Tested: The Best Fixed Blade Knives For Everyday Carry (2024)

Everyday carry gear is typically defined by its utility, durability, and a compact enough form to comfortably be carried day-in-and-day-out. As a result, the vast majority of everyday carry knives are unsurprisingly of the folding variety, as these items make for markedly more pocketable pieces of EDC gear. And while there’s no denying folding knives’ conduciveness to daily-carrying, there are a handful of fixed blades that actually make for practical everyday carry knives. And it’s this crop of unconventional edge tools that we’ll be exploring today in this guide to the best fixed blade knives for everyday carry.

Selection & How We Tested

When setting out in search of the best rigid EDC knives, we began our hunt by first generating a list of parameters and qualities that would guide us. Limiting our picks to knives spanning no more than approximately 7”, we leaned on factors such as blade steel, handle construction, handle design and ergonomics, sheath, weight, blade thickness, and blade-to-handle ratio. Scrutinizing these areas would ultimately allow us to generate a shortlist of fixed blade everyday carry knives that we suspected of being some of the very best that money can currently buy. While these specs can be incredibly informative, the only real way to gain a complete sense of how well a fixed blade will lend itself to everyday carry is to carry the thing on a daily basis for an extended period.

So, that’s precisely what we did. After compiling our shortlist, we proceeded to get hands-on with each of these knives. In addition to each fixed blade taking its turn spending a few days on our hip before moving on in the rotation, we also performed hard-cutting tasks in order to glean a more comprehensive understanding of each knife’s ergonomics and level of grip. Our hands-on trials also allowed us to thoroughly test each fixed blade’s sheath, as well as gain a much better sense of how easy each blade was to draw (or put away). Additionally, our in-house testing process would also shine a light on each knife’s overall craftsmanship and build quality. This combination of relying on specs and hands-on testing to guide our search would ultimately enable us to narrow our original shortlist of models down to a hard final list of what we found to be the best fixed blade knives for everyday carry currently in production.

CRKT Minimalist Drop Point

Best Value Fixed Blade: When dealing with fixed blades for everyday carry, I tend to gravitate towards more premium compact knives that feature better materials and more meticulous craftsmanship. Columbia River Knife and Tool’s Minimalist, however, is tangible proof that competent everyday carry fixed blades can very much come in small, affordable packages. Measuring just 5.25” in total, the drop point version of the Minimalist is made from 5Cr15MoV steel and boasts a set of contoured G10 scales — though is also offered in a more high-end Micarta and 154CM variant.

Designed by Alan Folts, the Minimalist features what’s unquestionably the best three-finger handle design I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. Despite spanning only 3”, the handle’s trio of ultra-deep finger grooves afford an incredible amount of grip — an area furthered by the fact that the back of the rear-most finger groove can be squeezed between the user’s ring finger and pinky, thereby affording much of the grip of a full-length four-finger handle design. Jimping at the base of the spine also does exactly what it was intended to do, elevating the handle’s grip — an area furthered by its use of textured G10 further scales.

Despite being an avid EDC enthusiast, I’ve never been particularly fond of paracords or one for using lanyard holes, though I will readily admit that I really appreciated the included braided lanyard that ships with the knife, as it makes it even easier to draw from your pocket or from its sheath. Able to be used as a neck knife, the Minimalist arrives straight from the factory with a thermoplastic sheath that also comes with a mountable belt loop attachment — though I wished it shipped with a clip attachment. I was also particularly impressed with the Minimalist’s drop point blade’s factory edge. It wasn’t the sharpest blade I tested, but it did perform just as well as several of the other knives on this list — despite being a fraction of the price. I’d give the factory grind a 3.5 out of 5.

As much as it has going for it, the Minimalist isn’t without a few faults. For starters, as much as I genuinely love the handle design and its ergonomics, the thing feels pretty awkward in hand when reverse gripped. Its included thermoplastic sheath didn’t feel particularly secure either. What’s more, fit and finish is decidedly lacking especially compared to the rest of the knives on this list, with the bottom of the blade’s tang and G10 scales not lining up perfectly — a flaw that’s most noticeable and pronounced where the tang is sandwiched between the scales at the top of the finger grooves. With that said, it’s hard to fault CRKT for this considering this fixed blade’s sub-$40 MSRP.

