Knives I'd Never Buy for EDC 

#1)Cold Steel Recon 1 @ 02:20 #2)Steel G10 Espada @ 04:10 #3)Spyderco Manix 2XL @ 06:35 #4)Spyderco Jr. @ 08:40 #5)SOG Flash 2 @ 14:40 #6)CZT0561 @ 18:07 #7)BenchMade 707Sequel @ 21:20 I do this because I care deeply for my fellow countrymen.

I kind of got tired of hearing them complain about the size of the knives. I do understand that its just their preference but it does get old after about the 20th time of them mentioning it

Pulls out his personal edc folder, its brand new, haha🤣

I understand why people like you don't like knives that aren't made in the USA, but if there is good quality control, it doesn't much matter where it is made, so long as it has good quality

So theyre all well made quality knives, but are either too big or heavy or expensive (or a combination) to carry around... There I saved you TWENTY SIX minutes of your life because thats literally all they said in this video.

Am i the only one who likes knives you can feel in your pocket?

I understand some of cold steel over hype! But for my recon 1... It is super tough and it dishes out a lot of punishment and keeps on going...theres a video on youtube where it got shot with a sniper rifle and didn't break....just sayin! lol its only $59 on Amazon!

My edc is always subject to breakage, theft, or loss so my criteria for it are: 1- Lower price; at least 440; made in USA or allies' mills; and light weight. This is a VERY helpful review!! TY!

Most of these knives you talked about are NOT your EDC type knives. They are tactical, defensive type knives so cant really use size a negative. Alot of people carry a smaller EDC and a larger defensive knife at the same time. Which you should. As far as Cold Steel being made in taiwan goes. You would be suprised to find out how many knives are made in the orient. That does not mean they are poor quality. Matter of fact Cold Steel are some of the best quality knives you can buy for the money. Built like tanks good steel that always comes super sharp. Yes I would rather buy USA made but that same $50 Cold Steel knife would cost you more than double if it was. So let me get this straight. You dont want the cheap Cold Steel because it is made in taiwan but you also dont want the expensive USA made ZT? You cant have it both ways bud.

angry comment

Knives are an extension of one's fingers or hands. They allow people to get more tasks completed. They have also become a work of art, the makers say to increase sales. For the work, or job of rendering meat into food; Old hickory makes good kitchen knives that also are cheap & skin moose hides much faster than the most expensive knives made, and sold at any price. It's all about the steel, & ease of sharpening. I personally prefer "Buck" knives, since I've carried & used them to replace many tools, since 1965. However, I do not hunt, nor skin off moose-hides. Knives are about, and totally up to personal preference, kinda like lip-stick on women or the color of a person's socks.

The Cold Steel Recon 1 is indeed a large knife but there is also the Recon 1 Mini with a 3" blade....just saying...

The construction of the COLD STEEL knives is outstanding and the heat treat is incredible. I've found my CS Voyagers to cut every bit as well as my Spyderco G10 models, and I love the size and strength of the CSs. I live in a state that doesn't allow people to carry guns, so having a large knife is a real asset. COLD STEEL offers decent defense and emergency knives that cut well, look great. And if it weren't for CS, there wouldn't be well built, large foldersl

Benchmade has never deceived me :) been EDCing my mini griptilian for 3 straight months, used to EDC a custom benchmade prior to that. Great brand.

"You dont have to agree on anything we say here" Well, I dont agree on anything.

I love my Manix 2 XL, I do landscaping and this knife has never failed on me, cutting 4in corrugated pipe, even irrigation pipe, sod cutting, removing strings and trash from mower pulleys ,trimmer line cuts, even splitting wood,I've been through lots of knives, the Manix2xl was my first spider co , love it! It will also dress a deer and remove a splinter.(after I wash it)

I like your videos but could you do a video that explains the difference between the types of steel in the good blades.

hi, I have an addiction to blades. where can I go for help?

I have carried the same Kershaw Cryo 1 every day for 3 years now. In my opinion it is the perfect knife. Small, lightweight, slim, comfortable, easy to use with one hand, and very very durable. I've put it through hell and its come out on top every time. Easy to sharpen and it holds a great edge. Best part is that it's $35

I EDC a standard griptilian. It's inexpensive and lightweight. It fits well in my pocket. Most of all it cuts stuff very well

I EDC a Benchmade Griptilian with the drop-point serrated blade. Absolutely love it!

