# What's your pocketknife? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 7, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459 "2006-02-07T22:10:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/1 "2006-02-07T22:10:11Z")
i know these threads have been done before, but most of those threads are zombies, and i don’t feel like resurrecting a zombiethread, gotta conserve my ammo… 😉 anyway, my local sporting goods shop takes trade-ins on both firearms and knives, so i gathered together some of the pocketknives i don’t use, and traded them for store credit, with the resulting credit, i picked up a new knife i _will_ use, a companion knife to my loyal little [Spyderco Cricket](http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=17) the Cricket handles the lightweight cutting like opening envelopes, cutting open packing tape,antistatic bags and the like, it’s an incredible little cutter, the blade may only be a little short of 2", but it cuts like a_much_ bigger blade so, for the heavy stuff, i picked up a [Spyderco Harpy](http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=3), the Hawkbill blade design is incredibly practical for day to day use, the downturned tip gives excellent control, and the curved blade is incredibly good for pulling cuts, it won’t slip off the item being cut, and gathers the item being cut into the blade, breaking down boxes is quick and easy these two blades can handle any cutting task i throw at them what pocketknife are you carrying? ---
**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:** [February 7, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/2 "2006-02-07T22:16:56Z")
The one in my pocket right this minute is a [Gerber Truss](http://www.idsa.org/idea/idea2005/b1249.htm). When I’m banging around on the weekends I usually carry a [Gerber Paraframe](http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Paraframe-I-fine-edge-22-48444.htm). If those can’t handle the problem, the Leatehrman on my belt probably can. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Survey1215](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Survey1215](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Survey1215)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/3 "2006-02-07T22:22:40Z")
I was given my first ‘real’ [Swiss Army knife](http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=sportsandleisure&product=53132&) over the holidays and have been carrying it since then. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/4 "2006-02-07T22:30:04Z")
RedHead, stainless, razor sharp (yeah, actually shaved with it.) Rosewood handle. It is great for opening up toys for the nephews. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/5 "2006-02-07T22:37:55Z")
I carry a real Swiss Army Knife (Officer’s model) that was bogut for me by my daughter when she vacationed in Switzerland. She even had my name put on it. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/6 "2006-02-07T22:37:36Z")
What’s my pocketknife? Well, it’s a small piece of metal molded to have a sharp edge, and attached to a metal/plastic container so that I can fold the blade into the container and safely place the device into a pocket woven into my pants or jacket. I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/7 "2006-02-07T22:46:04Z")
I can’t believe they still make [my Cub Scout Knife](http://www.camillusknives.com/camillus/boyscout_bsa885.shtml#knife). Mine is about 30 years old. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/8 "2006-02-07T22:59:23Z")
[Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops 44CS](http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/10055321/Images/swextremeops44cs1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/9 "2006-02-07T23:00:24Z")
> [@Survey1215](#): > > I was given my first ‘real’ [Swiss Army knife](http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=sportsandleisure&product=53132&) over the holidays and have been carrying it since then. My third blade (yes, i carry 3 knives, why, because i _can_) is a [Victorinox Spartan Lite](http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Product.htm?category=multitoollights&product=53451&), the main reason i got it was for the phillips head screwdriver at the end of the knife, it was the cheapest option with a side-mounted phillips, center-mount phillips aren’t as handy ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/10 "2006-02-07T23:01:55Z")
A gun. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/11 "2006-02-07T23:04:11Z")
I carry a [Leatherman Micra](http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/micra/default.asp). Handy little sucker. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/12 "2006-02-07T23:07:33Z")
