The first metal ever harnessed and manipulated by mankind, copper has been used by humans for thousands of years, with its earliest applications reportedly dating back to around 9,000 BC. Praised for its malleability, resistance to corrosion, machinability, antibacterial qualities, and ability to efficiently conduct heat and electricity, copper has played an instrumental role in humankind’s technological advancement. Though modern metallurgy has come an incredibly long way over the last several millennia, copper remains a popular construction material in a variety of industries, including the EDC space. So, today we’re honoring this more than 10,000-year-old material in a handpicked “Cu-llection” of copper-clad everyday carry items.
Olight I5R EOS EDC Flashlight
A fully pocketable powerhouse sold below the $50 mark, Olight’s I5R EOS EDC Flashlight is a potent mini torch that packs 350 lumens, a 1,038 cd peak beam intensity, and a beam throw of more than 200’. This best-selling EDC torch is sold with an included 1,420mAh Lithium-Ion battery that affords up to 37 hours of use — or a full 3 hours on its brightest setting. What’s more, in addition to being IPX8-rated, this copper-construction model also offers robust impact resistance, with a drop rating of just shy of 5’. Spanning 3.76″ in length and 0.7″ in diameter, the i5R EOS also tips the scales at only 2.12oz.
Tactile Turn Bolt Action Copper Mini Pen
Founded in Richardson, Texas in 2012, Tactile Turn is a boutique machine shop headed up by Will Hodges. Starting out using a WWII-era lathe, this one-man operation produces ultra-top-shelf communication tools that are crafted from the buyer’s choice of a myriad of premium materials and backed by a lifetime warranty. Available in three different sizes — as well as in zirconium, titanium, and bronze constructions — the brand’s bolt-action pen is offered in a mini (4.4”) machined copper version. Alongside custom engraving, Tactile Turn also offers an optional Timascus bolt upgrade for this popular EDC pen.
Timex Q Timex Reissue Watch
A modern horological reissue of a popular Timex watch that originally debuted in the 1970s, this variant of the Q Timex Reissue is crafted around a coppery rose gold-tone 38mm stainless steel case with a matching 18mm rose gold-tone stainless steel bracelet and a root beer-style bidirectional 12-hour aluminum bezel. Underneath its domed acrylic lens, this version of the Q Timex Reissue sports a black dial with a day/date window, rose gold Timex branding, and lumed yellow hands and hour markers. Water-resistant to 50m, the watch is kept ticking via a quartz movement — just like the original timepiece from half a century ago.
Flytanium Benchmade Copper-Scaled Mini Osborne
Anyone with even a tenuous grasp on the EDC space can tell you that Benchmade is one of the most eminent knife brands in operation today. However, the brand’s immense popularity means that you’re likely carrying the same blade as legions of other everyday carry enthusiasts. For those interested in taking a more unique route to Benchmade ownership, the detail-obsessed team over at Flytanium offers a variety of upgraded aftermarket knife components — such as custom scales, thumbstuds, and backspacers — some of which are sold in ready-made packages such as this copper-scaled Mini Osborne. This Flytanium-spec Benchmade model features an AXIS-lock-equipped set of milled copper handles paired with a black PVD-coated 2.92” reverse tanto blade that’s crafted from CPM-S30V steel.
