Pocket Knife Curiosity

[SeaCat]

Okay so I carry a pocket knife. I have since I can remember. (I have the first pocket knife I carried, given to me by my Grandfather.)

I have a drawer full of them. Everything from Swiss Army Knives to things you might have never seen. For the past several years I have carried a rather large Gerber. I like Gerbers because of their blades. Today my wife bought me a new pocket knife. It's small and yet it has lots of tools. The steel in it is some of the best and it feels solid. This may take the place of the Gerber.

So what do you carry and why?

For me a pocket knife is a tool. With a well designed one I can fix things, I can open things and in a pinch I can even cut up dinner. (Yes I do have a McGyver. Mine is not the Leatherman though. It is made by Victoriaknox.)

Cat

 

[cantdog]

I carry leatherman type toolbox items only on expedition. For the everyday? A little cricket clipit. Just a blade, but small, light and above all, lockable. Even Leatherman type blades don't lock, and you can get yourself cut without a locking blade.

On camping trips a Buck 110. Decent steel, and it is NOT a folding blade. Like a kitchen knife. handle, blade, period. Most of the tasks you need done are kitchen knife tasks, after all. I don't bring out the leatherman thing but once or twice on a ten day trip, but a sound cutting blade is needed many times a day, on a camping trip. Carying a 101 to work might raise eyebrows, so I hide the fact that I have a solid blade during my workday, by carrying the Cricket.

 

[starrkers]

I have a Victorinox on my keyring. It's got 2 blades (that currently need sharpening), flat head and phillips head screwdrivers, tweezers, toothpick and an awl.

 

[Darkniciad]

I carry leatherman type toolbox items only on expedition. For the everyday? A little cricket clipit. Just a blade, but small, light and above all, lockable. Even Leatherman type blades don't lock, and you can get yourself cut without a locking blade.

On camping trips a Buck 110. Decent steel, and it is NOT a folding blade. Like a kitchen knife. handle, blade, period. Most of the tasks you need done are kitchen knife tasks, after all. I don't bring out the leatherman thing but once or twice on a ten day trip, but a sound cutting blade is needed many times a day, on a camping trip. Carying a 101 to work might raise eyebrows, so I hide the fact that I have a solid blade during my workday, by carrying the Cricket.

Had me messed up for a minute there. You have 110 in the beginning, and then 101 at the end. The 101 must be the blade you're speaking of ( although I can't find it in the catalogue ) The 110 is a folding blade, because I carried one from the time I was about 14 until I fell out of the habit in '01, working at a place that forbid anything resembling a weapon ( in Texas, oddly enough )

I keep saying I'm going to strap that trusty blade back on my belt one of these days, but I've just never got back in the habit. Only complaint I ever had about them was weak tips, when borrowed by idiot buddies who don't know how to handle a knife. Never broke one myself, but my buds replaced three of them when they broke off the tips.

 

[TE999]

I carry a small Victorinox on my key ring. One blade, one file/flat blade screwdriver tip, scissors, tweezers and a toothpick. I can't tell you the number of times I've used that thing over the years. It's really handy.

I carry a Leatherman when I'm out in the woods hiking. I also keep one in my truck and my car. They've been useful more than once.

I have an old Case three blade that was my Dad's. It stays in my desk drawer.

The oddest knife I have is one I found in a hock shop. It's made of an aluminum alloy, stamped U.S. and has a bunch of blades and tools, including a corkscrew!
I thought maybe it was a survival kit knife or something like that. I carry and use it too on occasion, though the blade's tough to sharpen.

 

[mjl2010]

Usually I just carry my Old Timer. Not sure which model it is. It's got two blades and it's easy to keep sharp. The longest blade is like 2 inches or maybe two and half.

On the job in addition to the Old Timer, I have my Gerber multi-tool which I keep on my belt. When I go into some place to do a quote, I find it comes in handy.

For camping/hunting/fishing I'll carry that Gerber, the Old Timer and another knife I've got. It's handmade by some old guy I met years ago and he gave it to me. He made the blade from an old rasp file. This is a mean knife with a seven inch blade and a horn handle. You can fillet fish, skin game or do almost anything with it. It's tough, keeps a razor edge just about forever. It's also really hard to sharpen properly.

I've got a drawer full too. A lot of them still in the boxes they came in.

MJL

 

[matriarch]

Wow.........just found this..........the ultimate....a pocket knife AND MP3 player.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2006/1/victorinox-mp3-sak.jpg

 

[matriarch]

It is illegal for any shop to sell a knife to anyone under the age of 16, although some kinds of knives aren't covered by this law.

Knives where the blade folds into the handle, like a Swiss Army knife, aren't illegal as long as the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62cm).

However, if anyone uses a knife like this in a threatening way then it may become an offensive weapon.

