What Would Be The Perfect Pocket/Handbag Knife For Mom

Ogien

Ogien

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Jan 30, 2012
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Recently I got to thinking that my mom should have some sort of pocket knife or handbag knife. This would be mostly a multi-tool without actually having pliers etc.

My mom is a Nurse and I'm guessing that a Swiss Army type knife would fit the bill perfectly except for one thing, the springs on those knives make it undesirable for her to use. She just doesn't have the strength in her fingers or is afraid of injuring herself, due to the amount of force she would need to apply to deploy the blade. So for the moment I'm thinking that a SAK is just too much too soon with too much spring.

So I figured I'd bring this question to the group as I can't imagine a better bunch of people to pose this question to.

The knife has to be towards the smaller side, has to be a folder of some sort, has to be easy to deploy but without the SA action of a Kershaw Leek or the like.

If it has scissors or other tools with it that would be fine but certainly wouldn't want it to have so many extras that she would have to sit there and spend time trying to find which item is the actual blade.

I'm fairly sure that this post may well apply to many other folks moms, sisters, daughters etc.

What would you guys think would fit the bill?
 
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Obviously it is not a multi-tool but a spyderco UK pen knife would be great IMO.

Its a non locking slipjoint knife that doesn't require much force to deploy and it comes in colors than many find to be quit pleasing.
 
What is your price range?

Take a look at the swiss army swisscard, see if that will work.

As for small knives, take a look at these:
Spyderco ladybug
Spyderco dragonfly
Byrd robin2
Byrd finch
Kershaw LFK
 
Thanks guys, some great suggestions and not over the top monetarily. It's so hard to gauge whether a particular knife is going to be a hit of miss with Mom that it's better to get something affordable yet good quality.

jimnolimit said:
What is your price range?

Take a look at the swiss army swisscard, see if that will work.

As for small knives, take a look at these:
Spyderco ladybug
Spyderco dragonfly
Byrd robin2
Byrd finch
Kershaw LFK
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It has to be a reasonably inexpensive knife that isn't going to see a lot of heavy use but shouldn't fail on the smaller tasks either and occasionally heavier use like if something needs to be cut in a broke down car.

Then it's really hard to shop for women in the first place so combining all those things together a Spyderco Para2 would obviously be out of the question based on cost alone. It still has to pass the Mom test because if she won't use it (for one reason or another) then it will have been a bad purchase no matter which knife it is. It ain't easy shopping for women.
 
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Reccomendations are great, but you should take your mom along with you. Let her pick based on what she feels the most comfortable with. That way, you know she will be happy with the end result, thus more likely to carry and use it.
 
I second the UKPK. Or even a Spyderco Squeak. The Squeak is straight up cute, and is easy to open and small, but still very capable. The blade shape is pretty decent for seatbelt cutting too, since it has that nice thumb ramp to use to keep the tip away from skin.
 
Got the wife and mother-in-law each a mini griptillian in yellow. They love them. Also if she doesn't like it, then you got urself a sweet little blade that's not too girly looking.
 
I'd suggest one of the ladybugs and put it on her keys. It can be a deceptively powerful cutter. It won't take up alot of room or cause alarm in a hospital setting. With a set of keys, its fairly easy to get a full hand grip. You can get it in a variety of different flavors and can be viewed as a cute little knife (especially the tattoo version).
 
small pink dozier/kabar folder, I have given 4 of them away to women and were well received.
its small, cute with a decent using blade.
 
Has she tried a Leatherman Micra. Also there is the Leatherman Squirt S4, Style CS and the Leatherman Juice S2.
 
I Want To Say The Maroon UKPK Or The Purple FFG Spyderco Delica. The Pink Ka-Bar Dozier Is Also A Good Knife But I Would Go The Delica.
Or The Purple Ladybug.
 
My mums 70...Shes got arthritis in her hands..i gave her a Puma folder...She loves it cos its easy to open and close...its also big enough that she can find it easily in her handbag...i pity the thief that tries to rip her off!!........FES
 
Some great suggestions. I'd have mom check out the blades herself but I'm sort of wanting it to be a secondary birthday gift for her.

@festerfromnzed, that is one heck of an endorsement as my mom is just a few years younger but (thankfully) without the arthritis.

@Schwim I like the idea of the griptillian but then there really are more offerenings from Spyderco than I even realized.

I don't know about you guys but sometimes I develop tunnelvision when it comes to shopping and par-oozing knives and a whole world of knives that might be perfect just get missed so I appreciate all the suggestions as it's making me check some makes and makers that I hadn't noticed or figured on.

Not sure yet which one I'm going to go with but I have about a month to figure it out so hopefully that's enough time to figure it out.
 
Ogien said:
It has to be a reasonably inexpensive knife that isn't going to see a lot of heavy use but shouldn't fail on the smaller tasks either and occasionally heavier use like if something needs to be cut in a broke down car.

It still has to pass the Mom test because if she won't use it (for one reason or another) then it will have been a bad purchase no matter which knife it is. It ain't easy shopping for women.
Click to expand...

i would recommend one of the cheaper knives i suggested (byrd robin2, byrd finch or kershaw LFK). i got my best friend, who's not a knife person the kershaw LFK, he loves it. all three of those knives will work well and they are all under $20.
 
Small sebenza, but that may be overkill for a momma. What about a benchmade small griptillian? Comes in pink as well!
 
The Mini-Grip Is A Good Idea.
Though I Would Still Go With The Delica 4.
I Have A Delica 4. It's Thin, Lightweight, A Hell Of A Cutter, Would Take On Light Duty Tasks And Heavy Duty Tasks If Needed As Well. I Find The Lock Back A Really Simple Lock, And The Purple Color Perfect For A Woman. It's Not Too Large, But It's Certainly Not Too Small. It Will Not Get Lost In The Purse, And She Could Clip It To Her Pocket If Needed. It Would Be The Knife I Would Give To My Mom.
 
Ah another 'recommend a knife for a person that really isn't inclined to be capable of using a knife' thread. One of my favorite thread types on this forum.
 
GMAHN said:
Ah another 'recommend a knife for a person that really isn't inclined to be capable of using a knife' thread. One of my favorite thread types on this forum.
Click to expand...

that's why for situations like that i usually recommend lower priced, decent user knives. no sense in spending more if the person won't be able to notice or appreciate the difference.
 
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