Verdict: At the end of the day, the CRKT Minimalist stands as not only an extremely affordable EDC fixed blade, but also one that provides exceptional levels of grip and absolutely stellar ergonomics despite its three-finger handle. With an ultra-pocketable form, the ability to punch well above its weight for its size, and an MSRP that provides outstanding bang-for-your-buck, the CRKT Minimalist Drop Point is an obvious go-to option for anyone looking for a quality daily-carry fixed blade without breaking the bank.

Overall Length: 5.25”
Blade Length: 2.16”
Blade Thickness: 0.110”
Blade Steel: 5Cr15MoV or 154CM
Handle Material: G10 Or Micarta
Sheath: Thermoplastic
Origin: China

The James Brand The Abbey

Best EDC Scalpel: The James Brand’s The Abbey is admittedly an unorthodox pick for an everyday carry fixed blade, though this characterful little EDC scalpel’s size and unique design and materials are more than enough to earn it a spot on our list. Clocking in at only 3.0” overall, The Abbey is comprised of a single piece of AR-RPM9 — Artisan Cutlery’s proprietary powder metallurgy blade steel —that’s been fitted with a handle insert made from up cycled vinyl records. Because each inlay is made from a record, no two units are exactly alike either. TJB also sells the knife in multiple color options, as well as a version with a rosewood inlay.

Shipping with a tethered bit of 3mm paracord, The Abbey comes paired with a small minimalistic sheath made from top grain leather. Sadly, the sheath is devoid of any rivets, loops, or attachment points whatsoever, limiting its carrying options to either your pocket or a shelf or desk at the home or office. I also didn’t love the fact that The Abbey’s handle inlays appear to have machined or honed down to smooth out the handle and largely do away with the grooves originally left behind by the stamper when the LP was pressed. This not only makes it less obvious that the inlays are made from up cycled vinyl records, but it also does away with the tiny bit of extra grip that these grooves might have otherwise afforded.

Born out of a collaboration with record subscription service Vinyl Me, Please, the original version of this knife came with an included LP-themed lanyard bead — a detail that I wish was carried over to the regular production version of this EDC scalpel, especially considering its size and price. Additionally, I was also bothered by the fact that the knife’s sheath started to tear along the portion of the circular opening where the blade slides across when deploying — and only after a few days of testing. I will admit the inclusion of the Paracord does actually make a lot of sense as it makes it markedly easier to remove from your pocket. And, while I realize TJB didn’t set out to deliver a high-performance blade, the blade was disappointingly dull, and the factory edge was not nearly as good as any of the other fixed blades that we tested for this guide. The Abbey’s price is also admittedly pretty steep considering its size, materials, and the fact it’s made in China.

With its sleek shape, you can probably guess that The Abbey’s ergonomics are also somewhat lacking — at least compared to other EDC fixed blades. I also found the smoothed-down vinyl inlays and the fact the knife doesn’t feature any jimping or knurling to pretty hugely limit its level of grip. With that said, if you’re judging this little cutting tool against other larger everyday carry blades, then you’re missing the point. The Abbey wasn’t engineered for maximum utility, and is instead just a neat little scalpel-like tool with a sleek minimalistic form that’s sure to resonate with pretty much anyone with an appreciation for thoughtful and well-executed industrial design. I also found that it did make for an exceptional desk or mail knife. I should also point out that, while it’s admittedly far from what I’d call a workhorse of a knife, The Abbey was able to handle the vast majority of my day-to-day tasks, and has no problem opening boxes or cutting rope.

Verdict: The Abbey is a highly-unique and thoroughly-pocketable EDC scalpel of a fixed blade that might not be as capable or utilitarian as its larger counterparts, but is nonetheless a fantastic daily-use cutting tool that can handle most basic cutting tasks — and is absolutely perfect for opening vinyl records, as that’s actually what it was made to do. A great choice for anyone that’s as concerned with function as they are form, this beautifully-designed micro fixed blade is a welcome addition to any drawer — though with its fashion-forward appearance, you’ll likely want to leave it on display.