I EDC the Recon 1. I also don't see the point of hating on knives. Everyone to their own.

I carry flashy knives like Benchmade balisongs and Italian switchblades. I don't try to be "tacticool". To each his own.

My favorite knife I own for EDC use is my CRKT Fossil Compact 4560. It checks off all your boxes for a good EDC knife. It is light, not too long or wide,and is affordable. I got mine for just under $50 (retail price: $70). It is assembled in China, as are most of CRKT's knives, but the construction is very solid. The blade steel is 8Cr13MoV that has been heat treated to a HRC of 58-60. It is a frame lock with a stainless steel frame and partial G10 overlay. It is a flipper using the IKBS ball bearing pivot; giving it a silky smooth opening and a very solid lock up. The thing that sets it apart from other knives is the look. It looks absolutely beautiful with its multicolored G10 and hammered steel frame. Definitely worth a look if you'd want an art knife that is very functional and affordable.

The Flash II is a great knife.

The SOG Flash II is everything you didn't like about the other knives. It's light, it carries well. It's reliable, durable, and the only thing I can fault it on is the damn safety can get bumped off. I bought one new on ebay for 16 bucks. I have to disagree with your assessment of the Flash II. for a light tactical folder it can't be beat

This is gonna sound stupid to some people (especially those who seem to get all stiff over these expensive, ‘tactical’ looking knives) but for my purposes, a regular old, carbon opinel #6 or #7 is almost perfect for every day carry. First of all, the “high maintenance” of carbon steel is hugely overblown by certain people. I have a 100+ year old, carbon steel straight razor that I inherited from my great grandfather and guess what? It’s still going strong...something that has seen water nearly every day during certain periods. Secondly, for less than $20, the opinels disappear in my pocket and are plenty ergonomic/sharp whenever I need them. Are there $200 knives that feel better? Absolutely...it’d be ridiculous if they didn’t. But do they feel ten times better? No...I’m much happier having a $15 knife in my pocket so that if I show up somewhere with high security with my knife, like a dope (which is something that happens every day to someone, somewhere), I don’t have to bum out over the loss or the ridiculous inconvenience caused by my insane looking, expensive pocket knife. Above all, knives should be practical. If it looks cool and has ultra-damascus, godsemen, high carbon steel and all-condition, floating handle scientifically guaranteed to fit EVERY hand perfectly...that’s all just a “bonus”.

I've carried a Recon 1 Tanto for over a year now. EDC, Self defense and into the field as an Infantryman. Best knife I have ever owned.

Excellent info., but state your opinion and move on. You make the same point 3-4 times in a row.

i edc a Talwar xl simply because i don't play with self defense. 5.5inch blade give me goid distance that you can't get from a 3inch blade, great steel holds a great edge and is extremely sharp. overkill is better than underkill in my opinion.

Had the 707 squeal for a long time. Loved it, had to bury it because I forgot it before going into coachella. Dug it back up and it still worked. I ended up losing it recently and Just bought another one. Cut carpets, boxes, furniture, all kinds of s***, never had any issues with it at all. Have a mini grip too but I love how small the 707 is and how the aluminum feels in your hands

I agree with everything you said here, except for the Benchmade. I don't think $130 is too much to pay for a knife that you really really love. I carry the Osborne 940 every single day, and have for a long time. I'm married to it. I'll probably never buy another pocketknife again. My opinion, there has never been a more perfect design for a knife than the 940. I'm sure it's a personal preference thing, but love is love.

The spyderco's are perfect knifes I use them everyday...

My everyday edc is an Ontario RAT model 1, I figure it works for me because I'm a big guy and it doesn't really weigh me down.

I was sweating it because I saw 2 of my knives on your list, both the SOG and Benchmade. I got the 707 around Christmas time cause I had some spare money laying around. I chose the 707 over the Griptilian because it felt better in my larger hands. I wanted what felt good to me for an EDC, so it was worth the few extra bucks to me. I called Benchmade to order a Deep carry pocket clip and they sent it to me for free and free shipping cause I live 10 miles away from them. Great customer service! I also added a strip of skateboard grip tape to the outter side of the clip for super fast deployment and conrtol. Thanks for the good info and work.

