What do you use your folding knife for?

[DanR1]

I'm just curious what you find yourself using your pocket knife for most on a daily basis?

And also, if you do use it on tougher tasks, what tougher tasks are those? And how often?

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[Wurrwulf]

Thick plastic ties are really about the roughest work my knives see, and that's probably a once per month type thing. My daily needs are opening envelopes/packages, cutting tape, slicing fruits/veggies/sandwiches, cleaning under my fingernails, and cutting loose threading on clothes.

 

[NMpops]

Everything Wurrwulf said and I will add to that occasional scraping, light prying (replacing batteries etc), plus they make great worry stones!

 

[black mamba]

Very seldom any really tough tasks for mine. My normal carry is an SAK alox Cadet and a large stockman. This gives me a lot of options. The two most used blades (tools) on the Cadet are the bottle opener/screw driver and the nail file (self explanatory). The main clip on the stockman is used for envelopes, food, and anything where a pointy tip is needed. The sheepfoot gets the toughest tasks of cardboard, zip ties, cutting leather, etc. I have a Northfield #23 Pioneer linerlock and an Opinel #9 that I use around the house for outdoor work, but they don't get carried. Anything more demanding gets the attention of a fixed blade.

 

[Pàdruig]

Its an interesting question, subjective per the user, yet rather straightforward at the same time.

I have used a folder for innumerable tasks and usually the use is dictated by whatever my current job at the time was. I worked many years as a communications technician and my folder at the time was used for everything from stripping and splicing cable to digging up a cut mainline in gravelly soil. It took an absolute beating, as you can imagine. Presently, my work is done mostly behind a desk so I find myself not needing large or overbuilt folders, though I still enjoy them. I find that my tasks are limited to pretty much everything that Wurrwulf stated above, with the toughest tasks being relegated to my fixed blades when camping or hiking.

 

[Pàdruig]

That is a handsome piece. I do not recognize the markings though.

 

[Dr-Mabuse]

I use mine for taking lots of facebook photos, shaving hair off my arm and slicing telephone book pages.

Seriously though, I cut things. Lots of things. Carpet, vinyl, wood, english muffins, fruit, meat, sandwiches, cardboard, tape, threads, cuticles, plants, mushrooms, plastic blister packs, pill package backing, zip ties and that's in the last month.. should I keep going? Yes I have to bear down on it sometimes. Fairly often.

 

[joeradza]

Mostly humble tasks as noted before. Food (a lot), envelopes, normal everyday tasks. At this point carrying anyone of my traditional knives is more emotionally satisfying just knowing its there and gives me a connection to something that is hard to adequately express.

 

[Wurrwulf]

Mostly humble tasks as noted before. Food (a lot), envelopes, normal everyday tasks. At this point carrying anyone of my traditional knives is more emotional satisfying just knowing its there and gives me a connection to something that is hard to adequately express.

Brilliantly stated, Alan. I joke a lot about "pocket jewelry", but you've succinctly struck the proverbial nail on its head. It is very much an emotional connection, which I find mostly linked to nostalgia.

 

[mrknife]

Honestly? Nothing, most days I dont need to cut anything. it is a nice tool to have should I need to cut something tho. I do take it out to swivel around my fingers to pass time tho.

 

[Emspop]

My pocket knife , usually a Buck 303, sees a lot of use. I work in the trades so in any given day it will open a bag concrete, strip 10 gauge wire, scrape broken groutout off tile, cut drywall, open ice melt bags, mark a cut on a trim board, bypass a door lock... Today I used it to open 3 packages with new knives in them , these are the best days!it varies day to day but it sees plenty of use. I try to change up to something pretty in the week ends.

 

[vilePossum]

Hmmm, as stated... mostly for nothing. Light food preparation, envelopes... trimming of threads... hardest use... breaking down cardboard boxes, cutting zip ties. But yeah, mostly light use. That's why my primary once again is a sak, this time a very special (to me) one.

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[Jody744]

That is a handsome piece. I do not recognize the markings though.

I resemble this remark...
I cut whatever needs cutting. Alox pioneer gets the dirty stuff, gec 15 gets the clean.

 

[jec88]

Toughest tasks for me would be hunting, fishing and camping. The first time I went to deer camp, mid 1980's, I pulled out a huge Rambo type flea market knife that was popular at the time and about got laughed out of camp by the older guys. Most used either an old timer stockman, Case trapper, or Buck 110. People often ask for suggestions on a hunting knife in the forums and when someone suggests a folder, they about get tarred and feathered for even suggesting a folding knife, especially a slip joint that doesn't lock. Imagine having to clean that out! But I know alot of guys probably around 55 plus and a stockman type knife is still the go-to hunting knife.

 

[black mamba]

That is a handsome piece. I do not recognize the markings though.

It's a 9" OAL hunter from Stuart Davenport (SamuraiStuart) here on the Exchange. He specializes in high hardness steels, this one in CPM-M4 at 65 HRc. He is also an expert sharpener and is very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

 

[Pàdruig]

I resemble this remark...
I cut whatever needs cutting. Alox pioneer gets the dirty stuff, gec 15 gets the clean.

Ha! Well, you know what they say, if the shoe fits...

It's a 9" OAL hunter from Stuart Davenport (SamuraiStuart) here on the Exchange. He specializes in high hardness steels, this one in CPM-M4 at 65 HRc. He is also an expert sharpener and is very reasonably priced. Highly recommended.

Thanks a bunch for the info and recommendation, It looks like a fantastic blade.

 

[neal70]

Everything listed above and more , I suppose. Trimming plastics. Trimming wood. When I was able to work as a carpenter, about half the time I'd reach for my Stanley knife the other half my pocket. Marking boards to length, to backing out coping cuts on trim to cutting house wrap. Never cut asphalt shingles, but wooden ones yah. Hell I'll dig out dandelions at the root, 3+" down with the yard work ones. That way they're less likely to comeback. Re-hafting and re-handling tools. Cutting wedges if I don't have the apropos chisel handy. Really, you name it.
Thanks, Neal

 

[Henry Beige]

All of the above, plus popping open the occasional frozen car door. Then there is the task that is most important to my work, sharpening pencils. I drive a school bus, and the kids leave a lot of pencils behind, usually with broken points. Of course, knives are verboten these days in any school setting, so I never let the kids see one. During layovers, I will sharpen up a few pencils against the chance that a kid will ask for one, for homework or whatever, which happens two or three times a week.

 

[VashHash]

I use mine for utility task mainly. Some food usage depending on what it is. Cleaning small game but haven't used a traditional for that yet. Sometimes I'll honestly just cut stuff to cut stuff. Boxes and rope usually. A good deal of plastic wrap from pallets and old dirty rope. I usually carry a couple of knives and have some for different task. Not trying to stick a carbon steel blade in my pocket if I'm going to the beach and all. Usually keep a cheaper beater in my pocket too if someone ask for a knife.

 

[*Magic*]

I also work in trades, and my 92 Eureka jack and my Freemont jack see a lot of hard use, scraping, opening boxes cutting rope, striping wire. I used my Freemont jack last week to cut a trailer tire off of the trailer axle it had blown came off the rim and wrapped around the trailer axle and locked up the trailer.