This article is going to cover the 5 best fixed blade knives for EDC. We’ll review a variety of knives that are perfect for self defense or more routine cutting tasks. Our goal here is to give you some great, high quality options for your EDC needs. Keep reading for more.
Traditionally most folks, including myself, have used some sort of folding knife for everyday carry. They are generally more compact and are a good option for daily tasks. Provided you purchase a high quality knife, they can be an excellent option, for many people.
The downsides to these knives are that they just aren’t as durable as a fixed blade knife. By definition, a fixed-blade knife has no moving parts, and can still be functional even if the handle breaks and falls off.
Fixed blade knives are also the best EDC option for those who are focused on self defense, as they’re quicker to deploy. Check out the list of the 5 best fixed blade knives for EDC and self defense below.
5 Best Fixed Blade Knives for EDC
- Benchmade SOCP Dagger
- Toor Knives Jank Shank
- Spyderco Perrin Street Bowie
- CRKT Minimalist Katana
- Spyderco Ronin 2
Because this is an article about the best EDC knives, I’ve tried to avoid huge fighting knives, like K-Bars and other similar blades. As you’ll see in the detailed review section below, I’ve included a variety of options from neck knives to pure fighting knives.
I’ve also tried to include knives at a variety of price points. Any links to product pages are affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase after clicking on them we get a small referral fee, at no additional cost to you. We appreciate the support. Now, lets get to the list of the 5 best fixed blade knives for EDC.
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5 Best Fixed Blade Knives for EDC
Like many of my other gear reviews, I will include some of the most pertinent details for each knife. However, you’ll find more details on the knife by following the link. Several of these knives have different options like coatings, colors, kydex sheathes, and more.
I recommend checking the product pages out to see if there are some options that might fit your needs a little better. Now, on to the first EDC knife on the list.
Benchmade SOCP Dagger
The Benchmade SOCP Dagger is one of the simplest, and best options for an EDC defensive use knife. It was created for the United States Military’s Special Operations Combatives Program. The SOCP Dagger has an overall length of 7.25 inches. It comes with a hard plastic sheath with an excellent pocket clip, making it ideal for tactical use.
It’s designed to be carried point down in a deep carry J hook style sheath. The SOCP Dagger is made of 440C blade steel, which is hardened steel, normally used in gears, and other high strength applications.
This knife features a large finger ring, which helps secure this double edged knife in your hand, while manipulating other objects, when required. If you need a defensive EDC knife that can still handle more routing tasks, then the SOCP dagger is your top choice. As of this writing you can pick it up for less than $140. Now on to the next knife.
Toor Knives Jank Shank
The Toor Knives Jank Shank is a great option, that blends a defensive knife with a daily use EDC knife. This fixed blade knife features a 3 inch clip point blade shape. The Jank Shank is made of CPM M4 steel, which is a very hard, and durable steel.
The handle has black G10 scales, and the blade is coated in a corrosion resistant SOCOM coating. It comes with an adjustable kydex sheath, that allows you to fine tune the friction needed to hold the knife in place.
Like the SOCP dagger, it features a ring forged into the tang of the handle. This allows for a secure grip for personal protection, under any conditions. If you know anything about Toor knives, then you know they aren’t exactly a budget option.
This knife is currently on sale for less than $170 which is a great deal from this high quality knife company. Now let’s get to one of my favorite options on this list.
Spyderco Perrin Street Bowie
The Spyderco Perrin Street Bowie is the largest option on this list. The Street Bowie features an overall length of 9.38 inches, and a 5.05 inch drop point blade. It’s also fairly thin, with a .157 inch blade thickness. It’s constructed of VG-10 steel, which is corrosion resistant, and quite hard.
This knife has an interesting handle construction being made of Kraton and rubber inserts for a comfortable non slip grip. Instead of a traditional cross guard you see with a normal bowie, the Street Bowie has a choil, which allows you to hold the knife securely with your index finger.
It does come with a nice polymer sheath, and belt clip, which allows for a huge variety of carry options, and angles. It can also be lashed onto MOLLE webbing if you needed. Because of it’s large size this knife would be an excellent choice for many routine outdoor activities.
As of this writing you can pick this knife up for under $130. Now lets get to the smallest option on the list.
CRKT Minimalist Katana
The CRKT Minimalist Katana is by far the most compact EDC knife on this list. It’s designed to be carried as a neck knife, or a belt mounted knife, depending on your preference. The blade is constructed of 8Cr13MoV steel which isn’t as hard as other, more premium knife steel, but it is easier to keep sharp.
This knife comes with a wide variety of blade options, from short, to medium length. The blade length in the knife below is 3.56 inches. It has an overall length of 6.63 inches. The Katana is a good choice for most any routine outdoor use, especially considering it’s lightweight design.
This knife has over 8000 positive reviews on Amazon. Many of these reviewers reported that the Katana had a very comfortable grip. The scales are made of micarta, with a corded fob, to help maintain your grip when pulling the knife from the sheath.
The Minimalist Katana is also the best option for those look for great value. You can purchase this knife for under $40, at the time of this writing. Now let’s get the last knife on this list.
Spyderco Ronin 2
The Spyderco Ronin 2 is one of the best EDC knifes for all around work use, across a variety of daily tasks. It’s the second largest option on this list, with a blade length of 4.08 inches. It’s overall length is 7.84 inches, with a full-tang design.
The Ronin 2 is constructed of CTS BD1N steel which has a high nitrogen content, for better hardness. In fact, this steel is the hardest stainless steel blade of any knife on the list, meaning it has excellent edge retention.
The Ronin 2 is made of relatively thin G10 handle scales which make this knife easier to conceal carry. The sheath is Boltaron, which is a tough plastic. It can be carried outside the waistband or inside the waistband, depending on your preference.
Like many Spyderco knives, the Ronin 2 is very good value for money. As of this writing you can pick it up for less than $140, which is a great price point, for a very hard use knife. In the next section I’ll give you a few of my final recommendations.
Final Thoughts
I think the two stand out knives on this list are the Toor Jank Shank, and the Spyderco Ronin 2. These knives are well constructed of very durable steel. They’re also designed to be carried discreetly, which makes them the ideal choice for pocket carry or belt carry.
I give the Jank Shank a slight edge as I prefer having a ring on fixed blade knives. It keeps your hand safer if you have to stab it into something. I also recommend keeping an eye on a few retailers, as many of these knives can be purchased at significant discount if you don’t mind being patient.
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