But in the same way, things like screwdrivers could also turn into a weapon if used in the wrong way.

But kitchen knives or cutlery are included, so children aren't allowed to buy them.

Some types of knives are illegal to everyone, however old they are:

* Flick knives - knives where the blade is hidden inside the handle and shoots out when a button is pressed. These are also called switchblades or automatic knives.
* Butterfly knives - knives where the blade is hidden inside a handle that splits in two around it, like wings. The handles swing around the blade to open or close it.
* Disguised knives - knives where the blade is hidden inside something like a belt buckle or a fake mobile phone.

 

[starrkers]

I can be arrested and charged for carrying my pissant Victorinox. Not sure they'd take "it's very useful" as a legitimate reason for having it. I'll let you know iff I ever get cuaght

(I hereby apologise for my crappy typing - left index finger out odf the loop due to an attack kitten)

 

[SimonBrooke]

Okay so I carry a pocket knife. I have since I can remember. (I have the first pocket knife I carried, given to me by my Grandfather.)

So what do you carry and why?

In Scotland it is now an arrestable offence to carry anything with a blade or a point in a public place. I understand why this is the law, but I think it's a foolish over-reaction. I also find it oppressive, because I've always habitually carried a folding pocketknife, and until the law was introduced used to keep my billhook in the back of my truck. No-one has ever been at risk from these things; I've never carried them as weapons. For those of us who live in rural areas, having a blade is just a basic tool, and for those of us who use small boats, an essential safety device.

Even in the cities it means a joiner or handyman going about his daily business theoretically risks arrest and imprisonment, which cannot be sensible; and that it is theoretically impossible to take any edge tool home from the shop where you bought it.

 

[Guest]

LOL i have no idea what type of blade they are...i have two. one is a small folding knife with a blade thats 2" or so...my cousin (the rich one) had them engraved with the name of his boat. *cringe*
the other is my grandfathers. i never open it. i have no idea what condition it is in and i dont care...that i have it means more that what it can do for me.

 

[matriarch]

In Scotland it is now an arrestable offence to carry anything with a blade or a point in a public place. I understand why this is the law, but I think it's a foolish over-reaction. I also find it oppressive, because I've always habitually carried a folding pocketknife, and until the law was introduced used to keep my billhook in the back of my truck. No-one has ever been at risk from these things; I've never carried them as weapons. For those of us who live in rural areas, having a blade is just a basic tool, and for those of us who use small boats, an essential safety device.

Even in the cities it means a joiner or handyman going about his daily business theoretically risks arrest and imprisonment, which cannot be sensible; and that it is theoretically impossible to take any edge tool home from the shop where you bought it.

Two words, Simon.

Common Sense.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

For work (telephone lineman) I carry a Benchmade 10300 Monocrome. Very strong but light and slim, easy to open one handed even wearing gloves and the frame lock is one of the strongest I've found. N690 steel in the blade means it holds an edge all day even when cutting through aluminum armor on cable.

Also for work I carry an SOG Powerlock multitool. This has everything I need to do a job in a pinch. I have prepped fiber-optic cable for splicing using only this tool and my knife. It has compound leverage on the jaws meaning you can put a hell of a grip on something, or cut a nickel one handed. Has knife, saw, file, scissor, belt cutter (also handy for stripping heavy sheathing of 400 pair cable) and all the screw drivers you need. Even has a 1/4" nut driver.

For every day, when I'm not working I have a couple dozen folding knives by Boker, Benchmade, SOG, Gerber, CRKT, Cold Steel, Kershaw, and others.

 

[oggbashan]

I used to carry a small version of a seaman's knife - a strong single blade on one side and a marline spike on the other with a screwdriver tip under the loop. The blade is now illegally long so I have replaced it with a small lock knife with a 2 inch blade.

When visiting Magistrates' Courts, Police Stations etc, I take the knife out of my pocket and lock it in the boot of my car.

Og

 

[feeeriek]

victorinox with a bunch of thingies on it including the saw to fell that mighty oak with

 

[Darkniciad]

In Scotland it is now an arrestable offence to carry anything with a blade or a point in a public place. I understand why this is the law, but I think it's a foolish over-reaction. I also find it oppressive, because I've always habitually carried a folding pocketknife, and until the law was introduced used to keep my billhook in the back of my truck. No-one has ever been at risk from these things; I've never carried them as weapons. For those of us who live in rural areas, having a blade is just a basic tool, and for those of us who use small boats, an essential safety device.

Even in the cities it means a joiner or handyman going about his daily business theoretically risks arrest and imprisonment, which cannot be sensible; and that it is theoretically impossible to take any edge tool home from the shop where you bought it.

Two words, Simon.

Common Sense.

Two words aren't working *laugh* Are you saying the law is common sense? I'd say its exactly the opposite - for exactly the reasons listed. This law makes numerous occupations illegal to engage in. It is very poorly worded.

