lansky knife sharpener

EDC Knife Sharpening Hacks

lansky knife sharpenerEDC or Everyday Carry knives are becoming very useful and essential nowadays. It is convenient to carry one as it offers endless purposes. Usually, it is used for opening boxes and envelopes, cutting zip ties and ropes, opening packages of food, opening cans and bottles, serving as a screwdriver, and even trimming clothes and fabric.

Some people even use it to clean their fingernails and others use it as improvised toothpicks. While this may be very dangerous, the bottom line is that EDC knives are very useful. Therefore, you should be well aware of the things you need to consider in purchasing one so your money will not go down the drain.

Choosing the EDC knife means you have to make sure that it is 100% safe. This usually equates to a folding mechanism that is of high quality and efficiency. It should work smoothly. If you opt for a fixed blade, make sure that the sheath is durable. Another thing to consider is the weight of your knife. It may be more convenient to carry a light one but make sure that the quality is not sacrificed.

You should also keep in mind that a good grip is necessary. Make sure it won’t slip out of your hands whether you are using the knife for a simple or emergency task. Finally, the most important aspect to consider is the sharpness of your EDC knife. A high-quality one will keep its sharpness for a longer period of time than the other models. Some high-quality steel materials are 8CR13MOV, VG-10, or 30V. Such types of steel allow easy handling and maintenance.

Remember that all knives will get dull at some point due to frequent use. Therefore, you should learn about the different types of knife sharpeners and find out which one is comfortable for you.

Sharpening stones are also known as whetstones. They are the more popular types of EDC knife sharpeners. They are triangular in shape and usually an inch thick. Materials commonly used as whetstones are ceramic, diamond, or natural stones from Arkansas which could be used for sharpening. Most of the time, this type is effective even for dull knives as it can remove a lot from the blade. Also, sharpening stones are not only useful for knives. They may be used for other tools such as razors and scissors.

As mentioned earlier, Arkansas Washita natural stones are commonly being used in knife sharpening. They contain genuine silica Novaculite. Aside from being highly effective sharpeners, these natural stones have the ability to renew themselves. This happens due to the stacked bubbles or honeycomb composition of the grits. You must be aware that this self-renewal process may take years, though. These natural stones may be used wet or dry and it is important to clean them after sharpening to ensure quality. You should also use honing fluid during sharpening to add to the effectiveness of this tool.

Sharpening steel, on the other hand, can only be used for knives. However, it is not mainly used for sharpening. Instead, it is mostly used for EDC knife maintenance. Perhaps it would still be a good combination to use both a sharpening stone and sharpening steel. Sharpening steel is long and narrow in nature. It could be made of either ceramic or steel. As opposed to the sharpening stone, using sharpening steel does not take that much material from your knife. What it mainly does is to realign and deform the blade of your knife to how it used to be. It is recommended to use sharpening steel before and after you have used your EDC knife.

Then there are the knife hones. They work pretty much the same as sharpening steel. It mainly uses both steel and stone to maintain the original form of the EDC knife by not taking too much material from the blade. Knife hones are available in different sizes and shapes. There are also different designs. Some may have slots to polish and hone the blade of your knife while there are some that make use of a small sharpening stone where you can run your knife’s blade up and down.

Moving on, there are the electric knife sharpeners. Usually, these look like rectangular boxes with slots where you can place your EDC knives. The mechanism works through a motorized wheel spinning inside the device. This assures you speed and convenience in knife sharpening. However, critics say that such a tool gives you less control over the way you want your knives sharpened. Also, it is a bit bulkier compared to the other types of sharpeners. Electric knife sharpeners are mostly used for kitchen knives and they are rarely used for survival or tactical knives.

There are also sharpeners called diamond sharpeners. They are usually made of composite or metal bases. The outer layer is made of diamonds that are micron-sized and are specially bonded to the metal of the sharpener through nickel plating. Typically, they have special surface holes that prevent the building up of fillings. Generally, diamond sharpeners are known to be effective, fast, and less likely to cause depression in the surface of your EDC knife. To make sure that the quality of your diamond sharpener is preserved, clean its surface thoroughly after using it.

