Why do you carry a knife?

[cantdrv55]

I’ve been carrying a Swiss Army Knife off and on for decades. Lately, I’ve been switching between that and a Gerber multitool. And that’s just what those are to me, multitools. I know some guys carry a knife or knives everyday and I can’t figure out why. I mean isn’t a knife just a one dimensional tool? Can’t use it as pliers, bottle opener, tweezers or toothpick so what else do you use it for besides cutting stuff? What am I missing?

[Nostril Cheese]

To take down elephants and clean my teeth of antler velvet

[pwd72s]

I carry a Case 3 bladed stockman...primarily a cutting tool. But each blade has a different shape for different cutting chores. Swiss Army and multi tools just never appealed to me. Too bulky...

Besides, I have "carry tools" in both of our vehicles. Tools that work better than anything in a multi tool or swiss army knife.

[mjohnson]

A CR Sebenza - handy enough and it cuts like a rolex tells time

[tabs]

Because i cant carry a gun.

[look 171]

Nope, I have never carried a knife. I fail to understand why is there so much to cut that requires one to carry a knife daily unless its part of your job to cut open stuff?

[URY914]

I sit at my desk in front of a computer about 1/2 my day. I have scissors, exacto knife and a staple remover in the top drawer. They can handle about 99% of my needs.

[cabmandone]

Seems like there's always something I need a knife for. Opening a box, cutting a piece of twine, I've even used one of the blade on my 3 blade old timer for removing phillips screws.

[red-beard]

I keep a Kershaw in my pocket. There is always something thats needs cutting/opening. I can open the Kershaw one handed.

I also have a tiny Leatherman squirter PS4. Very handy, especially the miniature pliers. The Micra with full size scissors does not get as much use. But it has a tiny flat screwdriver great for tweaking tiny pots.

[DanielDudley]

I have some kind of primal fascination with beautiful and basic things. But I used to carry a Stanley 199 in my pocket for years, even on Christmas. I switched over to a pretty little flipper knife because of knife threads on various forums. I have one in front of my computer right now, and I probably open and close it dozens of times every day, and I often look at the open profile and regard the lines, in the way that I sometimes turn around and look at my 911 while walking away from it.

I think men have been carrying knives around since before the dawn of civilization. Otzi the so called ice man had a double edged blade in a woven grass scabbard on him when he died.


To me it would be interesting to see a multi tool thread. For a few years I thought I would get a Leatherman crunch. At one time in my life I carried a 4'' vice grip in my pocket, and a tiny screwdriver handle that went with a pocket set of 1/4 inch driver bits, which I used every day. But I have pretty much carried a knife in my pocket since I was old enough to own one, and a watch since I was in about fifth grade. In those days, an Ingraham pocket watch was still 3 dollars.

Back when cars still had points, I had a Swiss Army knife with a points file on it. It had a hacksaw, a wood saw, and a small pair of scissors. I used them all. Nowadays my idea of emergency tools is a spare tire, jumper cables and a cell phone.

[vash]

Habit mostly.

12 years ago. I worked as a tunneling engineer. Underground it was mandatory. Self rescue was very real. We had to control the flow of air with the use of heavy canvas bulkheads. In a fire, you wold have to cu yourself out.

Now? I flip between a Swiss Army knife and a regular knife. I use one every day from cutting a hangnail to slicing my lunch avocado. I wash it nightly with my dinner dishes.

It’s just so handy when you need one. Same reason I carry a flashlight all the time. Blackouts are very real around here. Plus peeking into dark crevasses

Pocket knives are a billion dollar business.

[john70t]

I keep the smallest Swiss Army on my ring....which is detachable from the car key.
(heavy keys will screw up the ignition switch)

Blade- Opening boxes mostly, making wood slivers to reinstall stripped screws, scraping wires for fresh contact,
Scissors- Trimming torn fingernails, clip small zip ties, cut coupons, cut tape square,
Square top blade- Tightening cabinet/door screws, prying off lids, opening S hooks,

[GH85Carrera]

I carry a Swiss Officers knife, and I have done so since I was in Jr. High school. Two blades, can opener and bottle opener, Phillips and small and normal size regular screw drivers. Yep, I carried a knife to school. No big deal back then.

