# Do you carry a pocket knife? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647 "2007-07-13T14:55:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/1 "2007-07-13T14:55:18Z")
My dad was never without his, but I can’t be bothered, I have too much crap in my pocket as it is. How about you? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/2 "2007-07-13T14:57:22Z")
Yes, I carry a Leatherman in my purse. But the main component is scissors, and that’s why I carry it. The knife is kind of incidental. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/3 "2007-07-13T14:57:49Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/4 "2007-07-13T14:58:23Z")
Yep–I’ve got a mini swiss army knife on my keychain, and I use it all the time. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/5 "2007-07-13T15:01:02Z")
Uh oh, another pocket knife thread! I always, without fail carry my pocket knife. I have several that I use for different things. The one I carry most if my [Gerber](http://www.kimballjones.com/shop/media/products/GerberParaframeIISerrated300.jpg) serrated. It’s got the most use. When I go out to dinner at a fancy restaurant with my lovely wife I carry my [Mokume Gane Buck Knife](http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/604/235), a birthday gift from my lovely wife. When I am in the woods I carry my Kershaw Hunter… So yes, I carry a pocket knife. All the time. Hopefully I’ll pass this fixation onto my son or daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/6 "2007-07-13T15:03:22Z")
I’ve got a Leatherman Wave in my messenger bag. (No, I’m not a messenger, it’s just the smallest lightest thing to carry my laptop, ipod, some thumb drives and that leatherman) I read a funny article that proposed that: If you own a leatherman, you’re fixing something --badly. Can’t say as I disagree with that assessment. Sure helps when I have a hangnail though! ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/7 "2007-07-13T15:05:12Z")
Swiss Army knife. I used to supplement that with a Leatherman on my belt when I did tech support for a living, but now I mostly just need to open boxes and the occasional bottle of wine. My original pocket knife was a Manilla Folder butterfly with beautiful brass-and-wood-inlay handles, but I stupidly tried to enter a courthouse for jury duty while carrying it, and now it’s gone. I even had the temerity to ask if I could have it back when I left. ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/8 "2007-07-13T15:18:38Z")
Small cheap brand X jackknife. Haven’t been without one (except on a plane) for 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/9 "2007-07-13T15:25:01Z")
I used to carry two for no special reason. Now I don’t carry any nor do I wear a watch anymore. Just money and keys and a comb. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/10 "2007-07-13T15:27:12Z")
Yup\* - a plain 2-blade that my grandfather carried. Working IT I had a Leatherman on my belt at all times, but not lately. \*except today it’s sitting next to my phone, which I also left at home ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/11 "2007-07-13T15:55:04Z")
Yes I do. I usually keep it in an inner pocket of my purse. I got it from work, and I use it regularly there and at home. I know my Dad and brother do too. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/12 "2007-07-13T15:55:46Z")
Three, usually. I carry a Leatherman Pro on my belt, a Leatherman Squirt in my left front pocket, and a Gerber Paraframe in the other front pocket. Plus the one in my pack, if I’m out and about. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/13 "2007-07-13T16:04:16Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Yep–I’ve got a mini swiss army knife on my keychain, and I use it all the time. Daniel [/QUOTE] Ditto, I’d feel nikked without it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/14 "2007-07-13T16:11:53Z")
Always. Buck lockback. Sooth 2" blade. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/15 "2007-07-13T16:15:49Z")
I carry a mini Swiss Army knife on my keyring. It has a two-inch blade (useful for opening boxes) a flat screwdriver/file (useful for opening screws (even Phillips head ones) and filing fingernails, respectively), a small pair of scissors (useful for stray threads and cuticles), a small pen (useful for taking notes) and a red LED flashlight (useful for providing a limited amount of light, although I wish it had a clear LED). I love it, and wanted to get a spare as a backup but can’t find this model now. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/16 "2007-07-13T16:25:34Z")
I’ve got a [Gerber Shortcut](http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Shortcut-22-01466.htm) hanging on my keychain. I use it all the time. A wonderful instant-access tool. I got it to replace my [Leatherman Micra](http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/micra/default.asp) which was basically the same tool. I lost the Micra, replaced it with the Shortcut, then refound the Micra. So now I have two! Yay! The Micra now lives in my truck’s glovebox. I keep almost buying a full-sized Gerber or Leatherman but just keep stopping short. The best time I can think to use it is when camping which I don’t really do enough to justify the $40 to $75 dollar cost of the most attractive models. I’ll probably just get one in the future for standard big-dumb-guy reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/17 "2007-07-13T16:26:56Z")
I sometimes carry a Kershaw “Ken Onion” pocketknife. I also have a Cold Steel “Mini-Pal” on my keyring. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/18 "2007-07-13T16:30:52Z")
Yep. A Meyerco Speed Assist Razor in my pocket and a Schrade Tough Tool on my belt. It’s about 5 or 6 years old, and it’s time to replace it. With another Schrade Tough Tool. Barring travel on commercial aircraft, I’ve always got 1 or 2 knives near or with me. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/19 "2007-07-13T16:33:44Z")
Victorinox Standard in my pocket everywhere except airplanes and courthouses. Either a Gerber or SOG multitool on my belt. (The SOG has the irritating “fold sideways” pliers, but it has a belt holster that fits sideways so that it does not attract as much attention when I’m in dress slacks.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647/20 "2007-07-13T16:41:08Z")
Yup, a Swiss Army Knife (Victorinox Officier) and a Leatherman I got as a program committee gift attached to my keychain. I lost my last one over a year ago and we just found it under the dresser, so now I have a backup. Mighty handy. When I was in grad school my key broke off in the lock of my apartment, and I was able to break in using my knife. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-carry-a-pocket-knife/411647.md?page=2)