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Simply, many of the common situations where you'll find a pocket knife handy around your home also happen outside your home not infrequently. As you go through

Simply, many of the common situations where you'll find a pocket knife handy around your home also happen outside your home not infrequently. As you go through your day, look around for situations where a tool that can cut, pry or poke would be useful. They're probably more common than you might think. Some examples I can think of off the top of my head, some of which may be decried as blade abuse by knife enthusiasts. * Need to get a can of paint open, and just how all Phillips-tip screwdrivers in a 30 meter radius spontaneously cease to exist when it's time to open the case to some piece of tech, so do all flat-tip screwdrivers when it's time to open a can of paint. But the spine of the knife behind the tip makes a decent pry tool in this case. * The ram upgrades that were ordered two weeks ago for all the CAD workstations in the engineering department have just arrived, in those thrice-damned bubble packs that cut you back when you try to cut them open with scissors. Stab, slice and now the only gods that are getting a blood sacrifice today are the gods of the insides of computer cases. * Pulling network cable in a new office installation. Juan borrowed your jacket stripper, and hasn't come back from back from lunch yet. But, you've got practice in applying just the right pressure to cut the jacket without nicking the insulation of the twisted pairs inside or slicing your thumb. * While visiting a friend, the mail arrives, including little Billy's latest issue of Superman. To Billy's frustration, it in one of those plastic bags that simply does not tear when pulled on, it just stretches. One poke later, and now it actually will tear open, and Billy can see how Superman's fight with Darkseid comes out. * It's Reverse Engineering Night at the local hackerspace. Ahh, gadget makers are so cute. They think a recessed plastic tab smaller than human fingers can protect the case screws from your kit of specialty screwdrivers designed for voiding warranties. * Rebuilding the engine for a project car. While assembling the cylinder head, you notice that the caps for the camshaft had little slots machined into their faces to act as channels for oil distribution. But, when the machine shop did a hot-tank cleaning of these parts, not all of the hardened crud came of of those little channels. Dammit, now your remember the reason you'd been keeping that old set of dental picks that you threw away last week when cleaning out the garage. Well, pocket knife tip is fine enough to get in there with some care. I'm sure you or your friends can probably come up with some more examples.

Blackthorn 6y ago
I'm surprised not at those uses, but that anyone would use a fancy steel knife for any of them. I have a utility knife that takes replaceable utility knife blades, and I'd think having a replaceable blade would work best for any of those things.
- korethr 6y ago
  My pocketknife is first and foremost, a tool. By modern fancy pocketknife standards, it's rather pedestrian. But it isn't a cheap knife either. A cheap knife would not hold up actually being used as a tool.
  - DanBC 6y ago
    And yet Stanley sell a billion stanley knives and blades.
- AngryData 6y ago
  That is why I don't regularly carry around an expensive pocket knife. Maybe for camping or something I would have a nice one, where quality is paramount, but otherwise if it is half decent steel, ill get every dollars worth out of it even when it eventually gets destroyed. Like if I was opening a bag of dirt or soil, I sure as fuck not going to want to fuck up the edge on some fancy expensive knife that will take forever to grind and sharpen back to service. If I do need a knife like that, there is no problem in bringing two. Like I might carry a utility knife and a general pocket knife so I can cut cardboard products with the utility knife and maintain a better pocket knife edge. If im working in the dirt I might use a general pocket knife with a serrated section that im not worried about plunging into some dirt or sod, and carry a better and sharper knife for something like cutting insulation or cutting wood or tough string.
- LyndsySimon 6y ago
  > I'm surprised not at those uses, but that anyone would use a fancy steel knife for any of them. Speaking only for myself - I get enjoyment from using quality tools. That goes for knives, but it’s also why I invested in Milwaukee M18 Fuel power tools when the much cheaper Ryobi line would technically have met my needs. It’s also why I use vim and have spent as much time as I have customizing it to my liking. For knives, there are three that I regularly carry: For everyday use, I always have my Microtech UTX-85 D/E (~$250). It’s an OTF (“out the front”), the blade is ELMAX, and is easily opened with one hand. While I originally chose it primarily for defensive use - I often carry a full-sized handgun OWB, and it’s well suited for use as a retention tool - I’ve found its ability to hold an edge and ease of opening makes it ideal for everyday tasks like opening packages. If I had to do it over I would buy the single-edged version; the double edge makes it difficult sometimes to get leverage when cutting something stubborn. I usually carry a second knife that’s sturdier and well-suited for “serious cutting”. If I need to open a thick plastic package, or (gently) pry on something, I use it. It’s a Gerber US-Assist (~$100). The blade is S30V, and has a nice, thick spine that I can lay my finger on to gain good control. It also a locking blade (so it can’t fold on my fingers when using it) and has a safety button so the blade can be affirmatively locked either open or closed. Finally, for food purposes only, I have a CRKT CEO (~$50). Its blade is commodity steel (“8Cr13MoV”, I had to look it up), and it holds an edge adequately. Pretty much every time I use it, I touch up the edge that night so it stays razor sharp. Because I’m mostly cutting meat with it I chose a long, slender blade with a gentle curve. Since getting it I’ve found myself increasingly annoyed when I unexpectedly go out to eat and end up having to tear a steak with a dull serrated steak knife provided at a restaurant. > I have a utility knife that takes replaceable utility knife blades, and I'd think having a replaceable blade would work best for any of those things. If I were regularly using a knife for cutting boxes, tape, plastic, etc., I’d do the same. Many years ago when I was working as an electrician, I had a folding knife that used standard utility knife blades. When I was working in PC Support at a large company and was often opening boxes and breaking them down to be crushed, I carried it as well. I carry a single expensive knife (my Microtech) because I like it. It’s not that complicated :). I have other knives for specific purposes, and carry them when I expect I might need them - but in a pinch, the Microtech can serve almost any role adequately well. A good steel will hold an edge very well and give you that flexibility - I don’t hesitate to cut anything with it. Meanwhile, I would never use the slender generic steel blade of my “food knife” to open a plastic package that might have metal staples; it would destroy the edge and would at least take time and effort to restore the edge. I might even have to reprofile it. All of this is to say: I highly recommend that everyone carry a good quality, general purpose pocketknife. They can be had at any budget level and you’ll use it far more than you’d expect. Beyond that... spending more money and acquiring knives for specific purposes is something you either enjoy or you don’t.

