I saw this story today:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/21/mil...cue/index.html
and from Feb was this one:
http://wbztv.com/local/Car.wash.rescue.2.932096.html
(ignore how the woman involved was really stupid wearing a scarf whilst working in a ****ing car wash)

There are more stories like these that regularly show up, but im too lazy to find them. However as often as people are saved by knives, they definately seem out of favour in "our group". Ie id class the avg 2+2er as mid 20s and mostly urban.

So out of curiosity - would you be able to help these people in these situations? Do you carry a pocket knife, or a rescue tool (example) or even just a sturdy pair of scissors? By sturdy i mean able to cut clothing, a seatbelt etc, so nail clippers wouldnt count.

For the poll, assume a pocket knife to be any edged knife (fixed, folding, locking, none locking).

I carry a full size Swiss Army Knife 95%+ of the time (when im out drinking i leave it at home for example) and a smaller knife on my keychain 100% so im never away from a cutting tool - how about you?

This is also a great opportunity for knife collectors to show off their $500 Strider or Atwood knife

Too many people carry knives, so if it ever comes up, someone else has one. I carry a rod.

I usually have one packed whenever I leave for the night, go to a park, take a long drive, etc. Not so much when I head to the grocery store.

I always carry one. You'd be surprised how often it comes in handy for just opening random stuff, etc.

Also:

I agree, i use my SAK a tonne and the little Spyderco on my keys gets its fair share.

This is the MA law on dangerous weapons (laws for all 50 states here: http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm)

Someone find me something dangerous that doesn't fit in there. Might be kind of tough, the 1.5 inch limit on knife blade is weak.

oh and to save you some time:

manrikigusari
http://morgrimvanlex.mo.funpic.de/ba...rikigusari.jpg

zoobow=nunchuks

I keep a Gerber multi-tool in my shoulder bag which is with me most of the time. I use it half a dozen times a week for random stuff, including about half an hour ago.

Knife = Tool
Knife <> Weapon

Sam can be said about a hammer, monkey wrench, sharpened screwdriver, even a tree branch.

Its the tool weilding it that changes anything into a weapon.

I used to carry a swiss army knife all the time when I was in middle school and early high school. I think I thought was cool. But I've got too much other crap competing for pocketspace now (cell phone, keychain with bottle opener, sometimes a digital camera) to want to fit a knife. If I for some reason constantly wore cargopants and space wasn't an issue, I'd carry one.

Neuro, a knife with a clip would be a good thing to try. Get a cheapo first and see if it works, but clipping to the top of your pocket means it doesnt settle at the bottom with your phone and keys etc.

Also a Boker Keyton is a great tiny locking knife with a good clip. Check your local laws for if you can carry it, but it should be fine if your in the US.

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Eyedea, this isnt a thread on weapons, knives are great tools but truly pathetic weapons of defense (i assume you arent a ninja assassin). To give you a one sentence answer to move the thread on a large heavy flashlight like a D Cell Maglight with a powerful LED drop in is the best legal everywhere weapon as its a heavy aluminium bat that can dazzle people.

I have never had the need for a knife or cutting tool. If I needed one there is always some place I could get one fast. It adds bulk to your pocket for something I could never imagine needing.

I just carry around a one inch fold out knife on my keychain and have done so for 8ish yrs or so. It always great to have around so many times where a freind needs a knife to open or work on something when there is nothing else around. I used to carry around a palm sized blade when I was younger but as an adult I can only see that getting me in trouble.

Used to have a swiss army knife about an inch and a half long that stayed on my keychain. I forgot about having it at the airport one time and it was confiscated. Never replaced it.

I always carry a pocket knife, except in prohibited places like airports, courthouses, etc. I occasionally carry a kubotan.

No but i carry a 5 inch fury dagger

In before a penis joke

OP wants to evaluate his chances to rob someone

Since I fly on a somewhat regular basis, I had to ditch my trusty Swiss Army and add one of these to my key chain:



It's reasonably functional and I have yet to have any issues taking it with me on trips.

the only time i carry a pocket-knife or anything siminliar to it is at work, i do land surveying work for a civil engineering company; and things like a pocket knife come in pretty handy when trying to read a LS/RE # on a property corner and things of that nature

it depends on what im doing, but id say about 40-50% of the time i carry a leatherman tool. if im fishing, outside, doing a few other things i always have it, but when im playing sports, at the grocery store, or out to eat i rarely have it.

I always carry this. Even though mine is black and doesnt say firefighter. The blade is a little dif. to but i could not find exact one. It does have a seatbelt cutter and a window breaker on it though.

I have a Leatherman Micra on my key ring. Use it probably 2-3 times a week for a vary of things.

Not to derail, but a knife is a great tool for utility and self-defense...If you ever been in a street fight/encounter, you'd be better off with a weapon than without one because you can't always run away. Guns are better weapons but they are harder to pack and not as good in very close or tight quarters. Who carries a mag lite or a baseball bat walking around? Bats are a swing once, you miss, you're toast deal. I will agree that most people mindlessly carrying a knife for fighting purposes are stupid because they have no clue how to use one or simply wield one around in a situation and just get shot...in the land of guns, that's not very smart.

I like a keychain buck knife w/ an LED light...comes in handy camping, etc. A good Spiderco Delica is another relatively cheap and reliable fav.

lol -- knife vs maglite

In jr high we carried knives and thought they were pretty cool. I still think they are neat, I want to buy some badass knives but I wouldn't carry them around, just to play with at home and probably hurt myself.

I think the times when I wish i had a pocket knife on me have all been extremely limited. In fact I can't even think of a single time I've needed one, however I'm sure it has happened sometime.