Thanks guys, I appreciate your opinion and the fact that you guys made it clear that these are blades that don;t meet your need. I've help a number of people build survival kits for some friends for different environments. I don't use the same knife in a southern swamp that I use in the High County. The blade has to suit the need and users hand as well as the users preference. Some guys, like me have huge paws and need a beefy handle, others with a smaller hand are like a smaller grip they can hold comfortably. I also like the fact that you covered cost vs value. Good job.

Knives I wouldn't buy for Electronic Dance Concerts

I love Cold Steel. Therefore, I love Taiwan.

KA-BAR K-2 "Agama" folder, about $15, after 3 years the lock is still tight, no play at all. You can open it and close it with a single hand, it has a decent pocket clip, it doesn't weigh that much, it has a decent blade length with the usual drop point. Once the blade is feeling a bit loose, it's just a quick allen key to tighten it, but I've only had to do it once. For an EDC knife which could be potentially confiscated, I'd rather carry it. It'll cut through everything any other knife would. Sticks about 10mm above the top of the pocket. Can't really go wrong, it's just a sharpened bit of metal inside a case

I recently purchased the Cold Steel Leatherneck-Tanto. I must say, one of the- if not the best knife I've ever purchased. It's not really a utility knife, but more of a combat knife, as that's exactly what it's designed for, in every way. They took the handle from a time and war-proven ka-bar, and attached it to the Japanese-style Tanto blade, that is renouned for being extremely good at stabbing and cutting, and by God, if I had to choose a knife to get into a fight with, I wouldn't look at any other than the Leatherneck-Tanto.

I'm not a fan of Spyderco or Cold Steel. I think that they make good high quality stuff, but they seem to be expensive for what you get. I would buy one but not for full price.

what knife has the quick release pommel?

I edc a Spyderco Tenacious at the moment. Picked her up from Wally World For around $40. Use it as an everyday utility knife and is large enough and deploys fast enough to be a good defense knife as well.

Bought the SOG twitch 2 which is a gentleman's version of the Flash 1. I bought it because I knew I prefer flippers over studs, and work in an office where I don't want to scare anyone. I learned that I don't like small knives, because they don't give enough real estate to hold onto during use and deployment. I also learned that I dislike lock backs for the lack of easy one hand close. I also hurts the fondlability of flipper knife. Lastly, I agree with TLBS with the fitment in blade play. It had post lockup movement both front to back and side to side. I sent it back for all of these reasons and purchased a Kershaw Skyline. It is just over 3", Sandvik steel, still slim, grippier with G10, flipper and liner lock for fondlability, and still not too ominous to look at. My next purchase is the Kershaw Knockout: flipper, subframe lock, aluminum handles, light/thin, in light brown, and 3.25" stone washed Elmax steel. Super excited for it to come.

@ Paul. Seriously. Do you think that anyone who carries a knife is automatically doing so for self-defence/combat? I carry a Leatherman daily as well, what's your psychological opinion on that? I use mine almost daily, and it almost doesn't touch flesh. The exception being when at a friends house and my pocket knife is actually sharper than anything in their kitchen (and therefore safer). Cutting packing tape, opening those godawful plastic clam shells, snipping a loose thread on clothing, trimming or macgyvering plastic for a jury-rig. cutting rope, stripping wire/cutting wire (abuse but necessary), snipping a milk bag in the coffee room because some a-hole walked away with the scissors. The list of things I use a knife for is long and none of them have anything to do with violence or survival situations. It's just convient. I've used mine to cut a loose thread on a Hugo Boss suit, which is about as far from your inane hypotheticals as one can get. The knife may not be mankind's first tool, but it was probably the first tool used to make other tools.. It's okay if you're a left-wing liberal, no shame in that. We've gotten used to your type telling others how they should live for a while now. Those of us that believe in being self-reliant will continue to do so. Just because you drive a Vovlo with Sat-Nav doesn't mean I can't own a compass. Is anyone telling you how to carry on with your life?

I automatically pass on lockback knives. I have to be able to open it with one hand.

Recon 1 just like the one you talked about is my #1 knife. I love it.

