Always Have a Watch and a Knife

Kyle Defoor previously made a Facebook post about his absolute minimum EDC. In that post, he mentioned the old school mantra of ‘always have a watch and a knife‘ that was coined by the Frogmen/UDT teams of WW2.

During WW2, the UDT guys would do beach reconnaissance with only their dive knife and wristwatch. At the UDT/SEAL Museum down at Ft Pierce, Florida, they have several displays of the original frogmen and the equipment they used. One of those displays highlights the two most important pieces of gear that had on them during every mission. A watch and a knife.

Although the watch and knife worn by these elite teams may have changed from time to time, the principle of carrying them always remained. Going along with that mantra, I thought I would chime in with my absolute minimum EDC based on the above statement.

My EDC (everyday carry) evolves over time as I try new gear. Previously, I would tend to get wrapped around specific brands and more often than not, pay the higher price tag.

In a way I guess, I was paying for the name. When people ask, what brand of watch or knife or flashlight should I get, I commonly answer them with ‘the one that feels right in your hand’. Or ‘the one that makes you happy’ when you pick it up in the morning before heading out for the day.

With that said, the following watch, knife, and flashlight are what I’m currently carrying and happy with.

NFW Valor Watch

I own several watches and rotate through two or three of them regularly, but if I had to choose one going forward, it would be the NFW Valor. The NFW Valor is an automatic watch that is as simple as simple gets. For my detailed thoughts on the NFW Valor, check out this article. AND, since we opened up this article highlighting the WW2 frogmen, I have to include that for each Valor sold, NFW donates $50 to Honor Flight, helping WW2 Veterans.

The Valor Collection is a quintessential timepiece that encompasses classic good looks with badass build quality. Based on retro military field watches, the Valor is extremely versatile. Our popular, deep bezel design provides extra protection for the sapphire crystal. This is the watch you can wear in any situation, from the office to the beach or your favorite restaurant.

SOG Vision XR Knife

The EDC knife I’ve been pocketing and using daily for the past 2 to 3 months is the SOG Vision XR. I personally went with the partially serrated version to make quicker work of clothing, seatbelts, or other materials in an emergency situation.

The essential tool for professionals, SOG Vision XR features a 3.18 inch cryogenically heat-treated CTS XHP stainless steel Tanto blade for increased strength and general-purpose use, and an ultra-grip G10 handle. SOG’s XR Lock® enables smooth ambidextrous single-handed opening in three different ways with innovative solid blade-lock once open delivering fixed-blade-like feel and confidence. SOG Vision XR is at the peak of performance and capability.

Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA

As with the above items, I’ve been through several brands of EDC flashlights and have a few favorites. One of my regulars that I reach for more often than not is the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA. It uses either a single AA battery which is commonly found almost anywhere or a single CR123. The light puts out plenty of light (up to 350 lumens on high) and 40 lumens on low for EDC tasks. The flashlight can double as a personal defense tool for striking as well. The Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA is the perfect blend of performance and durability. When traveling via commercial airlines, the only thing that changes is that I drop the knife and keep the watch and flashlight.

Obviously, my EDC evolves over time as products evolve, but this is the bare minimum I walk out of the house with.