Overall Length: 3.00”
Blade Length: 1.20″
Blade Thickness: 0.20”
Blade Steel: AR-RPM9
Handle Material: Upcycled Vinyl Record
Sheath: Leather
Origin: China

Giantmouse GMF1

Best Self-Defense Fixed Blade: If I wanted to convey to you the idea of a small knife that punches well above its weight in terms of utility, I’d show you a picture of the Giantmouse GMF1. Weighing less than 2oz in total, this 5.40” fixed blade is comprised of a single piece of Böhler N690 steel that’s been machined into a compact yet wildly useful shape with a three-finger handle on one end and a 2.60” drop point-meets-sheepsfoot edge at the other. Made in Italy, the knife clocks in at 0.157″ thick, making it low-profile enough for daily carrying while still being robust enough to handle even hard cutting tasks. As a point of reference, the Spyderco PM2’s blade is 0.145″ thick, and that blade is already on the thicker-side for an EDC knife (albeit a folding one).

It’s a little difficult for me to overstate just how how stellar the GMF1’s handle design truly is, even at only 2.80”. Its trigger finger grove provided a ton of leverage, and the curve at the base of the handle did a terrific job of stabilizing and supporting my ring finger. The ergonomics are made all the better by the jimping at the base of the blade’s spine, on the finger guard, and at the base of the back of the handle. I really can’t applaud Jens Ansø and Jesper Voxnaes enough for just how perfectly-dialed-in this knife is. My only real complaint about the actual knife is that its handle feels almost unfinished, though the decent blade thickness and near-perfect three-finger ergonomics definitely give you something to hold onto. I fully understand that it’s a minimalistic skeletonized design — and its stellar handworked Italian construction does admittedly give it a complete look — but to fully optimize the knife’s ergonomics and grip, you’d have to either wrap the thing in Paracord or install a set of custom-made or aftermarket scales, a myriad of which are readily available online.

This brings me to my next complaint; the sheath. I will say that as far as sheaths go, the GMF1’s handcrafted Italian-made leather item was easily the nicest out of all of the sheaths I tested, with stunning craftsmanship, beautiful contrast stitching, crisp debased branding, and an overall top-notch fit and finish. With that out of the way, I’d still much prefer a Kydex sheath, which Giantmouse sells separately — rather than as an optional upgrade. I also don’t love the fact the leather sheath can only be belt-carried. I will say that I was super happy with how well the GMF1 comes sharpened. Despite the thickness of its blade, the GMF1’s flat-ground factory edge allowed me to slice through cardboard like it was butter, without the its widening spine slowing me down. Overall craftsmanship on the knife is also second to none, even for just being a single piece of metal.

Another major part of what makes this knife shine is its immense versatility. Not only does the blade the sheepsfoot-drop-point hybrid shape lend itself to all different manner of cutting tasks — making the GMF1 a true workhorse of a compact knife — but I’d also argue the thing actually makes for a pretty decent self-defense blade too, with its beefy N690 construction (which is also offered in a more premium M390 variant) and its brilliant ergonomics also somehow managing to feel damn-well just as natural when carried in a reverse grip. I also think it’s important to mention that if you’re willing to spend a few extra bucks, the GMF1’s only real downsides can easily be remedied. Lastly, this knife is actually pretty affordable all-things-considered. For less than $150 you get can Italian-crafted Böhler alloy fixed blade with a handmade leather sheath — or a GMF1 with aftermarket scales and a Kydex sheath for less than $100 more.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a brilliant all-arounder knife that’s compact, versatile, and thoroughly utilitarian, just go pickup the GMF1. You will have to do a bit of legwork if you want to really exploit this fixed blade’s full potential, but it’s well worth doing, as it only takes a Kydex sheath and set of scales to make the GMF1 into what I just might call the perfect everyday carry fixed blade.

