Are you looking for an EDC knife that you can carry in your pocket or backpack every day and use for work, for performing everyday tasks, or for self-defense?
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
There is a wide variety of excellent options suitable for everyday carry on the market.
Best EDC Knife
The perfect EDC knives are foldable, portable, and pocket-sized. They are also easy to unfold deploy and use. They are safe, comfortable, and at the same time sturdy enough to serve their purpose as multifunctional and reliable cutting, slicing, and chopping devices.
Here are the best EDC knives you can buy in 2023.
Cold Steel Recon 1 Tactical Knife with G-10 Handle
The Cold Steel Recon 1 is among the top-rated folding tactical knives in 2023 and is also a top-preferred EDC knife by a large number of people.
The knife has a vacuum heat-heated and then sub-zero quenched 4-inch stainless steel blade with a PTFE coating. This helps prevent corrosion and also makes the blade less visible and more discreet, as well as lower friction, allowing it to slip through tougher materials more efficiently. The Recon 1 is offered with a tanto point as well as with a spear point option.
The folding EDC blade by Cold Steel has sturdy and comfortable to hold G10 scales with an ergonomic contour and non-slip texture for use in all types of weather conditions and situations without slipping.
This everyday carry knife has an easy-to-reach and uses a thumb disk for quick one-handed opening of the knife. Thanks to the secure Tri-Ad locking system, your knife will stay safely closed when you need it to.
The knife is 9 3/8 inches long weighs 5.3 ounces, and comes with a sturdy pocket clip for safe and comfortable portability.
It is a sturdy, lightweight, and easy to use knife, which will come in handy when tackling all types of everyday tasks, including box cutting, and rope cutting, and will also allow you to cut through a seat car strap in extreme situations too.
Kershaw Cryo II BlackWash Pocket Knife
The Kershaw Cryo II folding pocket knife is another top-preferred and top-rated EDC knife option.
Designed by Rick Hinderer, a man with decades of experience with tactical pocket knives, the Cryo II is a functional and sturdy EDC knife to have around.
The knife has a 3.25-inch blade length and is made of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel with a BlackWash finish for corrosion resistance and protection and a stealth look.
Its stainless steel handle has a smooth SpeedSafe opening mechanism with a flipper and offers a secure and comfortable frame lock and lock bar stabilizer.
There is also an optional thumb stud for alternative blade deployment.
The knife comes with a nifty 4-position pocket clip and also has a lanyard hole, thus offering various carrying options.
Overall, this EDC knife by Kershaw is one of the best versatile knives which you can use for everyday carry, as well as for work, hiking, hunting, and survival.
Zero Tolerance 0562CF Hinderer Slicer Folding Knife
This pocket knife by Zero Tolerance is another top-rated EDC knife for any need.
The high-quality knife has a durable 3.5-inch CPM 20 CV stainless steel blade with a satin and stonewash finish, which helps hold the edge, protects the blade from rusting, and also allows for easier cutting through harder materials.
The Zero Tolerance Hinderer Slicer is recognized for both its high slicing capabilities and its tough blade point.
It has a carbon fiber front scale handle with a stonewashed titanium back for a safe and comfortable grip. The size of the handle is 4.75 inches.
The deep carry pocket clip can be reversed to any side for left-handed or right-handed access. It also has a tie-up carry option.
This perfect EDC knife can be used for handling all sorts of jobs and tasks at home or outdoors, including cutting, and slicing, as well as for tactical or survival use and self-defense.
Benchmade – Barrage 581 Knife, Drop-Point Blade
Benchmade is among the leading EDC and survival knife makers in the USA.
The Barrage 580 pocket knife is a perfect example of the high quality and craftsmanship of the company.
It has a M390 stainless steel drop point blade shape with a razor-sharp cutting edge with amazing resilience, corrosion, and wear resistance.
The folding pocket knife was the first to feature the unique AXIS assist locking system, which allows for fast and easy one-hand opening and closing. The spring-based system will allow for momentary blade deployment with a single pressing of the thumb studs.
It also has a pocket clip that is reversible, making it suitable for both left-handed or right-handed access and use.
The top-quality knife will hold an edge for a very long time, even with everyday use.
The open length of the Barrage 581 knife is 8.35 inches, and when closed, it is 4.75 inches with a weight of 5.2 ounces.
As a whole, this is among the best EDC knives if you are looking for a reliable, easy to use and multifunctional everyday carry knife for use in the city or the wilderness.
Schrade SCHA5B Stainless Steel Assisted Opening
The Schrade SCHA5B is an impressive-looking folding knife, and among the greatest designs, we have seen from the company.
The affordable EDC folding knife is 7.6 inches long when opened and weighs 4.9 ounces.
The impressive pocket knife has a 3.3-inch AUS-8 stainless steel blade and an angular designed anodized aluminum handle – both of which are black.
The knife features a special M.A.G.I.C. assist opening mechanism and a finger flipper, which makes it an excellent option for EDC and for everyday use.
The liner lock will keep the blade safely in place when it is in use for easier handling and added safety.
The EDC knife has a lanyard hole and two thumb knobs for ambidextrous use.
