Rough Edge EDC: Exploring another rabbit hole in this crazy hobby
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – There is always another rabbit hole to go down and explore in this crazy EDC, or everyday carry, hobby that I enjoy along with so many other people around the country.
For me, it all started around Halloween 2022 when the wife inadvertently misplaced the hunting knife I had carried around for nearly 30 years.
Note: We are known for our haunted yard we put up for Halloween each year and it can be quite chaotic in the days before and after the scary celebration. We did find the old knife in one of our boxes containing Halloween decorations when we were setting up this past year, after it had gone missing for a whole year.
Anyway, I have more than replaced that one knife with at least a dozen new ones – a combination of modern and traditional knives.
Since then, I have also explored pocket flashlights, minimalist wallets, pocket notebooks and a variety of pens. I always seem to pick up a new piece of gear with every paycheck.
As I like to say, everyone needs a hobby.
My latest adventure involves another project with my friend John at J.O. Ventures Outdoors. He produces great YouTube content, mostly on traditional pocket knives. He is also an amazing leather craftsman.
Sheath beating created for a Rough Rider Desert Fox hunting knife. Courtesy of J.O. Ventures Outdoors
Regular readers of this space know he has already made a slip for my Victorinox (Swiss Army Knife) Recruit and a belt sheath for my Cold Steel Peacemaker 3.
Rough Edge EDC: Leather sheath, slip sharpen up look of knives
His work exceeded my expectations so I decided to team up with him again.
This time, I sent him a couple of my latest additions to my knife/EDC collection and rotation – a Cold Steel Gentleman’s Stockman and a Rough Rider Desert Fox folding hunting knife.
I have featured those two knives in this space already, so I won’t go into specifics too much on them, but I am including links to those columns.
Rough Edge EDC: Exceeding budget knife label with Rough Rider
Rough Edge EDC: Going old school with a traditional stockman knife
J.O. Ventures Outdoors ended up making a beautiful navy blue slip with a lanyard and bead for my Cold Steel stockman.
Slip for Cold Steel Gentleman’s Stockman Photos courtesy of J.O. Ventures Outdoors
He also made a brown leather sheath with a fold-over snap cover for the Rough Rider.
I love both of them and am truly amazed at my friend’s talent and artistry. More importantly, he has been a great friend and mentor to me and an incredible source of information for me as I pursue this EDC hobby.
I have been carrying my stockman around everyday since I got it back with its beautiful new slip. It is a wonderful little knife with three handy blades, just perfect for EDC tasks around the home, yard and even office.
The Rough Rider hunting knife is really big – bigger than anything else I own – so I haven’t had an occasion to carry that one around yet with its new sheath, but you can bet the first weekend car trip we make that one will be going along with us.
During the entire project, J.O. Ventures Outdoors kept me abreast with what he was doing. He sent me photos and he also made a video for his channel showcasing my knives and what he was making for them. You can watch the video by clicking here.
Next adventure: I just ordered a Case Sod Buster Junior in purple bone barnboard jigging. This is an iconic traditional pocket knife and I am looking forward to seeing what it looks like in person.
And I have already made arrangements with J.O. Ventures Outdoors for a third project. After all, got to have something nice to carry that new Case around in and keep it from getting scratched up by my keys or other gear.
Here are some links so you can learn more about Cold Steel and Rough Rider Knives, which is the house brand for Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
Here are some links to YouTube channels I find entertaining and useful.
Note: Dave Burge is a web producer and digital reporter with KTSM.com. All gear mentioned or reviewed has been purchased out of his own pocket, unless otherwise noted.
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