I’ve been a fan of LT Wright’s line of knives for many years now. Earlier this year, I stumbled on the Daily Carry model and decided to check it out. And I’m glad I did, as it is all sorts of awesome.
The Daily Carry was designed by Jason Thoune, owner of DLT Trading. When I asked him about the genesis of the project, he said that he set out to do an EDC-size knife with LT Wright. Those who are familiar with the LT Wright lineup know that they produce a range of knives that are genuine workhorses. They look great, no question, but they aren’t the sorts of blades that you’re afraid to put to work.
When he put pencil to paper, Thoune focused on the mantra of “Simple is best.” What he came up with is a perfect blend of utilitarian and good looks. It’s large enough to handle just about anything you’ll run into while being small enough to comfortably carry all day long.
Daily Carry Specifications
The Daily Carry runs 6.625 inches from point to pommel, with a blade that’s 3.0 inches long. The blade is 0.125-inch thick at the spine. The knife weighs just 3.35 ounces, though I’m certain that figure changes slightly based on the handle material used. In this case, the handle is Damacarta. What’s that, you ask? We’ll get to that in a minute.
The steel used is CPM 3V. This is a premium steel that’s an excellent option for those who actually use their knives. To be clear, I’m not dissing on the pure collectors out there, as I straddle both sides of that particular fence. But yes, if someone is looking for a knife that’s going to go into the field and cut some stuff for real, CPM 3V will do the job very well.
As with most knives that come from the LT Wright shop, the Daily Carry comes with a well-made leather sheath equipped with a sturdy belt loop. The sheath is a deep carry model with great retention.
As the name implies, this is a knife that’s designed for daily carry and use. As such, we’re not talking about a giant Bowie knife. While fun, those aren’t exactly suited for most working environments. If you ever want to meet the folks in Human Resources, go ahead and strap one of those on your hip before you head to the office.
What is Damacarta?
Damacarta is a patterned canvas Micarta-esque type of material. I phrase it like that because Micarta is a trademarked product. Where Micarta uses resin-impregnated materials, such as canvas or linen, Damacarta uses epoxy-infused materials. The end result is a patterned material. I’ve seen some pretty striking color combinations with Damacarta knife handles.
Daily Carry Performance
I’ve owned my Daily Carry for about five months at this point. It’s gone along on hikes and spent time in the kitchen. I’ve used it to break down boxes, open packages, and whittle sticks. I love that I can get a full four-fingered grip on the handle despite the small size of the knife. Personally, I’m not fond of three-finger grips. The knife has been comfortable to use, with no hot spots.
This is my first experience with Damacarta. Overall, I like it. They left just enough texture to give it some character without being overbearing. I love the various color and pattern options. Mine is one of the more subdued combinations I’ve seen.
The knife arrives razor-sharp. The spine is only slightly less sharp, which is an LT Wright calling card. They’ve perfected the 90-degree spine, and it works great in conjunction with a ferrocerium rod to get a fire going.
Pros and Cons
The Daily Carry is an ideal choice for someone seeking a smaller fixed-blade knife to, well, carry daily. There’s enough blade to handle just about any routine chore that you’re liable to run into throughout your daily life and enough real estate on the handle to do it comfortably.
That said, I wish the knife came with a slimmer, pocket-carry sheath option. As currently equipped, it’ll easily fit into a cargo pocket on pants or shorts, but it’s a bit bulky for other pockets.
One of the things I love about LT Wright’s product line is that the knives are made to work. They aren’t loaded with a ton of bells and whistles that drive up the price. They’re simple, understated, and enormously effective while also managing to be quite eye-catching. The Daily Carry is a perfect example.
For more information, please visit DLT Trading.
