Mostly my SAK Farmer with the saw for camping
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How often do you guys use a punch?
- Thread starter Spongebobby
- Start date
Mostly my SAK Farmer with the saw for camping
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 20,039
Every time I gain a few more pounds.....
Every time I lose a few lbs, seems like. My Alox farmer is my go to.
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2001
- Messages
- 10,970
As a punch? i don't think I ever have. But I do use the punch on my HJ as a scraper and poker once in a while. A couple of weeks ago it helped me to undo the knot in a bunch of balloons. I even used it to adjust the front sight post of my AR.
- Christian
- Christian
A while ago, it was suggested to me (and I concur) that the Ulster/Camillus style can opener works better than most leather punches do for undoing knots in small cordage. I'm keeping a list and this is reason #17 why somebody should make a camper pattern knife with the awl replaced with folding scissors.
- Joined
- May 7, 2011
- Messages
- 3,426
Mmmm don't know...my first HJ is not in my hands yet 
But, I assume I would rather have a punch than a third blade (especially if the other two blades are a clip and a sheepsfoot or any straight/curved combo). I also guess that, if the punch has a sharpened edge, it might be a great alternative for "dirty" cuts. Anyway, when I get mine, I will see hopw much use it gets.
As a sidenote, I've used the awl on my SAK's many times for many tasks.
Fausto
But, I assume I would rather have a punch than a third blade (especially if the other two blades are a clip and a sheepsfoot or any straight/curved combo). I also guess that, if the punch has a sharpened edge, it might be a great alternative for "dirty" cuts. Anyway, when I get mine, I will see hopw much use it gets.
As a sidenote, I've used the awl on my SAK's many times for many tasks.
Fausto
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2008
- Messages
- 369
When I was younger I carried a four-blade scout-style Imperial demo-knife clone.
I used the punch to make holes and for those things you shouldn't do with a sharp blade.
I used it as a punch (awl), scraper, mini-pry, and a nearly-flat Phillips head screwdriver. When I started carrying a single-bladed gent's knife I got out of the habit of using a punch.
When I started carrying a Leatherman, I found that both the small screwdriver and the can opener can be used in that role. Also the pliers can hold a pin or nail (or, hey, even a paper clip) to make holes in things. I don't do that very often, but it's definitely handy when that infrequent need arises.
I now carry a SAK in addition to the Leatherman, and it has a genuine punch/awl tool, but it's mounted mid-frame and deploys perpendicular to the handle, which is fine for simple & straightforward makin' holes, but reduces its usefulness in the "improvised whatever" category, so there are some things for which the can opener gets used (e.g. scraping) that the mid-mounted punch just can't do. I can still clean my nails with it, but most of thedeliberate misuse improvised applications are thwarted.
I've started eying the stockman pattern knives that have punch blades instead of (or, occasionally, in addition to) spey blades because of that. Don't need it often, but I hate using a good blade for random punch/scraper/lifter things for which a punch blade would be fine.
I used the punch to make holes and for those things you shouldn't do with a sharp blade.
I used it as a punch (awl), scraper, mini-pry, and a nearly-flat Phillips head screwdriver. When I started carrying a single-bladed gent's knife I got out of the habit of using a punch.
When I started carrying a Leatherman, I found that both the small screwdriver and the can opener can be used in that role. Also the pliers can hold a pin or nail (or, hey, even a paper clip) to make holes in things. I don't do that very often, but it's definitely handy when that infrequent need arises.
I now carry a SAK in addition to the Leatherman, and it has a genuine punch/awl tool, but it's mounted mid-frame and deploys perpendicular to the handle, which is fine for simple & straightforward makin' holes, but reduces its usefulness in the "improvised whatever" category, so there are some things for which the can opener gets used (e.g. scraping) that the mid-mounted punch just can't do. I can still clean my nails with it, but most of the
I've started eying the stockman pattern knives that have punch blades instead of (or, occasionally, in addition to) spey blades because of that. Don't need it often, but I hate using a good blade for random punch/scraper/lifter things for which a punch blade would be fine.