"You're getting your moneys worth at $260" what a joke. I'll never buy another ZT. Mine came to me so off center that it was scraping the G10 side liner. I sent it back immediately since that was unacceptable and they sent it back to me several weeks later having done nothing but crank the pivot down until it was centered... this also made it impossible to open the knife... 3 times this knife has gone back to ZT, and 3 times, they have failed to fix their POS. Their products: Trash. Their service: Trash. I wouldn't buy another ZT if it was $5 and came with a BJ.

Your absolutely right. The Manix 2 XL isn't really the knife you clip to your pantyhose when you dress up in drag. Its more for you know MEN!

I Have A Ozark Trail Railco Lock blade. Looking to acquire Kershaw Knife. pretty soon.

I had that SOG, it was the first "good" knife I'd ever bought. It broke within 2 months, the pocket clip got caught on something and with very little force it twisted and the plastic handle broke. Needless to say I wasn't very impressed with it. Mine also had play in the blade but I'm sure I could've tightened that up easily. I just ordered the Spyderco Delica 4 so hopefully that one will last longer than the SOG. Edit: I will say that SOG offered to fix it for me, (they were very nice about it) but I never followed up because I lost it when I moved.

Well, I'll preface this by saying "to each his own". The Recon 1 is actually my EDC blade. I have carried it for basic utility tasks as well as self-defense (until recently I wasn't old enough for a concealed handgun permit) for well over a year. I also carry it at work (I'm a land surveyor) and it's never let me down there, either. It's solid, durable, quick to open, and cuts like a champ. Its ergonomics are simply out of this world. I admit, it's a beefy knife. However, I've never had this be an issue. I'm a stickler about having things poking me in the leg and taking up space in my pockets, I really am. However, I can say with complete honesty that I forget the Recon is even there while carrying it. I don't wear particularly baggy jeans with large pockets or anything. I plan to keep using this knife as my EDC for many years to come.

spyderco knives are nice , but way too expensive for what they are

Espada is for people who need to compensate fer somethin.....

I’ve EDC carried the Spyderco Manix 2 XL for about 4 years & love it.

By the way, the pocket clip on the Kershaw Leek Knife is on the correct end of the knife so that if the blade accidentally opens in your pocket, the blade is not pointing up when you reach into your pocket for something. Also the knife has a safety lock to prevent the knife from opening accidentally.

This "review" is no good because of the way you are gripping the knives! That's a knife-fighting grip. Try it out on a piece of wood and see how that changes your grip.

Subscribed and then unsubbed. XD I respect your opinions, but your philosophy on knives is different enough from mine that I dont think they'll be helpful to me.

I would carry the Zero Tolerance 0561 if I had one, but I'm still saving up. Knives I will buy in the future (after a lot of saving) are: -Zero Tolerance 0561 -Spyderco sage 1 -Chris Reeve Large Sebenza 21 -Leatherman charge AL Good thing is that this will prevent me from buying any other knives except for a Fred Perrin le Tri knife. But that one is cheap for around $30

I strongly agree with the majority of your reasoning. It really comes down to personal preference of the buyer and the pleasure they get from their purchase. One of my possessions is a Zero Tolerance 1st Gen 0550. Its built solid as a tank and weighs a hefty @6 ounces. Scary when you first look at it and hold it, but after a few days of carry it grows on you and somehow it becomes a favorite. It is not my only knife costing more then $100 but cetainly in my opinion the most quality built knife I own. I initially had thoughts about the cost of it which dwindled away very rapidly after owning it. As of this posting, I am now awaiting delivery of a custom ZT 0900 costing much more then my ZT 0550. Bottom line, you get what you pay for and if you get enjoyment and like your knifeen it is well worth it in the long run.

Why would you pay $70 for a recon? Lmao. $47.50 on AMAZON all day long!