If you're referring to law enforcement applying common sense to the law, there is ample evidence that common sense is no more prevelant in the law enforcement community than it is anywhere else. Likewise, corruption and greed are equally present. So long as this law is on the books in the current described form, it will be abused.

Common sense carrying of such a tool for legitimate work, day-to-day use, or simply returning with it from the local shop, is likewise zero protection against absurd prosecution. Get pulled over for a tail-light that goes out, go to jail because the officer ( who just got in a fight with his wife, and got put on a patrol he can't stand ) sees you have a new steak knife set in a bag in the back seat.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I've got a small leatherman rip off but it has a led torch on one side and then the #1 phillips head, flat head, inch blade and saw tooth blade on the other.

Between the needle nose pliers, the torch and the screwdriver heads, its more than enough for most of my on-site needs, and the blade will cut a cat5 cable in a pinch.

I just wish someone would come up with the fully customizable multi-tool that is still sturdy and dependable.

 

[i812]

and for those of us who use small boats, an essential safety device.

Echo that!

I used to carry a small version of a seaman's knife - a strong single blade on one side and a marline spike on the other with a screwdriver tip under the loop. The blade is now illegally long so I have replaced it with a small lock knife with a 2 inch blade.

When visiting Magistrates' Courts, Police Stations etc, I take the knife out of my pocket and lock it in the boot of my car.

Og

Whenever I sail, I carry a Camillus mariner's knife with a marlin spike and a sheep foot blade.

 

[oggbashan]

Scout Uniform

When Og was a Boy Scout, a knife was an essential part of a Scout's Equipment.

In my troop, those who had not passed the basic test to become a Scout were not allowed to wear a knife (unless they had been Wolf Cubs and reached a sufficient standard).

Until 2nd class Axemanship had been passed (that included care and use of knives), a folding seaman's knife was allowed, clipped to the Scout belt. Once the Axemanship test was passed, a sheath knife could be worn. The usual knife had a 5 or 7 inch blade.

When Og was a Senior Scout in Australia I wore my sheath knife except when in rough country. Then I would replace the sheath knife with a sheathed machete and the seaman's knife. My machete had a blade manufactured by Wilkinson Sword that took a very good edge. Later in life one of my party tricks was shaving with the machete...

I wore the machete for St George's Day parades in Central London and for car park attendant duties for Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace. Only once was it queried by a Palace employeee. His concern was dismissed by a Security Service person with the words "Forget it. Scouts are trustworthy.".

We were. It was a privilege to wear a large knife in public. Scouts treated knives with respect and didn't misuse them (in public). What we did out of sight of the public? Boys will be boys.

Og

 

[jomar]

Small lightweight gerber with a 2 inch blade.

 

[Liar]

In Scotland it is now an arrestable offence to carry anything with a blade or a point in a public place. I understand why this is the law, but I think it's a foolish over-reaction. I also find it oppressive, because I've always habitually carried a folding pocketknife, and until the law was introduced used to keep my billhook in the back of my truck. No-one has ever been at risk from these things; I've never carried them as weapons. For those of us who live in rural areas, having a blade is just a basic tool, and for those of us who use small boats, an essential safety device.

Even in the cities it means a joiner or handyman going about his daily business theoretically risks arrest and imprisonment, which cannot be sensible; and that it is theoretically impossible to take any edge tool home from the shop where you bought it.

Really? Cause it's the same here. Don't carry blades in a puclic place.

But professionals and their working tools are excluded whithout any fuss. And the police don't careanyway. I've had a small Victorinox with me for years, mostly for the bottle opener and screwdriver. I've once been asked by a cop to put it away (back in my pocket) when I was picking my teeth with it.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

My husband always carries a knife. He retired his last knife after he used it to cut the cords of our last two babies... he'll pass that one on. He has several very nice knives.

Me, I carry everything... in my purse. I always have what you need. Kleenex, safety pins, highlighter, sharpie, earplugs, aspirin, dramamine, small change, a lighter, you name it, it's in my purse. Typical mom.

 

[Jubal_Harshaw]

I just wish someone would come up with the fully customizable multi-tool that is still sturdy and dependable.

Actually Gerber has one with interchangable jaws. You can go from needle nose to lineman type plier to cable cutters to side cuts...

Most of the manufacturers will also sell blades seperately and have a list of different ones you can get.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

I have a small swiss army knife in the house and a Leatherman Flair which I keep in my purse at times.

Though having read what some of y'all have said about the knife laws here in the Uk I might need to rethink carrying some of them with me. Its incredibly handy though when you are out and about.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I used to always carry a box cutter, a razor blade and a Swiss Army knife at all times when I worked. Now that I don't work, I don't usually carry anything on my person unless I'm on a trip.