Knife uses for pry bar

[jkwithawave]

A few thoughts on using the "right" tool for the job-

There are tools specifically made for opening paint cans. I don't own any, I've always used a flat-head screwdriver.

There are tools specifically made to remove oil filters from vehicles. I don't own any, I've always used channel-lock pliers with great results.

There are tools specifically made for stripping the insulation off of electrical wire. I own several, but sometimes they pull out strands of wire with the insulation, which I don't like. So I will often use a sharp knife to nick the insulation all the way around and pull it off without the blade ever touching the wire.

I could go on and on.

Now some might say that I was using the "wrong" tools for the job. But fortunately I was born with the capacity for independent thought, a sense of ingenuity, and the ability to improvise, otherwise I would be a slave to the tool manufacturers and I would be spending thousands of dollars buying a different tool for every specific task that comes up.

I wonder how many people use flat-head screwdrivers to open paint cans or perform other prying tasks. By some peoples definition those folks are using the "wrong" tool for the job. After all, screwdrivers were designed and made to turn screws, not for prying. Prying with a screwdriver can bend the shaft or damage the tip causing it to not grip the screw properly and strip out the head. I wonder if there are screwdriver forums where screwdriver enthusiasts express negative opinions of using screwdrivers as prybars.

Personally, I define the "right" tool for the job this way- If a tool does the job I need it to do and does it well, and if it doesn't damage the work or ruin the tool, then it was the right tool for the job.

And now a little story about my grandfather and his knife.

My grandfather was a "jack of all trades". He knew auto mechanics, carpentry, basic electronics, plumbing, and much more. And he owned a wide variety of tools for such applications. But the one tool that he always carried around with him was an old single-bladed slipjoint. He carried that same knife for most of his life and during the time I knew him I watched him with great fascination as he used that knife for a wide variety of tasks other than cutting. I watched him use that knife to turn screws, pry up upholstery staples, dig paint out of the heads of painted over screws, scrape carbon buildup from spark plugs, drill holes in leather, wood, and plaster, and on and on. I once watched him completely rewire a lamp with nothing more than that pocketknife.

On another memorable occasion, his neighbor asked my grandfather for help because his car wouldn't start. My gramps went over, popped the hood and started looking around. The neighbor said he had a tool box full of tools in case my gramps needed them (another case of a guy possessing more tools than knowledge) but my gramps said that they weren't needed. My grandfather then pulled off a loose battery cable from the battery, took out his pocketknife, used it to scrape corrosion from the battery terminal and cable clamp, pushed the clamp back onto the battery and told the guy to give it a try. The car started right up. My gramps told the guy to tighten the clamp and he was good to go. Needless to say both the neighbor and myself were quite impressed that my gramps could fix a car with nothing but a pocketknife.

You see, no one ever told my grandfather that there were "rules" for using a pocketknife. And he never worried about receiving public scorn from other knife enthusiasts for how he chose to use his knife. For my grandfather, a knife wasn't a status symbol or "man-toy" that he carried around to play with or impress people with how cool it was. He didn't look upon his knife as a collectors item. He didn't look upon it as a financial investment, worrying that a scratch or ding might reduce it's resale value. He didn't look upon it as a precious work of art. He didn't bestow it with any sort of romantic feelings or sacred value. And he didn't worry about trying to keep his knife in pristine condition for future generations to enjoy.

Instead, my grandfather looked upon his knife as a tool. Something to be used to perform whatever tasks he felt it was capable of performing. Just like a screwdriver, a hammer, or a pair of pliers. And when he died, that knife was a little worse for wear, it had plenty of scratches and dings, but it still had it's original tip, and thanks to regular care and maintenance it had a tight pivot and a smooth, sharp edge.

To this day it still impresses me to think what that old man could do with just a pocketknife and a lifetime of knowledge and experience.

Fantastic post killgar! That was a joy to read sir!

 

[Nullity]

Yes! Great post killgar.

I have always considered my folding knife more of a convenient piece of pocketable steel than exclusively a cutting tool. It is more useful to me that way, regardless of the "wrong tool" argument.

 

[RamZar]

Personally, I define the "right" tool for the job this way- If a tool does the job I need it to do and does it well, and if it doesn't damage the work or ruin the tool, then it was the right tool for the job.

Also, the right tool for the job is the one you have on you! What's the best camera? It's the one you have with you on your smartphone.

And now a little story about my grandfather and his knife.

My grandfather was a "jack of all trades". He knew auto mechanics, carpentry, basic electronics, plumbing, and much more. And he owned a wide variety of tools for such applications. But the one tool that he always carried around with him was an old single-bladed slipjoint. He carried that same knife for most of his life and during the time I knew him I watched him with great fascination as he used that knife for a wide variety of tasks other than cutting. I watched him use that knife to turn screws, pry up upholstery staples, dig paint out of the heads of painted over screws, scrape carbon buildup from spark plugs, drill holes in leather, wood, and plaster, and on and on. I once watched him completely rewire a lamp with nothing more than that pocketknife.

