Along with identification, means of payment, and keys there’s one thing that should always be with you when you head out into the world: a decent pocket knife.
Male or female, young or old, the pocket knife is critical. I rarely go more than a few days without using mine for some small task or another. Accessing (then later breaking down) a box, cutting through packaging, opening difficult mail, trimming an overgrown vine or weed, defeating an errant thread or shoelace, etc. Little things come up all the time.
Most could be resolved another way, sure, but the convenience and utility of a decent knife is always welcome. To say nothing of how I wouldn’t want to be caught without one in any number of emergency situations.
There are three main things to consider when choosing your everyday knife: size, quality, and disposability. Let’s take them one-by-one.
Size
The term “pocket knife” should be taken literally. You need to be able to carry it comfortably, so much so that you won’t notice it’s there any more than you notice loose change. Look for a closed length of around two inches and a light weight.
Quality
A poorly constructed knife is less useful than nothing. And more dangerous. You want something that’ll hold up to repeated use, won’t break under a little stress, and which is capable of taking a decent edge so you can keep it sharp.
Disposability
Given the casual, everyday nature of a tool like this it can’t be something you’d feel too bad about losing. Which is to say that you probably don’t want to drop more than $15 to get it. That’s a tough balance to strike given the need for quality, but it’s doable.
I’ve found that you can’t miss with the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD. It’s light but durable and versatile, and you can pick one up at Target for around $10.
For the past few months I’ve been simplifying things a bit and carrying the beautiful Opinel No. 3 (carbon steel). It’s just one blade and as such is less versatile than the Victorinox, but it’s both lighter and more aesthetically pleasing. Plus, the carbon steel blade (as opposed to stainless) holds a better edge. Requires more maintenance, too, but that’s not such a big deal.
In general, avoid anything that doesn’t feel right in your hand. Trust your gut on that. Whatever option you choose you’ll want to make sure to keep it both clean and sharp. A dull and/or dirty knife spells trouble.
Modern conveniences are nice but there are some situations where a smartphone just won’t get the job done. Carry a knife. I can guarantee that at some point you’ll be happy you did.
Filed in: essentials.
For real, I rock a leatherman keychain tool. It’s lightweight and rocks most things I need (lacks in the bottle opening dept).
My favorite quote comes from Bruce Sterling ( http://www.viridiandesign.org/notes/451-500/the_last_viridian_note.html ) :
“A multitool changes your perceptions of the world. Since you lack your previous untooled learned-helplessness, you will slowly find yourself becoming more capable and more observant… A multitool is a design education.”
I love that quote. So true.
Absolutely agree! For the past 10 years, I’ve been carrying Kershaw Ken Onion knives. I’d add only one thing — don’t be a fool like me and forget to leave it at home before heading to the airport. It’s pretty sad to have to throw your trusty knife away in a security line… On to number 4.
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