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View Full Version : Hypothetical- The EDC Olympics



Kn00b
03-31-2006, 01:37 PM
After reading about the ABS World Cutting Championships (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351064) and all manner of reviews on folders, it occurs to me that I haven't seen much in the way of good comparisons of EDC folders.

Don't get me wrong, seeing a ten inch fixed blade chop a 2X4 is downright impressive, but I carry a little 3 inch folder personally. Now, I've also seen tomato and rope segment slice offs on folders and I appreciate the comparison there as well.

But what I'd really like to see is an EDC (every day cutting) Olympics with what 'most' people consider their real world chores. Although I see the demonstration of edge that filleting a tomato requires, it's not something I would normally find myself needing to do.

Some events in the Decathalon of Cutting I'd like to see personally:

1) Opening a medium size sealed cardboard box representing typical shipped package. (judged on number of cuts and cleanliness of cuts)
2) Breaking down the box for disposal after opening. (same criteria)
3) Peeling an apple and cutting into segments (some blade shapes handle this differently than others).
4) Junkmail opening. (10 letters for speed)
5) Thread removal
6) Dogfood bag opening
7) Ziptie Removal
8) The dreaded drop- Open folder dropped onto some type of hard surface to judge damage to blade and tip (hey, we're all careful but I'm betting we've all seen it happen)
9) Some type of grippiness test
10) Some type of SD meat cutting simulation test

Obviously my hypothetical list is but a poor work in progress.

Obviously everyone uses their folders differently but it seems that a growing number of us are urban/suburban dwellers with some basic tasks in common. Obviously almost any knife can be used for these basic tasks.

But I can't be alone in wondering which represents the 'best' general compromise there (as much as I'd like to buy them all, use, and decide for myself).

Please forgive the sleep deprived musings of a newbie here. :D

vampyrewolf
03-31-2006, 03:02 PM
It would all depend on familiarity with the knife as to speed and comfort.

I would out a substantial wager on me being able to do it blindfolded with my ss 'fly or frn/se endura.

The best speed would be either the 'fly or ss/se cricket with the edges I have on em.... but then again, I don't open boxes by cutting the tape. Start about a 1/4-1/2" below the top edge and cut around the box. Cleaner and faster to open boxes(if I know the contents aren't in danger of being damaged).

Civilian
03-31-2006, 03:07 PM
Great idea Knoob


6) Dogfood bag opening

I love the Spiderfly in the back pocket for this! I will even put it in(as I don't EDC it)when I am bringing in the dogfood from the car. A forty pound bag with the right cut can be like a jackpot on a slot machine :)


8) The dreaded drop- Open folder dropped onto some type of hard surface to judge damage to blade and tip (hey, we're all careful but I'm betting we've all seen it happen)
Ouch I've done this with A Civilian and a Military! :o and both didn't do so well :(

rcbalt2
04-01-2006, 09:48 PM
Great Idea. I'd like to see this. Especially the dreaded drop.

The Deacon
04-03-2006, 05:05 AM
Think there might be some resistance to the idea of the "dreaded drop" as it is intentionally destructive. The others all sound good, might add horse feed (that plastic burlap coupled with the sticky sweet feed inside would be a challenge) and cement bag opening, with a test that favors a really sharp blade immediately following the cement bags. Trick is to balance the tests so that some favor a PE blade, while an equal number of others favor SE, and at least a few are edge type neutral.

dialex
04-03-2006, 05:09 AM
You could also add cutting the table tennis ball in two halves (well, more or less) ;) in one slicing motion.

Jenner 515
04-03-2006, 08:40 AM
Other categories might be...

Shrink Wrap cutting, for those in the Material Handling industry.

Cutting of the heavy duty plastic banding they use on some bulk lumber packaging, it's like zip-tie material except thicker and about a half inch wide.

vampyrewolf
04-03-2006, 04:33 PM
jenner: those are what the serrated cricket is MADE for :p