...and what do you regularly carry with you?

What about "utility" vs "self protection"?

I alternate between a Benchmade 551 and a Kershaw Blur. Both are great for everyday use and I wouldn't feel under-knifed if I had to use them for protection.

I've had a few Emersons and a Benchmade, but what I ended up carrying all the time is my Spyderco Delica 4 FFG with the VG10 blade. It's light, thin, has versatile carry options, easy to open and close with one hand, has a good blade length (not too long, not too short), and the blade does a good job of holding an edge while still being easy to sharpen. I use the knife nearly every day and I only touch up the edge every month or two, if that. It's basically my Goldilocks knife. I have two of them. Though I have to admit I would like to add an Endura at some point.

I don't carry a knife for the purpose of protection, but if necessary can be pressed into that role.

Depending on my mood, I carry either a Hinderer or a Sebenza folder, but the knife that's always in my left front pocket is a cheap old SAK Alox Cadet.

I have two

Benchmade 551 and Kershaw Blackout

Doug Ritter (Benchmade Griptillians - I have a large and a small) are my perfect EDC knives.

If I were a little more bold, I'd be carrying my (small) sebenza more often.

It's a toss up between the two if money were no concern.

My favorite folder is a Zero Tolerance 0560 CBCF. My current carry knife is a Pro-Tech Strider SNG auto.

I have quite a few different EDC's but the one that I keep coming back to as the most useful overall is a Spyderco Military. I use my EDC for cutting and the Military is long and thin enough to do it exceptionally well.

If I were a soldier actually in the military ;-) I'd probably carry a stouter blade that wouldn't get broken off in a knife fight and tough enough to open cans in an emergency.

All knives are a compromise so pick the one that best suits what you use it for the most........dj

Case Jumbo Stockman

It changes. Always have had a soft spot for my Spyderco Delicas, though also really like my ZT 0450 lately. Sometimes I carry a Benchmade mini grip Ritter or an Emissary. As of late though, my favorite has to be my new Para 3. It's the same size as my Delica though tougher and smoother. Just enough smaller than my Para 2 that I want to carry it everywhere.
https://www.amazon.com/photos/...hrlzo2dNP6JSgcw9rDiu

For an EDC folder, I lean toward big and robust. My frequent carry is one of the 0300 - 0350 series, Zero Tolerance folders. In the warmer months; the 0350 sees yeoman service. During fall and winter; the 0301 fills my pocket. I primarily carry a knife as an augment to my primary arm. Most often, an autopistol.

Spyderco Manix 2 XL or the PM2 in S110V.

Large classic Sebenza.

I had a Tanto version I gave away as a wedding present.

I currently carry my Paramilitary 2 (same size and blade length as the large Sebenza).

Whenever I have the funds the purchase another one, I think I will try out the Insingo version.

Spyderco Endura.
As pictured in Forum starting page.

This was my favorite folder until I lost it. It was the Benchmade Auto Adamas my wife bought me for our Wedding Anniversary. She even picked out all of the laser engravings.

Spyderco Pegasus C61S. Was a limited production.

This Enzo Birk 75 is currently my favorite folder but most of the time I pocket carry a small fixed blade.

ZT0303 everyday. I just bought a ZT350 as a backup but my wife adopted it quickly so her former 30 year old stainless SPYDERCO Police sits in the safe.

That is a nice looking knife, countryboy.

My EDC folder is a Benchmade Griptillian. I use it for work every day and it gets the crap beat out of it, keeps coming back for more.

I have other folders I carry, some costing hundreds of dollars. I'm probably going to acquire a small Sebby someday but it tooo will not be an EDC but a "nice" knife to carry at certain times.

To answer about a defensive role, folders are a crappy choice. If you are legally limited to them, then you have to deal with that. But they are hard to deploy under pressure and you need one with a positive locking blade (another legal issue in some places).

I carry my Griptillian as a utility knife. It's not always razor sharp. I also alternate either a Ban Tang Clinch Pick, Syderco Reverse with custom scales and sheath or a TDI knife just left of my belt buckle as a defensive "get the hell off me knife" as well as a HAK as a knecker.

Regardless of what you carry, I always suggest at least a couple blocks of defensive knife classes (they won't make you a knife fighter but more show you the limits of a knife as a defensive weapon). Chris Fry of MDTS does a great job with small commonly carried knives.