Pen blades

filedog

filedog

Joined
Sep 3, 2002
Messages
518
I've been carrying a Colt (Rough Rider clone) teardrop jack, for a few weeks now. I like the jack pattern, 2 blades are perfect for me.
I have been using modern knives prior to this, with only a single blade. I'm surprised how much the pen blade comes in handy.
Previously I had thought they were all pretty much the same size, that is - small. Looking at some of GEC's knives I see their pen
blades are somewhat bigger than I've seem before, maybe 3/4 of the main blade lenght. Is this common? What length do you like
your pen blades to be? Or is it more of a ratio of pen to main size?
 
I likewise find a pen blade to be handy. Actually, I'm more concerned about width instead of length. A narrow blade is good for reaching into a confined spade and applying the cutting surface there. For instance, when cutting a knot in a rope, a narrow pen can cut from the inside instead of cutting from the outside of the knot as one is forced to do with a larger blade.
 
A pen is my favorite secondary blade. It's more about ratio of main to pen to me than absolute size. I'm not at all fond of knives with two blades of the same size, so the greater the difference between the two blades, the more useful I find it overall.
 
I have an EDC 1973 Case Mini half Trapper that the pen blade is just about gone while the clip blade is almost new/medium used (?). Pen blade sucks for cheese/apples/fish/rabbits/tobacco plug, but the clip, where it excels at those tasks, these days, doesn't get that much use but once or twice a year.
Pen blade is great for picking splinters, getting at package tape and into pipe bowls.
 
My dad carried a small whittler. At night I'd see him sit down and pull out his knife. He'd open the pen blade and proceed to clean and trim his finger nails. For my dad a small thin pen blade was ideal.
 
The Pen is a great and handy #2 blade. I prefer a Coping for the #2, but nothing wrong with a Pen and it's def my next favorite for a second blade. Small and thin is how i prefer it. Opening mail, packages, cutting hay bale strings, removing splinters, trim or clean nails, etc.
 
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