3 Twenty+ year old EDC folders:

top: Gerber Applegate Combat Folder – First Production Run 1996 – bought from Col. Rex Applegate @ ’96 NRA Convention – 4.48” blade
bottom: Benchmade Model 650 Boguszewski Spike – 4” blade – bought late ‘80s


Camillus CUDA - 4" - ATS-34 - G-10 -1998

quote:

Originally posted by Z06:
Gerber Applegate Combat Folder – First Production Run 1996 – bought from Col. Rex Applegate @ ’96 NRA Convention –

I'll go ya one better than that. I have one of these first production run ACFs (6000 pieces in the first run). I bought it from the Gerber booth at Blade in Atlanta in 1996, and mine is signed by Col. Rex Applegate. He signed his name on the blade with a Sharpie pen and I imagine that the signature would come off very easily. It needs a shadow box to be displayed, but I just keep it in an old box.

I have several Gerbers I got in the late '70s and early '80s I don't carry any more. One is one of the original LSTs from 1980 or so. It isn't a great knife, but there wasn't much like it then. We lived in Portland (near Gerber's location) from 1974 to 1978, and Gerber was getting big in factory knives then - I got interested in them then.

I also have two or three Al Mar Falcons from about the same time. Those are nice gents' knives. They are pretty.

I also have a bunch of common knives from the '70s and on - Buck, Schrade, Uncle Henry, etc., that I don't carry any more. There are a couple of big, heavy Puma folders in there, too.

I've been buying knives for a long time.

Love that Gerber

para, you do need to get a display for that ACF.

Being a signed piece, you have all but cancelled the EDC function. It is now an art object.

Hobby Lobby has some very nice and well priced display cases/shadow boxes.

I also have one of those Gerbers that I bought second hand some years ago. Doesn't appear to ever been used. I couldn't imagine lugging that thing around as an EDC, it's massive by my standards. Mine has sat in a drawer since purchase.

I really like the look of that CUDA.

There is no best EDC knife. It is all about personal preference. Ive always loved knives since I was a kid in cub scouts, but didn't start getting serious into them until a couple years ago. I've owned many knives. I have sold many, and bought new ones to replace them. I've owned Kershaws, Spydercos, Bucks, CRKTs, etc.

However, recently I found a knife that I personally love over all my others. It's a Ontario Knife Company Rat I. They usually run about $30, but I got mine brand new for $5 due to a mismarked price tag. It is now my EDC, and never leaves my pocket. It has satisfied my addiction to knife buying as of now!

I was a USA made only guy for a bit, but I learned a knife can be made anywhere in the world as long as the quality control is good.

I have an ACF that I got while active duty in 99-00ish... love that knife! Still carry from time to time.