EDC Utility Knife

A few years ago, while walking the dog, I found a Husky folding utility knife in the road. It was paint stained and beat up but functional. I cleaned it up a bit and put a new blade in it and used for a wide variety of things. It was an awaking.

I ended up buying a Gerber EAB lite at the local Academy Sports and carried that for an awhile to augment my SAK classic. I fell in love with the pocket utility knife! Now my daily carry is the SAK classic on my keys and the Gerber EAB, or the beat up Husky I found in the road. It takes all of 30 seconds to touch up the thin blades on the cut down Eze-Lap model L in my wallet, or if the blade gets really buggered, swap ends and keep on going.

If I need more blade, there's a 12 inch small machete in the car trunk emergency kit. I've become a great fan of the pocket utility knife. I may try the Screw Pop in the near future.
 
Dutch87 said:
I just got the Otacle U1 as my dirty work & loaner knife at my job. I got the doughnut version for that special flair.

I like it so far. It exposes almost the entire utility blade for use, not just half of it.

It is built to a similar level as the current crop of import folders. G10, crossbar lock, torx-removable thumbstud, deep-carry clip, single screw pivot tensioning.

The only marks I have against it are that the pocket clip can't be swapped to the other side, and I wish it had a button or slide to release the blade for changing instead of the screw. I guess you probably get a much more secure blade fixture with the screw though.

It is also quite short, even compared to the smaller Fastback.
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Oh yea. Is it a home run? Probably not. I got the donut one (I collect dessert warrior). But it’s cheap, and overall very well built. A good “dip my toes into carrying a edc minded utility knife”. So if I like it. I’ll find a higher quality one to carry. And if I don’t. It just gets put into my Dessert Warrior display box
 
I’m not looking for a fastback, husky, Stanley, I have several of those around for heavy working tasks. These are different.
 
Midgetje93 said:
I actually have one in my tool box. I got a smaller more EDC minded one. I’m trying to look for blade recommendations
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oh that’s easy. Go to Home Depot or Lowes, wander over to the hand tools section and you’ll find usually half a dozen different brands for the replaceable blades. I like the Stanley ones because of the USA flag on the package but the Milwaukee ones work fine same as the dewalt. I bought one of those dispensers that came with like 100 blades years ago and I’m still going through them.
 
Civivi are good. You need a tool to change the blade but for EDC I don't do that, that much.

I use a serrated edge which is cool.

I have neither had the blade fall out or destroyed the screw. (I may have lost the spare though)

I have used it in basic straight cardboard cuts and twisting cuts through plastic paper ties, whatever they are called.


Otherwise the gerber tachide is pretty good. Just the handle is too chunky.
 
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Drop bear said:
Civivi are good. You need a tool to change the blade but for EDC I don't do that, tat much.

I use a serrated edge which is cool.

I have neither had the blade fall out or destroyed the screw. (I may have lost the spare though)

I have used it in basic straight cardboard cuts and testing cuts through plastic paper ties, whatever they are called.

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Yea. I think a lot of the negative reviews are people using them for heavier tasks than they are intended for. Youre not gonna take any of these type of utility knives to a construction site. If you overuse them, of course they will fail. But these are EDC knives. Not construction knives. I LOVE my Milwaukee Fastback for heavy jobs. But the appeal to these are to do the tasks you don’t want your primary blade doing. Boxes, packages, tapes. Those eat and gunk up blades. Easier to replace a small utility blade than sharpen a knife.

I think the elementum may be my next buy. As above. I’m a Dessert Warrior fan. So seeing this (the pink sprinkle Otacle U1) tripped my impulse trigger in 2 ways. The Dessert Warrior colors, as well as getting into a decent EDC utility knife.

Im just hoping to find a blade with slightly better rust resistance. I get they aren’t made like that. (For the most part) that’s the appeal of toss and replace. I just hate the idea of having to toss a good edge every week due to rusting.

I will say I think the Otacle U1 hit a solid happy place with its blade retention. It’s a screw like the Elementum. But it has the thumb wheel. I’ve played with mine for a bit now. And have no unintentional play. I think I rather a button release (like the fastback) but that adds bulk to a beautifully small/slim tool.

