# Do you own a cork screw? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560 "2009-03-15T22:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/21 "2009-03-16T01:54:01Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > If you’re Batman, I must be James Bond. I’ve got bottle openers with attached cork screws in the glove box of all our cars as well as in the toiletry bag of my luggage. Yeah, we’ll I’m Tony f\*\*\*ing Stark because I keep corkscrews in my kitchen, office, wine carrier, coolers, car, luggage, computer bag/briefcase, hiking packs, dive gear, and fishing tackle. I buy them by the dozen from Bevmo. I carry one in my back pocket if I think wine might be in the offering. If I’m ever stuck in a wine vault after a nuclear attack with a lifetime supply of wine I’ll be prepared. Of course, I’ve also been known to show up at parties with a roll of Wustof knives in case there is cooking to be done, and I travel on car vacations with a complete set of barware (stems, tumblers, and cocktail glass; cocktail mixer and sieve; olives and cherries; Irish whiskey, Scotch, bourbon, gin, vodka, bitters, and vermouths), wok and saute pan, cutting board(s), cheese grater, citrus press, coffee and french press, tea, cheesecloth, parchment paper, salt and pepper; the _Larousse Gastronomique_ and _The Joy of Cooking_ or another cookbook; flashlight(s) and headlamp; laptop(s) and wireless router; raingear/drygear and PFD; hiking gear and water filter; films and reading materials that will last approximately and order of magnitude longer than the trip; and full first aid kit including sutures and antibiotics. “Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/22 "2009-03-16T02:17:48Z")
I’ve now own one of those wing-style corkscrews, much better than the crappy traditional ones I’d had before. I’ve actually had corkscrews that broke in use, or deformed. When I got divorced, I didn’t realize the ex-wife had taken the corkscrew until the day I was faced with a bottle of wine and a thirsty friend in the front room. Some quick thinking saved the day: I didn’t have a corkscrew, but I did have a drywall screw and a pair of pliers! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/23 "2009-03-16T02:31:33Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > but I did have a drywall screw and a pair of pliers! And here when I’m without a corkscrew, I’ve been breaking the neck off and straining the broken glass through my teeth. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/24 "2009-03-16T02:38:14Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Do you own a cork screw (or something similar?) > > IOW, If someone dropped by with a bottle of wine, would you be able to get it open? Yep. I like the old school kind. Every other type of fancy wine opener I’ve ever used (i.e., “rabbit ears,” the thing that punctures the cork and fills the bottle with air, etc.) hasn’t worked as well as the old fashioned kind. But I waited tables in school so I got lots of experience opening wine. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/25 "2009-03-16T02:49:28Z")
Of course I have a cork screw. I think I have a couple, actually. My favorite one is one of those cheapo imprinted giveaway combo bottle opener/corkscrew. Works great. > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Of course, I’ve also been known to show up at parties with a roll of Wustof knives in case there is cooking to be done, and I travel on car vacations with a complete set of barware (stems, tumblers, and cocktail glass; cocktail mixer and sieve; olives and cherries; Irish whiskey, Scotch, bourbon, gin, vodka, bitters, and vermouths), wok and saute pan, cutting board(s), cheese grater, citrus press, coffee and french press, tea, cheesecloth, parchment paper, salt and pepper; the _Larousse Gastronomique_ and _The Joy of Cooking_ or another cookbook; flashlight(s) and headlamp; laptop(s) and wireless router; raingear/drygear and PFD; hiking gear and water filter; films and reading materials that will last approximately and order of magnitude longer than the trip; and full first aid kit including sutures and antibiotics. Okay, the scary part is that I’m totally not sure if you’re joking or not. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/26 "2009-03-16T02:56:09Z")
Up until a couple of months ago, I’d have said no. But my nephew has been making wine lately and he gave me a couple of corked bottles around Christmas so I went out and bought a dollar store corkscrew. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/27 "2009-03-16T02:58:06Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Okay, the scary part is that I’m totally not sure if you’re joking or not. I’m not even exaggerating for comedic effect. I also chase bears, jump out of aircraft, and climb launch gantries in February gales. All I need is a freak radiation accident and some genetically modified endogenous retrovirus and I could be Marvel’s next Avenger. Or an archvillian, although I understand the pay isn’t as good as it used to be. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/28 "2009-03-16T03:06:38Z")
I have two that were wedding favors, one we bought to open wine bottles and one that was a Christmas gift. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/29 "2009-03-16T03:27:19Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > and climb launch gantries in February gales. OK, now I’m jealous. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/30 "2009-03-16T03:43:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > OK, now I’m jealous. ☹ “No capes!” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/31 "2009-03-16T03:49:11Z")
Two in the kitchen, one in the camping gear, one on each pocket knife, and one in the bedroom. I seem to be fairly typical for a wine-drinking Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/32 "2009-03-16T03:54:50Z")
I only have one, since I rarely drink wine. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/33 "2009-03-16T03:56:00Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > “No capes!” > > Stranger There’s only one Cape I’m interested in! ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/34 "2009-03-16T04:12:09Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And here when I’m without a corkscrew, I’ve been breaking the neck off and straining the broken glass through my teeth. :rolleyes: That frankly would be quicker than the drywall screw technique. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/35 "2009-03-16T04:18:47Z")
I rarely drink and even more rarely drink wine, so when I got my own place I didn’t have one. My brother drinks wine and he hooked me up (and also brought wine). I think he also got me one of those things that cuts the foil. I don’t drink coffee either and didn’t have a coffee maker until my mom bought me one, so she could drink coffee at my house. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/36 "2009-03-16T04:32:18Z")
I have a few on my Swiss Army knives, the only thing they’re used for is to hold the mini-screwdriver or as a curly marlinspike to untie knots I never drink…wine… ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/37 "2009-03-16T04:32:29Z")
Nah, I only drink whiskey and beer; only wine if someone else is serving it. I have no need for a corkscrew. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/38 "2009-03-16T04:35:51Z")
Of course I own a cork screw. Three, in fact. Not owning a cork screw is like not owning some other piece of assumed household tools: a hammer screwdrivers, both philips and regular a vacuum a measuring cup a chef’s knife a pair of channel-locks a wrench a pair of pliers, needle-nosed a needle Bottles exist. Some are corked. The only good way to open a corked bottle is with a cork-screw. Everyone should own one. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/39 "2009-03-16T11:36:34Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > I’ve now own one of those wing-style corkscrews, much better than the crappy traditional ones I’d had before. I’ve actually had corkscrews that broke in use, or deformed. > > When I got divorced, I didn’t realize the ex-wife had taken the corkscrew until the day I was faced with a bottle of wine and a thirsty friend in the front room. Some quick thinking saved the day: I didn’t have a corkscrew, but I did have a drywall screw and a pair of pliers! That is what we ended up doing as well. It took some effort and I think we got some cork in the wine, but we ended up being able to drink it. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560/40 "2009-03-16T11:44:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Bottles exist. Some are corked. The only good way to open a corked bottle is with a cork-screw. Everyone should own one. Does the average person\* encounter corked bottles that don’t contain wine? My daughter doesn’t drink alcohol (she doesn’t like the way it tastes) and if she didn’t cook with wine, she wouldn’t have or use a corkscrew. \*I am not an average person, so I wouldn’t know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-a-cork-screw/489560.md?page=3)