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You probably don’t need that oversized pocket sword you’ve been hauling around. For most everyday tasks, a smaller blade does the job faster, cleaner, and without the bulk. More on that in a minute.

But first—just days before Blade Show, Hawk Knives dropped a lawsuit on Microtech, claiming they stole the OTF mechanism Hawk has been refining for years. The timing isn’t subtle. Expect some tension in Atlanta.

Let’s do the damn thing.

This Week At BDEDC

Deep Cuts

Knafs Little Lulu

Rikki takes a close look at the Knafs Little Lulu, a compact fixed blade that punches way above its weight. Designed for everyday carry and made in the USA (a first for Knafs), this knife blends clever design with real-world performance.

Despite its small size, the Lulu will likely surprise you as much as it did me.

Sponsors

We want to take a moment to thank the brands who make everything we do possible:

Carry of the Week

• Maratac Ti Field Watch

• Wurkkos TS10

• Leatherman Charge TTi

• Vero Fulcrum Mini

• Big Idea Design Mini Dual Side Click

• Olitan T024

You can submit by tagging @edc.weekly on Instagram or using the submission form at edcw.co.

On My Radar

Hawk Knife Designs sues Microtech Knives

Gavin Hawk, owner of Hawk Knife Designs, announces that he’s filed a lawsuit against Microtech for patent infringement. He claims their new ZBP knife uses his patented Deadlock mechanism—a design specifically made to eliminate blade play in OTF knives.

According to Hawk, a cease and desist was sent, Microtech didn’t respond well, and now it’s in the hands of the court.

RZE UTD-8000 back in stock

The much-awaited RZE UTD-8000, an extremely tough, titanium digital watch, pre-order is open again. These currently run for $230 and are available in a blue, black, or yellow dial and will ship in July or August.

WESN x Chris Ramsay 1st Puzzle

WESN partnered with one of my favorite YouTube creators, Chris Ramsay, to create the WESN x Chris Ramsay 1st Puzzle Box and Microblade. If you are interested, act fast because there are only 500 made and it’s a one-time deal. They won’t be made again.

I took a crack at solving the puzzle in this week’s Deep Cuts.

Hot Take

I get comments all the time that say things like:

• “Why are all these knives so small?”

• “That’s too dainty.”

• “You can’t do real work with that.”

In fact, one of the more common criticisms I read about my own knife design, the Civivi Clingman, is that it’s too small and not enough of a knife, which I find kind of absurd. I have larger-than-average hands, and I can get a full four-finger grip on the handle. Not only that, but it was inspired by the knives that my grandfather used…to run a farm and live a very blue-collar life.

All of these giant titanium slabs of knives are a fairly modern trend. And don’t get me wrong, I love big knives. I often carry the Chris Reeve Umnumzaan or even a large fixed blade. But to be honest, more often than not, I find myself adjusting back towards a smaller knife after just a short time carrying a pocket tank.

What sent me down this path is the recent release from Knafs, the Little Lulu. I grabbed it and threw it in the pocket because I was wearing shorts and I wanted something a little smaller and lighter than my Tactile Redhawk. I wasn’t an immediate fan of the Little Lulu, but I remembered what Ben Petersen said in the Kickstarter video. He designed the Little Lulu because when he was in the jungle field testing the original Lulu, a larger bushcraft knife, he kept finding himself asking to borrow smaller knives so he could do detail work and perform tasks his larger knife just couldn’t do well.

My question is: what exactly are you doing with your knife? Because unless you’re batoning firewood in your driveway or working full-time in a trade, you probably don’t need a six-inch fixed blade to open your next Amazon box.

Sure, there are exceptions. If I’m cutting a lawn mower belt or working on something that requires leverage, yeah—I’m grabbing something bigger. But that’s once in a blue moon. For 99% of what I use a knife for, a smaller blade just makes more sense.

So no, you don’t need a big knife. You might like one. That’s cool. I like big knives, too. But this idea that anything under 2 inches is a toy? That’s nonsense. Small knives are probably better for what you need.

Change my mind.

Giveaway

The winner of last week’s 535-09 Bugout was @michaelmullane8141. Congrats, Michael! This week, we’re giving away a WE Knives Tyro. To enter, follow the details below: