EDC Knives: What that really Mean?

EDC Knives: What That Really Mean?

Table of Contents

Most people believe that knives are a chef’s best friend or a hunter’s ally in the wild.

But that mindset is flawed because knives can be used by anyone to do any number of daily tasks.

Many people use knives to open cans, slice through cheese, hack food cartons or pull out that loose thread at the hem of their sweater regularly.

The versatile utility of knives is what makes them perfect for everyday use.

A person can carry a pocket knife around all the time and use it to tackle common problems with convenience.

When you come across a loose strand of thread on your clothes, or when you have a beer bottle that won’t open, you can just flick your knife open and deal with the nuisance like a problem-solving maestro.

However, getting the right knife for everyday use can be tricky.

When you decide to get a knife, you can get dizzy with the choices available and the specs that one needs to consider before buying a knife.

An unsuitable purchase and all your dreams of flashing your knife here and there are crushed.

Everyday use knives must be lightweight, preferably foldable, and have a sharp blade so that they can slash things effortlessly.

For a knife newbie, choosing the right knife for daily use can be difficult.

They must gain some knowledge about the different knife shapes, styles, and materials before making a purchase.

To help all the knife fledglings out there, we are going to discuss in detail every essential aspect of owning a knife for daily use.

Without further ado, let’s move on to our detailed guide on every day carry/use knives.

What are EDC Knives?

Holding Knife in Hand

EDC knives are ‘everyday carry’ knives that, as the name suggests, people carry with them like an essential item.

The purpose of having a knife on you at all times is the ease with which a person can use it at a moment’s notice and get a variety of tasks done.

You can get fruit off the tree and cut it then and there, or you can open food packages effortlessly without having to wait to get to a cutter.

Everyday carry knives typically are more about function then looks.

It doesn’t mean you cannot get an aesthetically pleasing knife because you definitely can.

However, one must focus on the other aspects of EDC knives more than on the looks.

There are a lot of things to consider when buying an EDC knife.

From the sharpness of the blade to the material of the knife handle, everything matters and must be considered before spending money on an EDC knife.

But the most important factors to pay attention to are the weight of a knife, its sharpness, and the ease of portability.

When you go out to buy a pocket knife for daily use, you must first go through the legality of keeping a knife.

Every state has its laws on carrying knives. Checking those ahead of time is essential to avoid running afoul of the law.  

Is it Legal to Carry an EDC Knife?

EDC Knives Legality

Every state in the United States of America has its knife laws.

Let’s go through a few states quickly and learn the basics.

Alabama

In Alabama, all knives are legal except for Bowie and Bowie-like knives that are concealed.

If you are carrying a Bowie knife on your hip and it’s visible, then it’s legal.

A concealed Bowie knife is only permissible when the owner uses it on their property.

The most commonly owned and legalized knives in Alabama are switchblades, all folding knives, butterfly/Balisong knives, double-sided knives, and any knife that fits in your pocket.

Alaska

Since Alaska has a bunch of bears and animals which can attack anyone, the citizens of the state are allowed to carry all kinds of knives.

Simply put, Alaska has incredibly knife-friendly laws.

You are not at risk of having a run-in with the authorities by carrying a knife unless you use it to assault a civilian or sell it to a minor without prior consent from their parents.

Arizona

Holding EDC Knife

Arizona is considered a haven for knife-enthusiasts because the state has no illegal pocket knives.

You can own just about any EDC knife without fear of having trouble with the authorities.

Arkansas

The state of Arkansas revised its knife laws back in 2011.

According to the new law, anything that has a blade is legal.

That is, all the knives are legal, from pocket switchblades to large bowies, everything is permissible.

You can own anything as long as you are not committing a crime.

California

California has confusing knife-laws with quite a lot of a gray area.

To make things simpler, let’s understand the law by dividing it into three parts: legal, illegal, and gray.

Carrying bowie and large-sized knives is legal in California. You can carry knives openly in the state.

Undetectable or misleading knives such as lipstick knives or belt knives are illegal in California.

Holding Belt Knife

Ballistic knives and switchblades with a blade more than 2 inches long are also unlawful in the state of California.

Most knives can be carried concealed, except for dirk knives and daggers. Unusual knives are also illegal in the State of California.

There is no definite description of an unusual knife, but any tool that appears different than a standard or regular knife can be considered an unusual knife.

Carrying a switchblade with a blade less than 2 inches long is legal, but it may be considered a misdemeanor.

Connecticut

All knives are legal in Connecticut except for the following:

  • Automatic knives over 1.5 inches are illegal.
  • Switchblades over 1.5 inches are illegal.
  • Stilettos are illegal.
  • Blades longer than 4 inches are illegal.

Colorado

All knives are legal in Colorado except for ballistic knives and concealed knives with a blade more than 3.5 inches long.

Delaware

Stainless Steel Knife

All knives are legal in Delaware except knives that set off metal detectors or have brass knuckles.

