One for you and one to share

[Will Power]

It might be a clapped out cliché...but in the case of knives I think it best "Neither a borrower nor lender be . For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry "

 

[SoansoMcMasters]

I don't carry a loaner, but I will loan, depending. I generally ask what the task is. If its scraping, praying, screwdriver stuff... sure, have the leatherman and use the screwdriver and awl blades.

Leatherman has the best praying blades on the market.

 

[JM2]

Leatherman has the best praying blades on the market.

Yep...anytime you loan a knife you must have a good prayer life.

 

[marantz]

I remember an old saying about loaning pens, carry a nice one you like, and never loan it out. Also carry a cheap one to loan out, that you wouldn't be sorry to lose. Although people are more likely to keep loaned pens than a loaned knife. r8shell has a good point, people that don't carry knives probably don't need anything more than a Vic Classic or Rambler. And the other tools, especially the scissors, are darn handy at times. On the one hand, I'm loathe to loan out a knife, especially after hearing stories of people loaning out theirs and finding it used as an ice pick. On the other hand, I'm a pocket knife missionary, thinking every responsible person should have one. I used to admonish my coworkers not to use their car or house keys to open packages, since that soft brass key is not going to last long with that abuse. (Fiberglass strapping tape, really?) Then after tiring of their assumption that I would always loan out my knife, I started asking them, well, where's YOUR knife? Some got with the program, some didn't. I've started carrying a cheap Chinese Schrade 18OT Mighty Mite to complement my larger locking folder clipped to my pocket, and the Wenger Pocket Tool Chest clipped to my mini pry bar and AAA LED flashlight. The Mighty Mite has a 2" blade, which is enough for most non knife people, and a stiff liner lock, so they can't close it on their fingers. I tell them I'll close it when they're done. It's more a quick small accessory knife for me, but an occasional loaner, and missionary conversation starter.

 

[Henry Beige]

I carry a couple of knives. Neither is a loaner. People do not ordinarily ask to borrow one, so I don’t have a policy .

 

[E40]

I mostly get asked "Can you bring your knife over here and cut this?" because they know I won't let them use it and they are deathly afraid of either cutting their own limb off or "messing it up" (the knife).

 

[Jack Black]

Interesting. Although I often carry two knives, neither is a loaner. I will cut something for someone if he asks, but I won't hand a knife to someone to just walk away and do who knows what with it.

Same here

 

[nmcbride]

Leatherman has the best praying blades on the market.

My leatherman is sporting a broken tip for this very reason

 

[nmcbride]

Thanks for all the insight it’s great getting everyone’s opinions

 

[Ace Rimmer]

"May I borrow your pen?"
"It's a fountain pen, do you know how to use a fountain pen?"
"I guess, what's the difference, it's just a pen, right?"
"Then NO!"

"May I borrow your knife?"
"I really don't like to loan a knife. But I'll be glad to help! What needs to be cut?"

"May I borrow your tools?"
"Ummmm... I'm not comfortable loaning tools. What are you working on? I'll grab my tools and help you with it!"

 

[Old Engineer]

I usually carry 2 knives and my friends and family know it . If someone needs something cut , they just ask me to cut it . That sometimes changes when we have our family Christmas gathering when there are a number of guys who also have knives and want to see what Pappy is carrying and they will use my knife and then CF & CE it for a while , but I never loan a knife to someone who does not know how to use it . If I am carrying a Bear Trap , I will not let anyone open or close it . I am surprised at how many men and women are afraid to open a pocket knife blade .
As for Ink Pens . I gave up on them when we stopped using Ink Pens when making mechanical drawings in 1962 .

Harry

 

[rishma]

I don’t specifically carry a loaner. My family regularly asks me to cut something or to borrow my knife because I am nearly 100% reliable in having a knife in my pocket. It’s less common for a friend or acquaintance to ask for a knife.

When someone asks for a knife, I loan it out without hesitation. My thinking is, if someone asks for a knife they want to cut something and that’s what the tool is for. I guess I’d be horrified if they used it as a screwdriver or to pry something, but it seems really unlikely they would ask for a knife if that is the task they had in mind.

I suppose someday I might be unpleasantly surprised but I don’t worry about it.

Edit, thinking further… I think relative to the average person I am less worried about my belongings. I really don’t like to loose things but if they get used I feel they have purpose and it’s satisfying to me. I think that is why I am not a good collector…having things that don’t get used bothers me. I like using them, when others use them too it’s a bonus.

 

[jc57]

I don't ever recall someone asking to borrow a pocket knife from me. I am really never in situations where that would tend to occur. I do occasionally get requests from other people to sharpen their knives for them, but not to borrow one of mine.