Overall Length: 5.40”
Blade Length: 2.60”
Blade Thickness: 0.157″
Blade Steel: Böhler N690 (Or M390)
Handle Material: Böhler N690 (Or M390)
Sheath: Leather (Kydex Available)
Origin: Italy

Bradford Knives Guardian 3.2

Best Overall Fixed Blade: With blade steels, there’s a balance and tradeoff between edge retention and ease of sharpening. The premium blade constructions like Böhler M390, CPM 3V, and Uddeholms Vanadis 4 Extra are much harder, allowing them to hold an edge for longer. This same hardness makes them much more difficult to sharpen, however, once the time does finally come to do so. And then there’s Crucible Industries’ CPM MagnaCut; a blade steel that somehow defies the normal tradeoff and offers stellar edge retention in a fairly-easy-to-sharpen package. There’s also typically a balance to be had between workhorse capabilities and EDC readiness, with fixed blades leaning more towards one of the two ends of this spectrum. Longer blades offer better utility while bigger four-finger grips afford better ergonomics and grip — both of which come at the cost of being more pocketable. Well, just like MagnaCut is to blade steels, the Bradford Guardian 3.2 is to everyday carry fixed blades; somehow managing to offer the best of both worlds with ample utility in a compact and easily-totable package.

Equipped with a generously-sized 3.50” blade and an overall length of 7.125”, the Guardian 3.2 boasts a four-finger handle design with ergonomics that I found to just be superb. It felt fantastic in my hand, afforded a ton of confidence and grip, and even fit snugly when reverse gripped. Set between a set of Micarta scales, the knife’s blade is composed of top-shelf Böhler M390. Despite its size and blade thickness, I actually found that the Guardian 3.2 had what turned out to be the sharpest factory edge of every blade I tested, scoring a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5. Bradford also makes each knife on a built-to-order basis, giving customers the option to select the handle construction and finish, blade finish, blade grind, and hardware finish. When combined with the available scales the company sells, the Guardian 3.2 can be configured in more than 300 different ways — a fact I thoroughly appreciate.

In addition to the existing grove that separates its carrier’s trigger finger from their other three fingers, the Guardian 3.2 now features a new finger choil that not only protects the user’s hand from accidental slips onto the edge, but I also found it to hugely increase ergonomics and overall grip — as I was able to test the Guardian 3.0 side-by-side with the generation 3.2. Benefitting from ample customer feedback, this updated version of Bradford’s third-gen flagship fixed blade ships with a leather sheath as standard. Though its craftsmanship was admittedly really solid and I liked the use of a plastic interior insert to protect the leather and improve retention, I hated that the only option the sheath afforded was for horizontal belt carrying. Fortunately Bradford sells an available Kydex sheath — though as a separate $45 item, not an optional upgrade.

Now, I’ve got to address the elephant in the room. Yes, the Guardian 3.2 is the largest knife on this list — and by a decent amount, being almost an inch longer than the next longest knife. Still smaller than a folder-sized fixed blade — and a size that proved itself to be perfectly conducive to EDC use in my experience — it’s this knife’s size that allows it to offer such stellar performance — that and a few other things such as materials and build quality. I’d also like to address the fact that this knife uses unique two-hole “pig nose” screws that sit flush (if not slightly sunken) into the handle. While these work perfectly fine — and admittedly have a cool look to them — I imagine most EDC enthusiasts probably don’t own the very specific two-prong bit needed to service one of these knives, as I have a pretty extensive bit set and even I don’t own this specialized item (though they can easily be ordered online).

Verdict: Though it’s admittedly larger than other EDC fixed blades, the Bradford Knives Guardian 3.2 more than makes up for this — and any other issues I had with it — with its stellar, top-shelf materials, perfectly-dialed-in ergonomics, top-notch USA-made construction, and a level of utility that’s normally reserved for full-sized fixed blades spanning several inches longer than this gen 3.2 model.

Overall Length: 7.125″
Blade Length: 3.50″
Blade Thickness: 0.140”
Blade Steel: Böhler M390
Handle Material: G10, Micarta, G-Wood, Or Carbon Fiber
Sheath: Leather (Kydex Available)
Origin: USA

TOPS Knives Baja 3.0

Best USA-Made Fixed Blade: Though I’ve admittedly only sampled a small selection of the brand’s massive catalog, my experience using blades from TOPS Knives has thus far been limited to large, outdoor-focused bushcraft, hunting, and survival knives — such as the Cochise, the Fieldcraft, the Brakimo, etc. So while I already knew what to expect as far as build quality and craftsmanship is concerned, I wasn’t sure just how well the company would be able to deliver a downsized version of one of its signature knives without skimping on dependability, durability, or utility. And while I’m happy to report that the Idaho-based outfit is just as adept at delivering everyday carry blades as it is full-sized field knives — at least if the TOPS Knives Baja 3.0 is anything to go by.