I do fly a decent amount. So the idea of being able to toss the blade and pick up some at destination is very appealing. No need to force myself to check an unneeded bag, just to be able to bring a knife.
 
Midgetje93 said:
Yea. I think a lot of the negative reviews are people using them for heavier tasks than they are intended for. Youre not gonna take any of these type of utility knives to a construction site. If you overuse them, of course they will fail. But these are EDC knives. Not construction knives. I LOVE my Milwaukee Fastback for heavy jobs. But the appeal to these are to do the tasks you don’t want your primary blade doing. Boxes, packages, tapes. Those eat and gunk up blades. Easier to replace a small utility blade than sharpen a knife.

I think the elementum may be my next buy. As above. I’m a Dessert Warrior fan. So seeing this (the pink sprinkle Otacle U1) tripped my impulse trigger in 2 ways. The Dessert Warrior colors, as well as getting into a decent EDC utility knife.

Im just hoping to find a blade with slightly better rust resistance. I get they aren’t made like that. (For the most part) that’s the appeal of toss and replace. I just hate the idea of having to toss a good edge every week due to rusting.
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I have become a pretty big Civivi fan of late. And I was carrying around the elementum wharncliffe to deliver stuff on a motorcycle.

Hence the plastic ties.

I would get caught in the rain for hours and the knife didn't rust out. (Nitro V)

Spyderco salt do a magnacut that is out of my budget would be the anti rust knife I would go for.

The manix
 
Midgetje93 said:
Im just hoping to find a blade with slightly better rust resistance. I get they aren’t made like that. (For the most part) that’s the appeal of toss and replace. I just hate the idea of having to toss a good edge every week due to rusting.
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I bought a pack of ceramic blades for the Gerber EAB that I kept in my truck in Florida due to rusty blades every time I went to use it. Might not be what you're looking for (I haven't looked into them in years), but just putting it out there as an option.
 
Drop bear said:
I have become a pretty big Civivi fan of late. And I was carrying around the elementum wharncliffe to deliver stuff on a motorcycle.

Hence the plastic ties.

I would get caught in the rain for hours and the knife didn't rust out. (Nitro V)

Spyderco salt do a magnacut that is out of my budget would be the anti rust knife I would go for.

The manix
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Oh absolutely. I’d love a collection of Microtech, Benchmade, Spyderco, ect. But my wife and bank say no. I’ve found a mass of brands that make KIlLER budget minded options that still allow me to pickup and collect. Civivi, Vosteed, CJRB are probably my top 3. I know guys who have nice brand clones. And that’s ehh. I rather a CJRB Hectare than a cheap fake benchmade.
 
Knives&Lint said:
I bought a pack of ceramic blades for the Gerber EAB that I kept in my truck in Florida due to rusty blades every time I went to use it. Might not be what you're looking for (I haven't looked into them in years), but just putting it out there as an option.
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You know. I never even thought about that. Let alone knew they made them. I know there’s a fair amount of ceramic kitchen knives. Not the nicest. But for a disposable rust resistant blade. That may work!

I was looking at a few that have coatings. But that may be better.
 
So I also purchased up the tirant exceed design, got mine a couple years ago and paid under a $100 dollars for it. Initially I also thought it was an expensive toy but worked in a warehouse this year for several months and this blade took every bit of abuse and hard work I gave it, bearings are super smooth and never got gummed up. After months of abuse I would have to say it was money well spent particularly if you use it daily.image.jpg
 
Bobthebrewer said:
So I also purchased up the tirant exceed design, got mine a couple years ago and paid under a $100 dollars for it. Initially I also thought it was an expensive toy but worked in a warehouse this year for several months and this blade took every bit of abuse and hard work I gave it, bearings are super smooth and never got gummed up. After months of abuse I would have to say it was money well spent particularly if you use it daily.View attachment 2599363
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I’ve looked at some of theirs. As much as I’m intrigued. Would definitely wait to see how long I carry this one before I spend more that $30
 
Midgetje93 said:
I’ve looked at some of theirs. As much as I’m intrigued. Would definitely wait to see how long I carry this one before I spend more that $30
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Have you looked at the Gil-Tek RUK? Aluminum and right at $30. Neat little design. I prefer the older versions myself though.
 
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