Posted on 01/04/2013 2:10:40 PM PST by virgil283
"1st Century Romans created the first folding pocket knife. They made for easy carrying for soldiers and other explorers on their journeys and conquests. However, as the use of sheathed knives became more popular, the use of pocket knives fell somewhat into disfavor......There are three common designs of pocket knives: the jack knife, the pen knife, and the multi-purpose knife. We’ll discuss the features and benefits of each one, in order to help you decide what kind of knife you should get.
A jack knife has a simple hinge at one end, and may have more than one blade. The jack knife is popular among hunters, fishermen, and campers.... A pen knife is hinged at both ends of the handle, and usually has two or three blades at each end. The pen knife was originally designed to cut or sharpen pen quills for writing. The pen knife is good if you want more than one type of blade. It’s also small and lightweight and won’t be noticeable in the pocket of dress clothes.....Multi-purpose knife. These are probably the most popular pocketknives. The Swiss Army knife and the Handyman are probably the most well known of the multi-purpose knives.....
(Excerpt) Read more at artofmanliness.com ...
The only man lower than one who does not carry a knife, is one who needs to borrow YOURS!
I tell them; “Ask your mom, she’ll probably tell you you’re old enough to have your own.”
Loaning tools is a good way to end up having to buy new ones.
Around 1953, my older Brother broke the blade in his pocket knife. I can’t remember the brand but think it was Queen. He mailed it to them and asked for a repair.
He would have been 11 at the time. I remember they replaced the blade and even cleaned it up a bit and no charge.
When I was a kid my grandfather told me everyone should have a pocket knife. He gave me my first. Carried one ever since.
IOW, while not fully automatic, are they faster to open than a well-lubed quality folder ?
Would be interested in acquiring something reasonably priced, but would prefer some educated steerage in the right direction.
These are what I normally carry.
The little red Victorinox Classic being indispensable for digging/tweezing out splinters in the shop, and the Gerber Paraframe 'just in case'.
Good post. I was taught always to carry a pocket knife, and always did... Until I had the quite traumatic and infuriating experience of a TSA officer relieving me of a custom-made model. It bothers me a great deal that knives are not allowed on airplane carry-on, and are likely to be stolen on international flights when checked. (1 SCUBA knife and another “piece” lost that way.) I wonder if the folks at VICTORINOX or Spyderco have the moxie to petition Congress from K Street to repeal these ridiculous, draconian, Orwellian standards. Ronnie Barrett also makes knives, and they are magnificent.
Lately I have become a big fan of the SVORD Peasant knife, great knife by the way...
My words.......Always Go Armed.
As you've found, a problem with making/buying something really nice is the almost insurmountable hesitance to use it ! LOL
I always carry at least one. Usually Swiss Army or Gerber. My two teenage boys always carry also (Reason 3,492 to homeschool) They have over 30 each.
I had never heard of Benchmade or Griptillians until then, but was intrigued by the story. Now I have several Benchmades, including several Grips and mini-Grips, Barrages and mini-Barrages and a couple of their Emissary model.
Their designs by Warren Osborne and by Mel Pardue are exquisite examples of functional art and I find myself just enjoying how they feel in my hand, in addition to how well they work and operate.
Now I have one for any situation or can carry any one that will work anywhere, no matter what the occasion. There are many other great manufacturers, but I have come to really love these Benchmade models!
When I was in school (Class of '83) Everybody had a knife of some kind. And a rifle or shotgun in their vehicle. Knives were usually a Buck 110 on the belt or an Old Timer in the pocket, girls had their own preferences.
I carried a Balisong. Remember, this is pre-Spyderco. I decided that the Balisong was the most practical one hand opening knife available at the time.
I now carry a Spyderco P'Kal and a Shivworks Clinch Pick. Enough for now.
“Mexican Express” Don’t leave home without it.
I could never master the one hand opening, partly because I have had arthritis for a while but I used to know a guy who had a Spyderco. He could open it like lightening.
Basically as soon as it was out of his pocket, it was open.
I realize by the title that this is a boy’s club kind of thread but I am a firm believer that a good carry knife is a girl’s best friend.
I always have at least one with me when I go out and they are all over the house also.
Kind of like my guns in that respect.
Sea
How on earth do you fit that thing in your pocket
Not too many years ago, I was stunned to learn that a number of my younger cousins and “nephews” (sons of close friends) had no prospects of receiving their “right of passage” knives. So I took on the elder male responsibility of presenting them their appropriate knives at the appropriate times.
Basically, pocket knives were given when they first started showing interest in pheasant hunting. On high school graduation, each was also given a sheath knife matched to his interest.
One of the mothers was horrified about the sheath knife. She was gently informed that this was something between men.
The LW has thumbholes in both the straightedge and serrated blades. These work pretty well to flip the knife open quickly. The serrated blade has notches cut in the top so that you know it from the straightedge blade without looking.
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