On another memorable occasion, his neighbor asked my grandfather for help because his car wouldn't start. My gramps went over, popped the hood and started looking around. The neighbor said he had a tool box full of tools in case my gramps needed them (another case of a guy possessing more tools than knowledge) but my gramps said that they weren't needed. My grandfather then pulled off a loose battery cable from the battery, took out his pocketknife, used it to scrape corrosion from the battery terminal and cable clamp, pushed the clamp back onto the battery and told the guy to give it a try. The car started right up. My gramps told the guy to tighten the clamp and he was good to go. Needless to say both the neighbor and myself were quite impressed that my gramps could fix a car with nothing but a pocketknife.

You see, no one ever told my grandfather that there were "rules" for using a pocketknife. And he never worried about receiving public scorn from other knife enthusiasts for how he chose to use his knife. For my grandfather, a knife wasn't a status symbol or "man-toy" that he carried around to play with or impress people with how cool it was. He didn't look upon his knife as a collectors item. He didn't look upon it as a financial investment, worrying that a scratch or ding might reduce it's resale value. He didn't look upon it as a precious work of art. He didn't bestow it with any sort of romantic feelings or sacred value. And he didn't worry about trying to keep his knife in pristine condition for future generations to enjoy.

Instead, my grandfather looked upon his knife as a tool. Something to be used to perform whatever tasks he felt it was capable of performing. Just like a screwdriver, a hammer, or a pair of pliers. And when he died, that knife was a little worse for wear, it had plenty of scratches and dings, but it still had it's original tip, and thanks to regular care and maintenance it had a tight pivot and a smooth, sharp edge.

To this day it still impresses me to think what that old man could do with just a pocketknife and a lifetime of knowledge and experience.

Great story. Hope you're taking care of your grandfather's "multi-tool". :thumbup:

 

[Akcir]

Yes! Great post killgar.

I have always considered my folding knife more of a convenient piece of pocketable steel than exclusively a cutting tool. It is more useful to me that way, regardless of the "wrong tool" argument.

I admit , I'm with Nullity and killgar on this. Sometimes you have to use what you've got in a pinch. I've done some dirty deeds with the knife I had on me, because that was all that was available in a hurry. I do carry a fairly beefy blade that will "take it fairly" well. So if my knife gets a few battle scars and chips prying a chunk of concrete out the little old neighbor lady's sump pump impeller, so be it.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Of the same size, sure.
But they're small...you won't be prying a steel gun cabinet open with one.

Why would you not have a crowbar in your house for that sort of thing?

I can do much more with my Spyderco Techno with its 0.177" thick 2.55" long blade from my change pocket.

Sure you can. But it won't pry as well, and it's more likely to break when prying than a dedicated prying tool.

I just don't understand the need to pry with a knife when you can carry such inexpensive, lightweight tools made for that purpose. For instance, I EDC and highly recommend the CRKT Eat'N Tool, because it's not just a pry bar. It's a flathead, it's a hex wrench, it's a bottle opener, and it's a spork. To me, that's a lot of capability that I would be hard-pressed to leave at home given the choice. It's lightweight and easy to toss into all sorts of pockets and bags...and I paid less than $5 for mine.

This is coming from a guy who generally tends to buy "overbuilt" knives that are built to take high levels of abuse. Hell, I've got a Recon Tanto on my belt and a Pocket Bushman in my pocket right now. It's your stuff that you paid for with your money, and that's cool, but it is my opinion that the right tool should be used for the right job. To me, a knife is for cutting and little else - and my knives see a lot of use for that purpose. If I need some metal to do something other than cut, I've got a SwissChamp on my belt and an Eat'N Tool in my bag.

 

[RamZar]

Sure you can. But it won't pry as well, and it's more likely to break when prying than a dedicated prying tool.

I just don't understand the need to pry with a knife when you can carry such inexpensive, lightweight tools made for that purpose. For instance, I EDC and highly recommend the CRKT Eat'N Tool, because it's not just a pry bar. It's a flathead, it's a hex wrench, it's a bottle opener, and it's a spork. To me, that's a lot of capability that I would be hard-pressed to leave at home given the choice. It's lightweight and easy to toss into all sorts of pockets and bags...and I paid less than $5 for mine.

This is coming from a guy who generally tends to buy "overbuilt" knives that are built to take high levels of abuse. Hell, I've got a Recon Tanto on my belt and a Pocket Bushman in my pocket right now. It's your stuff that you paid for with your money, and that's cool, but it is my opinion that the right tool should be used for the right job. To me, a knife is for cutting and little else - and my knives see a lot of use for that purpose. If I need some metal to do something other than cut, I've got a SwissChamp on my belt and an Eat'N Tool in my bag.