Clocking in at a stout 6.25”, the third-gen Baja isn’t just a downsized fixed blade, but rather a rigid knife that’s been shortened in length while still basically sporting a full-sized height and width. Using a 0.13-inch-thick 1095 high-carbon steel full-tang construction, the Baja 3.0 boasts an outstanding 3.0” handle design that just barely allows its carrier to wrap all four fingers around. It also felt super natural in my hand whether carried normally or held in a reverse grip. The Micarta scales provided me with a decent grip, plus the trio of diagonal grooves on each handle further bolstered this area. The jimping does too, though I’d argue a bit toot well — to put it as nicely as I can. In a nutshell, the jimping is simply far too pronounced, too deep, and the way it’s scalloped is incredibly rough on one’s fingers, My skin started to feel raw after only a minute or so offhand use. Even when I tried the knife while wearing a pear of Mechanix Wear’s Original Work Gloves, the jimping at the base of the spine and bottom of the handle still felt too rough.

My complaints unfortunately don’t end there — though I will acknowledge the rest are largely subjective and/or easily remedied. First off, while it wasn’t of poor quality and it did its job just fine, I didn’t love the leather sheath the knife comes with — or the fact it can only be belt-carried thanks to its attachment points being limited to a belt loop — but Armatus (a brand we’re already quite fond of) makes a stellar Kydex sheath specifically for the Baja 3.0. Second, though the (presumably Cerakote) sand/coyote finish on the blade looked fantastic in person, I found the oversized “BAJA 3.0” print to be a “bit much,” though the TOPS logo on the front and “MADE IN USA” on the other side of the blade admittedly look far more tasteful in my opinion — or at least significantly less unsightly. Sadly, I didn’t find the print on the blade to be as bad as I did the Baja Three’s (in my opinion) Phillips-style hardware — which, unfortunately, is used on both sides of the handle.

Having gotten all of that out of the way, TOPS’ Baja 3.0 still earned itself a spot on this list, despite all of the issues I have with the thing. Aside from the “overly-ambitious” jimping, the handle’s ergonomics are pretty stellar. It’s USA-made construction is excellent, it’s choice of materials (hardware aside) is great, and the workhorse capabilities that it delivers on are damn-near inline with full-sized fixed blades with full-finger handles. In terms of its factory edge’s sharpness, the Baja 3.0 wasn’t particularly impressive, nor was it disappointing, with the edge scoring a 3 out of 5 in my testing. And, while I didn’t get to experience it firsthand, all of my use and testing very much points to the Baja 3.0 also making for an outstanding outdoor, trail, hunting, or camping knife.

Verdict: Because of how long I harped on them, it may seem like I have more bad things to say about the Baja 3.0 than good, but the reality is the few things that it does, it only does exceedingly well, and because those things just happen to be “perform extremely well, provide immense durability, versatility, and utility, and do so in a compact and well-crafted package,” the TOPS Knives Baja 3.0 makes for a really ridiculously solid pick for a fixed blade for everyday carry.

Overall Length: 6.25″
Blade Length: 3.00″
Blade Thickness: 0.130″
Blade Steel: 1095
Handle Material: Canvas Micarta
Sheath: Leather
Origin: USA

WESN Bornas

Best Compact Fixed Blade: Having used every (non-limited edition) knife the company has has produced since its inception in 2017, I feel uniquely qualified to say that the WESN Bornas is the perfect representation of what the Detroit-based knife-maker is all about, from its design to its materials to its heirloom-grade build quality. Though it’s the brand’s first-ever fixed blade — as well as its first-ever knife to be made in Sweden — the Bornas follows the usual WESN formula with a design that’s based on the flagship Allman (and Microblade) model though instead of featuring the signature piercing point and swedge arrangement, the Bornas extends almost straight back until a largely flat handle, forming a more traditional drop point silhouette. This super clean, Scandinavian-inspired design measures 5.90” overall, sports a 3.10” handle, and culminates in a 2.75” blade forged in CPM S35VN — a construction that I’d argue is one of the best blade steels for everyday carry. I’d give the Bornas’ factory edge a cool 4 out of 5, as it sliced really cleanly and evenly, though still wasn’t the sharpest of the blades I tested.

