I recently picked up a Spyderco Caribbean at a good price. It was about 40% off on what seems to have been an impromptu sale by a big online knife dealer through a much bigger online retailer. I wanted the plain edge version, but only the fully serrated was on sale. So I went for it!
The finished product with a Buck 119 I did some edge work on at the same time
The Caribbean is a knife I’ve had my eye on for a while. I’ve wanted to try LC200N steel as I’ve heard good things about it’s wear resistance versus the H1 steel Spyderco previously used on their Salt knives. I wanted a good knife for around the water (fishing, canoeing, boating, swimming, etc.), and the Caribbean’s highly rust resistant steel and accidental stab deterring sheepfoot blade made it a great choice. Plus the handle design is nice and simple in shape but loud in aesthetics, which I’m a fan of on both accounts. Finally, it has the compression lock which I find to be reliable and easy to use. Seems like a recipe for success, right?
The Caribbean’s design gives it a pretty recognizable outline
Well, I got it and at first I thought it was great! I haven’t had many fully serrated knives, but it cut through some sunflowers really well. Then I noticed the edge had come with some serious burrs. I had some household cardboard to cut, so I put it to work. Mind you, I’m not talking a full day, or even hour, of breaking down cardboard; more like 4 or 5 boxes. To my shock and dismay, the edge showed all kinds of damage after just that initial use. It had big rolls that almost turned into chips, and it even seemed to still have the burr (and no, I didn’t hit any staples). I suspected it had come with an edge that was burnt in the sharpening process, therefore ruining the heat treatment, and also possibly just too thinly ground. So after just a day of carry I decided to send it in to Spyderco.
Spyderco worked on it and another knife, and got it back to me in a reasonable amount of time. If you’re interested in the full story on that, check out the video above. Unfortunately, I noticed right away that the resharpened edge of the Caribbean seemed off. Not only was it overly sharpened, so that the points of the serrations were rounded off, there were still some of the rolls left and it had burrs (leftover from before or new, I don’t know). I have to say, I was rather disappointed. I can sharpen serrations with the tri-angle stones from the Sharpmaker, but I can’t fix large rolls and damage to the edge. If every time that kind of damage happens, especially if it happens as easily as it seemed to the first time, Spyderco has to take off this much of the serrations then I’m not sure serrations are for me. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I ended up deciding to take matters into my own hands.
Rounded serrations and leftover edge issues after a sharpening at the factory
I set upon turning it into a plain edged knife. I knew it wouldn’t be easy or pretty, but it was to be a user and I’ve done knife modifications before. First, I used a file to take out as much of the serration ridges as I could and shape the edge. I got the edge shaped, but decided I needed a little more power to work out the serrations completely. So I used a dremel with a sanding wheel (on a slow speed and frequently dipping the blade in water, to keep it cool) to fully flatten the serrations. Finally it was time to sharpen, but that turned out to be no small matter either. Because it was essentially a chisel ground edge by necessity, it took some work getting the angles set and the apex created. Once done it turn out to be, although not great looking, entirely practical and usable. Even though it’s not a professional quality modification, it will make the knife more usable for me and I am happy with that.
So, do I suggest you do this? Absolutely not. It, obviously, voids the warranty (for what that’s worth). If I really wanted a plain edge Caribbean I would have been much better off just paying the extra 40% for it… but where’s the fun in that?
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People often ask me for knife recommendations, and I’m always happy to oblige. It gives me a legitimate excuse to pour over all the incredible knife offerings available to us in this golden age of pocket cutlery. In this article I will share my method of how to choose the perfect knife for YOU!
Budget
The first question to ask yourself is how much you want to spend on a knife. Knives come in all price ranges, from a couple bucks to thousands. As long as you stay within reason, you should be able to find a knife in your budget. Usually the upper limit is the focus, but I will give a recommendation of a lower limit of $7. There are some legitimately serviceable knives just above that bedrock price, but I haven’t found anything worth the price any lower and the options are sparse below $15. On the upper end, I think everyone has a price point past which the quality doesn’t increase enough to keep up with the cost. Everyone’s range is different, but I generally stay between $15 and $150 (with some exceptions down to $7 and up to about $225).
