Showcase #312: Undergraduate and Chef from North Carolina

Welcome to the Urban EDC Showcase! Each week, we feature one member of the EDC community and the gear they rely on every day. Want to be featured? Submit your gear photo.

From North Carolina, Jay (@jay_does_knives) is the definition of a hardworking man. Not only is Jay a full-time university student, but he also works as a cook and at a truck garage. As such, much of his daily carry was borne out of sheer necessity. Read on for Jay's full rig rundown and find how he deploys his tools in an everyday setting.

Featured Tools:

• Knife 01: Millit Knives Torrent
  This knife has got to be my favorite flipper of all time. I like it because it’s not something you see every day, and Millit knives did a fantastic job putting it together. I love the sleek lines, carbon fiber and the unique milling pattern on the lock side. 
  
  Flipping the knife is effortless as the ceramic bearings may as well be suspended electromagnets because there is very little, if any, friction. The size is also wonderful as it’s still very capable, yet disappears in the pocket. The steel is also my favorite, as CTS-XHP takes a keen edge and responds nicely to a strop. 
  
  

• Knife 02: Lionsteel Clip Shuffler
  My grandfather always had a trusty Barlow style knife on him and I try to do the same, but it’s hard to match the carbon fiber of the Torrent with any regular traditional knife. The Clip Shuffler melds perfectly with any sleek, modern folder as well as holding on to that classic Barlow shape. 
  
  I use it for lighter cutting tasks and when having a loud and fast opening flipper could be scary, such as around a crowd. Also, the Clip Shuffler excels at food prep, being that most traditionals are carbon steels, the M390 on the shuffler makes the corrosion resistance test just completely unfair when put in the run among other traditionals. In essence, it’s a classic looking knife with sports car performance.

• Pocket Slip: Buffalo Leather 
  This was given to me by a dear friend with whom I met on the slipjoint Facebook groups, we exchange knives every now and then and I was gifted this. It’s super soft and fits about my whole carry rotation of traditionals, keeping them safe from the unknown wherever I end up going. It also has sentimental value because it’s from a good friend.

• Utility Tool: Koch Tools Solo
  Just like all men my age, nothing beats a night out with the guys and cracking open a few cold ones, I usually opt to do that in style with the Solo, mostly just carried because it turns heads and is a wonderful conversation piece. Also, when I’m on the go I can strap my keys to my belt loop using the S-shaped pocket tool as a makeshift carabiner.

• Pen: Hinderer Investigator
  This is in stainless steel with a battlefield pickup finish - hands down my favorite pen to have. I love a nice and solid pen that is also machined to perfection, I wanted something that wouldn’t show wear so the nuked look of the battlefield pickup finish hides wear like a champ no matter what I drop it off of. 
  
  In my job, I have to write down information upside down, sideways, and every way imaginable, this brings out the real utility of the space pen cartridge, meaning the pressurized cartridge has yet to fail at any writing angle, which is a must in my line of work. 
  
  
• Flashlight: Olight S1R Baton
  This flashlight is a workhorse and has probably gotten the most use of any EDC item in my rotation. Rechargeability is a lifesaver as it saves me from having to pack away spare batteries and I just carry the USB charging cable along with the rest of my backpack so I’m assured there will be light wherever I’m going. 
  
  Working in a garage also is where this light shines brightest, (pun intended) as the magnetic tail-cap allows me to put it on the inside of a car hood and I’ll always have 2 free hands to get the job done. 
  
  

• Wallet: Das Offene Mere Gundeck QuickDraw
  This wallet is my dream come true, I’m a pretty simple guy and like just a quality leather wallet, and had just a run of the mill bifold wallet until the Gundeck QuickDraw came out. 
  
  This wallet holds everything I held in my bifold but about 3/16 of an inch thinner, making back pocket carry a dream come true, the quick access pocket in the back makes pulling out my student ID simply a breeze. In short, this is a compact and well thought out design with very little shortcomings and will be my go-to for years to come.

Background:

Favorite EDC Tool:

My favorite item is probably my Gundeck QuickDraw wallet, as I rotate knives fairly frequently, some are more sentimental than others, but there’s something about a well-used wallet because that can’t be rotated until it’s worn to pieces, at least in my book. So I would say the wallet is my piece of gear that has been with me the most and could tell the most stories.

What's On Your Gear Radar:

Whew, that’s a rough one, if I had to say it would probably be another pen, such as a Fellhoelter TiBolt. Other than that there’s always another knife on my radar, which next would probably be a Koenig Arius. And a Sinner Customs flashlight will forever be on my list of things to get.