Measuring 0.108” thick, the Bornas’ rigid full-tang powder-metallurgy construction comes sandwiched between a set of either OD green G10 scales or natural rosewood handles. Not only do I appreciate the material options, but I also really love just how much the two different handle constructions massively alter the knife’s overall appearance, with the G10 sporting a markedly more modern aesthetic while the rosewood variant boast an unmistakably vintage-inspired look — areas furthered by the fact that the G10 model can be optioned with a Kydex sheath and the rosewood version can be ordered with a leather sheath, bolstering their contemporary and retro appearances, respectively (though either version can be ordered with either sheath).

As far as the fixed blade’s ergonomics, the Bornas features a solid three-finger design that allowed me to use my pinky to lightly secure the bottom of the handle. The finger guard just behind the blade’s choil and the trigger finger groove set in the handle immediately after actually did a pretty superb job of affording grip, even under hard use. The jimping at base of spine further aided in this area — a seemingly minor detail but one that I found to actually make a big difference. Same goes I’d say the G10 scales, as they also added a decent amount of grip without being so heavily textured that they left my hands raw, even after repated or prolonged use.

I also definitely appreciated the fact that the leather sheath comes with a snap-secured setup that practically guarantees the knife will remain in place. Not much to say about the Kydex sheath. It’s a Kydex sheath. As expected, it offered great retention — to the point where I’d be comfortable mounting it tip-up/handle-down — without requiring me to exert a ton of effort to deploy it. The Kydex sheath also features a pair of slots and half-a-dozen rivets with standardized spacing, allowing for a slew of mounting and carrying options, though I opted to set it up with an Ulticlip Slim 3.3 at my right hip and I found it to work flawlessly. Simple yet refined, the Bornas’ handle would almost certainly benefit from additional grooves or contours to bolster grip, though its form nonetheless provides much than sufficient ergonomics — and it in no way hurts that I find the Bornas to be the best-looking knife on this list, and by a pretty significant margin. And, like all WESN goods, the Bornas also comes backed by a lifetime warranty.

Verdict: Overall the marrying of form and function here is genuinely impressive, as the WESN Bornas genuinely manages to perform just as well as it looks, and I’d say this is one damn-fine-looking knife. No doubt points for the Swedish craftsmanship and the premium materials, too.

NOTE: Due to production delays, the WESN Bornas is currently available for preorder, though we were able to get our hands on an early unit. The knife is expected to be released within the first quarter of 2024.

Overall Length: 5.90”
Blade Length: 2.75”
Blade Thickness: 0.108”
Blade Steel: CPM S35VN
Handle Material: G10 Or Rosewood
Sheath: Kydex Or Leather
Origin: Sweden

EDC Fixed Blade Comparison Chart

Balancing Size & Utility

There are a handful of tradeoffs that exist when looking at knives. For example, the harder more premium blade steels that offer markedly better edge retention are also markedly more difficult to sharpen. Another major tradeoff to consider is utility versus size. The larger and more robust a knife, the more utility it will typically offer. At the same time, the larger a knife is, the less pocketable it will be — and therefor less EDC-friendly. While most EDC enthusiasts opt for more compact folding knives, there does exist a selection of rigid blade designs that manage to offer the perfect balance size and utility, being large enough to serve as a dependable workhorse of a knife whilst still being small and compact enough to be carried on a daily basis. As a result, the majority of competent fixed blade everyday carry knives tend to be on the smaller side — though there are occasionally exceptions to this rule.

What To Look For When Shopping

Though they share their rigid design with all fixed blades, fixed blades chosen for everyday carry use have to tick a host of unique boxes in order to be competent for EDC use. This can admittedly make it a little tricky knowing exactly what to look for when shopping for one. So, with this in mind, we’ve broken down the most pivotal areas to consider when buying a fixed blade knife for everyday carry.

Overall Length: Considering one of the biggest areas that separates EDC-friendly fixed blades from their larger, more run-of-the-mill counterparts is overall length, this is an absolutely crucial area to consider when shopping. Typically speaking, most everyday carry fixed blades clock in at around 7” or less overall. In addition to overall length, you’ll also want to pay close attention to each knife’s handle-to-blade ratio, as truncated handle and/or blade designs are often what allow these knives to cram an enormous amount of utility into a compact and daily-carry-able package.

