Metal Guide: EDC Advantage of Fixed Blades

Many folks love a good flipper because they’re compact and easy to carry. And a flipper certainly has its place, and we even make one ourselves, the Sycorax.

But we also love a good fixed-blade tool; after all, the Corax put us on the map. It’s what we have built for years, and these are our top 5 reasons you should consider carrying one too.

Self Defense

As much as we wish it weren’t true, there are some not-so-nice people out there who wish to do others harm. And it seems like there are more of those people out there. 

Our self-defense EDC tools are designed to handle those situations where seconds can matter. Folding tools have to be deployed. These don’t.

Access

Bottom line: a tool that isn’t accessible isn’t useful. 

Concealed carry gun owners know this argument.  If you’re grocery shopping and something bad goes down, the bad guys aren’t going to pause the action so you can go get a tool from the truck. 

It’s similar to our EDC tools; if it’s buried in a purse or under too many layers of clothes, it’s of no real use. That’s not ideal in an emergency.

A fixed blade tool can attach to your pants or even a bra. It takes no time to deploy; just reach for it and remove it from the sheath. Ready to go at a moment’s notice. 

The Kydex sheath we provide with all of our fixed blade tools protects the tool and clips just about anywhere you want or need it. Belts, bras,  backpack MOLLE panels, fanny packs, purses, up your sleeve, etc. And with a sheath with great retention and a sturdy clip, you don’t have to worry about the tool deploying accidentally.

Easy Maintenance

We all have enough things to do; maintaining your tool for self-defense shouldn’t be a time suck, too. With a fixed blade tool, you don’t have to worry about much beyond sharpening.

With high-carbon steel fixed blade tools, you should keep the blade clean and apply a little wax of your choice, and you’re ready to go. With stainless steel tools, you don’t even have to be as diligent about cleaning and waxing.

Fixed-blade tools don’t require adjusting, and they don’t get jammed up with lint and dirt buildup from your pocket that can prevent deployment. The more complicated the opening mechanism, the more time you’ll spend taking the tool apart and cleaning it.

Reliablity

Have we mentioned that these tools are reliable before? Fixed-blade tools don’t have moving parts. They won’t jam when you really need them most. We keep our designs simple for a reason. Solid construction means they will work every time.

Flippers have mechanisms that can fail. Pivots, bearings, and locks all have to stay in good working condition for the flipper to deploy.

Strength and Durability

We are back to this point again. Strength and durability are the things everyone looks for in a tool. It has to handle the task at hand. Fixed-blade tools are almost always stronger and more durable than folding tools. A big reason for this is the hinge of a folding knife, which creates a weak point, especially with frequent stress on the tool.

Carrying one well-made fixed blade tool and keeping it sharp will keep you equipped for everyday tasks, like opening boxes, or those unexpected moments where the tool needs to deploy quickly to keep you safe. Have we convinced you yet?

So Let’s Review

We love a good fixed blade option for EDC, and our top 5 reasons why are:

Self Defense

Access

Easy Maintenance

Reliablity

Strength and Durability

When you’re shopping for your next EDC tool, these are just a few factors we think you should consider while making your choice. But ultimately, the criteria you use to judge a tool may be different. 

Do you think we missed a big category? Let us know in the comments!