Do you ignore the pen blade on your slippies?

cj65

cj65

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Aug 30, 2008
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I have acquired quite a few slippies as a hobby now at knife shows, ebay, garage sales, pawn shops etc. I have my certain make, and model preferences. However, I find that I almost have no use for the pen blades for the ones that have them. In fact, I do not even invest time to sharpen this red headed step child. I may even avoid models now with them unless it is a Holy Grail knife. Do any of you have a specific use for this 3rd string blade? Maybe I am missing an opportunity that I am not aware of. Thank you in advance for your thoughts. I am taking the tykes (all 5 of them) for a morning hike in the Simi foothills, and will check back later. Now, I have to go decide which knives I will take on the hike. Life is great! :cool:
CJ
 
The pen blade is the blade I use most often. It's a wonderful blade that can accomplish most tasks no problem. Once I find that barlow with a large spear-point blade and smaller pen blade, I'll be set.
 
I think your missing out on a very usable blade. Kept sharp, your able to have good control over the pen being shorter. Sharpen your pens up and I think you will find yourself using them more often than not. :D
 
Small blades are super useful imho and what I would tend to use first unless a larger blade were called for on a given task.
 
YayILikePie said:
Once I find that barlow with a large spear-point blade and smaller pen blade, I'll be set.
Click to expand...

Case made a nice one.

ry%3D400
 
Yes...and sometimes I have been known to give fingernail file blades the cold shoulder too. :p
 
I use the pen blade more than any other blade. I keep it razor sharp and whittle my toothpicks with it so they fit perfectly between my teeth. It comes in handy for many other tasks. I use it like you would an Exacto knife to cut paper, it is great at cutting out splitters, well anytime I need a really sharp blade that is easy to control.:)
 
I use to only ever use the large blade of a knife. Never even opened up the small blade. But since I started aquiring knives the past 6 months or so, I find myself opening the smaller blade most of the time. And I like the pen blade. Even on the small peanut, I will often pull out the small pen blade over the larger clip blade. And I like the copperheads and often use the pen blade on that one more than the larger clip. Sharpen them up and deliberatly use them and you will see how great they are.

Bill
 
If I am reading your post correctly you don't like pen blades, not becuase of their size, but the actual shape of a pen blade. If so I can relate, because I am not crazy about spear point blades, and I don't own any knives with the main blade being a spear point, and pen blades are kind of like mini spear points, so I get where you are coming from on that.
Just sharpen it at a steep angle and use it for more abusive tasks that might dull the main blade. That is what I do.

If you don't like them because they are small, I can't relate to that.
 
I personally love smaller blades. While not necessarily a pen blade, the smaller clipblade on my GEC Barlow has seen roughly equal use to the main spear blade. It's hard not to like and use it.
 
I tend to use the smaller blade sometimes more than the main blade. I saw my dad use the epn blade to keep the main blade very sharp. He'd put a utility edge on the pen blade at a steeper angle, and use it for rough work, and picking things his thumb nail wasn't up to.

I tend to do the same with my sak recruit or Case peanut.
 
Wow, that's actually really nice. Now the only issue is, do I wait to pick one up, getting a feel and using the knives I just bought, or do I just go for it and pick one up?

I guess the other question is if it's CV or SS.
 
I used the pen blade to clean the crud out of my fingernails after finishing a knife handle or yard work. I keep it really sharp also.
 
A two bladed slipjopint is a good one for me.I like single bladers,well,I like a lot...but anyhow,I use a pen blade a lot.Almost every day for removing paint build up & nasty work related stuff from under my fingrnails. I really like the pen blade,a mini spear point.I'm gonna go snap a pic,I'll be right back....

Look at these...
DSCF0536.jpg


How could you not like the pen blade,or,think it use - less ? On a single blade knife,that Bret Dowell knife there is kinda like a blade that covers the pen category,as well. I can use that blade a lot of ways I'd use a pen blade.
-Vince
 
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I sort of agree by default because I prefer single-blade knives.

Of course, I also love my mid-size canoes and they do have a smaller pen blade, so what do I know..?
 
Wow, those are beautiful. Kind of makes me wish that the swayback jack won. However, I'm sure, either way, it's going to be a wonderful knife.
 
OK,
Back from the hike, the kids did pretty good. I like all of your comments. I will bring the pen blade into the line up. I will be posting day hike pics in W&SS later tonight. Thanks all! VCM3, I am diggin the swaybacks! Wow, that is my next grail knife.... I was looking at the Tony Bose 2009 by Case, looks like about 60 bones will get me one.

CJ
 
Well, generally if i have them; I keep them razor sharp, sometimes even thinning the profile out, to full flat grind right to the edge, no secondary bevel.. Makes for a great emergency scalpel, and fabulous small whittling blade. But seldom do have them... if more than one blade, I prefer them all to be full length.


On my peanut, its the other way around, the short pen is razor sharp and gets 90% of the cutting because it being shorter, it is the stouter of the two thin blades. Only defering to the longer clip if needed for length.
 
I'm another that uses the pen blade on my Jack knives more than the main blade. I do quite a bit of whittling so I've gotten accustomed to the greater control a small blade gives you. I use the main blade when a longer edge is needed, like when cutting fruit or other food.
 
I use the pen blade more often than the larger blade.
They zip through clam shell packs like they are buttah :D and are great for controlled cutting through tough stuff with their thin profiles.
 
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