Blade Steel: With fixed blade knives being largely comprised of the blade itself, the construction of this element is of monumental importance and should always be closely reviewed when shopping. The type of blade steel utilized will hugely impact areas such as hardness and edge retention. Many of our favorite EDC fixed blades employ more high-end powder metallurgy blades steels such as Böhler M390 or CPM S30V. It is worth pointing out, however, that the same properties that allow premium blade steels to deliver such better edge retention also makes these blade-specific alloys more difficult to sharpen when the time finally comes to do so.

Blade Thickness: One area that can have a huge impact on how well a blade lends itself to hard uses and self-defense applications is no doubt blade thickness. This is also an important area to take into account considering the fact that fixed blades are often designed with thicker, more robust blades than folding knives. A thicker blade does typically come at a higher price —especially when dealing with super premium steels like CPM 3V, MagnaCut, or CTS-XHP.

Blade Length: The length of a knife’s blade plays a direct role in the level of utility that it affords — making this yet another pivotal area to take into account when shopping. Some fixed blade knives that have been designed for everyday carry feature shorter blades and greater handle-to-blade ratios, while still being long enough to make for practical daily-carry-able cutting tools.

Blade Shape: Just like the length of a knife’s blade, the shape of a knife’s blade has a massive impact on its overall utility and what type of tasks it will lend itself to. Most commonly, these knives will sport more general-purpose drop point or clip point profiles, though it’s also not uncommon to see tanto, reverse tanto, standard, leaf-shaped, or spear point silhouettes. For a deeper dive into this aspect, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to EDC knife blade shapes explained.

Tang: When shopping for fixed blade knife for everyday carry use, you’ll exclusively want to consider models that boast full-tang constructions — i.e. where the knife’s actual blade construction runs the entirety of the tool, from tip to pommel as a single construction (typically cloaked in handle scales) — rather than having the blade merely set in the top of the handle, which offers markedly less strength and structural integrity.

Build Quality: Despite essentially being a single piece of metal sandwiched between a set of handle scales, the overall craftsmanship and build quality of fixed blade knives can massively vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Elements such as the type and quality of the hardware used and overall level of craftsmanship don’t merely affect fit and finish, but also durability and longevity. Typically speaking, most of the smaller, more boutique knife brands tend to deliver knives that boast better overall craftsmanship, as their small-batch production and more meticulous quality control ultimately allows for a markedly higher level of fit and finish compared to mass-produced knives.

Sheath: The sheath is of major importance when looking at knives intended for daily-carry use, as the type of sheath will directly impact where and how the blade can be carried – as well as how quickly it can be drawn or deployed in CQC scenarios. Leather sheaths can be perfectly sufficient for EDC use, we almost always lean towards Kydex (or other hard construction) sheaths. There are also a handful of EDC fixed blades that are sold with leather sheaths, but can be upgraded to Kydex items. These sheaths can typically be paired with standard pocket clips, Ultimate Belt Attachments, or any variety of Ulticlip models, thereby affording the carrier a generous slew of different ways to carry, from in your pocket to inside your waistband to horizontal belt carrying.

Handle Material: No matter what type of knife you’re looking at, you’ll pretty much always want to closely review the thing’s handle setup. This includes checking out the actual material that the scales are made from, as well as shape and texturing. Most commonly, EDC-specific fixed blades use handle scales made from Micarta, G10, or some type of wood, though there are obviously exceptions. There are also super spartan EDC fixed blades with skeletonized handle setups that can be left bare, wrapped in Paracord, or fitted with a set of custom or aftermarket scales — many of which are available for today’s more popular everyday carry fixed blades.

Ergonomics: It’s not just the material that a handle is crafted from that should be considered when shopping, but also said handle’s size, shape, thickness, contours, and texturing — factors that collectively determine a fixed blade’s overall ergonomics and grip. What’s more, one of the biggest defining characteristics of an EDC-specific fixed blade is featuring a handle design that, while compact, still affords a level of grip and ergonomics that allow for real workhorse capabilities. Despite often sporting a design that only allows its carrier to grasp the handle with three fingers, the use of finger grooves, notches, and other cutouts allows grip-strength to be maximized — sometimes even when reverse-gripped.

