Sub-Total: $0.00
381 EDC
EDC Knowledge Base
Free interactive reference guides for everyday carry enthusiasts. Compare blade steels, handle materials, lock types, flashlight outputs, and more — all in one place, built by EDC nerds who actually carry this stuff.
5
Guides Live Now
40+
Blade Steels Compared
20+
Handle Materials Rated
20+
Lock Types Explained
30+
Flashlights Side by Side
What is the Knowledge Base? A library of free reference tools to help EDC buyers make smarter decisions. Five interactive guides are live now — covering blade steels, handle materials, lock mechanisms, flashlights, and heat treatment. Every guide links directly to products at 381EDC so you can go from research to checkout without leaving the site.
Live Now
EDC Blade Steel Comparison Chart
Live40 blade steels compared across corrosion resistance, edge retention, ease of sharpening, toughness, and wear resistance. Covers carbon steels, budget stainless, mid-range, premium, tool steels, super steels, and decorative — from 1095 and 5160 to MagnaCut, M390, ZDP-189, and Vanax.
Handle Material Comparison Chart
Live20+ handle materials rated for wet grip, dry grip, weight, durability, corrosion resistance, and comfort. Covers every Micarta variant (canvas, burlap, linen, paper), G10, Carbon Fiber, Marble CF, Titanium, Aluminum, Wood, Bone, Stag, Leather, Kraton, and more.
Knife Lock Mechanism Comparison Chart
Live20+ lock mechanisms rated for lockup strength, one-hand operation, ambidextrous use, deployment speed, and legal availability. Covers manual folders, assisted opening types (thumbstud, flipper, front flipper), OTF automatics, button-lock autos, and slip joints — with legal notes on every entry.
EDC Flashlight Comparison Chart
Live30+ EDC flashlights from Olight, Nitecore, Acebeam, Wuben, and Fenix compared side by side — max lumens, throw distance, beam type, runtime, pocketability, water resistance, and value. Includes a lumen reference guide mapping output levels to real-world tasks.
Knife Steel Heat Treatment Explained
LiveWhy do two knives in the same steel perform completely differently? Heat treatment. This guide explains HRC hardness, the Rockwell scale, austenitizing, quenching, tempering, and cryogenic treatment in plain English — with an HRC reference chart, steel examples, and what to look for when buying.
EDC Knife Laws by State
External ResourceFor attorney-researched, regularly updated knife laws across all 50 states — blade length limits, auto knife laws, OTF restrictions, and concealed carry rules — we link directly to the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI), the most reliable free knife law resource available.
About the 381EDC Knowledge Base
Built by EDC enthusiasts
381EDC isn't just a store — it's run by people who actually carry this gear every day. The Knowledge Base exists because we were tired of vague product descriptions and wanted real data to help buyers decide smarter. Five guides are live now — blade steels, handle materials, lock mechanisms, flashlights, and heat treatment — all written from hands-on experience with the products in the catalog.
Linked to real products
Every guide links directly to products available at 381EDC so you can go from research to checkout in one place. We carry brands like Griffin Company, Microtech, Bestech, Kizer, Tactile Knife Co, Heretic, and McNees — and the Knowledge Base is built around our actual inventory.
Free, always
No paywall, no sign-up, no email required. The Knowledge Base is a free resource for the EDC community. If it helps you find the right knife, flashlight, or pry bar — that's the point.
Growing over time
New guides are added regularly. If there's a topic you'd like to see covered — a specific steel comparison, a carry legal question, a gear category — reach out. We build what the community actually needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the ratings in the guides objective?
Ratings are based on published manufacturer data, industry-standard metallurgical testing, and hands-on experience with the materials and steels in the 381EDC catalog. They're designed to be useful comparisons — not the final word. Different use cases will weight categories differently, which is why we show the full breakdown rather than a single score.
How often are guides updated?
We update guides when new products are added to the catalog, when significant new data becomes available, or when the EDC community surfaces corrections. The Blade Steel Chart, for example, will grow as new steels enter the catalog.
Can I use this information for my own research?
Absolutely — that's what it's here for. If you reference or share anything from the Knowledge Base, a link back to 381EDC is always appreciated but never required.
Where can I find knife carry laws for my state?
The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) maintains the most reliable free resource for state-by-state knife laws — researched and written by a leading knife expert attorney and regularly updated. Visit akti.org/state-knife-laws and click your state for blade length limits, auto and OTF knife laws, concealed carry rules, and location restrictions. Always verify locally — city and county laws can be stricter than state law.
Does heat treatment matter as much as the steel type?
Yes — and in many cases it matters more. Two knives made from identical steel can perform completely differently based on how they were heat treated. A well-executed heat treatment on an affordable steel like 14C28N can outperform a poorly treated blade in premium M390. The steel spec tells you what's possible. The heat treatment determines where the maker actually landed within that ceiling. See the Knife Steel Heat Treatment Guide →
Shop the 381EDC Catalog
Every guide links to real products in stock. Browse knives, flashlights, multi-tools, pry bars, and EDC accessories — or check out our custom 381 EDC Customs pieces.
Browse the Shop Blade Steel Chart Handle Material Chart Lock Mechanism Chart Flashlight Chart Heat Treatment Guide