Nick's Favorite EDC Gear for 2023 

NIck i would be happy to send you anything and everything you want at any point with no strings attached to do what ever you wish the road you paved is the only reason im here

This is still one of my favorite knife channels. I miss the regular videos but I’ll continue to be here whenever a new Shabazz video drops. God bless you in this new year Nick!

You're still the best reviewer hands down Nick. I appreciate every moment you give the community!

Nobody reviews like you Nick. Your style is why I have watched your videos for half a decade or better. I can even give you credit for getting me into my small scale knife collection. Love you Nick, which you a happy and healthy new year.

Your channel is the only reason I’m a part of the knife and EDC community. Been watching and enjoying your videos for years! Thanks for all you have done and I will continue to watch then you post despite how irregularly.

Hey Nick! Glad to see you could still squeeze in one of these year in review videos! And I gotta say it's an absolutely surreal honor to hear you reference me out loud in a video! Madness! I think *by far* one of the most exciting things to happen in the community this year is Ben pushing for open-source in the knife world. I'm biased of course, having lived in that space for decades now, but in a world where some companies are cracking down on aftermarket mods, it's an absolute breath of fresh air to have Ben advocating for openness and customizability. It invites the best kind of cursed lunacy into the world, as those scales you show demonstrate, but it also pushes creativity and innovation and community building. It's something I hope many more companies will consider in the future! (I consulted with him earlier this year about how best to manage his open source content, so I'm really excited to see where things end up on that front.) Also, welcome to Linux as a daily driver! I know you're no stranger to Linux, but it's fun to hear you're all-in these days. (What made you opt for an immutable variant of Fedora?) Same with Android -- I'm surprised you weren't already an Android user! Apple makes fantastic products that "just work" for what the majority of people want to do, but Android has always been the platform for nitpicky nerds. It's about time you're on board!

Nick, your channel is one of the first I picked up as I got into the pocket knife community. You’ve always made great content, and you still do. As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. Edit: Holy crap I just realized the MBK Maiar was in stock and grabbed one! I’ve been looking for my first slipjoint and this is it! Thanks Nick!

Nick I totally understand your reasons for pulling back from this channel, but you will remain the king of gear channels for me. Over the years I've spent a lot of money on your recommendations and I'm consistently in agreement with you on most everything. To the point if I'm thinking of making a purchase I will trust you completely if you have reviewed the item. If you ever find your way back I'll be waiting, and so will many others. Condolences to your wife on her losses and best of luck in 2024 to you both.

Nick, you literally introduced me to the knife hobby. You taught me how to disassemble, repair, modify, and appreciate cutting tools. Your honest, non-fanboy, low key, self-deprecating approach is something I’ve always admired and appreciated. So, a simple thank you for your tutorials, your insight and your thoughtful opinions. May your New Year be filled with love, laughter and joy.

Hi Nick, I just gotta say, YOU ARE DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE KNIFE REVIEWERS! I trust your opinions, and I can tell that you speak from vast experience in the knife world. I also find your posts very entertaining - you have an extremely quick wit, and I often find myself smiling and even literally LOL as I watch your videos! I feel like you set a standard that other channels can be compared to. Sorry, I have not always remembered to give a 'thumbs up' even though I enjoy your videos, so will make sure to be more consistent with this to help the algorithms. May God Bless you and your wife in 2024 with good health, happiness, financial provision, and peace! Thank you, Steve Bates

This remains my favorite knife channel. I often go back to older videos like terrible knives and a lot of the videos where it’s just you talking Nick. I enjoy your somewhat cynical view on the knife world and it’s a wonderful thing. Whatever content you decide to post, I’ll be there to watch it, hopefully 2024 is a better one for you.

You are still #1 and my first stop for knife reviews and info. There are other great channels now, but I usually pick and choose what I watch. Yours is the only channel I feel I *must* watch every offering. Thanks for everything, Nick. I've learned so much here. Here's to a better year for all of us!

IMHO the size of a channel means nothing when you're looking for quality = honest review made by somebody competent. Plus presenting something interesting and not just the latest hype. Nick, you are a gem and keep on at the pace that works for you, we'll be here :) Have a great new year!

Nick, you channel brings me joy 😁, thanks for all you do!! Happy New Year

Happy new year Nick! 🎉 Thanks for the continued effort throughout this year.

Sorry to hear that it was a tough year Nick! It did seem to go that way for a lot of folks. Wishing you a happy 2024, and you can rest easy knowing that we’re here for your videos, no matter how often you post! Honestly these days I get pretty stoked when I see you’ve posted something because I know it’s going to be a very interesting item or topic

Nick, Thank you for you efforts and opinions, past and present! I am not sure how often I hear wisdom, honesty and common sense on the web. Your outlook is real and sort of uplifting. Thank you again! God bless!

