EDC advice

[RomTownTon]

Good morning Ladles and Jelly-spoons!

This is my first (proper) post on the site really, I've done my welcome one etc.

I'm looking for general advice for EDC equipment I may not have thought of, I intend to create a tin with some essentials (matches, tape, cotton buds etc.), but specifically I'm looking for advice on a multi-tool type job that I can rely on and that would be legal to carry (I'm pretty certain most multi-tools are fairly legal in the UK, but still).

Here's the thing though, I am hoping to find something fairly minimalist. I don't want all the bells and whistles, for example, I don't want a torch or a compass on it (may yet add that to the tin or my keyring), I don't need/want scissors (though the scissors on my leatherman micro are brilliantly useful, I find most multi-tool type jobbies have pretty poor scissors. y'know, the fold out spring type) ... I just want something not TOO small, not TOO big, with a blade, maybe a saw, screwdriver etc. only two or three bits to it.

any advice would be massively appreciated, even if it's just down to brands I may not have thought of looking into, or things that I may want to consider in relation to this (for example any pros of a more complex multi-tool).

Thanks for your time!

[i11matic1795]

Sounds like a standard Swiss Army Knife would do, I just don't trust the sharpness of their blades.

Or possibly something like this, the BG name seems a little cheesy but it does get good reviews - http://www.gerbergear.co.uk/Survival/To ... _31-001050

And then just carry a wire saw?
Cheap + Smaller wire saw - http://www.heinnie.com/commando-wire-saw
Fancy version - http://www.heinnie.com/schrade-old-timer-wire-saw

[RomTownTon]

Sounds like a standard Swiss Army Knife would do, I just don't trust the sharpness of their blades.

Or possibly something like this, the BG name seems a little cheesy but it does get good reviews - http://www.gerbergear.co.uk/Survival/To ... _31-001050

And then just carry a wire saw?
Cheap + Smaller wire saw - http://www.heinnie.com/commando-wire-saw
Fancy version - http://www.heinnie.com/schrade-old-timer-wire-saw

Thanks for the prompt reply, 1llmatic!

Yeah, I saw the BG tool oddly enough when I just (literally around 30 minutes ago) found the Heinnie site (I can't believe I've never found that site before! ... I almost literally want everything on there!)

I have to admit an element of snobbery on my part when it comes to these things, I don't much like the BG name being plastered on everything (though if it's as quality as the reviews make it look, I may well end up getting something like that) ... I like the idea of something that looks a bit more classic, of which there are some interesting examples on Heinnie

I'm not overly desperate for a saw (though I may put a wire saw like that in some kind of EDC kit for if i'm out in the country or something (I don't think I'd have much call for it in Romford/London, but my parents live out in the country so it kind of makes sense for me to have a second kit to have when I'm up there, and I can see many situations when a saw would potentially come in useful!)

THE SEARCH CONTINUES!

[dangerman]

So... Many... Options. My head will burst!

I made the mistake of thinking that multi-tools were mostly legal carry but the kind people of this board have educated me in the error of my ways. I bought the Gerber Suspension, good value, works well, great build quality - but with locking blades. NOT UK legal carry. In fact, most of them aren't legal carry so choose very carefully.

I now alternate my EDC between my SOG Paratool and my Swiss Army Spartan. The Spartan is great, but it's not as useful as the Hiker (which I should have bought) because it doesn't have the phillips head screw driver. The Sog is excellent, but it's not got spring loaded pliers so doesn't feel as good quality as the Gerber. And the price in this part of the world is ridiculous for what it is (I got mine for £30 in the states).

Just incase you're interested, here's the pictures of the SOG from when I first got it. It's more bashed up now.











It's UK legal because it's blades are less that three inches and non-locking.

Comes in a nice belt clip pouch too.

[RomTownTon]

So... Many... Options. My head will burst!

I made the mistake of thinking that multi-tools were mostly legal carry but the kind people of this board have educated me in the error of my ways. I bought the Gerber Suspension, good value, works well, great build quality - but with locking blades. NOT UK legal carry. In fact, most of them aren't legal carry so choose very carefully.

I now alternate my EDC between my SOG Paratool and my Swiss Army Spartan. The Spartan is great, but it's not as useful as the Hiker (which I should have bought) because it doesn't have the phillips head screw driver. The Sog is excellent, but it's not got spring loaded pliers so doesn't feel as good quality as the Gerber. And the price in this part of the world is ridiculous for what it is (I got mine for £30 in the states).

Yeah, sorry dangerman I know, it's a very broad question really! I can only apologise for that!

