaday tasks; i might have been better served by the smaller version of it, the mini-griptilian. well, i solved that issue by getting a Buck Metro to hang on my keychain.
what i like about the benchmade: the axis-lock locking system. totally ambidextrous, the knife can be both opened and closed one-handed with either hand, without ever needing to put a finger in the path of the blade. it’s a very simple, positive operation. the handle — it might be plastic, but it’s proven remarkably durable and does not slip in my hand, ever. very good pocket clip, solid, reversible to fit either hand, though it only does tip-up carry. excellent fit and finish, solid construction throughout. it’s just a bit big for, y’know, cleaning my nails with and such — the tiny metro does that.
Thanks for the reviews, there’s so many good choices out there now. I’ve been using a SOG Trident for a few years, I love the assisted opening spring it has. Very useful if you only have one hand free to grab the knife.
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My current EDC is a CRKT Ignitor, also with the assisted opening. Which does tend to draw some funny looks, not so much for the rapid opening (seems like everyone is getting used to thumb studs/flippers) but for the decidedly audible CLICK that accompanies the opening.
Some people on the knife/outdoors forums seem to make a career of disparaging CRKT, but I’ve found their products to be of a decent quality that well exceeds their limit expense.
Thanks for the write up.
I’ve settled on a Kershaw Leek for now. Though I’ve seen enough Griptillian recommendations I’ll probably try one shortly.
The SOGs I’ve owned and handled always feel too bulky for what they do. I have similar issues with all the CRKTs I’ve owned, and their lock system on the M21 and M16 models isn’t fantastic. Though when bulk isn’t an issue CRKT is a good option at very good price points. The Leek has been just right for the last couple years. Just wish I hadn’t lost my G10 version.
Have a peek at the Zing, its REALLY slim and light.
Very cool man! Like you I have more EDC knives than I can count. Current favorites include a Benchmade Mini Griptilian and a Cold Steel Medium Voyager. The Zing is a fantastic knife, love that one. A couple old standbys for me are the Kershaw PackRat and the Spyderco Dragonfly.