Not really a pocket knife but I carry this [around](http://huskytools.com/husky/Category95752/Category95768/Category95769/Product1.html). It combines the the versatility of a utility knife with the convenience of a pocket knife. (Yes, I got that from the website) I just also bought the [new version](http://huskytools.com/husky/Category95752/Category95768/Category95769/Product3.html) of this utility knife that has a built in storage for five additional blades. Don’t really like it though. The storage in the handle makes it too thick. I am going back to the original version. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/13 "2006-02-07T23:15:32Z")
Victorinox Tinker Deluxe, minus the toothpick. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/14 "2006-02-07T23:15:45Z")
I bought in France an [Opinel](http://www.opinel.com/FR/catalogue/index.htm). This simple folding knife is designed to appeal to the culinarily-minded French public, and has come in handy at many a picnic when a camembert or a baguette needed slicing. I bought the Opinel before the restrictions on carrying knives in airplanes came about, and brought it back through customs with no problem. I don’t know what I’m going to do for a picnic knife when we return to France this June. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/15 "2006-02-07T23:21:14Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > A gun. That’s gonna be hell when you have to open a box. Not to mention loud. As for myself, I carry a [Gerber Evo Fine Edge](http://www.gerbertools.com/Img_L/1433.jpg), or sometimes a plain old [Buck 110](http://www.buckknives.com/images/uploads/110.jpg), if I’m feeling nostalgic. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/16 "2006-02-07T23:25:11Z")
Actually, i found out an amazing fact, a well sharpened pocketknife is actually _sharper_ than a utility knife… i took my Spyderco Cricket, Kershaw Scallion, Spyderco Harpy, and SAK Spartan Lite, and a brand new, out of the package utility knife, and a standard 8.5x11 sheet of 20# bond copier paper in the portrait orientation starting at the top, using only the weight of the knife itself, i cut downward thru the paper, pulling the blade towards myself, the cut stopped when the point exited the paper… brand new utility knife; 1" cut, very ragged edges Kershaw Scallion plain edge assisted opener; 2.5" cut, clean edges Spyderco Cricket plain edge; 3" cut clean edges Spyderco Harpy serrated edge; 5" slightly ragged edges, but cleaner than the utility knife Vic. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/17 "2006-02-07T23:37:40Z")
D’oh, posted too soon… starting at the top, using only the weight of the knife itself, i cut downward thru the paper, pulling the blade towards myself, the cut stopped when the point exited the paper… brand new utility knife; 1" cut, very ragged edges Kershaw Scallion plain edge assisted opener; 2.5" cut, clean edges Spyderco Cricket plain edge; 3" cut clean edges Spyderco Harpy serrated edge; 5" slightly ragged edges, but cleaner than the utility knife Victorinox Spartan Lite Swiss Army Knife; small blade; 2.3" cut, _exeptionally clean_ cut, _no_ tearing large blade; 2.7" cut, _exceptionally clean_ cut i also did two other tests, the “fingernail drag” test (drag the knife blade across a fingernail and feel for a toothy, or “grabby” edge) all my knives had a draggy feel on my thumbnail, the utility knife did not, the utility had no resistance the final test was the “shaving arm hair” test, just like it sounds, drag the knife along the arm at a shaving angle and see how much hair it shaves… (warning, dangerous, knives are sharp, do not try this at home) utility knife; did not shave at all, pushed hairs under Spyderco Harpy; what, are you _INSANE?!?!_, use a _serrated_ knife for shaving, NO frakkin’ way! Spyderco Cricket; the “Reverse S” blade makes it dangerous to use for the shaving arm hair test, this one was not tested Kershaw Scallion; this one shaved quite well, not hair popping, but it did cut hairs Vic Spartan Lite; (both blades performed the same), this one _did_ pop hairs, while shaving my arm, the arm hairs jumped about 2" into the air as they were severed by the blade… all my knives have been sharpened on my Spyderco Sharpmaker… hmm, that gives me a _crazy_ idea…, i’ll sharpen the utility knife on the Sharpmaker tonight to see if that improves it’s cutting ability… ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/18 "2006-02-07T23:39:41Z")
What kind of utility knife are you talking about? The plastics ones with the break-away blade sections are MUCH sharper the the full-handle metal ones, IME. Those will do a lot more than make a 1" jagged cut. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/19 "2006-02-07T23:49:12Z")
it was a breakaway utility knife, i extended the blade 3" to compare with the Kershaw and the SAK, and yes, it _did_ only cut 1" i just did the cut again with the same knife, and it cut about 1" ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459/20 "2006-02-07T23:55:26Z")
Wenger Genuine Swiss Army Knife. I got it for my upcoming trip to hike into the Grand Canyon! Woohoo! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-pocketknife/343459.md?page=2)