Everyday Carry

10 Best Copper Knives for EDC in 2022

Authored by:
Jonathan Tayag
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
10 Best Copper Knives for EDC in 2022

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Adding gear made of copper to your EDC is a great way to add luster to your loadout. Like a good pair of leather boots, copper only gets better with time and use, developing a personalized patina that tells the story of your experiences. As one of the denser tool materials, it adds a nice heft to your gear, giving a solid feel when used. Plus, for items you use on a frequent basis like knives, the naturally antimicrobial nature of the material comes in handy as well. It’s not a substitute for washing your hands, following proper hygiene guidelines, and it won’t keep you from getting sick from viruses, but it’s definitely an advantage that gear made out of copper has over other materials. The pinkish-red hue of copper also gives a distinct pop of color to your gear, it's also one of the most beautiful and unique metals you can find on everyday items.

Whether you’re looking to add a bit of cooper to your everyday carry or you’re looking to round out an all-copper ensemble, we’ve got you covered. To help you out, we've put together ten of the coolest copper knives on the market, so check out our list below to color up your carry.


MecArmy EK3R Copper

MecArmy EK3R Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Non-locking
Modified sheepsfoot
Eyehole opening
Specifications
Blade Length
2.657“
Blade Material
Sandvik 12C27
Weight
3.14 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
The EK3R features a 2.65" non-locking blade with reliable and corrosion-resistant Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel that’s easy to carry in most jurisdictions and situations where locking and fixed blades might be more restricted. The gorgeous 3.8" copper-scaled handles give enough room for a full grip on the knife, and since there’s no clip there’s no visual obstruction. For ease of use, there’s a lanyard hole at the back that aids in retrieving the knife from a pocket or bag.
Kershaw Natrix Copper

Kershaw Natrix Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Sub-frame lock
Flipper opening
KVT ball bearings in pivot
Specifications
Blade Length
2.75“
Blade Material
D2
Weight
3.7 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
The Kershaw Natrix is functionally a Zero Tolerance 0770 priced down and made more accessible to buyers. It retains the same ergonomics and sub-frame lock security the original has, and this particular model features a beautiful copper scale on the handle and improved D2 tool steel on the flipper blade. KVT ball bearings make deployment an easy one-handed affair, and there’ a reversible tip-up deep carry pocket clip on the side.
Böker Plus Panchenko Lancer Copper

Böker Plus Panchenko Lancer Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Titanium liner lock
Eyehole opening
Deep carry pocket clip
Specifications
Blade Length
2.75“
Blade Material
S35VN
Weight
4.8 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
The black-coated CPM-S35VN blade on the Panchenko Lancer contrasts well with the solid copper scales on its handles Fully folded, the knife takes on the designer’s unique design aesthetic, but unlike a few other knives with this look, this Böker Plus collaboration features a large cutout on the blade for easy right-handed deployment, locked in place by a titanium liner. A single-position right handed tip-up deep carry pocket clip lets it disappear into your pockets after use.
Kershaw Leek Copper

Kershaw Leek Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Liner lock
Flipper opening with thumbstud
Speed safe spring assisted opening
Specifications
Blade Length
3“
Blade Material
CPM-154
Weight
4 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
The Kershaw Leek occupies the top part of any list that recommends a good assisted-carry folding pocket knife, and with its timeless ergonomic design and reliable SpeedSafe spring assist, it’s easy to see why. It’s available in a wide swath of different models, but one of the most beautiful for EDC is the 1660CU with its sleek copper handle scales and improved CPM-154 modified Wharncliffe utility blade that’s great for all your daily cutting, slicing, and piercing tasks.

Header image courtesy of Adrian.
Kizer Mini Sheepdog Copper

Kizer Mini Sheepdog Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Liner lock
Flipper opening
Cleaver-style blade
Specifications
Blade Length
2.625“
Blade Material
S35VN
Weight
5.05 oz
Reviews


Price
$$$$
The Mini Sheepdog comes with a solid cleaver-style blade, prized for its useful chopping utility shape and chunky ergonomics that make them suited for more heavy duty tasks. The premium S35VN stainless steel and copper scales on this particular Kizer knife mixed with the durable stainless steel liner lock makes for an elegant use immensely capable folding pocket knife for EDC.
MecArmy EK16 Copper

MecArmy EK16 Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Adjustable screw
9mm thickness
2.927" copper handle
Specifications
Blade Length
2.362“
Blade Material
SATA 93434A utility blade
Weight
1.34 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
If breaking down cardboard boxes is a big part of your daily cutting tasks, you know how important it is to have a utility blade like the MecArmy EK16 on hand so your premium knives don’t get dull too quick when going through paper and tape. This is a compact utility knife with a copper handle that uses a standard SATA 9343A blade that’s easily replaced and adjustable for what you need.
GiantMouse ACE Clyde Copper

GiantMouse ACE Clyde Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Liner lock
Manual thumb stud
Flat profile
Specifications
Blade Length
3“
Blade Material
M390
Weight
4.18 oz
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$$$$
When custom knifemakers Jesper Voxnaes and Jens Ansø come together to make a collaboration knife, you get one wicked good knife for everyday carry, and that’s just what the GiantMouse ACE Clyde knife is. It features a 3" knife made of premium M390 stainless steel with a trailing point blade and an upswept tip for excellent carving and piercing performance. The blade has a beautiful black finish that contrasts nicely with the copper scale handle, which conceals a solid stainless steel liner lock for security after you open the knife via the manual thumb stud.
CJRB Cutlery Rampart