I’m very sad that you’re withdrawing from the knife scene. I got into knives during the pandemic. Then I found your channel. You inspired me to build my collection. Then you inspired my sharpening tools. And your site inspired my tool kit for disassembly and cleaning. I guess what I want to say is your channel changed my life for the better. So thank you. Even if you give up on the channel, thank you for all you did to inspire me and people like me. Happy new year!

Happy Holidays Nick, here's to a fresh and better new year! Always enjoy your content. Couple of great tickers there.

Great overview for 2023, still one of the best gear review channels there is! Always love seeing a new upload of yours - the honest transparent perspective is always appreciated. Thanks for the content and here’s to hoping for a better 2024! 😁

Great stuff, always enjoy your reviews. I really loved that Schon fountain pen, I believe you said the fella over there makes his own mind?! Wild, definitely checking them out later today. Keep on keeping on and I wish you and yours a safe and prosperous New Years

Always love your videos brother. I hope you stick around! Happy New Year.

Love the video Nick and I wish you and yours a happy new year! 🎉

Thank you Nick for all the work you put into 2023 love your channel looking for your all upcoming review in 2024. Wishing you and your family all the best for 2024. Happy New Year 🎊🎉 🍾

I have made a few purchases over the years based on your reviews and advice and have been more than pleased with all of those decisions. Thank you for your time, your work, and sharing your knowledge. Cheers.

ALWAYS look forward to your EDC yearly favs. Great work as always!

Thank you for your work,Nick. I occidentally bought Merkur 23 after watching your review. Most of my knife collection was formed under the influence of your reviews as well. Your channel is probably the best, at least for me. Greetings from Siberia. Happy New Year!

Glad to see you’re still making videos! Happy New Year Nick! Don’t work too hard!

Nick, it's so nice to "hear" from you -- and sorry to hear of your challenges in '23; wondered where you'd gone. Your channel is a strong argument against algorithms! I always enjoy not only your item specific reviews and thought pieces as well.

Hi Nick, it was a rough year overall for my wife and I too. One of the bright spots was discovering your channel, reading through the Knife Steel Nerds web site, and beginning a knife collection in 2023 beyond the 3 old and trusty knives I had laying around the house. My Grimsmo Norseman just showed up, the total to date is now 31 great knives. Your reviews were very helpful along the way and in the end, I’m extremely happy with the choices made. Cheers to an amazing 2024.

Still here for you Nick, still the knife review GOAT and appreciate all your content. My collection has been created and continues to grow with a large thanks to you!

Been a while since I’ve seen one of your vids, love your channel! It’s just none of your stuff has popped up on feed and to be honest I kinda forgot about your channel. Hope too see more!

Nick, I love your knife reviews and disassemblies and have been a fan for about 3 years - about the time I began collecting knives. Happy New Year!!

Great to hear from you. Happy New Year Nick. 🍻 Oh, I got into watches...😅

Hey Mr Shabazz I love the channel and is one of the originals I watched way back in the beginning and is one of the channels along with a few others that inspired me to pick up and pick up a camera to create content. You are an OG and are still an important part of those who truly appreciate unbiased great reviews. Thank you and have a great year sir.

Nick, your thoughts are spot on. Thanks for continuing to be one of the best knife/watch channels, even when you're not uploading as much anymore.

All the best for new year to you and all !!!

Love this video, Nick! You're completely right about everything. First of all, you'll always be the an OG and I wish you a happier 2024! I only purchased one watch in 2023. I completely backed off my watch hobby. Even my trusted AD, where they know me by name, wouldn't get their prices low enough with the discounts even with the pre-owned stuff. I got into knives and I usually feel like I'm getting my money's worth.

Happy new year and keep up the great work! The knife world has changed, in some ways for the better and in some ways that I don’t care for but that’s why we need honest, objective reviewers more than ever.

I'll be here whenever you choose to post buddy! Happy new year! All the best to and your loved ones this year!

I love yout channel Nick. I'm still pretty new in the pocket knife world so I buy a lot of "older" knives. I just picked up my first delica 🙂 What's wonderful is that almost no matter what knife I buy, you have videos on it. It's fantastic. I always watch your new stuff and I love it. I wish you the very best 2024 and I hope you keep putting out videos for a million years more. Cheers to you Nick!

I discovered your channel when I was looking for reviews on the crkt seismic, I must say I thoroughly enjoy your ramblings and take on these tools we love Nick.

