Folding knife as a pry bar.

[deathofallthings]

Best just to carry one of those keyring pry tools if you have an expensive knife. At some point necessity or laziness will make you want to pry something with your 200 dollar knife. Better to pay for the 20 dollar pry tool than buy a new knife because you broke your tip. I have a couple pry tools I like to carry, can't say I use them much, but it's nice to know the temptation to pry with my knife won't be there if the situation arises. Of course once you get one of those... you find yourself collecting those too, an extension of whatever sickness it is that causes one to buy a lot of knives.

 

[xX_Blade_Xx]

Done some light prying with my Cold Steel Ak-47 but i know its limits.

 

[Nullity]

I will use my knife (or any tool) for anything that will not break it. I do not understand this arbitrary set of rules people follow about using their tools.

but to answer the OP, paint/stain cans, wood, plastic, bottle-caps. Only light prying, as that is probably all a knife can handle.
I do not make a habit of it, but when the knife is the nearest tool that can withstand the "abuse", I use it.

 

[Terry M.]

I agree with those who say-

1. It's MY knife and I'll use it any way I want.

2. I'll use a knife to pry with if it's the only tool I have with me and if I think it can handle the job.

3. All "prying" is not the same (for example- prying up a staple from a board is quite different from prying apart a couple of 2x4's that have been nailed together).

I would also add that not all folding knives are equal. Some are VERY tough and can easily handle light to moderate prying.

On a side note- I always find it amusing (and a bit disheartening as well) that there are people on this forum who feel the need to tell other people that what THEY are doing with THEIR knives is wrong. How YOU choose to use YOUR knife is YOUR business, and you are certainly entitled to express your opinion regarding what a knife should be used for, but that's all it is- YOUR OPINION. And having an opinion, no matter how strongly you believe in it, doesn't make you right, nor does it make you any kind of authority or expert in the knife-world, nor does it give you the right to criticize others for how THEY choose to use THEIR knives.

But I know, this is the internet. And there are a lot of people on the internet who desperately need to feel superior to other people. And in the knife-world, one way to feel "superior" is to proclaim "You people are using your knives all wrong, you don't know what a knife is for. I know best and I always use a knife for it's intended purpose". I say- get over yourselves.

Heck of a post. I agree with you.

 

[PaulTR]

The only "knife" I use to pry with is my box cutter at work; the basement door is one of those doors that lock when you shut it, so I chipped away at the molding to get at the latch and pry it open. Saves me the trouble of digging around for a thin piece of metal, which is surprisingly difficult to find whenever you need something like that the most. But I wouldn't think of doing that with any of my personal knives. There are some people that will do that...like my uncle; I once saw him pry open and strip down two Glock magazines with nothing but old Emerson CQC-7.

 

[Akcir]

I agree with those who say-

1. It's MY knife and I'll use it any way I want.

2. I'll use a knife to pry with if it's the only tool I have with me and if I think it can handle the job.

3. All "prying" is not the same (for example- prying up a staple from a board is quite different from prying apart a couple of 2x4's that have been nailed together).

I would also add that not all folding knives are equal. Some are VERY tough and can easily handle light to moderate prying.

On a side note- I always find it amusing (and a bit disheartening as well) that there are people on this forum who feel the need to tell other people that what THEY are doing with THEIR knives is wrong. How YOU choose to use YOUR knife is YOUR business, and you are certainly entitled to express your opinion regarding what a knife should be used for, but that's all it is- YOUR OPINION. And having an opinion, no matter how strongly you believe in it, doesn't make you right, nor does it make you any kind of authority or expert in the knife-world, nor does it give you the right to criticize others for how THEY choose to use THEIR knives.

But I know, this is the internet. And there are a lot of people on the internet who desperately need to feel superior to other people. And in the knife-world, one way to feel "superior" is to proclaim "You people are using your knives all wrong, you don't know what a knife is for. I know best and I always use a knife for it's intended purpose". I say- get over yourselves.

Agree with killgar 100%. If you want to use your knife as a cold chisel, go ahead, it's yours. So are the consequences.

