Main reason you carry a knife [POLL]

Here's why I like to carry a knife when I leave home [choose main reason]:

  • Honestly, its jewelry, an accessory to me. A statement about who I am, and is useful on occasion.

    Votes: 26 11.9%

  • A knife is a tool. I keep one handy because it helps me get my work/job done.

    Votes: 161 73.9%

  • I keep a knife on my person for safety reasons, for personal protection.

    Votes: 3 1.4%

  • Because I love to drop a pic of my EDC in one of the bladeforums threads!

    Votes: 5 2.3%

  • Other

    Votes: 23 10.6%
  • Total voters
    218
Slice-and-dice

Slice-and-dice

Joined
Jun 20, 2023
Messages
493
What is the main reason you carry a knife? Not the only reason, but why you typically don't leave home without it.
 
All one needs to do is check out the "EDCXIII What Knife or Knives Are You Carrying" thread to see that the at least half of knives posted there have never cut anything. They don't even have marks on the clip so they aren't really carried either.

Given the choice between admitting that they're ostentarious jewelry and pretending that they're "hard use" tools, people are gonna people.

Polls are funny that way.
 
Spillproof said:
All one needs to do is check out the "EDCXIII What Knife or Knives Are You Carrying" thread to see that the at least half of knives posted there have never cut anything. They don't even have marks on the clip so they aren't really carried either.

Given the choice between admitting that they're ostentarious jewelry and pretending that they're "hard use" tools, people are gonna people.

Polls are funny that way.
Click to expand...
So how do you explain the many BFers like you who boast that they really use their knives (unlike those who buy more decorative knives), yet many of those same "use your knives" BFers put for sale their knives that are BNIB, LNIB, or "original edge, never sharpened"?
 
1st and 2nd options really. I like knives, I love traditional knives. I don't use them daily but quite a few times on a longer basis, so I can't say that it's just a pocket jewelery or something. Also, I got used to have a knife or a multitool with me. It's like watches - you start wearing them and after some time you just don't feel right not having one on your wrist while going out.
 
Spillproof said:
All one needs to do is check out the "EDCXIII What Knife or Knives Are You Carrying" thread to see that the at least half of knives posted there have never cut anything. They don't even have marks on the clip so they aren't really carried either.

Given the choice between admitting that they're ostentarious jewelry and pretending that they're "hard use" tools, people are gonna people.

Polls are funny that way.
Click to expand...

Meh. Some of us are pretty open about our knife use.

Most of my stuff is nice and shiny. I've been vocal about how my life has changed and I don't use knives as much or as hard as I did 20, 30, 40 years ago. Everything I own has cut stuff, with the exception of my AB Meerkat. These days my knives cut string, para cord, tape, open mail/ packages, break down cardboard boxes for recycling, cut the occasional piece of food. I keep mine cleaned and oiled, I want to be able to enjoy them for the remainder of my time.

If someone just wants to collect and post photos, that's OK too. IMHO.
 
Spillproof said:
All one needs to do is check out the "EDCXIII What Knife or Knives Are You Carrying" thread to see that the at least half of knives posted there have never cut anything. They don't even have marks on the clip so they aren't really carried either.

Given the choice between admitting that they're ostentarious jewelry and pretending that they're "hard use" tools, people are gonna people.

Polls are funny that way.
Click to expand...
You have some point here, but. My most used knives don't really look like they were used that much. You can recognize them as users almost only by sharpening marks. I've been carrying the same multitools for a couple of years in various BTs all across the country and they were used in each trip a lot, and one looks like it's new, another one looks a bit used mostly because it's plastic scales are prone to marks (SAK). I just don't carry them with coins, keys and other stuff, I don't use them for what they weren't intended for, and I always clean them as soon as possible after use if needed. Go figure.

P.S.: and hey, pocket slip is a thing!
 
The choices presented for voting are not necessarily mutually exclusive, are they? I would vote for the first two combined if that were a choice and I can think of another couple as well. This is not a criticism of the poll as created; just a suggestion to expand the list of choices and to allow multiple replies from an individual. If it would turn out that many of us have multiple reasons for carrying a knife that, in itself, says something about how we think of knives.
 
A knife is a cutting tool. In a day to day life, it's not unusual to run across something that has to be cut. Food items, packages, whatever. Sometimes, there may even be some emergency that the need for a sharp cutting tool. In January of 1991, I witnessed a car accident where a car rolled and caught fire. The driver was trapped in her seatbelt, hanging upside down in a car filling with greasy black smoke. The seat belt would not release under both thumbs pushing as hard as I could. Digging out a well used Buck 301 stockman, it was easy to cut the seat belt and drop the idiot driver on her head, and we both crawled out of the burning wreck. The 1 3/4 inch sheep foot blade made short work of the nylon seatbelt.

No way could I have chewed through that nylon, or tear at it with my nails. But...that sharp little blade saved the lady driver from an ugly death. Any sharp blade would have done the deed, but thats the thing, have a knife on you! Teeth and nails have limitations.
 
I always carry a knife first as a tool.

But the knife I select is about the statement I wish to make if the knife makes an appearance in public. For example:

--a GEC or antique folder to impress traditionalists or simply for my own enjoyment,
--an automatic to show off to fellow knife geeks,
--or a flipper or button lock with a pocket clip when a GEC isn't practical or an auto might be too scary for the wrong audience.
 
had at least 3 on my since 1967/1968.
they a tool. I am retired now, but the need to cut something (no. not various "me" parts :rolleyes:) now and again remains.
I may be in the minority, but I have never seen a knife as a viable "weapon" for self defense. At least not for m. I lack the training, and have less than zero interest in getting it. My can of 15% bear spray is much better for that use.
 
PointyThings said:
I always carry a knife first as a tool.

But the knife I select is about the statement I wish to make if the knife makes an appearance in public. For example:

--a GEC or antique folder to impress traditionalists or simply for my own enjoyment,
--an automatic to show off to fellow knife geeks,
--or a flipper or button lock with a pocket clip when a GEC isn't practical or an auto might be too scary for the wrong audience.
Click to expand...
Wow, some great replies in this thread. thanks for the honesty and for sharing. I'd have to agree that I carry for many reasons, but like to have a nicely designed traditional blade if i need to pull it out. Once in a great while, a friend recognizes the knife and it starts a cool conversation.

thanks for all the replies!
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
So how do you explain the many BFers like you who boast that they really use their knives (unlike those who buy more decorative knives), yet many of those same "use your knives" BFers put for sale their knives that are BNIB, LNIB, or "original edge, never sharpened"?
Click to expand...
How would I know?
I've never sold a knife.

I don't care why people buy the knives they do or whether or not they use them. Posers bother me though. And there's lots of that.
 
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Spillproof said:
All one needs to do is check out the "EDCXIII What Knife or Knives Are You Carrying" thread to see that the at least half of knives posted there have never cut anything. They don't even have marks on the clip so they aren't really carried either.

Given the choice between admitting that they're ostentarious jewelry and pretending that they're "hard use" tools, people are gonna people.

Polls are funny that way.
Click to expand...

I mean, if you work in an office and keep your knives clean, you can certainly have a “user” that looks nearly pristine. I don’t see people in the EDC thread making wild claims about hard use with fancy knives.
 
The knife is to use, the sandwich is ostentarious ;) :) :thumbsup:

nCCkRCN.jpg
 
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