Aha! OK, I see what you mean, I had always assumed that they would be pretty much legal as standard for EDC ... don't know why, but I did. Thank you for that info. Luckily, Heinnie have a whole "UK Legal Carry" section, with some lovely little ideas for simple but different EDC tools (I can be a little eccentric about these things).

Thanks for the ideas, I did look at the SOG, it looks pretty decent, the problem is I've now got caught up in the aesthetics of some of the other little tools on Heinnie (sad, I know).

I got a really good little (cheap I think, oddly enough) multi-tool from the aged P a long time ago, had a great pair of pliers on it, lasted me years. I was gobsmacked when I eventually snapped them last year tinkering with something.

[Deeps]

The biggish multi tools are handy but for just keeping in your pocket I'm a massive fan of the Swiss Army Knives. They've generally got a good reputation so people don't get too upset if you use it in public and you can get fairly basic all the way up to kitchen sink ones. I'm a fan of the Spartan, its only marginally bigger than only having a blade, I've got a small 1 AAA cell torch attached to it which I hope makes it less 'offensive' looking. Here's a link to a site showing you different ones, if you are thinking of buying one then you'd be best to shop around though. EDC is very much a personal thing, we all seem to have different priorities and EDC's get varied over time.

http://www.swisstool.co.uk/st/Swiss-Arm ... oCVMvw_wcB

[dangerman]

The biggish multi tools are handy but for just keeping in your pocket I'm a massive fan of the Swiss Army Knives. They've generally got a good reputation so people don't get too upset if you use it in public and you can get fairly basic all the way up to kitchen sink ones. I'm a fan of the Spartan, its only marginally bigger than only having a blade, I've got a small 1 AAA cell torch attached to it which I hope makes it less 'offensive' looking. Here's a link to a site showing you different ones, if you are thinking of buying one then you'd be best to shop around though. EDC is very much a personal thing, we all seem to have different priorities and EDC's get varied over time.

http://www.swisstool.co.uk/st/Swiss-Arm ... oCVMvw_wcB

Cracking post. All true. And I do like my spartan - but how on earth did they think that the corkscrew would be a more useful tool to carry than a phillips screwdriver?

EDC is very personal, but there are loads of ideas that I've got from either this forum or YouTube. Some ideas I have just dismissed because I don't think they would ever be useful to me, but others I've really made part of my world. It's a subject worth discussing and discussing. Since new gadgets often become available, gadgets get rotated or evolve, and needs change.

Also, regarding keeping something in your pocket, SAK is good. But you know that little johnny pocket on jeans? I've bunged my Bear Grylls mini multi-tool in there before and it fits perfectly. You don't even know it's there. Which is a problem too because mine has been washed on more than one occasion. Can't think of much that my Spartan can do that this can't. Although the blade is very little so for cutting fruit and stuff it's a bit crap.

[Deeps]

The biggish multi tools are handy but for just keeping in your pocket I'm a massive fan of the Swiss Army Knives. They've generally got a good reputation so people don't get too upset if you use it in public and you can get fairly basic all the way up to kitchen sink ones. I'm a fan of the Spartan, its only marginally bigger than only having a blade, I've got a small 1 AAA cell torch attached to it which I hope makes it less 'offensive' looking. Here's a link to a site showing you different ones, if you are thinking of buying one then you'd be best to shop around though. EDC is very much a personal thing, we all seem to have different priorities and EDC's get varied over time.

http://www.swisstool.co.uk/st/Swiss-Arm ... oCVMvw_wcB

Cracking post. All true. And I do like my spartan - but how on earth did they think that the corkscrew would be a more useful tool to carry than a phillips screwdriver?

EDC is very personal, but there are loads of ideas that I've got from either this forum or YouTube. Some ideas I have just dismissed because I don't think they would ever be useful to me, but others I've really made part of my world. It's a subject worth discussing and discussing. Since new gadgets often become available, gadgets get rotated or evolve, and needs change.

Also, regarding keeping something in your pocket, SAK is good. But you know that little johnny pocket on jeans? I've bunged my Bear Grylls mini multi-tool in there before and it fits perfectly. You don't even know it's there. Which is a problem too because mine has been washed on more than one occasion. Can't think of much that my Spartan can do that this can't. Although the blade is very little so for cutting fruit and stuff it's a bit crap.

Maybe now with the general acceptance of screw top wine but back in the day I was a popular man for always having a corkscrew on me.

[dangerman]

I've been in those pickles on many occasions in my years of alcoholism... I just learned to open beer bottles with a fork or spoon and push corks in with anything pointy... I did it with a pen once.

[metatron]

SOG Switchplier 2.0, maybe? Not a lot of extra bits on it and one handed opening is super nice. I never really worry about locking knifes on a multi-tool as its clearly a tool and not a weapon and from talking to lots of police officers they clearly see that too.