Knives of quite different price ranges: $225 ZT0561, $15 Kershaw Thistle, $7 Geralt
Intended Use
How you intend to use the knife is just as important as budget, because if you have the wrong knife for the job, the price won’t matter. You have to decide how you plan to use the knife; whether that’s as a wilderness survival tool, a work implement, a fidget toy, or anything in between. The uses for knives are unlimited, and it’s up to you to decide which are important to you in relation to this particular knife purchase and filter the choices accordingly.
Two knives with similar aesthetics but very different practical purposes
Aesthetic Preference
Practicality isn’t all that matters; if you don’t like the way your knife looks and feels you won’t be happy with your purchase. That’s why you should consider your own personal aesthetic preferences along with the practical characteristics of a knife. One of the main aesthetic choices for me is modern versus traditional. I enjoy both types of knives, but I more often buy traditionally styled knives. For you it could be tactical versus practical, or flashy versus subdued, or any number of other spectra within which knives fall.
A slipjoint, a double edged automatic knife, and a one hand open locking knife. All of these are legal some places, all are illegal some places… as silly as that might be!
Legal Considerations
Finally, the most unfortunate consideration of what knife is right for you are the relevant legal restrictions. Many places have automatic knife laws, blade length laws, laws regarding the locking mechanism, and even the edge configuration. I highly suggest looking into your local knife laws before making a purchase. There are several ways to do this, but one good source is the American Knife and Tool Institute.
As you have probably surmised, a lot of individuality goes into choosing the right knife for you. That’s one of the best parts of the exercise; it gives you the opportunity to express yourself in a meaningful but practical way. Although the method for choosing a knife I present here is vague, I hope it provides a useful framework in your search!
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I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
In this article I will recommend to you the best gear for building a complete, functional, high quality every day carry setup for under $100. All of the gear I recommend here I have used and found to be a good value and up to the tasks of EDC. Part of what makes building a complete every day carry fun is expressing your own tastes and preferences in the gear, so I’ve given at least a couple options in each category. I didn’t include every possible item that could be considered part of an EDC setup (E.g. wallet, keychain, pry tool, etc.) but stuck with the most essential tools. No matter which option within each category you choose, you should be able to build a complete and really effective every day carry setup for a budget friendly price.
Knife
Ah, my passion. I am a knife enthusiast through and through, above and beyond my enjoyment of other EDC tools. So what knife(s) do I recommend for a high value / low cost every day carry? I don’t think you’ll be surprised.
Some (well used) top tier budget knife options
If you want a modern knife, with one hand opening and a lock, I recommend the Ontario Rat 1. Classic design, consistent quality control, and proven utility come together in an extremely high value package in the RAT 1. There’s a reason it’s, almost for sure, the most recommended modern knife on the market. I have had several of these, I give these as gifts to family and friends, and I’ve only had good experiences myself and gotten good feedback from others. For about $25 you have a great all around knife.
Whether due to local laws, your aesthetic preference, or a desire for more tools, another great option is the Victorinox Huntsman. For less than $35 you get an incredibly well made knife with two blades, a saw, scissors, screwdrivers (which can pry), bottle opener, can opener, awl, corkscrew, tweezers, and last but not least (maybe…) a toothpick. It’s an extremely versatile tool. Of course, Victorinox has a huge variety of models with different tool combinations. Another I think makes a great EDC is the Pioneer, if you don’t need the scissors and saw.
If you’d like to go traditional but don’t want, or need, all the extra tools I recommend the Case Sod Buster JR. It’s not the fanciest looking traditional out there, but it doesn’t sport the abysmal unpinned shield that most Case knives have and it’s an extremely utilitarian and proven design. For under $30 you get an American made knife with a great warranty that will last a lifetime.
Finally, some prefer the dependability and simplicity of a fixed blade. There are a lot of great budget fixed blades on the market, but nothing can beat the Mora Companion. For around $15 you get a knife that is extremely strong and durable, cuts well, has a great design, and comes with a really nice sheath (for the price). The Companion is just an all around winner, and any knife or EDC enthusiast should have one.