Dam you boys are picky hope your love life is easier

I laughed when you said the Recon 1 is too big for EDC... I EDC the Rajah II, so the Recon is a tiny knife for me XD

I have carried a Benchmade 707 for a few years now, and I'm really happy with it. I also discovered after buying it that the aluminum handle scales are perfect for opening bottles, even though the black paint gets a little more wear. It is a little bit pricey, though. :)

boy scout cant handle a Mans Knife... lol

if you dont know seki city japan you dont know knives

relating to the clip, the spiderco g-10 is made to have a user adjustable pocket clip, if you check the three holes close to the blade, they are the same shape and formation as the screws on the pocket clip, so in retrospect of wanting a deeper clip, barely anything show when you swap sides, hope that helps

For value for money I have loved my SOG trident. Deep carry, good edge, easy to conceal and did not break the bank. Go SOG!

casshh me ousside how bow dah

Knives I'd never buy; *The entire Spyderco line.* A $30-$40 dollar Ken Onion Speedsafe is almost always a better choice.

BTW lockbacks are the thinnest/lightest knife youll ever buy. Spyderco nails it right on the head with the "spider hole", comes in super handy for opening and closing. if the knife isnt too big for your hands you dont have to whip it to open it. just press ur thumb in the circle until its open. beats the hell outta a thumb stud.

Try shopping by street price rather than suggested retail. I got my Flash II for about $47 at Lowe's rather than $73 from SOG's site (for the satin finish, partly serrated option). You get AUS8 steel, piston lock, full-depth pocket clip, assisted opening, and a lifetime warranty for that. SOG makes many sizes and price ranges, so there's the $23 Mini Autoclip. Then there's the FatCat or the carbon fiber / Damascus version of the Arcitech for around $600 each. And those are SOG online prices just for folders.

Lol @ the term "overseas made"... I am from Europe. You are aware that the rest of the world avoids anything that says "made in USA" ??

i onlt buy American made knives anyway

I love the Flash II and I have two, one for work and one for home. However, I work with some corrosive chemical and even after wiping down the blade when I open a bottle seal the blade rusts. The form factor is great and the deep pocket clip is brilliant.

I have a kershaw clash as an edc and it has been the best edc knife I've ever had and it has perfect dimensions for me and it was 50 bucks. I got one for my dad and he uses it for things like cutting letters, old rope and to eating at restaurants when the knives they have are too dull and he only sharpens it once every 5-6 months and I use mine for lighter things and I only sharpen it once every 8-9 months.

My flash II IS PERFECT no blade play, no issues, solid knife. I think you should revisit this knife and carry it for a day

I love my CS Recon 1,, I did fix the "gripyness" of the g10 with the clip issue. It is a large knife, but Ive become used to that by carrying large buck knifes since my scouting days. I do agree with you that if you prefer a smaller knife than the recon is not for you.

I personally like my recon one but you're so right about it being huge. My girlfriend bought me a cold steel AK-47 mini and I love that thing. Still hugely expensive though AUS-8 for 65 bucks. In that same boat I have a Benchmade triage that she also bought me (she spoils me) that I don't feel like will ever really get the use it deserves because I'm not an EMT/firefighter. It's a good knife to keep in the car but for 160 bucks you can do way better. The important thing is that if you've handled enough of the knives you'll know right off the bat what you like and don't like. I can't imagine why someone wouldn't realize that

I'd carry that ZT0561 all day every day. My current edc is a ColdSteel 4 Max Scout. I occasionally will opt for a smaller, lighter knife, but I like a beefy well built knife.

I think that showing the "thought process" tack to take as a consumer that you have in this video is very good.

I live a few miles from a state where the biggest legal blade is 3.5" that kind of limits what I carry. My EDC of choice is the normal sized Griptillian. I love how it isn't spring loaded so cops won't confuse it with a switchblade, I just wish it was deep carry.

I received my second New Gerber Moment 31 drop point. This my second Gerber. I do like these knives because they do come very sharp and well built, but it also depends on where you bought your Gerber. That being said some people have bought bad knives from Gerber. I get mine right from Gerber. Gerber knives have been good for me. Great video.

Just got a Spyderco Endura frn full grind from BladeHQ. My 2nd favorite behind my ole Böker lockback water buffalo horn,

I carry a Ontario RAT 2, and I love it. Small, light, and still super sharp well over a year later. I have not sharpened it, and I use it for light duty.

I'm glad you made it a point to say you wouldn't want it, but they are all still good.

