The 15 Best EDC Fixed Blades of 2024

Introduction

If there was one story in the knife world last year, it was the rise of the EDC fixed blade. The category exploded, with new entries arriving from established brands, boutique makers, and everything in between. Rather than squeezing these into a general knife list, this roundup is dedicated entirely to fixed blades built for everyday carry.

The list starts with the most affordable options and works its way up to the more expensive end of the market. Here are 15 of the best EDC fixed blades that came out in 2024.

Swiss Tech LeicT Fixed Blade

First up might surprise you: it is from Swiss Tech, and it was found on a Walmart shelf. The LeicT has a stonewashed-style finish and very thin blade stock, so it feels nothing like a typical budget knife. It is a three-to-four finger knife in D2 steel that costs around $35, which is genuinely hard to complain about.

The one weakness is the sheath. It lacks a standard eyelet size, so some clip options may not work with it, and the retention is so quiet you barely notice the knife is seated. Still, for a small, almost disposable fixed blade you can carry every day, it is a hell of a knife for the money.

Baby Banter Fixed Blade

Next is a fixed blade from a designer everyone knows: the Baby Banter fixed blade. Size-wise it is very compact, sitting in similar territory to the Wicket, though it is not simply a budget version of that knife. A small area of jimping near the thumb ramp makes it well suited to fine, controlled cuts.

It ships set up as a neck knife, but an UltiClip or DCC clip can be fitted easily, which turns it into a proper pocket carry option. It is everything people love about the Baby Banter, now in a fixed blade.

Vased Mink

Another budget entry comes from Vased with the Mink. Every version has a frag pattern handle, and there are a few color choices including green and black, plus different blade finishes. The blade steel is Nitro V, and the knife sells for under $100 with a nice Kydex sheath that has solid retention.

One confusing detail: there is a second version with a different blade shape that ends up being a much bigger knife with a slightly different handle, yet there is no XL branding to explain it. The smaller configuration is the one that actually feels like an EDC knife; the larger one does not. As the knife it is, though, there is nothing to complain about here.

Wicket (Production Fixed Blade by Rivers Edge Cutlery)

The Wicket originally launched a few years ago, but the production version came out this year, which makes it eligible. Made by Rivers Edge Cutlery and still produced in the US, it keeps everything people love about the original design while being more affordable and hopefully more available.

It runs Nitro V blade steel and ships with a Kydex sheath, with some units coming with belt sheaths or ambidextrous pocket sheaths depending on the option. There is also a cool little topo pattern on the handle. With Tom being a one-man operation, having a US-made production run is a win for everybody.

Knives by Noo Chickpea

This one is a custom rather than a production piece: the Chickpea from Knives by Noo. The original design came out the previous year, but this version is thinner and much more refined. It runs Nitro V blade steel and comes with an ambidextrous sheath, now made in-house.

Size-wise, this is the sweet spot for a lot of people. The Wicket is smaller than many buyers expect, and the Wicket XL can feel a little too big for EDC. The Chickpea lands right in the middle, and it has been carried heavily for months since it arrived. If the Wicket feels too small and the XL too big, this is the perfect middle ground.

Boker Barlow Fix Packlight

The Boker Barlow fix blade itself is a few years old, but the Packlight version came out this year. It uses MagnaCut steel and very thin blade stock, and it is designed by Lucas Burnley. The skeletonized version is feather-light, though some find it too narrow and too thin to lock into the hand.

The version with walnut scales is the one that has been carried daily for the past two weeks, and it is genuinely excellent. It is a beautiful traditional-style fixed blade, and the walnut scales make a real difference in the hand. Note that there is also a non-Packlight version with a thicker handle that ships with a leather pocket sheath instead of Kydex, so which version you buy affects how you carry it.

Daily Knives AK2

Speaking of skeletonized knives that actually work, the AK2 from Daily Knives fixes the grip problem through contouring. While the AK1 was made by Boker, the AK2 is produced in-house at Daily Knives, again designed by Alex Kerner. It is essentially everything good about the AK1, just a bit smaller and much lighter.

It comes with a very thin Kydex sheath and takes an UltiClip nicely. A lanyard can be added, though the attachment area could be smaller to lock it off more cleanly. This is a great knife for a backpack, a bag, or clipped to a strap, and a natural pick for anyone who liked the AK1 but wanted less weight.

Big Idea Design Lookout (Production Version)

The Lookout appeared on the previous year’s list as the American-made version, but the production version launched early this year, so it earns its place on technicality. It also earns it on merit: this was the most carried fixed blade of the year, period.

The production version runs M390 steel where the American version uses MagnaCut, and the substantial titanium handles are preferred here even over Micarta. It ships with two Kydex sheaths, left- and right-handed, plus one titanium clip that moves between them. The clip retention is excellent, though it cannot be swapped for an UltiClip or DCC clip. A tip for very tight clips: press a finger against the inside lip while pulling, and the knife comes out much more easily.

