# Guys - do you still carry a small pocket knife? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714 "2010-07-14T20:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/101 "2010-07-15T23:41:30Z")
[http://skeletool.tommunch.com/](http://skeletool.tommunch.com/) A skeletool review. It’s a definite improvement over the standard model. Not just for the one handed knife, no. I could live without that. But that carabiner clip is more handy than anything. Especially when 40’ up in a bosun’s chair, or upside down in the guts of a truck. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/102 "2010-07-16T01:17:26Z")
I used to have one on my keychain, but I stopped after it was confiscated at the airport. Way to ruin it for everyone, Osama. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/103 "2010-07-16T01:35:13Z")
I have a [Victorinox Classic](http://www.sz-wholesale.com/uploadFiles/upimg1/Victorinox---Swiss-Army-Classic-3151.jpg) on the Jeep’s key ring. Before I got the Prius, I had to remember to take it off if I flew commercially. Since I have the Prius, the Jeep is only used when it snows; so this knife is seldom carried. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/104 "2010-07-16T01:37:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Any carry a Swiss pocket knife with all the tools? Yes. Love it. It’s got: big blade (that I don’t worry about keeping sharp) little blade (that you can shave hairs off your arm with) saw scissors flat screwdriver can opener (the tip of which can do cross-point screws if they aren’t tight) corkscrew small hook-like thing hole poker toothpick (removable, stored in handle) ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/105 "2010-07-16T01:40:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Any carry a Swiss pocket knife with all the tools? [It’s a little too big to carry around, wouldn’t you say?](http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/8b97/) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/106 "2010-07-16T01:57:21Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > toothpick (removable, stored in handle) (and typically lost within about three weeks of purchasing the knife) ---
**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:** [July 16, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/107 "2010-07-16T01:59:27Z")
Psst… You’re supposed to put it back in after using it. 😉 All of my SAKs still have their original toothpicks, and the toothpick is one of the most often-used tools. (And yes, they get cleaned.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/108 "2010-07-16T02:38:07Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > (and typically lost within about three weeks of purchasing the knife) Yours lasts _that_ long!:eek:😛 I found one can buy them in lots of 6 or so from eBay etc, also the tweezers, which are really really good little tweezers. However, the fish blade is just about useless, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/109 "2010-07-16T02:41:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yours lasts _that_ long!:eek:😛 > > I found one can buy them in lots of 6 or so from eBay etc, also the tweezers, which are really really good little tweezers. > > However, the fish blade is just about useless, IMHO. You ever look at a tool on a Swiss Army Knife and just ask yourself… “What does it _DO_?!” ---
**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:** [July 16, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/110 "2010-07-16T02:42:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > However, the fish blade is just about useless, IMHO. Well, if you don’t fish it is. 😛 I haven’t been fishing since before I got a SAK, but I’ve used the ‘fish blade’ on ‘fish knives’ like the one I linked to earlier. It’s true that the scaling part of the blade isn’t great, but the hook disgorger works a treat. I find the English and Metric rulers get quite a bit of use around the house. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/111 "2010-07-16T08:13:49Z")
Off duty I have a single blade Sears Craftsman knife in my pocket that I use for gardening. On duty I have a multitool in a pocket on my belt. (my kids gave me a Gerber Multitool some years ago but I keep it at home because if I am going to accidentally leave a multitool in someone’s cardboard box, I would rather leave the cheap $15.00 one) On my belt I also have a plastic handle box cutter. Plastic for the light weight. In my pocket when on duty I also have a pocket knife with half the blade serated and half sharp. It also has a seat belt cutter and car window smasher on the other end. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/112 "2010-07-16T09:24:17Z")
I have a cheapie Buck knife and a Leatherman Blast in my backpack along with my other tools on my Keychain O’ Metal. I also have some generic folder I bought at a gun show. I like sharps, OK? ok. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/113 "2010-07-16T09:47:14Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Yes, I have one of [these](http://www.swisstechtools.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=VZ75GDTdP68A) on my key chain. It’s the size of a regular key so it’s not obtrusive at all and performs all the little functions I need it for. I don’t know if the UtiliKey I got was defective, or needed to be worked in, or what. But it effing refused to open up at the top, unless I precariously positioned my fingers on the two sides of the working end. One time, in trying to pry it open, the “blade” portion sliced my fingernail in two and (thankfully) just nicked into my skin. It’s sat in a junk drawer since. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/114 "2010-07-16T10:37:16Z")
Both my Utilikeys snapped from metal fatigue. One lost the pin, the other lost the latchy bit up top. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/115 "2010-07-16T18:33:12Z")
I carry a classic red Victorinox Camper, everywhere. I also have a couple multitools, but I only carry those when I’m biking. ---
**Author:** ![franz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@franz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/franz)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/117 "2014-07-02T09:22:27Z")
Not since I was 15. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/118 "2014-07-02T09:26:16Z")
I have some Czech army knife knockoff product. I find it consistently useful for cutting my nails, trimming my beard, as a keychain, when I need a screwdriver… Your typical Swiss Army Knife is so small, compact, and useful that I honestly can’t think of a reason not to carry it everywhere I go. And if I lost it, I’d try very quickly to replace it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/119 "2014-07-02T10:47:58Z")
Nah, they’re no good for fighting zombies. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/120 "2014-07-02T11:53:06Z")
In the four years since I first posted to this thread I have apparently stopped carrying a small pocket knife. I can’t pinpoint when it happened, but I haven’t had one in my pocket in ages. I should probably do something about that. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714/121 "2014-07-02T13:08:26Z")
I didn’t read the whole thread, so forgive me if this isn’t breaking news or interesting at all: I carry a classic boxcutter with me wherever I go. It’s a holdover from the retail days where I would need to open boxes on the fly. It’s a funny little habit I picked up, always carry two pens and a boxknife in my pocket…I feel weird and naked without it. In a semi-related story: I was at a store one time that was really busy. The reciept printed out and needed to be signed by my friend, and while that was happening the poor cashier girl was on the phone. So, at the same time, the reciept prints out and she’s looking for a pen. Boom, I pull out pen number one and she smiles. Then while shes on the phone she’s repeating information and again starts looking for a pen. Boom, pull out pen number two and she said “oh my god it’s like your magic!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-do-you-still-carry-a-small-pocket-knife/546714.md?page=7)