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May 26, 2023

PAUL SMITH: Having an everyday knife is 'basic woods wisdom' — here's how to find the blade right for you

'A knife has many uses, from the mundane to the dramatic' — what's in your

'A knife has many uses, from the mundane to the dramatic' — what's in your pocket?

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An "Every Day Carry" – EDC for short – is something I imagine many readers know what I’m talking about, especially if you have walked a few miles in the outdoors. Because you should never venture far from the well-travelled terrain without a stout and capable knife. It's basic woods wisdom.

But I’d go even further and say this: I think that everybody should carry some sort of knife all the time.

Why? There are lots of reasons, but have you considered this? Your car just skidded out of control on black ice and now you’re upside down in the woods with deep snow all around. The seatbelt is jammed tight across your neck and are having difficulty breathing. Your left arm is injured and you can't reach the belt release with your right hand. But you manage to pull out a knife from your jeans pocket and flip it open with one hand. You cut the seatbelt and free yourself to leave the car and flag down some help on the roadside. It could happen.

I know that's a bit dramatic, but seriously, a knife can save your life or someone else's. You may have to cut another person's seatbelt or cut a rope that's entangled dangerously in a boat. A stuck anchor might be dragging your kayak under in a river.

I know that's a bit dramatic, but seriously, a knife can save your life or someone else's.

You just never know until it happens. A few years back, my buddy broke his ankle on the Pinware River and his wading boot had to be cut off his foot to stabilize it.

Or you might just want to open a box with your new waders inside. Packaging is crazy these days. Some of it is nigh on impossible to open without a knife.

And what about sharpening pencils? Hey, did you clean any trout last weekend with your EDC, or fashion a feather stick for fire starting?

A knife has many uses, from the mundane to the dramatic. But don't bloody use it as a bean can-opener. I won't like you. That's blade abuse.

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My choice of EDC has changed and evolved much over the decades.

I started carrying a knife at about 10 years old, I think, maybe a bit younger.

Do you remember those cardboard-backed displays of knives that would sit on the shelf behind the counter in local general stores? Well, I do, because I loved them. I always wanted one – or another one. I drove Mom nuts for knives.

The one in particular that I remember most fondly had a folding blade in each end, which was typical, and a shiny handle with a Mountie on his horse. You can buy them used on eBay, I just checked. Wow, I have to order one.

As I scrolled through a vintage knife search, I spotted lots of old ones that I’ve owned and carried over the years. I think I may have just discovered a new collecting hobby.

Through my MUN years, I remember carrying some sort of knockoff of a Buck Ranger, a folder with a three-and-a-half inch, locking clip-style blade. It was a great knife and served me well. It sliced plenty of pickles, wieners, and cleaned its share of rabbits and trout, too.

After university, I toted about a small Swiss Army knife for many years. In fact, I carried Swiss Army-style knives of one sort or another up until about a decade ago, when I converted to a Leatherman multitool.

The Leatherman could do a ton of stuff. One year, I cut our Christmas tree with it. That's true – that little saw had a wicked demeanor.

But it was so heavy on my belt. Now I carry it attached to my pack on hikes and hunts.

Presently, I carry a lightweight SOG-assisted opening lock blade. It has a metal clip that secures it in my pocket. It pulls out easily and opens with one hand. I like the drop point blade style and amazing edge retention. I’m not sure where I’m going from here, but I’m happy for now.

What does one want in an EDC?

But first, let me explain something. My EDC is on me all the time for emergencies and anything else that come up. If I go off camping in the woods or moose hunting, I add a knife specific for that purpose.

I always carry a stout fixed blade, typically referred to as a Bushcraft knife, when I’m well off the beaten trail. I wouldn't want to be batoning firewood with my relatively delicate EDC. And I wouldn't be bleeding cod on the ocean with my EDC, either. You get the picture, I’m sure. Incidentally, I just picked up a new survival knife for my salmon fishing belt. I’ll tell you about that another day.

So, I suppose an EDC means varying things to different folks, because my views have certainly changed over the years. I suppose that's a function of evolving knife technology as well. The range of knives available today is absolutely mind-boggling. Wicked, as we might say here on "The Rock."

Here's what I want in an EDC. I’d like a blade of quality steel, preferably high carbon, in the three- to four-inch range.

The whole steel type story is super complex and far too deep a rabbit hole for now. Suffice to say, I’m happy to sacrifice corrosion resistance for better edge retention and ease of honing. But that's just me.

In terms of blade geometry, I like a drop point for everyday use, but there's a soft spot in my heart for the clip point, the blade geometry of the Buck Hunter.

I love my old-school Buck Hunter. I’m also pondering a Tanto-style EDC. I picked up a Dewalt folding work knife at the hardware store, one to use doing yard work and carpentry, rough stuff sort of thing. Anyway, I love the blade style. It's great for packaging, cutting cable ties, hooking under things like a seatbelt, scoring lines, and basic, everyday stuff. You can even use it like a chisel on wood.

I used to think the tanto was purely tactical, but not so. And it could punch holes in a barrel if need be. Not surprising, though; it's from the samurai lineage.

There's another style of blade I should mention. The Sheepsfoot is a short, stout blade with a working pedigree. It was originally made for trimming hooves. The tip is nearly blunt and can be used to cut a seatbelt without piercing the skin. First responders use them, as do river rafters and warehouse workers – you don't want to cut the waders inside that Simms box. I bet they are great for rope work as well. I might have to try one out.

So, I suppose, to sum up, number one: I want a knife that holds a good edge and is stout enough for a bit of rough work.

I want it capable enough to field-dress a moose if I break my hunting knife yet delicate for cleaning pan-sized brook trout.

I need it to sharpen my pencil and whittle a tent peg or spoon.

Oh, and I need it to cut rope. I’m always cutting rope.

And last, but not at all least, cut a seat belt if the need ever arises.

So what's in your pocket? I’d love to hear.

Paul Smith, a native of Spaniard's Bay, fishes and wanders the outdoors at every opportunity. He can be contacted at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @flyfishtherock