With all the available methods of sharpening your EDC knife, you may feel free to choose which one is the most suitable for you. It would be wise to use a combination of tools from time to time and also make sure that you give proper maintenance to them, just like what you do with your EDC knife.

kabar

KA-BAR US Marine Corps Review

The US Marine Corps Full-Size Straight Fighting Knife by Ka-bar is one of the more popular survival knives available. It comes with a basic design and is made in the US (knife) and Mexico (leather sheath). Additionally, its pattern resembles the blade carried out through WWII and is currently in use by men in uniform serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other regions worldwide. Before buying one, finding out more info about the product is best.

kabar

About the Product

The US Marine Corps Full-Size Straight Fighting Knife by Ka-bar is a survival knife brought to you by experienced craftspeople for precise and skillful outdoor use. It has a razor-sharp edge, full tang, and drop point. In addition, since it was produced by KA-Bar, a trusted name known for hard-core all-purpose utilities and survival knives, you can rely on that it has undergone the best manufacturing processes.

Specs, Pros & Cons

  • Specs
    • 7” blade length; 11 & 7/8” overall length
    • .70 lbs. in weight
    • 1905 Cro-Van Steel
    • Clip shape
    • Flat grind
    • Leather handle
    • With USMC stamp
  • Pros
    • Built for heavy use
    • Can be sharpened with almost any big rock
    • Can withstand great lateral stress
    • Easy to carry, lightweight, and handy (can be worn on the hip)
    • Enhanced steel toughness
    • Ideal for delicate tasks
    • Non-corrosive
    • Processed for optimum blade performance
    • Strong and durable
  • Cons
    • A bit expensive compared to other survival knives(costs at least $65.00)
    • Not foldable

This knife is well known and one of the most useful EDC knives. It’s definitely not for everyone because it’s a fixed blade. While others purchase it for its fine design, most prefer it for its outstanding value. With it being multi-purpose,
it tops the rest in its category.
It can be of assistance when you need to stab fish or any food source, dig, hunt, poke or pry, make shelter, cut wood and large logs, drill, flip strips of meat when cooking over an open flame, and accomplish just about any task in the wild. Since it is made with superior quality, it is a perfect tool for war veterans, marine, soldiers, and people who want to increase their chances of outdoor survival.

Bark River Trailmate

Carbon Steel Knives

Carbon steel knives are usually high above stainless knives in all aspects when properly tempered and hardened – except their tendency to rust. None of the stainless knives is actually stain-free, it just takes much more time for them to rust. Carbon knives, when properly cared about, often serve for decades!

KA-BAR US Marine Corps Fighting Knife

KA-BAR carbon steel knife

Very famous fixed blade knife made by famous KA-BAR company. This knife is made of 1095 Cro-van steel with a leather handle. The blade is 7 inches long. Don’t forget that it comes with a nice sheath!

Advantages of carbon steel knives

What is the main advantage of a carbon steel knife over the one made from stainless steel? Carbon blades are usually harder which can be useful in dozens of situations. On the other hand, they are a little easier to break as they are less flexible and are more brittle and they have a tendency to rust. Just make sure to wipe your knife down with a cloth – or even better oil cloth to prevent rusting (Do it after each use).

Knives made of carbon steel do not need to be sharpened often, they stay sharp longer than stainless steel knives.

Boker Plus

Best small EDC knife

Small EDC knives can be as useful as bigger ones. Of course, they are not as good for chopping wood or other difficult tasks. On the other hand, they are lighter, smaller, and more practical to carry. Especially when you are not into heavy or survival tasks and you just want to open envelopes, slicing food, and do all kinds of everyday tasks. Here is the list of the best small EDC knives you can get.

Best small EDC knives:

Boker Plus Subcom F

Best small EDC knife

A great quality credit card size pocket knife is suitable for carrying in your pocket or a purse. This one comes with a half-serrated blade to be able to accomplish more difficult tasks. The blade is 1.875 inches long while the opened knife overall is 4.5 inches (2.625 inches when closed). The knife blade is made of high-quality AUS-8 stainless steel.

Boker Plus

Boker Plus

Another amazing ultra-small knife. It’s super-sharp and big only as your credit card. The knife blade is 2.25 inches long and made of quality 440C stainless steel. The knife is 2.75″ long when closed and 5″ long overall (opened).

Gerber E.A.B. Lite

Gerber E.A.B. Lite

 

High-quality knife with a replaceable blade. An opened knife is 5.10″ long from which 1.5″ is the blade.