Manufacturer: One fairly surefire way to ensure that you’re getting your hands on a quality EDC fixed blade is to purchase from a brand with a proven history of delivering well-crafted, thoroughly-utilitarian knives, as the vast majority of reputable manufacturers in the space are extremely consistent with the level of quality and craftsmanship bestowed upon their blades. This does sometimes mean paying a bit more, though nine-times out of ten, this financial premium is well worth it.

Price & Value: With fewer materials and no moving parts, fixed blade knives are often cheaper to manufacturer compared to folding knives. As a result, the price of fixed blades can vary pretty massively, with some offering markedly better bang for your buck than others. The reality is that you almost always get what you pay for, with steeper MSRPs unlocking more premium blade steels, more robust constructions, superior craftsmanship, and all-around better utility and performance.

Why Carry An EDC Fixed Blade?

The biggest downside of carrying a fixed blade on a daily basis is undoubtedly the fact that these rigid blades are typically much larger and less pocketable compared to folding knives. Having said that, you can opt for a smaller and more compact fixed blade, you can largely mitigate the main problem with everyday carrying a fixed blade — leaving you to enjoy the many benefits and upsides offered by fixed blade knives. For starters, fixed blade knives — at least fixed blade knives with full-tang constructions — are devoid of locking mechanisms, and as such don’t suffer from the same potential to fail under hard use. With more structural integrity, fixed blades are almost always significantly stronger than folding knives, and consequently make for better workhorses. On top of being more utilitarian in nature, fixed blades also have the added advantage of not needing to be opened or have their blade deployed. As a result, fixed blades can almost always be drawn quicker. When combined with the fact that they’re stronger — and often feature beefier blade thicknesses — it’s easy to see why EDC fixed blades typically make for better self-defense knives than folders. What’s more, fixed blades are also easier to maintain and service. The use of a sheath also typically affords fixed blade knives with substantially more placement, angles, and carrying options than your typical pocket clip-equipped folding knife.

Legality

The laws pertaining to carrying fixed blades knives admittedly varies from region to region, though in most parts of the U.S. fixed blades are more permissible to carry than folding knives. Unlike folders that are sometimes illegal to carry if their blade is beyond a certain length, fixed blades can typically be lawfully carried no matter the size of the blade — with the one main limitation to be aware of being the fact that in locales such as California, fixed blade knives can’t be concealed carried, and must be (at least partially) on display. With fixed blades, you also don’t ever have to worry about the restrictions pertaining to automatic-deployment knives.

Honorable Mentions

With stellar bang-for-your-buck, solid build quality, and a generally utilitarian form, the CIVIVI Elementum has long been one of the most popular budget-friendly EDC blades. So, unsurprisingly, its more compact rigid counterpart — the CIVIVI Mini Elementum Fixed Blade — makes for a great fixed blade for everyday carry use.

While not anywhere near as all-around utilitarian as the GMF1, the Skallywag MDV Plus One massively outshines the Giantmouse knife in sheer defensive capabilities and attack readiness, with a 3” poke and slash-ready blade and a low-profile handle with a grab hook that makes it ridiculously easy to draw and deploy — even in the heat of a CQC situation. At just 6.75” in length, the MDV Plus One is pretty EDC-friendly, plus it ships with a stellar Kydex sheath.

Another small but mighty design from the mind of Jesper Voxnaes, the MKM Mikro 2 Fixed Blade spans just 4.33” overall, but offers shockingly capable ergonomics despite its tiny form, plus its 1.97” blade and full tang construction is made from top-shelf M390 super steel — and is set between a set of rugged and grippy Micarta scales.

Full disclosure, I had originally planned on including the ToorKnivesViper on my main list, though this 6.375″ ended up being just a bit too tactical for general EDC use. Having said that, it’s 2.625” D2 blade is more than capable of performing regular EDC tasks, and, in typical Toor fashion, the knife boasts exceptional craftsmanship and build quality.

Penned by Lucas Burnley and made in Germany, the Böker Barlow BFF Micarta is a classically-styled, vintage-inspired Barlow design with a rigid, 6.10” form that’s been brought to life using top-shelf ABE-L steel and Micarta scales. Sadly, due to some shipping issues, we were unable to source a sample in time.