Showcase #56: Property Manager from California

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

For this week's community EDC feature, we sit down with Andrew (@andrwtnt) from California. Andrew works in property management and finds immense joy in reading and researching how things work and operate. Read on for the full details of Andy's incredibly refined and functional daily carry!

Featured Tools:

• Knife 01: Emerson Mini CQC-7
  For me, I've always viewed knives as tools to be used. I went through a phase where expensive custom knives intrigued my interest. I quickly disregarded that pursuit and stuck with what I could afford but still really enjoyed carrying.
  
  The thing I love about Emerson Knives is that I never feel hesitant to use or abuse them. They are highly utilitarian and whenever I pick one up to use, I feel like I'm holding a knife rather than a fine piece of art that I need to keep in a case.
  
  Collecting is great as well, but I love my gear for the purpose it serves and the job it can help me perform. The bronze anchor Steel Flame clip that I added makes it unique and also holds a special meaning. I always keep a simple lanyard to make it easier to deploy.
   
• Light: Okluma Titanium TinyDC
  This is my favorite EDC light to carry. I'm a huge flashlight nerd, so a flashlight is something that I always carry. From reading at night in sub-lumen modes to max output blasts into a tight space during the daytime - a flashlight is always handy.
  
  The triple Nichia LEDs produce a beautiful beam with great color rendition. The machined Ti body feels solid and with the H17F driver I can program it however I want at any time. I love having outputs from moonlight to max and this gives me a great range along with easy operation. Jeff Sapp (Okluma) is one of the nicest most accommodating makers and his customer service and warranty is unmatched.

• Watch: Seiko Diver SKX007J
  I never really wore watches until about 3 years ago when I got a G-Shock GD100. I used to work at Fossil and learned a lot about how each kind of watch worked. So I've always been intrigued by the intricacy involved in a wristwatch.
  
  I had been wanting a Seiko SKX007 for the longest time but had trouble tracking one down, until I found this which ended up being a wedding gift from my wife after we got married. It now holds great sentimental value and hardly ever comes off my wrist. It's an automatic, keeps great time, stands up to submersion and fits my wrist perfectly. The unidirectional bezel helps when I'm timing something in the kitchen or something at work. I switch between a Zulu strap and the stainless steel bracelet. I now cannot go anywhere without a watch on my wrist.
  
  
• Pen: MaxMadco Titanium Bolt Action
  A pen is something I use every day. I love this pen for a couple reasons; It's made from titanium and it takes Fisher Space Pen refills. Many will argue that there are better options for ink refills. But my reasons for using it are strictly functional. I need a refill that'll work at any angle, in any weather condition and on possibly wet surfaces. My job requires a lot of note taking so I need to be able to rely on my writing instrument. The titanium body holds up to the abuse and I never have to worry about sweat or moisture.
  
  
• Notebook: Field Notes
  I use my Field Notes for everything - quick thoughts, to-dos, diagrams, work notes, and journaling. Ever since I was a little kid I always carried around some sort of notebook. I love the idea of having something to write, sketch or problem solve wherever and whenever.
  
  I prefer physically writing as opposed to using my cell phone. I'm very old fashion about that kind of stuff. Field Notes is about as simple and plain as it gets. These notebooks always remind me of the little notepads farmers or even fruit growers like my dad used. So it serves a purpose of function as well as nostalgia for me.

• Pendant: Steel Flame 
  The Sterling Silver Crusader Cross (with titanium ball chain) pendant was a gift from Derrick Obatake of Steel Flame Jewelry. I wear it to represent my faith as well as support terrific individuals and a great company such as Steel Flame.

Background:

I feel like I've been carrying gear (or EDCing) since before there was a community dedicated to it. Ever since I was a little kid I've always looked up to my dad and wanted to be just like him. I remember him always pulling out his Swiss Army Knife or some slip joint pocket knife when we needed to open something. He always had a pen on him as well as a small notebook.

I've always had a fascination with small gizmos and gadgets and that feeling has grown into adulthood. When I first discovered that there was a thing called " EveryDayCarry" I remember thinking, "There are others that carry gadgets - awesome!"

My job requires me to be on call 24/7. So any free time I get is spent relaxing at home with my wife or visiting my parents. I love to read books and doing research on how things work. I love fixing and building things, which is one of the reasons I love my job where I am constantly problem solving and getting my hands dirty.

Favorite EDC Tool:

It's a toss up between my Okluma or Seiko. Both for different reasons. My Okluma is (in my opinion) one of the best-made lights out there. And it would be the one I would keep if I had to get rid of all my others. My Seiko is with me even more than my light and it has such a wonderful meaning behind it. I would say it's a tie between these two.