 

Let others know what is your favorite small EDC knife in the comments!

Girl knife

Best pocket knives for girls

It seems that the knife industry is mostly guy oriented. Well, statistically, guys search for and purchase knives much more often than girls.

What are the differences between EDC knives for men and women?

There are none, of course! When it comes to knives, there are no differences. The only thing to consider is, the size of the handle – girls might prefer smaller handles or lighter knives overall. Go check out our top EDC knives.

Anyway, if by “knife for a girl” you meant a knife in colors not usually preferred by men, we’ve got you covered. Here comes a shower of pink knives for you! In fact, I do own one pink EDC knife, just for the unusual color. It’s fun taking it out when camping with friends, surrounded by all those black and camouflage designs 🤣

Kershaw Pink Leek Knife

Pocket knife for girls

 

As pink as it gets! High-quality knife from famous knife manufacturer brand Kershaw. The blade is made of quality 14C28N stainless-steel and is 3″ long. Being made of 14C28N means it’s very sharp and can be resharpened easily. A closed knife is 4″ long and weighs 3 oz. Knife opening is super fast thanks to speedsafe opening system. This knife includes a pocket clip to be easy to – you guessed it right – carry wherever you go.

Click here to check price and reviews


MAGNUM Alice Pocket Knife

Magnum woman knife

This is a Milka Cow of knives, but in pink.

Eye-catching for sure, girls in my household love the design. Made of strong 440 Stainless steel (blade). It features a popular Liner Lock mechanism which is both fast and comfortable. The overall length of the opened knife is 7 7/8″ with a weight of 4.1 oz.

Click here to check price and reviews

 

[hr]

Boker Cruel Girl

girl knife

 

Very nicely designed and partially serrated EDC knife with “Cruel Girl” engraved on the blade which is made of high-quality AUS-8 stainless steel. The handle is made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon. This knife features a lanyard hole and pocket clip for truly easy carrying. The knife is 7 1/8″ long when opened, blade length is 3″. The whole knife weighs only 1.5 oz. The blade is opened via a simple backlock mechanism.

Click here to check price and reviews

If you are not sure which one is the best fit – you can’t go wrong with a gift card!

Large folding knives - benchmade contego

Large folding knives

Not everybody is looking for a small and lightweight everyday carry knife. Some of us would like to carry a larger one. Bigger knives have both their advantages and disadvantages over the opposite ones. They are capable of cutting bigger objects at once. They might be a better fit for your hands due to their large size. On the other hand, they are heavier, therefore not very comfortable to carry. Large fixed blade knives are very common, but which of the large folding knives is the best?

Benchmade 810SBK Contego

Large folding knives - benchmade contego

 

This survival knife is 9.28 inches long from which 3.98″ is the blade. In a closed state, it is 5.30 inches long. It’s made of high-quality CPM-M4 steel for great sharpness and durability. The knife weighs 5.92 oz. If you are looking for a folding knife that is as good as a fixed blade when opened, 810SBK Contego is the way to go. Extreme durability, thick blade steel (0.156″), ergonomic handle, and quality materials make it one of the best large folding knife! The used locking mechanism is AXIS.

 

Smith & Wesson SWBG2TS Border Guard 2

Smith & Wesson SWBG2TS Border Guard 2

 

Smith & Wesson is a famous US firearms manufacturer founded in 1982. Border Guard 2 is their prestigious knife model with very good specs. Its blade is 4.4″ long with 5.6″ very comfortable handle. This EDC knife is equipped with a belt cutter and glass breaker for common rescue operations. The locking system used is a comfortable AXIS mechanism.

KA-BAR carbon steel knife

Best EDC fixed blade

When it comes to EDC knives, most of us will imagine a small and lightweight folding knife. But there is quite a big part of the population who love to carry a “real” knife in their sheath. Let’s see what is the best EDC fixed blade.

KA-BAR US Marine Corps Fighting Knife

Best EDC fixed blade knife - KA-BAR

Most famous knife design in the world. Made of 1095 Cro-van (Chrome-Vanadium) blade material. This knife was first adopted by the United States Marine Corps. Ka-Bar knife was designed on November 23. 1942. It features a 7″ Straight Edge Blade. Overall length is 11.875 inches with a weight of 0.70 pounds. The handle is ergonomic and made of leather.