Flashlight
I have to admit that I have yet to nail down my ideal flashlight EDC. I have carried several different lights, but have carried a FourSevens Preon more than anything else combined. I’ve tried it in pocket, on my keychain, and in my bag. Unfortunately, the newer and currently only available version of the Preon is too expensive to include in this article. I’m going to give a recommendation for a light for each type of carry: Bag, Pocket, and Keychain.
A headlamp option is very functional
For bag carry, I think a flashlight that doubles as a headlamp is extremely useful. A headlamp is much more practical than a handheld light when camping and working. I have been using the Wowtac A2S, and think it’s a good value. It seems well made and sturdy, has a really useful moonlight mode, can be super bright, and comes with a nice headstrap. The only downsides are that it doesn’t come with a pocket clip and the beam could be wider for general use. Still, at under $30 I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again. If you’d prefer a model with a clip and forward facing (rather than 90 degree) head, and don’t need the headlamp capability, the WowTac A1S is a good option for the same price.
For pocket carry I like a thin light. Flashlights that use 18650 batteries are more powerful and longer lasting, but I think AAA based lights make for less obtrusive carry. With that in mind, I’d recommend the Lumintop IYP365. It is relatively bright, has a great look, and is easy to carry. It doesn’t use rechargeable batteries, but it’s less expensive than the above options that do, at about $20.
There are a lot of really small, bright, easy to use keychain flashlights… but many of them have a flaw that keeps me from recommending them; their charging ports are covered only by a silicon plug. In my experience these plugs come loose easily, and render the light’s water resistance effectively null (plus they get in the way of holding the light). So I’m going to recommend the Olight I1R 2. It doesn’t have a clicky interface, which is a downside, but the twisty is nice and straight forward to use. The charging port is legitimately covered by screwing down the body. It has a low and high mode, which is all you need on a keychain light. For $15, it’s a good value.
Pen
In this category my main recommendation is an easy choice: the classic Fisher Space Pen. This is a pen that many have recommended, and for good reason; it works, all the time. I have used these through college, at work, in the outdoors, etc. and have always been happy with their performance. In fact, I’m always amazed at how long the cartridges last. At about $25 for the clipped version, which I much prefer, you’ll get a pen that will last a lifetime.
A good clip might bend, but it won’t break easily.
I will say though, the Zebra F-301 is a solid secondary choice. They have a nice look and solid feel with the stainless steel body, they have a strong clip, and they write well. You can get 12 for less than $20, so it might be a better choice if you tend to lose pens.
Notebook
Every now and then I decide it is more economical and convenient to just take notes electronically, and every time I do I stop taking notes. For some reason, a physical notebook just works better. I have used a huge variety of notebooks, and there are a lot of good ones out there.
I’m a big fan of Rite in the Rain
For a pocket carry notebook, I much prefer the Rite in the Rain Mini Stapled Notebook. They are pretty much completely weather proof, so you don’t have to worry about them turning to mush if you forget them in a pocket (or just get a little too sweaty). They have a universal pattern rule that makes them useful for any kind of note taking, including bullet journaling. Plus, you get 3 for about $9 so you can write to your heart’s content and not worry about filling too many.
If you’d rather have a larger notebook that you carry in your bag, I like the Moleskine Classic. It’s more expensive than some others on the market, and maybe kind of cliche, but I haven’t found a better option. At about $10 you do get a lot more pages and a classier feel. However, if you don’t care about looks and just want a notebook for in your bag you can always go with a $6 5 Star Composition Notebook (which can be bought for less in big box stores).
Lighter
I don’t personally carry a lighter in my true EDC, thought I do carry one in my bag every day. I just don’t need a lighter that often, and always just remember to bring one if I’m going camping or something like that. That said, I do think it’s a good idea to have a lighter around, even if it’s just in your bag or car.
