The Anatomy of a Premium EDC OTF Knife

Because the word “premium” gets bandied about so much that its true meaning has become obscured. If you were to conduct a survey about the term, the response you’d likely get would range from “expensive” to “exotic” to simply “nice.” But none of those descriptors adequately encapsulate the characteristics of a truly premium product like a premium EDC OTF knife. While one may be expensive, it could also represent a value. Products made in the United States can prove just as premium as those from less familiar locales. And while everyone expects a premium good to be nice, it should be so much more. Merriam-Webster comes closer when it describes something premium as having “a high value or a value in excess of that normally or usually expected.”

In this article, we’ll discuss the basic anatomy of everyday carry (EDC) OTF knives and what sets premium options apart from ordinary offerings.

Blade Steel

The composition of any knife’s steel is one of the main factors that separates quotidian blades from those that are top-notch. Understand, though, that expensive steel alone does *not* a premium knife make. Steel selection should complement the knife’s intended use, and some of the priciest metals may not function as well in some situations as more basic steels. For instance, if you want to put a knife to hard use on a daily basis and want it to stand up to nicks, dings, and slicing hard or abrasive materials, relatively inexpensive 420 or 1095 steel would make a good, tough, and easy-to-sharpen option.

Premium metals allow knife makers to dial in certain desirable qualities while accepting relatively minor limitations. For instance, some high-end chef knives are incredibly hard and hold an edge for an extended period, but are vulnerable to chipping if handled roughly. The metals typically used in premium EDC OTFs amplify the qualities found in less pricey materials or make them more well-rounded. Instead of having a blade that resists impacts but dulls quickly, you’ll end up with one that stays sharp while holding its edge and resisting corrosion. The steels TAKCOM uses include D2 (wear resistant and edge retaining), 154CM (hard and tough), and M390 (branded, extremely hard steel with strong corrosion resistance).

Blade Shape

There’s no one blade shape that signals a lower-quality knife, and premium blades can come in an incredible variety of configurations. That variety is one of the hallmarks of a premium knife. More basic options will often only offer a standard drop-point knife. While there’s good reason for the popularity of drop points, they aren’t the end all and be all of blade shapes.

EDC OTFs aiming for a premium market ought to offer a variety of blade shapes, often on the exact same knife models. No one blade shape can account for all use cases, and premium OTF producers will recognize this. Here at TAKCOM, we provide knives with a variety of blade shapes in addition to drop point, including …

• spear point
• tanto
• fully and partially serrated
• Wharncliffe
• bayonet

Blade Coatings and Finishes

Much like blade shapes, a premium producer ought to provide various kinds of coatings and finishes. Sellers of budget knives may simply select a satin finish for all of their products, and though this extremely versatile finish can handle many use cases, it’s not always useful. Premium knife vendors provide different finishes so that their clients can use their products in varying contexts. At TAKCOM, we stock knives that have satin finishes, but we also offer stonewashed finishes (a striking matte finish that’s not susceptible to knicks and dings) and DLC, which stands for diamond-like carbon coating (a dark, non-reflective coating that’s virtually as hard as natural diamond).

Handle Shape

Inexpensive knives often skimp on handle design and manufacturing rigor, which lends itself to knives that are uncomfortable to hold and unpleasant to use for extended periods. Premium knife makers place a heavy emphasis on ensuring that their knives are a pleasure to use for a minute or an hour. Treated with a hard anodized finish and fabricated from an aluminum alloy, every TAKCOM knife handle is brushed to ensure that it remains easy to hold. We even adjust handles for different models so that they remain pleasant to hold. For example, our California-legal OTF, which we’ve dubbed The Stubby, features a thicker handle to facilitate ease of use on this particularly small knife.

Handle Material

A fair number of both budget and premium OTFs possess relatively comfortable handles. However, the real difference between the two types of knives often lies in the materials used in the creation of the handles. When budget producers make comfortable handles, they’ll typically employ soft or rubberized materials that wear poorly over time. Premium EDC OTF sellers understand that good design combined with quality materials make for handles that feel nice and last over the long hall. That’s why TAKCOM uses hard anodizing to keep our OTF handles protected from wear and tear.

Deployment Mechanism

Despite their reputation as being quick-to-ready blades, EDC OTFs don’t all have the same kind of deployment mechanism. OTFs come as either double-action knives (meaning that they both extrude and retract with the flicking of a switch) or as single-action knives (meaning that they require manual resetting after the blade extrudes). Single-action mechanisms are more commonly found on less expensive knives, while every knife at TAKCOM is double-action.

Added Features

Basic knives are, well, basic. They contain few added features, which is fair when price is the most important aspect in a purchase. Premium EDC OTFs, though, often have added features that naturally mesh with their intended functionality. TAKCOM offers EDC OTFs with clips, textured handles, and (in some instances) your choice of materials.

Aesthetics

Margaret Wolfe Hungerford may have very well coined the famous phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and it may also be somewhat true that not everyone is equally drawn to the same attractive aspects. Still, one doubts that Helen of Troy’s visage (the one that famously launched the thousand ships) would’ve compelled a far smaller fleet if she hadn’t possessed some universal appeal. And while we wouldn’t want to denigrate or flatter any particular knife maker’s wares, we do believe that premium OTFs should — and do! — offer more attractive aesthetics than basic models. See for yourself by browsing our selection