Jack Wolf Knives Midnight Fixed EDC

One more traditional-leaning fixed blade comes from the king of modern traditionals, Jack Wolf Knives. The Midnight Fixed EDC has a Wharncliffe-style blade in S90V with a super thin, slicey hollow grind and a coffin-style Micarta handle, with other handle options available.

It comes with a leather pocket sheath that has a DCC-style clip, and there is a lanyard hole, though you apparently have to remove the scales to use it. It is all the stuff people know and love about Jack Wolf, just in a fixed blade format.

Buck Alpha Scout

Discovered almost by accident while browsing Smoky Mountain Knife Works, the Buck Alpha Scout is a really nice little EDC fixed blade that nobody seems to be talking about but should be. It has a textured walnut handle with knurling, well-contoured scalloped scales, and a drop point blade with a pleasant bit of belly.

The only issue is not the knife at all: it ships with a snap-strap belt sheath that does not suit pocket carry. Redeemed Creations makes a dedicated sheath for the Alpha Scout, and pairing the knife with that sheath makes it an extra good setup.

Yugii Tools x Bastard Knives TiStK

The TiStK stands for Titanium Street Steak Knife, and the name fits: it really does look and feel like a steak knife. It is a collaboration between Yugii Tools, whose 3D printed titanium knives have been a highlight of the year, and Bastard Knives, which designed the piece. The handle is 3D printed titanium, and the steel is believed to be MagnaCut.

The included leather pocket sheath had weak clip retention that bent out almost immediately, so a third-party sheath was fitted to make it properly carryable. The texture flaps on the handle feel great, and there is a lanyard hole if you want one. A slightly longer handle or shorter blade would improve it, but it is loved as is.

Griffin Co X Series EDC Fixed Blade

The X Series EDC fixed blade from Keith Griffin is a follow-up to the Scout F2, this time with a thinner, more steak-knife-like profile. It has a hollow grind, MagnaCut blade steel, and swappable scales, with brass and Micarta among the options. Brass develops a fantastic patina on these.

It ships with a Kydex sheath, and Taylor by Cortez also makes a leather pocket sheath for it, which works well because the blade tip is pokey enough to poke through other leather options. Aesthetically it is excellent, and it is super slicey.

Vireo Engineering Milein

Following last year’s Axon fixed blade, Vireo Engineering’s Milein feels almost kitchen-knife-like, which makes sense given the brand’s kitchen knife background. The preference here is usually for a longer handle with a shorter blade, but this one just feels right, and it comes with a Kydex sheath plus separately available titanium clips.

One genuinely clever detail: the scales are swappable with the Axon fixed blade, so if you own both knives you can share scale sets instead of buying duplicates. Very few brands do interchangeable scales across models, and it is a cool touch that makes the Milein a big win.

Reef Knives Circadian

Moving into slightly larger territory, the Circadian is Reef Knives’ first EDC fixed blade after years of bushcraft-style knives. It is bigger than most entries here and takes up a significant amount of pocket space, so be aware of that before buying.

What makes it special is the handle. There is extremely minor contouring scattered around it, subtle enough that you would never notice by looking, but the way it locks into the hand feels molded. Made in America with MagnaCut steel and a leather pocket sheath, it accepts DCC or UltiClip options if you want pocket carry. Reef is making some really cool stuff, and this is a great bigger-sized EDC fixed blade.

McNees Ridge Runner

Going completely in the opposite direction, the Ridge Runner from McNees pushes the limits of what counts as an EDC fixed blade. It is thinner, skinnier, and longer than a PM2-style fix blade, and it runs CPM 3V steel, a very tough choice that suits a fixed blade you can really work hard.

The main reason it strains the EDC label is the blade and overall length: with a pocket clip sheath, a few inches of handle stick out of the pocket and can catch on things. Belt carry or neck carry solves that, and it was carried as a neck knife while backpacking. It is comparable to the Chris Reeve Backpacker, and it deserves far more attention than it gets.

Buying Advice

If you want maximum value, the Swiss Tech LeicT at around $35 is the easiest entry point. If you want a proven designer name, the Baby Banter fixed blade and the Burnley-designed Boker Barlow Fix Packlight are the strongest picks. For the single most carried knife of the year, the Big Idea Design Lookout production version is the standout. And if your taste runs bigger and tougher, the McNees Ridge Runner with CPM 3V steel is built to be worked hard.

Conclusion

2024 proved the EDC fixed blade is no longer a niche. Whether your budget is $35 or several hundred, there is a well-designed, well-executed option on this list, and the sheer variety of blade shapes, steels, and carry systems means there is almost certainly one that fits how you actually carry.