 

[42Jackbauer23]

I use my BM griptilian to pry. I hope the knife gods don't destroy my mortal soul.

 

[Myal]

Knives are tools. But more specifically they're cutting instruments. Nothing more. Using a tool for anything other than its intended use is detrimental. So when it comes to opening paint cans I'll use a flat head.

Welcome to the forums.

I have some strong memories of being seriously chewed out for abusing screwdrivers by opening paint cans with them , and not using the proper opening tool
I guess everyone has their own idea of what tools are OK to abuse and what tools should not be abused
I use my knives as prybars ( usually gently ) on a fairly regular basis tho .... and I still open paint cans with screw drivers .. if its handy and can be used Ill use it .
know what you can do without damaging your tools is kinda important as well , imho .

 

[tatfiend]

My SAKs have certainly removed lots of staples from papers which were stapled together but that is about the limit of my knife prying and the SAK blades have survived in fine shape. Heavier prying normally not indulged in with a knife. In fact it sometimes seems to me like many better quality knife blades are more subject to damage or breakage by prying than older and cheaper knife blades. As the steels have gotten harder they have also gotten more brittle so more subject to breakage if subjected to prying type side forces.

 

[jimh0220]

Bit upset I can do things with my $12 knife you dare not do with your $120 knife?

Not in the least. See, you freely admit you BREAK your $12 blades prying. I could do the same things with my knives, but I know the difference between smart knife usage and doing things like an idiot.

 

[jimh0220]

I am so sick of the 'it's my knife so I'll do what I please with it' justification for stupidity. You're right. It is, and nobody denies you that right. But in a day and age where even carrying a knife is criticized, we, as those with a bit more sense about what knives are for, should be backing up our talk with responsible actions, like PROPER use of knives. Act like an arse with your knife, and you are the reason people think knife ownership is bad. BTW, you also teach the next generation of knife owners exactly what NOT to do with a knife.

But be proud of your irresponsibility. Wear it like a badge. We all know what the badge says.

 

[stabman]

Act like an arse with your knife, and you are the reason people think knife ownership is bad.

Are you seriously trying to make the illogical leap that someone prying with a knife is the reason for people looking down on knife ownership, or crazy new laws?

 

[killgar]

I am so sick of the 'it's my knife so I'll do what I please with it' justification for stupidity. You're right. It is, and nobody denies you that right. But in a day and age where even carrying a knife is criticized, we, as those with a bit more sense about what knives are for, should be backing up our talk with responsible actions, like PROPER use of knives. Act like an arse with your knife, and you are the reason people think knife ownership is bad. BTW, you also teach the next generation of knife owners exactly what NOT to do with a knife.

But be proud of your irresponsibility. Wear it like a badge. We all know what the badge says.

I hate to break it to you, but humans have been using knives "irresponsibly" for as long as there have been knives (of course, each individual persons definition of "irresponsible" may differ). And yet, despite such "irresponsibility, and despite all of the horrible and brutal crimes that are committed with knives every year in this country, including rape, assault, and murder, I still don't see any nation-wide push to ban knives or increase knife restrictions. In fact, I have seen exactly the opposite- some states have REPEALED their bans on owning and carrying SWITCHBLADES, the most "evil" knives of all. And some states have repealed ALL of there knife restrictions, thereby making it much easier, and LEGAL, for people to CARRY KNIVES IN PUBLIC. And just last December here in California, the CA Supreme Court UPHELD Californians LEGAL RIGHT to carry knives.

So where is the justification for your concern? Your suggestion that there will be some sort of public backlash if people pry something with their pocketknife strikes me as paranoia.

Try to relax. Calm down. Nobody is going to criticize you or take away your knives just because I pry up a staple with my pocketknife.

Let's see, you called us stupid, irresponsible, arse's, said that we lack "sense", and suggest that WE are giving knife owners a bad image because we might GASP! use a piece of steel to pry something. Thank you for providing yourself as a perfect example of the type of person I described in my earlier post. Get over yourself.

 

[SidC]

I have a crowbar in my car, and a cutting tool in my pocket.