I've carried the Police 3 for years and recently got the Manix XL. Love both those blades but I carry them as tactical folders and usually have a Smaller EDC knife I use for 99% of cutting tasks. Gotta take into account the purpose. This video should almost be called "Knives I'd Never Buy for EDC"

The ZT is a great knife... I picked up a ZT0560BLK a few years ago as a "blem xxxx" for less than half the listed price (new).. Couldn't find a single issue with it... Hard knife to beat for $120ish that I paid for it. Fantastic knife.

Just saw this video and it is very informative. I own a fox dart knife, it's small and I love it.

The Sog Flash 2 is a great knife. With deep concealment and being able to reverse the clip is great. I carry my firearm on my right so I carry my knife on the left. I have the serrated blade Sog Flash 2.

Michigan's knife laws are vague in some spots, it's hard to tell the difference between a spring loaded and spring assisted and the other types of knife that quickly access the blade by their description. It's almost like they're vague so the police can make the decision at the moment of discovery of your knife.

I carry a Zero Tolerance 350, it's worked for me so far. I like Cold Steel fixed blades, not so much with their folding knives. The Kobun is a personal favorite.

I own a KA-bar(survival use), benchmade mini griptilian(everyday), and for work my favorite knife is the spyderco Tasman salt. I work on ships and having that light weight hawkbilled serrated knife is great cuts threw 1 1/2 marine rope with only two slices. Best knife I've had for work and I've had a lot lol. Some the fish get to use now.

I agree with your opinion on the Sogs. Aegis, Flash, Trident, I own them all because they were gifts, but too much blade play and construction seems shoddy to me. I had pretty much written off SOG until I purchased the Vulcan Tanto mini. Then the Vulcan Tanto full size. I even bought the Bluto. All 3 of these are solid folders with ZERO blade play, beautiful blade geometry, San Mai VG-10, an arc lock that shames the arc lock on the models previously mentioned, and butter smooth opening and closing. Razor sharp outta the box, I would recommend these models to anyone. Some will complain about the zytel handles, but the texturing is superb and keeps the weight down and the balance on these knives is perfect (the Bluto has aluminum handles). Seki City did a phenomenal job on all 3 of these examples. The only complaint I have on them, the Bluto excluded, is the pocket clip. It's a deep carry clip, which I like, but it's cheesy looking and too big. They should have used the exact same clip that is on the Bluto on the mini, and a slightly larger one like it on the full size. Then these knives would be perfect 10s instead of the 9.75 I would rate them as is. Try one of the Vulcans (the mini Tanto is by a small margin my favorite), and I think, like me, you will gain an entirely new perspective on SOGs. I'm not trying to advocate the SOG brand, I generally prefer Spydercos and Benchmades myself. But this Vulcan lineup sets itself apart from their lineup of other folders. Anyway, I really enjoy your channel...keep it up and stay sharp.

That G 10 knife is smoking hot. Not for everyday carry but still a knife I would want for my prep kit.

If you like the ZT0561 but don't want to drop $260 on a EDC knife then just get the Kershaw Cryo II for one tenth of that price. The Cryo II is an exact replica of that same design (It even says Hinderer Design right on the blade). It's been my EDC knife for a while and it's fantastic. Sure it's not a $260 blade but it's still a Kershaw and in terms of usability and practicality it'll go toe to toe with anything. I use it daily and it will still slice through ratchet strap material like it was spaghetti. It's also almost an ounce lighter than the ZT. And if your problem is that it's too big then get the Cryo I.

I carry 2 knives every day a ZT301 and ZT350 love both they did take a little getting used to.

Not going to lie, I can't believe the zt 560 is in this video. That knife is absolutely fantastic.

i currently carry a custom knife factory decepticon 2 as an EDC and yes it's a big knife but it's pretty lightweight for such a big knife and the blade style is something i really love and i find very usefull because it's a bit rounded

Have you ever used a Kershaw Leak, or Scallion, or Shallot? For made in the USA, these Kershaw knifes pass any test. Thanks for your videos. As a collector, the 125th. anniversary Case knifes are worth the cost. From Buffalo horn Hunters to the stacked handle fixed blades, Case remains a valuable asset. For in the field, the tough rubber like handles, get the job done. I have never had even one customer return. I'd love to grow a small business but the overhead is way over my head. Thanks again. J.W. in N.C