Your honest and in depth analysis and reviews makes this channel great and stand out for me and I will keep watching! Great work!

Happy New Year - hang in there man. For me still the best - OG!

one of the first i subscribed to and became a patreon for. still among the best and most honest i've found.

I appreciate you and my condolences for your difficult year and the losses in your family.

Great stuff Nick, a very nice selection and some good ruminations on the state of the things.

Always a great end of the year video I look forward to. Sorry to hear about the losses.

Thanks for the update Nick. Great takes as always.

Way to go nick, thought we weren’t going to get this video this year. Thanks for all you do

Glad to see you out and about again. Fantastic review and your commentary on the noise in the industry as well as the unnecessary price gouging is on target.

Haven't seen much from you, Nick. Used to watch your RU-vid videos all the time a couple years ago. I've seen only a couple this past year. Hopefully things go better for you this coming year. Anyway, please keep on keeping on. I really appreciate your wit and your opinions on knives. Thanks

Thanks for the video! I miss seeing more from you! Sorry for the losses.

Sir, you will always be a Icon in the knife world. Phrases that will be repeated often and fondly like "Pocket Pecker" and "Don't get into Watches" will never fade. I agree with every point you made. I have expressed basically your same points to several reviewers only to have it fall on deaf ears. Although I don't often express these observations in comments in knife channels I feel more and more like stepping back and watching what happens and not really participating anymore. The future is never certain.

Love seeing that Lander 2 out there. Such a great knife that none of the other channels seem to be talking about

I don't even comment on videos much (and maybe I should change that, as I want to support the creators that deserve it), but I felt compelled to do so on this one... This this first knife/edc channel I ever followed as that became something I was interested in. It remains a channel that I'm happy to see a videl drop for. I understand that you're a real person with a real life and real responsibility, so I completely understand you handling that. But I'm going to be here watching whenever you drop. Thank you.

Great vid Nick. Please don’t let the numbers get you down too much. As far as I’m concerned you’re offering a public service to collectors. Your videos are by far and away the most informative, thorough, honest and forward thinking reviews on RU-vid. No disrespect to the other folks you mentioned, but you are in a completely different league that is all your own. No apologies, no explanations needed. Its been a brutal year on planet Earth. That’s why they roll back the calendar and give us start fresh right? I’m thankful for all that you do for the community and will always be a fan and a supporter of this channel. Side note: I bought an MBK Ti folder similar to the one you have but the detent was softer than a Miralax milkshake so I gave it to my gardener. Such a bummer, I loved everything else about it! See you in 2024 my friend! 🍻

Thank you, Señor Shabazz, for taking time for us. We appreciate your insights.

Thanks for sharing Nick !!

Have a safe and happy New Year, Nick !

You’ll always be my favorite reviewer. The very best. Have learned more from you than anybody and always here for when you do make a video. 👊🏻

All hail Winterblade!! 💜💜💜Happy new year Nick! 👐

Thanks for articulating so well what many of us are feeling about the Chinese OEM world. Sent this to a few friend just for that reason. Hope to see more of you in 2024!

Nick you are great at what you do, just keep the drama out of it. We all going through it. Happy new year enjoy your 2024 in great health... 'George ( Los Angeles )

My first my last my everyreviewer. We love you Nick. The companies may not but we do😂. Keep up the amazing work and honesty.

Thank you for everything, love your content.

Nick i love the channel You got me into knives l purchased my first TRM Because of your channel It's one of my favorite ❤ I like to wish you and your family happy new year hope to see you more next year 😊

Great stuff as usual Nick! I appreciate your perspective on good tools. Like you, I am happy to see Magnacut getting more common as a good super steel. I recently got a Spyderco Native 5 lightweight salt because of the Magnacut blade and backlock. It is the ideal work knife design. The Spydiehole and back lock are easily manipulated with one gloved hand for opening and closing ambidextrously (probably a word). I just wish it was available in a color other than yellow!

Thanks for the update! Cannot wait to see your gun reviews!!

Buddy, your channel is awesome! Stay with it!! My fav knife channel!

Thank you Mr. Shabazz for sharing with us.

You're still trending in the algorithm of our hearts Nick. Spyderco is upgrading their production facilities at Golden, so it's understandable that they're more focused on getting scheduled releases out the door rather than maximum innovation. And they've got a High Impact Ceramic version of their Mule, which ain't nothing.

I'm At 4 minutes and... Just wanted to say you're my favourite channel our there when it comes to edc and knives. I do much much mich appreciate what you do. If you do it often or one time a year. Allways very happy to see there's a new shabazz online. Even if it's the old shabazz which I like he most. You not bending. I wish you a super super good start to 2024

Long time subscriber here . Love the channel and the man behind it. While our interests do not mirror each other, we do have similar likes and your personality makes for great viewing. Thanks so much!