 

[Nullity]

Are you seriously trying to make the illogical leap that someone prying with a knife is the reason for people looking down on knife ownership, or crazy new laws?

Yeah, I am going to join in and say that jimh0220's post is completely nonsensical.

 

[RamZar]

I am so sick of the 'it's my knife so I'll do what I please with it' justification for stupidity. You're right. It is, and nobody denies you that right. But in a day and age where even carrying a knife is criticized, we, as those with a bit more sense about what knives are for, should be backing up our talk with responsible actions, like PROPER use of knives. Act like an arse with your knife, and you are the reason people think knife ownership is bad. BTW, you also teach the next generation of knife owners exactly what NOT to do with a knife.

But be proud of your irresponsibility. Wear it like a badge. We all know what the badge says.

Could not disagree more.

 

[the kid]

I am so sick of the 'it's my knife so I'll do what I please with it' justification for stupidity. You're right. It is, and nobody denies you that right. But in a day and age where even carrying a knife is criticized, we, as those with a bit more sense about what knives are for, should be backing up our talk with responsible actions, like PROPER use of knives. Act like an arse with your knife, and you are the reason people think knife ownership is bad. BTW, you also teach the next generation of knife owners exactly what NOT to do with a knife.

But be proud of your irresponsibility. Wear it like a badge. We all know what the badge says.

 

[Akcir]

I am so sick of the 'it's my knife so I'll do what I please with it' justification for stupidity. You're right. It is, and nobody denies you that right. But in a day and age where even carrying a knife is criticized, we, as those with a bit more sense about what knives are for, should be backing up our talk with responsible actions, like PROPER use of knives. Act like an arse with your knife, and you are the reason people think knife ownership is bad. BTW, you also teach the next generation of knife owners exactly what NOT to do with a knife.

But be proud of your irresponsibility. Wear it like a badge. We all know what the badge says.

Just because I don't care what other people do with their knives, doesn't mean I don't care about mine. My kids and grandkids have this same opinion so I guess they aren't "busy bodies" either.

 

[LouieLouie109]

Agree with killgar 100%. If you want to use your knife as a cold chisel, go ahead, it's yours. So are the consequences.

YAAAAY for common sense!! Woohoo! and I am soooo late to the party. *sigh* I happened on this thread through a google search, what are the odds? so I figured I'd reply anyway. A good friend of mine is dating a diesel mechanic, who , yes that's right, is very hard on knives. She says he uses a knife to pry and scrape a lot. He loved the first knife she gave him (one handed lockback), and quickly broke it! I sent another one hand lockback, because she said he'd been pretty thrilled with it, but the dude actually sent it back to me. He said this one would break too; composite handle and all. Regardless of one's personal opinion, if my friend's bf wants to scrape and pry, I'll try to find him the best "Affordable!" (cheap) pry knife I can - or make one just for him. He makes her happy, I can sacrifice a rusty pry bar or something. Maybe. She says he's worth it. Hmmmmm.
Getting a keyring pry tool is the best solution i've seen, heard, smelled, or mulled over. Really. Grinding a small pry bar so it has some cutting use, and wrapping some cord on it for a handle is the second best. Bear in mind, we are simple, low income folks, or moderate income with lots of bills and upkeep (my friend! ) If not for that, the Mantis besh wedge looks like it was made for Smoothie (dude's handle).
Personally, I love the camping knife flathead for simple, soft prying. Electrician's knife, also, if it's tight. Love the bolster lock on tl-29's, someone was thinking safety.
But for this guy's needs, it would have to be a very sturdy, short lockback ($15), a chisel knife ($20), Gerber River Knife (Shorty - $40), etc. I'm thinking of altering a chisel, pry bar, or file, designing it for myself with his work habits, and selling him a lockback in the meantime. That could buy me a month of two to snail along until I dive in on the concept. Anyhow, glad for the thread. It's exactly the kind of discussion I needed to skim through. Thanks all, even though some of you are a bit stuffy. You're still knife peoples, that's how you landed here. All of you. Peace be with you. May prying be the worst use you ever have to contemplate for your blades.

 

[Dean51]

Got it all covered