CJRB Cutlery Rampart

Purchase
Key Features
Wharncliffe blade
Liner lock
Flipper opening
Specifications
Blade Length
3.5“
Blade Material
D2
Weight
5.95 oz
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$$
The CJRB Rampart features a beefy D2 tool steel cleaver-style blade with an ergonomic copper handle with a big guard that prevents you from cutting yourself on your own blade even during rougher use. The tool steel allows for good hardness and durability at a relatively affordable selling point, and the copper scales make for an aesthetic touch for this useful pocketknife. Deployment is easily done with a single hand thanks to its flipper opening, and a stainless steel liner lock holds it all in place during use.
CRKT Pilar Copper

CRKT Pilar Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Sheepsfoot blade
Large finger choil
Frame lock
Specifications
Blade Length
2.4“
Blade Material
8Cr13MoV
Weight
4 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
The CRKT Pilar, made in collaboration with Jesper Voxnaes, has been one of the EDC community’s favorite compact frame lock knives ever since its introduction a few years back. Nowadays it comes in a few different styles, and one of the most beautiful yet functional models is the dual copper and stainless steel frame scale handles. Aside from the beautiful handle, just about everything else that made this a great knife for EDC remains the same: a solid frame lock, a useful sheepsfoot style blade with ambidextrous eyehole manual opening, and a large choil for solid choke grip control over fine and heavy duty cutting and slicing work.
Böker Plus Kansei Nori Copper

Böker Plus Kansei Nori Copper

Purchase
Key Features
Liner lock
Front flipper
Hollow grind
Specifications
Blade Length
3.125“
Blade Material
VG-10
Weight
3.01 oz
Reviews


Price
$$
The Nori is a collaboration between Böker Plus and Japanese custom knife-maker Kansei Matsuno, and his traditional design notes are prominent in the end result, albeit with modern EDC folding knife technology at its heart. The knife features a 3.125" VG-10 stainless steel blade with a slender hollow-ground profile that makes for excellent cutting and slicing. You can open the knife with either hand via the front-flipper design, with a single position tip-up pocket clip. Its modern gent’s aesthetic makes it great for everyday carry in office spaces or other places where a dressier knife is required, but it’s also able to perform when it matters, and do so safely with the stainless steel liner lock contained within the copper handle scales.

Header image courtesy of Ryan.
[BONUS] Benchmade Mini Bugout Flytanium Copper Scales

[BONUS] Benchmade Mini Bugout Flytanium Copper Scales

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
Flytanium
Model
BHQ-112258
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$$
As the name implies, this is less of a knife and more of a modification you can do to one of the best EDC folding knives you can carry right now in 2020: the Benchmade Mini Bugout. All you need is a high quality Torx bit set to get your knife apart and ready for the mod, which replaces the standard Grivory scales with beautiful, precision-milled copper scales that at a touch of class and a bit of heft to the blade. But since the base knife itself is already so efficient in weight, these will only bring things up to a still-manageable 3.59 oz when installed. On the flip side, you’ll get a Mini Bugout that truly sets itself apart from the standard production knife for your hard work.

Jonathan Tayag

Senior Contributor


About the Author
Jonathan Tayag is secretly an information technology and corporate security expert who prefers to moonlight as a creative event and commercial photographer whenever possible. His varied experience and substantial travels have led him to seek, without even thinking about it at first, the best gear for the best use at the best price available. Before the concept of EDC (everyday carry) firmly took hold, Jonathan already spent untold amounts of time optimizing for the best-in-slot pieces of gear, from cameras and lenses to pocket knives, pens, and bags and packs. In November 2015, Jonathan joined EverydayCarry.com and has since written numerous articles and guides to help impart his knowledge to the community as a whole.

Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

Discussion (11 total)

Stacey Brown ·
I love copper & my favorite carry right now is the Kizer Mini Sheepdog in copper! So happy with this knife! The CJRB Rampart has been on my radar for along time. Other copper carries I have that I totally recommend are some Artisan Cutlery knives. The Osprey, a version of the Tomahawk, the Shark, Mini Shark, & the Corsair. All great in my small opinion. I have a version of the Kershaw Leek OD green with blackwash serrated blade but would love the copper too. I'm sure there will be these listed & others I will desire to own...after all I am a knife addict lol!
Andrei ·
thanks for the list. looking for a copper handle to add to collection.
33ww ·
Copper is heavy and smelly. No thanks.
Andrei ·
leather is also smelly and heavier than pvc....
33ww ·
Copper is great for matchy-matchy instagram fashion photography, no so much for practical use.
Andrei ·
99% of all the staff here is for instagram then. good luck with mora knife and bic lighter)))
33ww ·
Thanks for the kind words, and good luck with your fashion photography. Remember not to use or scratch your gear!
Andrei ·
I have over 50 knives and NONE of them are not used or scratched. Same with other stuff.
Really wish you to use the gear you like without bothering about its cost or materials used.
Matthew James Smith ·
It also has antimicrobial properties which is nice in something that's handled quite a bit... I have some lightweight knives for times when weight is a concern, but more often than not I'm not too concerned about a little more heft
George K Reed ·
My copper knives, and lights, are tough, functional, beautiful, and don’t stink. They are my all year EDC. I’m guessing 33 has a glandular condition and should see a physician.
1 more comments