It comes with a lifetime warranty from factory defects:

KA-BAR Knives warrants, to the original purchaser of the knife only, that this knife will be free from defects in material and craftsmanship under normal use and maintenance for the lifetime of the original purchaser.

If you want an awesome and well-known knife. Go for this one. Being used for more than 60 years and still very popular can only mean it’s a very well-made EDC knife.

Benchmade Killian Design Marc Lee GloryBenchmade Killian Design Marc Lee Glory

Benchmade Killian Design Marc Lee Glory

Premium knife made of high-quality 154CM Stainless Steel. This steel is easier to sharpen, great for everyday use, and is excellent for edge retention. It’s not just the quality of blade and handle that makes this knife premium, it is also its refined design. Holding this knife in my hands is a pleasure. G10 handle is very comfortable and is scratch and impact resistant. This knife is a dream of every fixed blade knife lover. The blade is 7.30″ long and the overall length is 12.50″.

The knife was designed by Eddie Killian to pay tribute to Petty Officer Marc Lee (First US Navy SEAL killed in Iraq since 2003). It comes with a multi-function nylon soft sheath.

 

 

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools SE38-NSOG Specialty Knives

Virtually unbreakable fixed blade EDC knife made of high quality and rigid AUS-8 steel. The handle is made of abrasion and impact resistant glass-reinforced nylon. The elegant black color finish will surely impress many people. What will impress anyone is the quality of the blade, resistance, and sharpness. The overall length of this extremely stout knife is 11.25″ of which 6″ is the blade. It weighs 10.50 OZ. Both the handle and blade are nearly indestructible! It’s extremely resistant and robust! If you are looking for a knife for all situations, even extreme ones, this one will fulfill all your needs. Read user reviews on amazon to get a clearer picture!

Best knife sharpening system

sharpener

EDC knives are used for a variety of functions. Some people even dig holes in the ground in some rare situations with it. While we do not recommend using your knife this way, your knife can get blunt from normal but frequent use. EDC knives use premium steels which can really stay sharp for a long time, but a good sharpener is always handy.

Check out our EDC knife reviews here.

A sharp blade is a necessity for a knife. A dull knife can be much more dangerous than a sharp one. With a sharp blade, you are able to gently cut through food, without the need for any extra force. On the contrary, the dull blade is not able to penetrate stuff easily, you will have to use much more force and there is a risk that your knife will slip and you will hurt yourself.

How much does a sharpener cost?

In general, from 5$ to hundreds of dollars for premium ones. It’s not worth the money investing in a cheap sharpener that will not be capable of good sharpening or will break down quickly. Better spend a little more and get a good one for 50 bucks than cursing about the cheap one that is not working.

Best knife sharpeners on Amazon.com 

Gerber Paraframe Mini Tanto Knife

Best EDC folding knife

Gerber Paraframe Mini Tanto Knife
Gerber Paraframe Mini Tanto Knife

It is very important for an EDC knife to be handy. Fixed blade EDC knives are not as common for EDC as ones with folding mechanism. They are bigger and have to be stored in a sheath for safety reasons. Not being able to be folded quickly is more dangerous in situations where you need to put it away. All knives listed on our review page are folding EDC knives, as it is one of the most common requirements for EDC knives. If you are interested in non-folding knives visit this page.

Don’t forget about our interactive comparison chart of EDC folding knives!

When it comes to folding knives, the most important feature is the locking mechanism.

The most common types of locking mechanisms are:

  • Liner Lock
  • Lockback
  • Frame Lock

There are a lot of other mechanisms and sub-versions of these locks, take a look at mechanisms used in Benchmade knives: http://www.benchmade.com/products/mechanisms.aspx

Liner lock

One of the most popular locking systems, originally known as Walker lock. How a liner lock looks and works like is explained in this video.

Lockback

Lockback knife is a knife that locks in open position. When a knife is opened and locked, it has the same qualities as a fixed blade knife.

Frame Lock

A handle is used to form the lock. Very similar to liner lock. What is the difference? See in the video:

If you have never used a folding knife before or you had no chance to try all these locking mechanisms, read user reviews, and decide which would you consider the best for you. Each folding system has its pros but also drawbacks.