Showcase #136: Television AV & Media Designer from Berlin, Germany

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

With the strict knife restrictions in Germany, Bob (@1niceknife) has to get creative with his daily carry. Read on to learn all about Bob’s unique choice of blade and tools that combines practicality, heritage and style while still managing not to run afoul of the law.

Featured Tools:

• Knife: Otter Mercator K55K
  If you carry a two-handed folder in Germany, you’re pretty much always on the safe side of the law. The Mercator still offers a lot of blade and usability for such a classic gentleman's knife. It is also freaking thin and easy to carry. I love the copper handles and they now actually come with a pocket clip and wood inlay in the handles.
  
  
• Flashlight: Olight S1A Baton
  The S1A Baton is the perfect EDC flashlight for me! It’s the perfect sweet spot between size and brightness. 550 lumens is perfect for EDC, work and also nearly usable for tactical applications in strobe mode.
  
  At first, I didn't like the weight of the copper version but now I love how the light feels in my hand. The magnetic tail cap also came in handy lots of times at work.
  
  
• Pen: Monteverde Tool Pen
  This tool pen is pretty awesome. A bit longer than most standard pens but it comes with lots of features. It has a ruler on its side and a stylus for touch-screens at the end. Underneath, it has a bit holder with tiny Phillips and flat head which is perfect for lots of knife screws. In addition, I really like how it writes.
  
  
• Wallet: Prime Hide RFID Safe Leather Wallet
  Stumbled upon this RFID Safe leather wallet on Amazon. Wanted a nice leather wallet and really liked the design. I tested it out and it works - blocks all RFID scanners and keeps my cards safe.
  
  
• Glasses: Fielmann
  I went into the store and asked, “where are your old man glasses at?” Got a funny look but shot that thing for 20 bucks including lenses. Fielmann is a brand that offers lots of in-house design glasses for free. I already had the Mercator Knife and I think it fits the theme perfectly. I use it every day now, and the funniest thing is that my grandpa has the same glasses now.
  
  
• Ring: Custom
  A friend of mine made this ring for me because he knows I've got a thing going on for copper and brass. I really like it but don't wear it that often.
  
  
• Coin: GDR Medal
  The medal is just something silly I found at a flea market. It’s about 50 years old, looks awesome and is quite funny. It was already broken off from the mount so I just had to sand it down a bit to have a nice EDC coin.

Background:

Favorite EDC Tool:

In Germany, we have pretty specific laws on what we can carry legally, so the Mercator is the perfect knife for that. Two-handed opening but locking, doesn't look aggressive but comes with a pretty large and very slicey blade. It also has an interesting history that reaches back to 1867 in Germany.

After WWII it ended up in the States because some GIs started to import the shit out of it. It then became somewhat of a notorious piece of steel in the US around the 1960-70s. But up until now in its modern iterations, it still is an extremely usable blade with a great form factor. But I also Love the S1A. It hits the perfect EDC sweet spot between high lumens and compact size.

What's On Your Gear Radar:

I have my eyes on a White River FC5. Not so much for EDC, I just really want to step up my fixed blade game! But I'm also always on the hunt for the perfect friction folder.