What if in a pinch, on the road and your bag is not around and you needed to pry open something tough? You'll use what's accessible and that's usually what you have on you. Heck, I'd put a pryer end on my Hinderer Ti pen if they made one and it didn't look too weird depending on the circumstance.

A short stubby knife like the Spyderco Techno or Boker Albatros give you a lot more leverage. The Albatros is in the more disposable price range. Mini pryers are too small for some tasks.

See picture below. For reference the Sypderco Techno when open is just under 6 inches.

 

[Gravelface]

If my pocket knife couldn't pry more effectively than those little dinky "prybars"......I would upgrade my pocket knife.

Those seem like the most useless waste of space imaginable. Why carry 15 different tools when your 1 knife can do the job.

 

[stabman]

Why would you not have a crowbar in your house for that sort of thing?

I was 17 and there was only one crowbar in the house.
So, the Bowie knife became the second crowbar.

 

[roughedges]

I was 17 and there was only one crowbar in the house.
So, the Bowie knife became the second crowbar.

I have 3. Plus the 2 or 3 knives that I'll use for similar tasks- as well as all the other things that a crowbar can't do- when the need presents itself.:thumbup:

 

[Akcir]

If my pocket knife couldn't pry more effectively than those little dinky "prybars"......I would upgrade my pocket knife.

Those seem like the most useless waste of space imaginable. Why carry 15 different tools when your 1 knife can do the job.

Yup. Holy Helly Batman! I forgot my utility belt!

 

[Gravelface]

......and I hate "neck" knives ...........worn around the neck.

 

[Squashfan]

This thread is the reason why I carry a SAK. I need a bottle opener a while back and a SAK was the right tool for the job. Mostly.

 

[Torm]

If my pocket knife couldn't pry more effectively than those little dinky "prybars"......I would upgrade my pocket knife.

Those seem like the most useless waste of space imaginable. Why carry 15 different tools when your 1 knife can do the job.

Exactly. Any reasonably decent knife can accomplish a lot more than most of us give them credit for.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

What if in a pinch, on the road and your bag is not around and you needed to pry open something tough? You'll use what's accessible and that's usually what you have on you. Heck, I'd put a pryer end on my Hinderer Ti pen if they made one and it didn't look too weird depending on the circumstance.

A short stubby knife like the Spyderco Techno or Boker Albatros give you a lot more leverage. The Albatros is in the more disposable price range. Mini pryers are too small for some tasks.

See picture below. For reference the Sypderco Techno when open is just under 6 inches.

My pry bar is always on me because it's always in my shirt pocket. Even with a longer model, they can be so slim and lightweight that I just don't see a reason to not have one on me.

Just like knives, mini pry bars come in all shapes and sizes, and just like knives, that size will help determine how capable it is. It's not fair to compare the leverage of a big, bulky folder like that with a super tiny mini-prybar. Although, the mini-prybar is still far less likely to break on you when prying, because it is a purpose-built tool and not something you're using because it kinda looks like it could do it.

 

[Gravelface]

Since you EDC prybars. Just curious about what you actually need to pry open everyday that warrants such a specialty tool......

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Since you EDC prybars. Just curious about what you actually need to pry open everyday that warrants such a specialty tool......

It's a CRKT Eat'N Tool. I don't use the prybar part of it very often (I use the spork almost daily), but when I do, I'm glad I have it, and it's been nothing short of great in my uses. YMMV.

 

[markksr]

It's a CRKT Eat'N Tool. I don't use the prybar part of it very often (I use the spork almost daily), but when I do, I'm glad I have it, and it's been nothing short of great in my uses. YMMV.

I have knives that would easily out-pry your CRKT Eat'N Tool, so please, give it a rest already...

 

[Jaytaylor]

I have tried to cut a phone book with a pry bar, after 4 hours I've made it to page 96.

 

[Nullity]

I have tried to cut a phone book with a pry bar, after 4 hours I've made it to page 96.

Duh. These modern day, "tactical" pry bars come with uselessly thick edges because of the current hard-use gimmick.
Send it to Tom Krein for a regrind and you will understand what a high-performance pry bar can do.
I would also send it to Bos for a proper heat-treat.
Don't forget to carbidize the edge.
It may only slightly improve function but you should also send it to Hinderer for a Lockbar Stabilizer.
Oh, and finally, send it to Jeremy Horton for a unicorn %*$$#& treatment.

 

[Gravelface]

It's a CRKT Eat'N Tool. I don't use the prybar part of it very often (I use the spork almost daily), but when I do, I'm glad I have it, and it's been nothing short of great in my uses. YMMV.

I folded and looked up this CRKT Eatndohicky......yeah.....even more useless than just a prybar. But I/m still curious, since you are a HUGE advocate of EDCing a "mini" prybar, what are the purposes YOU have used it for.

But seriously......I believe my fingernail along with the proper application of the phalanges (proximal, intermediate and distal) could out pry the CRTK........