Folding utility knives...ick!

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Huh, I came to this thread hoping to find some suggestions for a decently made folding utility knife at a reasonable price. Was definitely not the thread I expected.lol.

I'm very blessed and thankful to live in what is probably one of the best areas left in this world. North East Tennessee. I have heard a bit about the homeless population, we have a few around here, but I didn't realize it was quite that bad. I know drugs are strong around here. Small town USA and in a town set on preventing the party life and gang activity etc., so there is nothing else to do. They do everything possible to prevent bars/clubs or other activities from forming. So people get bored and just do more... whatever drug they're doing. I don't know much about that stuff. I know meth is especially bad around here.

I don't even know where to start in turning this world around. Or the best way to do it, but I do know that I don't want to ruin a good knife thread with politics, so I'll just pray for those people and carry plenty of ammo, along with the prayer that I never need it.
I'm rambling. Back on topic....

I love the idea of the folding utility knife. A cheap disposable option for when I just don't want to scratch up or abuse my main edc. Or maybe just for when something is dirty or sticky and I don't want that on my expensive new knife. Or sweet old slip joint I'm trying to keep in good shape...

My biggest complaint with the utility knives is that most of them are soooooooo poorly made. Inexpensive doesn't have to mean ugly-junk-garbage-bad design. I'm sure most of you understand that and can relate. I currently carry a Gerber Edge for my utility knife. It's not bad for the $8 or so I spent on it, but I'd like something a bit nicer. I have a Prybrid as well as a few other more generic options, but my biggest problem with them is the design...

I like to carry my main edc folder on the pocket clip and my utility knife in the bottom of my pocket. Most non folding utility knives work by a spring latch slider which comes open in my pocket waaaayyy tooo easy. That's actually happened a few times with the Prybrid. That's why I don't carry it anymore. I'm not into getting cut, or bleeding on my clothes.

The other most common design I see is just a push button and the blade falls right out. I don't like that. Especially since the button is usually right next to where I might put my thumb while using the knife. I just don't trust them and want something a little more secure. Maybe I'm just too picky? I don't know.
I'm pretty sure I'm rambling again.lol.
Hit me back if you have any suggestions for a nice utility knife option you think I might like. If don't talk to you again before then, have a great day and a merry Christmas guys.
 
I carried one during my larval stage working dairy farms. I was in my early teens at the time and wasn't exactly as capable of putting a decent edge on a real knife as I am now. For cutting baling twine or the plastic on balage they're perfectly sufficient. As my sharpening skills improved I eventually moved away from them. IMG_20221215_144413610.jpg

I'd actually quite forgotten about this until my old man took it out of a box containing many other relics from my childhood/adolescence.
 
Are we talking about folding knives, or picking on homeless people?

Entertaining yourself with others misfortune is offensive.
Being a thief isn't cool.
But 2 wrongs don't make a right.

It amazes me how people justify their actions.

Your character is your most valuable asset.
Be careful how you spend it.
 
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sailfish said:
Well I broke down and bought one of these.

SPTZOle.jpg
Click to expand...

So what brand is that one?
 
GPyro said:
Are we talking about folding knives, or picking on homeless people?

Entertaining yourself with others misfortune is offensive.
Being a thief isn't cool.
But 2 wrongs don't make a right.

It amazes me how people justify their actions.

Your character is your most valuable asset.
Be careful how you spend it.
Click to expand...

Wednesday night, I ran across a homeless couple and their dog living in a ravine here in the city.
Their dog was HUGE, and very protective. Leash tied to a tree, but it spent about 4 minutes trying its best to snap the leash with its lunging.
I ran into them because I was out looking for such people.

Got them:
-3 bus tickets (they have no bikes or bus passes)
-4 juice
-1 Gatorade
-4 pairs of socks
-4 hand warmers
-2 toques
-6 granola bars
-2 hygiene packs (with toothbrush, soap, toothpaste, etc.).

All items are donated by others in the community. :)

Also passed on to team lead (they went another direction, with just me going to the ravine at night with a headlamp to be able to see) via email that the guy (who was walking with a limp) requests that a nurse-practitioner get down that way to assess him and possibly renew his prescription.

The woman recognized me from before, but I hope she isn't the person I think she might be...because if I'm right, she is back on the streets after having got housing 2 years ago. Really hoping I'm wrong about who she is...she's had a rough time of things, even back then.

So yeah, I'm not worried about my character or how I spend it.

But I also won't cry fake crocodile tears and pretend that I have sad feelings for the junky bike thief from the opening post.
He made his bed, burnt it down, and then slept in a box.

And if we can make fun of Bezos and his amazing rocket-powered phallus to the stars, we can also make fun of the choices of junky thieves.
No human on this planet is immune from ridicule.
 
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What has surprised me most about this thread though is the burgeoning love shown by so many for folding utility knives!
Did not expect the show of support for them.
 
stabman said:
What has surprised me most about this thread though is the burgeoning love shown by so many for folding utility knives!
Did not expect the show of support for them.
Click to expand...

There is a sort of weird order of status with knives that go along the lines of the more hard core the use is the better the knife is.

But most of us really are just opening Amazon packages with them. And that is a completely different knife for a completely different job.

We don't get a professional box cutting store workers reviewing knives. We get Barry survival making a house out of trash reviewing knives.

So we create this perception that utility folders are lesser knives.

I just did this to myself with the kransbol vs Garberg. The Garberg is full tang, stronger, thicker and more expensive. It is basically a kransbol but better.

Except the one task a Kransbol does better is cutting stuff. Because it is thinner and lighter.
 
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Went and brought a tarp and a couple other supplies by the place I'd stopped at Wednesday.
Turns out that, sadly, it is the same girl I knew from before that had gotten into housing. :(
A series of unfortunate events led to this point, but she is on track to getting back inside.

Luckily this time she has a dog with her; last time the junky thieves had robbed her a few times.
Yes, junky thieves will steal from the homeless as well. :mad: They suck. :thumbsdown:

The dog calmed down this time; daylight probably helped.
Asked if I could take some pictures of the dog.
Kept her face out of the pics because I have respect for her.
She's a survivor.

Dog peeing:

AKiohcV.jpg


Getting warmer:

FF1lRcy.jpg


The Emperor Dog:

VIiY8W2.jpg


The girl had things well in hand.
I dragged over some dried wood for kindling to get the fire stoked again, and she got to work on it with a wire saw...not a folding utility knife.
 
But at this point I will close the thread.

We have learned all about folding utility knife love, and the existence of "high end" versions, something I had no knowledge of. :)
If someone else wants to start a thread for showcasing expensive folding utility knives, they should go for it. :cool:
It can proceed without the drama of some folks thinking that junky thieves are a valuable and protected group.
 
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