One thing I almost always have in my pocket is a pocket knife. It changes often, but there are a few usual suspects.
Pocket knives are an interesting beast and actually more polarizing than I would have thought. Some people don’t see the need to have one and are intimidated by the idea of somebody having a knife within reach at all times. Other people cannot imagine not having a knife in their pocket and consider it to be imperative to their personal security. I don’t really fall into either camp.
Growing up, a pocket knife was just something that I threw in my pocket and probably used for something during the day. “What’s the point?”, you ask (hilarious knife pun not withstanding). The point is, people carry what they carry for a number of reasons. I know people who carry hunting knives because “It’s the perfect EDC folder, a blade you can do a lot of cutting with.” Other people view them as weapons, with which to protect themselves. Others still just need something to open packages and crack open the occasional cold beverage with.
My question then relates to EDC utilitarianism how much cutting you are doing on a daily basis. Would a small Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool have more functionality and take up less room in your pocket? Ultimately, it falls down to preference,and the tasks you do on a regular basis. If you work in an office, you probably need something that doesn’t take up any space inside your pockets but packs a lot of light functionality. People in the military need a knife that works with some other very specific tasks. Some people truly just like the “bling” factor that comes from having a custom knife that uses the current super steel, with an all titanium construction and ceramic bearings providing the most frictionless flipper action on the market, viewed as art.
I cannot really tell you what will work for you, but I can offer an unbiased and honest opinion on the knives I choose to carry most often that have been whittled down (sorry, last one I promise) from years of having this handy little tool in my pocket. A lot of what is important to me may not be important to you, but I hope at least some applies to the way you think about your pocket tools.
Something that shapes any reviews I make is my personal preferences, where I choose to carry my knife, for example. I choose to carry my pocket knife in my left front pocket, and this comes with its own set of idiosyncrasies but it is where I’ve fallen into the habit of carrying them. If it has a pocket clip, I need to constantly pay attention that I do not lean on anything scratchable, and because of this concern, I don’t clip to my rear pocket because I would gouge anything I sat on like furniture or my car seats. This being the place where this tool resides, it means size is important. Too big without a pocket clip, and it falls sideways in my pocket and is uncomfortable. Too big with a pocket clip, and I cannot get my hand in my jeans. Things like these make picking a knife a very personal thing. Like the idea of everyday carry, I find, no matter what I do, or which knife I buy, the same models usually make it back into my pocket after a time because of this. This rotation is based mostly on function and more often than not, whether they are cumbersome in my pocket.
We will delve into my personal rotation, but for now, head over to Instagram at @blacktuskliving and let me know what you carry.