I like to carry a small, simple little pocket knife on my person as I go about my daily business. I don’t want to carry anything too big and bulky and I have no need of the huge multi-tools with nineteen different “features” that do nothing but add weight and cost. For many years, my preferred blade has been an “Old-Timer” similar to THIS ONE. As far as I’m concerned, for my needs, a pocketknife doesn’t need to get much more complicated than this. With that being said, my old trusty has grown legs somehow and rather than just buy another out of habit, I thought I’d throw it out to the boards and find out what the wizened ones carry. Maybe it’s time for an upgrade? I wouldn’t mind finding one that can go on my key chain. Maybe I wouldn’t lose one every decade or so like I’ve been doing. If it has a convenient bottle opener that can be used without unfolding anything, so much the better.
Thoughts? What bladed tool is in your pocket right now?
I have a small (yellow) Victorinox Swiss Army Knife from a camping store. No scissors or corkscrew. I love the big red ones, but keep losing them. This has a limited selection of blades I actually use.
I really like Boy Scout knives too, for the same size/utility ratio. Also, unlike the Swiss army, I was actually a Boy Scout.
Very small Case single blade pocket knife. I think it’s probably their smallest model. Until retirement I carried a multi-tool in the side pocket of my lunchbox, but I don’t want anything bulky or large in my pocket. Like you (OP), I can do 99% of my knife needs with the tiny one.
Don’t get me started on the new hunters with their giant “tactical” knives. My hunting blade is also very small (3"). I think most people really go overboard on knives, but that’s just my opinion I guess. The only time I’ve carried a really large knife was when it was a requirement for my job.
A Kershaw Scallion. Spring-loaded one hand opening, and holds an edge really well. I use this on a daily basis for a variety of things and hate leaving it at home when I travel.
I would carry a utility knife, but the knife laws here in Ohio are complex and dependent on municipality. I have heard stories of people being arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon for carrying a knife. Until Ohio changes their laws on this, I’m not carrying one.
Depends on what your daily business is, doesn’t it?
But I think it is safe to say that an authentic old-timer’s folding knife for general utility, the type that has been around for centuries, has nothing but a single carbon steel blade. Maybe a corkscrew/bottle opener built into the handle if you want to get cute.
That doesn’t mean you should not get a Leatherman Micra type of tool (or even thinner) that hangs on your keychain if you find that’s what you actually end up using on a daily basis.
I carry one of the large, locking SAKs in my pocket. It is the same model they sell to the German military albeit with a smooth, not serrated, edge. There is a Leatherman Wave in my purse. All of my keychains have some kind of little tool with a blade on them.
It’s a surprisingly sharp blade, holds its edge, and while it takes a little more effort to cut something large, like an apple, it’s a useful blade that weighs almost nothing and takes no room in my pocket.
I often carry a Leatherman Freestyle. It’s about a 3-inch blade, with some small pliers and a wire cutter, and that’s it. Small and simple, and most of the time that’s all I need.