Nick, your content has been 100% authentic and true to your core values and EDC family here since the beginning. Im here for the slower and more focused content, Also the flashlight feature paredown was a refreshing view. Good luck in 2024!!

I am so glad to hear you are an open source guy. I used Linux for about 15 years as my primary desktop os. I've always used Android because I prefer it. I use fountain pens, love Sailor, but often use TWISBI. My best watch is a Grand Seiko I bought from Seiyajapan, but most of my watches are cheaper Seiko mechanicals. It seems we forged similar paths. I've followed your channel for years and always appreciate your style and humor. Thanks and Happy New Year!

Take care ,have a great new year ! 😀

idc what youtube analytics say, YOU DA BEST NICK! I really appreciate what you do. I can watch other knife folks, but when I want the true word on a knife, I'm waiting for the Shabazz seal of approval, regardless of how long it could take. Take care and be well! Happy New Year to you and yours (this goes for anyone reading this comment... that isn't a serial killer)!

I sold all but three knives recently after having a collection of them. The PM2, ZT 562 CF, and Rat #2 made the cut. Your reviews have been a beacon of the community. Thanks as always for the videos.

Nick, I appreciate and trust you and your thoughts in the knife world. Thank you for your honesty and sincerity, not just for product's but for the community in large. P.S. The Pixel 7 pro is the best phone I have experienced.

He's a great online knife critic -- fairly honest, direct and down to earth. His savvy opinions are usually pretty " on point " too ! From very high end to mere cheap budget ; its all covered here in good detail. Some nice fancy EDC stuff to drool over as usually is the case. Other brands I got into in 2023 include Two - Sun ; Case xx; Citizen Eco Drive . These I often find recommended online. Happy New Year everybody. Stay sharp !

you're the reason i got into watches. bastard. happy new year.

You're not trouble. Thank you over the years for your knive reviews. You are excellent, I like how you joke too!

Nick you are a GEM. Because you are genuine. And set apart from the other panhandlers and reviewers that can’t honestly review a knife honestly because there is only 365 days a year. I can’t see how a knife can get a real review when they get more knives than days in a year. I think they are full of it and have become salesmen not reviewers.

You’re the original, the person that got me into modern knives, rekindled my love for carrying tools a man needs on a daily basis. I’m here for the good the bad and the ugly.

Been a longtime viewer, Nick. Among all the other content creators and gear reviewers, you are truly a gem. Thanks to you, sir. Cheers to 2024.

Well said and Happy New Year to you. Thanks for the content and commentary you do provide with the limited time you have. US Manufactures like Benchmade and Spyderco have raised their prices so much without much innovation recently. So much so that you might as well buy a CRK Sebenza and stop wishing you had. As for watches, thanks Nick for keeping me getting started with them in the first place. Citizen promaster in titanium is good enough for my needs.

I’m just a young toolmaker apprentice in an injection molding shop, but one day I’m gonna manufacture a great knife and Nick is gonna review it. Love this channel.

❤ Nick you are my "go to " EDC reviewer. Your disassemble videos have always been very helpful. Please continue and look forward to your 2024 year content. ❤

The pyrite in Ti is one of my favorites from 2023, at a fraction of the price of my other knives. Would make a great gift!

Great video, as always.

Nicolás, been waiting for this video and just gotta say "un excelente trabajo mi buen amigo". No need to campare to other bigger channels "quality and class" is not comparable and are characteristics you absolutely have, including brains. My condolences to your wife, totally get it. Feliz año nuevo para ti y tu esposa, mis mejores deseos mi buen Nicolás. 🙂🤝👌

You the goat in my books nick

My sincerest condolences on your losses this year. I pray it gets better and find peace this year.

Sorry you’ve had a rough year. Hope peace of mind and prosperity finds you in 2024.

Love your channel Nick!

Thank you for all your contents. I bought a Speedmaster 57 because of your review.

Nice to see a Formex Essence on the table, as a one watch owner, because I love the company. I love my carbon. I still think it's the best value for the money in terms of features v. cost, at least for a carbon automatic COSC. I'm stoked to just now check and see they are still selling the price I bought at in 2022. Such a great company. I've worn it every day, through gym, rock climbing, it's as if I bought it yesterday.

The "Good" of 2023: knives in Magnacut. The "Bad" of 2023: the price gouging. All the points you raised are totally accurate and I have only bought three knives in this past year.

Happy new year Nick, I have been missing your voice this year. Always appreciated your integrity and take on this silly hobby!