What Makes a Great EDC Knife? A Guide for First-Time Buyers

What is an EDC knife and why do people carry them?

EDC stands for Everyday Carry. It’s just the stuff you keep on you because it makes life easier—and for a lot of people, that includes a knife.

An EDC knife isn’t just for emergencies or hardcore outdoor use—it’s something you actually use. Whether that’s opening boxes, breaking down cardboard, cutting a loose thread, or slicing into a mid-day snack, it’s one of those tools that earns its spot in your pocket. For many people, yes, they’re collector’s items too. Being practical doesn't make them any less worth admiring, but the whole point is having a tool that’s useful and easy to carry.

People ultimately carry knives because they solve small problems. Others carry one because they like being prepared, while some simply enjoy the design and build quality.

A good EDC knife doesn’t need to be flashy or expensive—it just needs to fit your life. If it’s too big, weird to carry, or awkward in hand, you’ll leave it at home. If that happens, it’s not doing its job.

Blade shapes and sizes that work for everyday tasks

Choosing the right blade shape and size is a big deal because it affects how well the knife handles the jobs you throw at it every day.

For everyday carry, the most versatile blade shapes tend to be drop point, reverse tanto, and sometimes clip point. Drop points tend to be the best blade shape for all-around use, with a nice balance of control, slicing ability, and tip strength. Reverse tantos give you a strong tip, and they’re also easy to sharpen thanks to the straighter edge. While they aren't as slicey as drop point blades, they make up for it with great utility. Clip points are great for detail work and piercing, but the thinner tip can be more prone to breakage if you’re too rough with it.

A blade should be long enough to handle everyday tasks like opening packages, cutting rope, or even some food prep—but small enough to carry comfortably. Blades in the 2.5-3.5 inch range usually hit the sweet spot: compact, but still useful.

Keep in mind that if your knife feels heavy or awkward, you'll think of it as tedious to take with you. The best blade is the one you actually carry and use.

Knife steel basics – what should you look for as a beginner?

If you’re just getting into knives, steel can feel like a black hole of jargon and strong opinions. It’s easy to assume one steel is just flat-out better than the others, but the truth is that no steel is perfect. Every option is a tradeoff, and the “best” steel really depends on how you use your knife and how often you’re willing to sharpen it.

In general, good knife steel strikes a balance between edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. You’re not looking for something that stays sharp forever but chips easily, or something that’s super tough but rusts in your pocket. The goal is to find a steel that holds an edge well, resists wear and rust, and can be maintained without a ton of effort.

Most steels fall into one of four broad categories:

• Budget Steels: More affordable steels like 8Cr13MoV or AUS-8 are easy to sharpen, and fine for light use, but they dull quickly and aren’t the most durable over time.
• Mid-Range Steels: Options like 14C28N, D2 or VG-10 offer solid edge retention and better wear resistance, with decent corrosion resistance, depending on the specific steel.
• Premium Steels: These strike a great balance of performance across the board. They tend to stay sharp longer, resist corrosion well, and don’t require constant touch-ups. Options like S35VN, CPM 154 and N690 all fall into this category.
• Super Steels: M390, Magnacut and S90V excel in specific areas like edge retention and corrosion resistance, but can be more expensive and trickier to sharpen without the right tools.

Among the premium steels, S35VN stands out as one of the most well-balanced options available. If you’re looking for a knife that performs like a premium tool without the maintenance headaches, it’s a strong choice. It’s for someone who values quality and wants reliable edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance in one well-rounded steel.

Handle materials and ergonomics for everyday use

When you’re choosing an everyday carry knife, the handle matters almost as much as the blade. You want something that feels solid in hand, offers good grip and won’t wear you out with extended use. It’s the part of the knife you interact with most, so comfort and control should be high on your list.

Two of the most popular materials used for knife handles are G10 and micarta—and for good reason. They both strike a great balance between durability, weight and grip, while still being affordable. G10 resists moisture and wear extremely well, and micarta has a more rugged, tactile feel that develops a unique patina over time.

