20 Uses for a Pocket Knife And Why You Need One
What do all great people have in common? Was it the books they read, the prestigious universities they attended, or the way their accomplishments changed the world?
No. They've all carried pocket knives.
While historians may not be able to back up that claim with either science or facts, it is true that pocket knives as we know them have been around in some form since at least the 1500s.
If you go back even further to the First Century CE, archaeologists have found evidence that Roman soldiers carried folded knives with them, making them the first people to have literal knives made for their pockets.
Throughout all these years, pocket knives, or EDC (every day carry) knives, have been used by people from all walks of life.
Famers, soldiers, boy scouts, doctors, lawyers, astronauts, stock brokers on Wall Street, hermits living in the forest, to name a few, have all found uses for these versatile knives.
That the US government has issued them to soldiers and sailors since the Civil War attests to their utility in all walks of life.
The Beauty of a Pocket Knife
Whereas most tools have limited functions, they are unique in that they can be used in countless ways for many different situations.
Though times have changed drastically since that first Roman soldier stuffed a folded knife into his pocket, we can still find hundreds of uses for them in our modern lives.
Every day brings about new opportunities for using pocket knives. Whether you need to open an envelope, cut some rope, or whittle away at a good-sized branch, here are twenty ways you can use them.
20 Uses
Box opening is not a problem
Boxes may come in all shapes and sizes, but they're all held together by tape, staples, or glue.
Maybe you received a package in the mail, or perhaps you've just moved and now have to unpack all your stuff; whatever the case may be, pocket knives can be your trusty companions when you need to open boxes.
Make cutting fruit an enjoyable past time
Sometimes you don't have a kitchen knife to cut an apple or peach. Or maybe you simply don't want to cut your fruit with any old knife. No matter the reason, they are always available when some fruit needs cutting.
Sharpen pencils with precision
Many artists know that sometimes pencil sharpeners aren't the best tools for the job. To get certain line textures or shading, sometimes pencils have to be sharpened in particular ways that standard sharpeners can't do.
They can come in extra handy when you want to sharpen a pencil in just the right way for your next art project.
Cut any rope
Are you ever in a situation where you have a rope that needs some cutting? Is everyone staring in quiet desperation at a rope that's just too long? You can be the hero by pulling out your knife and cutting as much rope as you want.
Shave off some hair
Maybe you're camping, or perhaps you were in a rush in the morning and forgot to shave. They may not be the ideal choice, but you can use pocket knives for shaving in a pinch.
The only things you'll need are water, some soap, and a reasonably steady hand and you can shave with the blade turned at an angle almost parallel to your skin.
Cutting steak is no problem
Restaurant steak knives are used hundreds, maybe even thousands, of times more than what you have at home. Because of this, it's no wonder they don't cut nearly as well as you'd like.
Pocket knives, however, won't have this problem. Flip it open, start cutting, and enjoy your snake. Everyone else will be staring at you with envy.
Camping is no problem
Like a toothbrush and toothpaste, or cell phones and robocalls, pocket knives and camping were made for each other. There is perhaps an infinite number of uses you'll find for pocket knives when you go camping.
Eating a hot dog fresh off the campfire, opening bean cans, whittling away at sticks, and cutting ropes (it's surprising the number of times you'll be confronted with ropes in your life), pocket knives are your best friends on camping trips.
If MacGyver can go into the forest and make a shopping mall out of a toothpick, imagine what you can do with a pocket knife the next time you're out in the woods.
Picking stuff out of your teeth
Speaking of MacGyver and toothpicks, pocket knives are perfect for picking food from out between your teeth. Toothpicks, made from fragile wood that either easily breaks or gets soggy, are no match for the tooth gap cleaning ability of these knives.
Even if you want to use a toothpick, they're not always around when you need them. Pocket knives, however, are always handy when you need to make sure your teeth are free from the afternoon's lunch.
Revive the lost art of whittling
Sadly, whittling is becoming a lost art form. It used to be that people killed time by carving wood into various tools and designs, all the while letting their minds wonder upon the great mysteries of life. You and your pocket knife can make sure this age-old tradition lives on wherever you go.
Fishing is made much easier
Fishers all over the world can make great use of pocket knives. You can use your knife to chop up bait, cut even the most robust fishing lines, gut the fish you catch, and then fillet them.
Its small size and portability mean you don't have to fumble around with a large knife that's capable of only a fraction of what pocket knives can do.
Cleaning and cutting your nails
Have you ever looked down at your hands and marveled at how much dirt you have underneath your fingernails? Pocket knives are perfect for getting all that grime out from beneath your nails, wherever you may be.
And if you have no clippers around, as is sometimes the case, you can use one of these knives to trim your nails down to a manageable size.
Breaking open a car window
There may be a time in your life when you need to break open a car window. The occasions may be life or death situations, and one of these knives can be the only thing that can save you.
Contrary to popular belief, you'll need to strike with some considerable force at the edge of the window. Rest assured, however, that if you do, that window will break.
Vegetable peeling with ease
Sure, you can fumble through a kitchen drawer looking for a vegetable peeler that you may or may not have, or you can use an EDC knife.
Or maybe you're out in the wilderness, and the only thing between you and starvation is an unpeeled zucchini.
Pocket knives are always there for you when the outer layers of vegetables are getting in the way.
Bottle opening when bottle openers aren't around
Many pocket knives come with bottle openers attached to them. Even if they don't, a carefully wielded EDC knife blade can take the cap right off a bottle without any problem. Just work the blade under the bottle cap and around the rim and it'll come off in no time.
Breaking down boxes
Remember those boxes from before? Just as pocket knives opened them up, they can also tear them down when they're no longer needed. Just cut along the edges and soon that formerly three-dimensional box will be flat as a pancake.
Reviving the lost art of letter opening
Most of the mail we receive nowadays isn't heartfelt messages from friends, but usually something we wish we didn't get. However, we still receive mail on most days, and those envelopes still need to be opened.
A letter opener has only one use, opening letters. Pocket knives, however, have countless applications, which also includes letter opening.
Opening cans
Maybe you're camping, or perhaps you feel like, but pocket knives can easily open up cans. Some of these knives come with actual can openers, but their blades can also easily make a lid for a metal can. Just stab it through and cut around the rim, and you'll soon have it open.
Wire cutting and stripping
An EDC knife can quickly strip a wire's sheathing or cut it entirely. Wirework of any sort is almost impossible without a sound, portable cutter at hand. Regardless of the project or your experience, pocket knives are an essential part of electrical work.
Protect yourself if you need to
Pocket knives are better than nothing when your life is on the line. They may be small, but their sharp blades can still protect you from people who would do you harm. It's a small measure of security for something you hopefully never need.
Conclusion
Pocket knives are better than nothing when your life is on the line. They may be small, but their sharp blades can still protect you from people who would do you harm. It's a small measure of security for something you hopefully never need.
EDC knives are incredible tools with a nearly unlimited number of uses. It doesn't matter what your job is or what you do daily; these little knives can be trusted companions for anyone at any time. The next time you go outside, remember to take your pocket knife and enjoy the many benefits it can bring.
Reasons To Have a Good EDC Knife