Even if you don’t need to cut or slice anything at the moment, you can always take this beautifully designed pocket knife to show off to and impress your friends.
Cold Steel Code 4 Folding Knife, Satin Plain Blade
Code 4 is a reasonably priced and very well-made folding knife that features the company’s patented Tri-Ad locking mechanism making it as resilient and tough as a fixed blade knife when opened.
The 3.5-inch blade is made of premium quality, satin-polished S35Vn steel, and the handle is constructed of durable and lightweight hard-anodized gun metal grey 6061 aluminum.
The overall length of this excellent EDC knife is 8.5 inches.
The pocket clip is sturdy and reversible, allowing for ambidextrous use and carrying.
The knife has excellent edge retention and will remain as sharp and as reliable, no matter what you need to use it for in your everyday life and when camping or on an outdoor adventure.
It is a very sturdy and durable knife, designed and made for tougher jobs than simply playing around, so if you are shopping for a heavy-duty, reliable EDC knife, then the Code 4 may be the perfect option for you.
Spyderco ParaMilitary 2 Signature Folding Knife
The Para Military 2 is the latest and improved version of Spyderco’s most popular folding EDC knife.
The improved version is more compact and portable than the original Military knife.
Yet, this great knife offers the same high quality and performance as the original.
The Para Military 2 has a sharp 3.42-inch blade length made of CPM S30V blade steel and a G10 handle. The lock compression system will keep the knife open and strong for tackling all types of tasks and in all situations.
The blade has a full flat grind and a plain edge, although you can also buy it in a Spyder Edge version too. There is nifty jimping on the spine and the finger coil.
The overall length of this knife, when unfolded, is 8.24 inches. The handle is 4.82 inches long with a thin and comfortable to carry profile and features the Spyderco trademark round hole and a strong 4-position pocket carry clip.
You can purchase this knife in a wide variety of color options for both the handle and the blade.
This is another superb option if you want to buy an EDC knife or a keychain knife.
CRKT Delilah’s P.E.C.K. EDC Folding Pocket Knife
If you prefer the convenience of carrying a light and compact EDC knife on your keychain, then the inexpensive and yet excellent Columbia River Knife & Tool Delilah’s P.E.C.K. folding knife is one of the best options you will find on the market.
The compact EDC knife features a two-piece design, including a blade and a light frame.
The size of this keychain knife, when folded, is a mere 2.625 inches, and it weighs less than 1 ounce.
At the same time, the blade and the frame are made of sturdy 3Cr13 steel with a bead blast finish and have a secure locking mechanism.
P.E.C.K. stands for Precision engineered compact knife, and the name says it all – this is an excellent, reliable, and highly portable EDC knife that can come in handy in all types of everyday tasks and needs.
Tactical 5.11 Unisex DTP Pocket Knife
The Tactical 5.11 DTP knife is a compact yet sturdy pocket knife that is suitable for everyday carry by anybody – man or woman.
It has a 2.85-inch Aus8 steel blade with a sharp spear point. The blade is treated with black powder coating, which helps protect it from the corrosive effect of water, and also reduces the glare of the shiny blade.
The handle has a partially skeletonized design and is made of sturdy fiberglass. It offers a steady and comfortable grip.
The small-sized tactical EDC knife has two thumb studs for use with both the left and the right hand and for easy deployment of the blade with either hand.
It comes with a pocket clip that can be reversed and has a sturdy lock-back mechanism.
The compact and yet rugged knife by Tactical 5.1.1 is another excellent option if you want something smaller and easier to use in your pocket for everyday cutting and slicing tasks as well as for self-defense.
Cold Steel Pocket Bushman
If you prefer the strength and sturdiness of using a fixed blade knife but still want to be able to carry your knife in your pocket, then the Pocket Bushman could be the right option for your needs.
This sturdy folding knife has a 4-inch long 4116 Krupp stainless steel blade with a razor-sharp edge and a 6-inch steel handle.
The knife sports a minimalist design without any bells and whistles. But it is one of the sturdiest of all folding pocket knives on this list.
Once deployed, the blade of the Pocket Bushman will remain in place without slipping or budging, no matter what you are cutting with it every day, thanks to the patented Ram Safe lock.
It comes with a belt clip and a lanyard.
So, if you are shopping for the strongest possible EDC folding, one-handed knives, the Pocket Bushman is among the perfect options you will find in 2023.
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Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Lightweight Salt Folding Knife
The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 is an upgraded version of the classic Dragonfly knife, with a rugged mid-sized blade and ergonomic handle.
The EDC knife has a 2.25 inch H-1 blade length, a molded fiberglass reinforced nylon handle, and an overall open length of 5.63 inches. When closed, this EDC knife is 5.63 inches in size.
The sturdy and comfortable-to-hold handle has a choil for the front finger and a spine cusp.
The small knife has full width or partial width bevels with a concave radius.
The everyday carry knife has a plain sharp edge, but you can also buy it in other edge options, including a Hawkbill, a SpyderEdge, a Wharncliffe, and a PlainEdge-Emerson.
This is a sharp and compact EDC knife to have if you’re looking for a knife to tackle lightweight tasks on a daily basis.