Switchblades and throwing stars are also illegal in the state.

Florida

The knife laws in Florida don’t limit citizens to buy, sell, or own knives except for ballistic knives.

Georgia

In Georgia, you can own any kind of knife. However, to carry a knife with a blade longer than 12 inches, you need to have a permit.

Hawaii

All knives are allowed in Hawaii except for balisongs and switchblades.

Idaho

There is no ban on possession of any kind of knife in Idaho. For minors, parental consent and supervision are required.

Illinois

The only knives that are banned in Illinois are switchblades, ballistic knives, and knives that open with a press of the button.

Throwing stars are also prohibited in Illinois.

Indiana

KGB Ballistic Knife

Owning and carrying all kinds of knives is legal in Indiana except for ballistic knives and throwing stars.

Iowa

The only knives that are outlawed in the state of Iowa are ballistic.

Kansas

The State of Kansas doesn’t allow its citizens to carry or own ballistic knives or throwing stars.

Kentucky

There are no outlawed knives in Kentucky.

Louisiana

It is legal to carry and own all kinds of knives in Louisiana. However, a person cannot carry a concealed automatic knife.  

Maine

In Maine, people are allowed to own almost all kinds of knives.

But they are not allowed to carry or display concealed dirks, bowie knives, and stilettos.

Maryland

Folding Gravity Knife

There is no restriction on owning any kind of knife in Maryland.

However, you cannot conceal-carry switchblades, throwing stars, a gravity knife, or a bowie knife.

You can open or conceal carry any kind of pocket knife.

Massachusetts

There is no banned knife in Massachusetts, but you cannot carry anything openly that may disrupt the state’s peace or perceived as dangerous.

Michigan

All knives are legal to own in Michigan, but you cannot carry them with the intent to harm someone.

Minnesota

All knives in Minnesota are legal except for switchblades.

Mississippi

Mississippi allows ownership of any kind of knife by anyone, except a minor or someone who has been a convicted felon in the past.

New York

The only knives that are legal to own in the state of New York are hunting knives, dirks or daggers, stilettos, or gravity knives.

North Carolina

Custom Bowie Knife

The state of North Carolina allows ownership of the following knives:

  • Bowie Knives
  • Dirks, daggers, or other stabbing knives
  • Switchblades
  • Gravity knives
  • A disguised knife, such as in a pen or lipstick

Ohio

Ohio allows its citizens to own any kind of knife.

Pennsylvania

All other knives are banned in Pennsylvania except for bowie knives, butterfly knives, pen knives, concealed knives, and hunting knives.

Texas

There are not banned knives in the state of Texas.

However, there may be some location-restricted knives that are illegal to carry near specific locations within the state.

Otherwise, you can own and carry any kind of knife throughout the state.

 Most states of the United States of America are knife-friendly as long as the owner doesn’t use it to harm other civilians.

Furthermore, carrying knives that may not seem like a regular pocket knife may be frowned upon and illegal in some states.

And the most commonly outlawed knives in some states are ballistic, switchblades, and concealed knives.

Once you have gone through your state’s knife-laws, you can move on to buying an EDC knife.

What type of knife is best for EDC?

Pocket Knife

For EDC, knives that are lightweight and can be easily carried around are the best choice.

Most people like to buy portable folding knives for every day carry as they are easy-to-carry and can be stored safely.

That is, once a foldable knife is folded, its blade is tucked within the knife, and that minimizes the chances of accidents.

In fixed blade knives, a person can slit their hand while unsheathing the blade, but in foldable knives, the hand doesn’t come in contact with the blade itself, so there are fewer chances of accidents.

Furthermore, foldable knives don’t take much space in the pocket and can be easily stored with other essential objects such as keys and phones.

Another variation of a foldable knife is a lockable knife that remains folded when not being used, but when it’s used, the owner can lock the blade in place, which allows the knife to stay functional.

That is, the edge remains upright until the lock is removed, unlike in a regular foldable knife in which the blade may start bending mid-use.

The blade is almost an important consideration when buying an EDC knife.

You need to make sure that it’s sharp, and its shape is what you need.

Some of the best EDC knives that can work for a newbie and a trained master alike are Cold Steel mini AK 47, SOG Salute mini, and Spyderco Delica 4 FFG.

What size of a knife is the best for EDC?

Seven EDC Knives

The right size of an EDC knife is different for everyone.

People choose the size of their knife based on their use.

Most commonly, EDC knives come in 2 to 5 inches.

If you are a newbie, then start with a small-sized EDC and then work your way up the scale.

Typically, a 3-inch EDC knife is ideal as it is easy to carry and can pass most cutting tests.

The Takeaway

Choosing the right EDC knife depends on a person’s needs.

IF you are just starting your journey as a knife-person, then begin with the most basic foldable pocket knife for everyday use.

Once you have achieved the skill to handle a knife with finesse, then go on to adding to your knife collection.

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