A lighter in my EDC pouch
My recommendation for a lighter isn’t going to please those who are looking for something to add to their pocket dump pictures for Instagram, as it’s all function and no form; the Bic Mini. Why do I recommend the humble Bic? It’s small and easy to carry (fits with room to spare in the 5th pocket of most jeans), pretty much always works, and the fluid won’t evaporate. Plus, you can get 5 for well under $10.
Still, I don’t want to completely snub the classic Zippo. I don’t use a lighter frequently enough to keep the classic fluid from evaporating, but Zippo recently came out with a butane insert and rechargeable arc insert that mitigate that issue. If you’d rather have something that looks better (and there’s nothing wrong with that) or would rather have something reusable, the Zippo is tough to beat. I do think there’s something to be said for not throwing a chunk of plastic away, probably to find its way to the ocean or a landfill or something, every time you use up a lighter. Thankfully I don’t use them up often at all.
The links in this article are Amazon Affiliate links. That means that if you decide to buy any of the products through these links, I will get a small percentage of the sale. It does not charge you more, and they are the same products (generally) you’d find if you searched on Amazon. I encourage you to look around online for the best deals, but I do appreciate your support via the affiliate links. I was not paid or compensated to recommend any of these products.
P.s. I am not knowledgeable on watches, but many EDC enthusiasts appreciate them. If you just need something functional, I highly recommend the Casio F108WH. I purchased one over 3 years ago for a hunting trip expecting to lose or break it, but it has taken all kinds of abuse since then (from teaching martial arts to white water rafting) with no issues. For $15, it’s a great value.
I attend the Great Eastern Cutlery Rendezvous every year. It’s a gathering of traditional knife enthusiasts at the GEC factory to show and discuss knives, take tours of the factory, and get some unique knives. You can find more information in the following article:
Relatively quickly after this decision was announced, some regular attendees set in motion to organize an unofficial gathering in place of the Rendezvous. Jesse W. contacted the location and caterer that was always used for the Saturday picnic and, along with contributions from Gary K. and Darren O., set up a replacement gathering. Setting this all up was no small feat, I’m sure, and set the stage for the success of the event.
In the process of being setup the event began to be called “Bootleg”. I decided that if we couldn’t have a Rendezvous Special knife, it would be nice to have at least something to commemorate the event. Since GEC often includes pins with their knives and has been making special pins for the last few years’ Rendezvous, I decided to make pins for all the attendees. I’m no graphic designer, by any stretch of the word, but I came up with something and got a bunch made by Sticker Mule (who I’ve used for several sticker designs). I was happy to make a small contribution, and I was surprised to find Randy (an engineer at GEC and fellow knife enthusiast) laser etching the logo onto all kinds of things: slips, sheaths, and even knives! It was a very nice gesture that allowed people to go home with mementos of the event.
The event was well attended and a whole lot of fun. A significant group of regular Rendezvous attendees, as well as some GEC employees, showed up. The hours rushed by while we all showed and discussed our knives, knife history, and all kinds of knife related topics. I had a great time, and I think others did also.
Still, I’m looking forward to next year and having the full Rendezvous. If you plan to attend next year’s Rendezvous, consider joining this Facebook group. I’ll be there!
I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook! You can find all my latest links at LinkTr.ee/KnifeThoughts
If I’m being honest, I saw it coming; Pennsylvania has extended the state of emergency, safety measures that had been relaxed have been reinstated, and the Titusville Oil Festival (with which the GEC Rendezvous was always concurrently held) was canceled. Still, I’m sure it was a hard decision for Bill and everyone at GEC to make, and I’m very crestfallen.
I collect the Rendezvous Special knives, which you can only get at the Rendezvous. Check out this link and this link for videos on those knives. Still, worse than not having the opportunity to obtain this year’s piece of that collection is the missed discussions with other enthusiasts (and many collectors with much more knowledge than me, from whom I’ve learned a lot at past Rendezvous). However, it would have been difficult to maintain the current safety protocols and enjoy the Rendezvous as it has been in the past. Hopefully GEC has something else fun up their sleeve, and hopefully this isn’t too much of a blow to them.