I used one of them to fix every piece of equipment at a large photolab to the point the boss started calling it "the company knife" and he finally bought me a brand new one and he wanted the old beat up one for his desk as a trophy.

Over the years on may occasions I have been to someones house and they hand me a bottle of beer that is not a twist off top. I can reach into my pocket, pop the cap, and put my knife away before they find the opener in the drawer. I just hand them the beer cap and tell him, I got it. They are always astonished.

I have had to fix my own car, stuck on the side of the road more than once. Once long ago when I was in my 914 and on a date we were heading to dinner when the engine just turned off. I was in "date clothes" but I still looked in the engine compartment. I saw the head temperature sensor wire had broken. I managed to scrape off enough insulation to re-connect it, and the engine fired up and we continued on the date.

I never leave the house without my knife except on airline flights, and it is packed in my luggage for when I get to mt destination. I have used the toothpick when needed, and even pulled a few splinters with the tweezers.

[fanaudical]

Simple answer: to cut things.

I always carry a knife and have since I was 6.

I used to carry a Swiss Army Spartan forever. Switched to a Leatherman Wave for about 3 years and found it too bulky. My daily knife for the past 10 years or so has been a Kershaw Blur with the Tanto blade. The Leatherman resides in my essentials backpack (and I usually have my backpack within easy reach).

[masraum]

I've always liked knives, and carried one on camping trips when I was in the boyscouts. I didn't carry one again until I became a bartender. I had to cut lemons and limes for the bar, and the knives that they had at the bar were horrible. When I stopped being a bartender, I switched to a smaller knife. I still carry it. I use it less now, but I still use it occasionally. I also have a P-51 on my keychain
I've used this on screws and cans and other various items.
http://img0109.psstatic.com/158116281_p51-can-opener-pocket-key-chain-big-brother-of-p38-can-.jpg

[LWJ]

Funny. I don't carry one. But, I am owner of far too many. And understand and enjoy the satisfaction a knife brings.

But, I have large cave man hands. I rip stuff open. It works.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I never leave the house without my knife except on airline flights, and it is packed in my luggage for when I get to mt destination. I have used the toothpick when needed, and even pulled a few splinters with the tweezers.

I used to keep a Gerber multi-tool, a 6-way screwdriver and small pocket knife in my portfolio. Even immediately after 9/11, they still allowed the 6-way screwdriver.

First flight after 9/11, I've been flirting with the first class FA. She is looking very distressed with her bottle of wine. Apparently, they removed corkscrews from their equipment. I pulled out my screw driver, removed the bit. Asked her for a napkin. Wrapped the napkin around the bottle and put the screwdriver on the cork. One good thump from my fist drove the cork into the bottle.

The cork was floating at the top. I told her just pour. She was astounded how it all worked. I said she must never have dated a "MacGyver".

[craigster59]

I've carried a few different knives and multi tools in my day. Now I've settled on the Kershaw "Select Fire".

It opens with one hand, opens boxes and letters, cuts rope and anything else and also has 2 Phillips and 2 Flathead screwdriver bits.

I found that with multi tools I was using the knife and screwdriver 90% of the time.

It also has a bottle opener.

[Jolly Amaranto]

I have carried a small pocket knife since I was a kid. I feel naked without it. The last 18 years or so I have constantly had to replace it because I keep forgetting to pack it in my checked baggage when traveling and TSA takes it away.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I've carried a few different knives and multi tools in my day. Now I've settled on the Kershaw "Select Fire".

It opens with one hand, opens boxes and letters, cuts rope and anything else and also has 2 Phillips and 2 Flathead screwdriver bits.

I found that with multi tools I was using the knife and screwdriver 90% of the time.

It also has a bottle opener.

I didnt realize Kershaw made a multitool like that. I may need to upgrade.