Titanium is another favorite in the EDC world. It’s strong, lightweight, and refined, but tends to come at a premium. Steel is a solid alternative that keeps costs down, though it adds noticeable weight. Aluminum lands somewhere in the middle—lighter than steel, not quite as tough, but it allows for a huge range of anodized colors and finishes.

You also may see varieties of plastic or FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) as handle options. These are best if your top priority is cost-efficiency or keeping your knife lightweight.

It’s tough to judge ergonomics of a knife without having it in-hand, but they make a huge difference. A knife might look cool but feel awkward or fatiguing after a few minutes of use. The best handles have subtle shaping that supports your grip without being aggressive or over-designed.

Knife lock types and why they matter for EDC

When you’re choosing a pocket knife for everyday carry, the locking mechanism plays a big role in how the knife feels and functions. A good lock keeps the blade securely open during use, but also allows for easy one-handed closing. Different lock types have different strengths, and your preference often comes down to what feels intuitive and trustworthy in hand.

Liner locks and frame locks are mechanically similar and widely used. They rely on a piece of metal inside or along the frame that moves into place behind the blade when it’s opened. These designs are time-tested and reliable. They're strong, simple, and allow for pretty straightforward one-handed use.

Crossbar locks use a spring-loaded bar that slides into place behind the blade tang when the knife opens. Pulling the bar back will easily release the blade. They’re ambidextrous, easy to operate with either hand, and open and close smoothly thanks to internal springs. This style has gained a lot of popularity over the past decade, especially for its intuitive feel and satisfying action.

Button locks are exactly what they sound like—a button that, when pressed, disengages the blade. They’ve become more common in modern EDC knives thanks to their ease of use and clean look. A well-made button lock can be very strong and quick to operate, though it does rely on tight tolerances to stay secure and smooth. You’ll also find button locks used in many automatic knives, where pressing the button also deploys the blade, not just releases the lock when closing.

Other lock types like back locks or slip joints lean more traditional—they’re still well-loved by many knife users, but they aren’t typically seen as modern EDC options and can be harder to operate with one hand.

Pocket clips and carry styles explained

Pocket clips might seem like a small detail, but they affect how your knife carries, how quickly you can access it, and even how comfortable it is in your pocket. Whether it rides deep or sticks out a bit, the style of the clip changes the whole feel of everyday carry.

Deep carry clips are designed to let your knife sit lower in your pocket, often with just the clip itself visible. They’re popular because they keep things discreet—great if you don’t want to draw attention or just prefer a cleaner look. Standard clips leave a bit more of the knife exposed above the pocket, which can make it easier to grab quickly, but it’s more visible. You’ll also see some knives with milled titanium clips, which tend to feel sturdier and add a bit of style, though they’re usually a bit more rigid and don't allow for a deeper carry in the pocket.

Orientation matters too. Most modern knives are tip-up carry, which means the tip of the blade points upward when the knife is clipped in your pocket. This tends to be safer and faster to draw, especially with flippers or thumb studs. Some knives allow for tip-down carry instead, though it’s less common. A lot of folders also feature reversible clips, giving left-handed users—or anyone with specific preferences—the option to flip the clip to the other side.

Final tips in choosing the right EDC knife for YOU

With so many options out there, it’s easy to get caught up in specs, super steels, or whatever happens to be trending in the knife world. But the right EDC knife isn’t the one with the flashiest materials or the longest list of features—it’s the one that actually works for you.

Think about how you use a knife day to day. Do you need something lightweight? Something rugged? Do you want it to disappear in your pocket or make a statement when you pull it out? Let those questions guide your choice more than marketing hype or spec sheets.

Don’t be afraid to try different styles over time. Everyone’s preferences shift as they get more hands-on experience. What feels right today might change a year from now—and that’s part of the fun. EDC is personal. The goal isn’t to find the “perfect” knife; it’s to find your knife.

Explore Trueline’s lineup to discover thoughtfully designed products built for everyday use!