Blackthorn 6y ago

I'm surprised not at those uses, but that anyone would use a fancy steel knife for any of them. I have a utility knife that takes replaceable utility knife blades, and I'd think having a replaceable blade would work best for any of those things.

korethr 6y ago
My pocketknife is first and foremost, a tool. By modern fancy pocketknife standards, it's rather pedestrian. But it isn't a cheap knife either. A cheap knife would not hold up actually being used as a tool.
- DanBC 6y ago
  And yet Stanley sell a billion stanley knives and blades.
AngryData 6y ago
That is why I don't regularly carry around an expensive pocket knife. Maybe for camping or something I would have a nice one, where quality is paramount, but otherwise if it is half decent steel, ill get every dollars worth out of it even when it eventually gets destroyed. Like if I was opening a bag of dirt or soil, I sure as fuck not going to want to fuck up the edge on some fancy expensive knife that will take forever to grind and sharpen back to service. If I do need a knife like that, there is no problem in bringing two. Like I might carry a utility knife and a general pocket knife so I can cut cardboard products with the utility knife and maintain a better pocket knife edge. If im working in the dirt I might use a general pocket knife with a serrated section that im not worried about plunging into some dirt or sod, and carry a better and sharper knife for something like cutting insulation or cutting wood or tough string.
LyndsySimon 6y ago
> I'm surprised not at those uses, but that anyone would use a fancy steel knife for any of them. Speaking only for myself - I get enjoyment from using quality tools. That goes for knives, but it’s also why I invested in Milwaukee M18 Fuel power tools when the much cheaper Ryobi line would technically have met my needs. It’s also why I use vim and have spent as much time as I have customizing it to my liking. For knives, there are three that I regularly carry: For everyday use, I always have my Microtech UTX-85 D/E (~$250). It’s an OTF (“out the front”), the blade is ELMAX, and is easily opened with one hand. While I originally chose it primarily for defensive use - I often carry a full-sized handgun OWB, and it’s well suited for use as a retention tool - I’ve found its ability to hold an edge and ease of opening makes it ideal for everyday tasks like opening packages. If I had to do it over I would buy the single-edged version; the double edge makes it difficult sometimes to get leverage when cutting something stubborn. I usually carry a second knife that’s sturdier and well-suited for “serious cutting”. If I need to open a thick plastic package, or (gently) pry on something, I use it. It’s a Gerber US-Assist (~$100). The blade is S30V, and has a nice, thick spine that I can lay my finger on to gain good control. It also a locking blade (so it can’t fold on my fingers when using it) and has a safety button so the blade can be affirmatively locked either open or closed. Finally, for food purposes only, I have a CRKT CEO (~$50). Its blade is commodity steel (“8Cr13MoV”, I had to look it up), and it holds an edge adequately. Pretty much every time I use it, I touch up the edge that night so it stays razor sharp. Because I’m mostly cutting meat with it I chose a long, slender blade with a gentle curve. Since getting it I’ve found myself increasingly annoyed when I unexpectedly go out to eat and end up having to tear a steak with a dull serrated steak knife provided at a restaurant. > I have a utility knife that takes replaceable utility knife blades, and I'd think having a replaceable blade would work best for any of those things. If I were regularly using a knife for cutting boxes, tape, plastic, etc., I’d do the same. Many years ago when I was working as an electrician, I had a folding knife that used standard utility knife blades. When I was working in PC Support at a large company and was often opening boxes and breaking them down to be crushed, I carried it as well. I carry a single expensive knife (my Microtech) because I like it. It’s not that complicated :). I have other knives for specific purposes, and carry them when I expect I might need them - but in a pinch, the Microtech can serve almost any role adequately well. A good steel will hold an edge very well and give you that flexibility - I don’t hesitate to cut anything with it. Meanwhile, I would never use the slender generic steel blade of my “food knife” to open a plastic package that might have metal staples; it would destroy the edge and would at least take time and effort to restore the edge. I might even have to reprofile it. All of this is to say: I highly recommend that everyone carry a good quality, general purpose pocketknife. They can be had at any budget level and you’ll use it far more than you’d expect. Beyond that... spending more money and acquiring knives for specific purposes is something you either enjoy or you don’t.