How to choose pocket knives

How to Choose Pocket Knives When looking for good pocket knives, here are some things to consider. There are a lot of types of pocket knives available. These include Swiss army knives, folding pocket knives, double blades, etc.

Having a good pocket knife handy that is reliable and lightweight is a requirement for a man.

Types of Knives A folding pocket knife is one of the well-loved knives to keep handy. It is among the most common tools for cutting that people carry today. There are various brands in the market and only a few might fit into your own criteria. Some popular ones include utility blades, Swiss Army knives, multi-tools, butterfly knife (or balisong – illegal in the U.K.) and conventional pocket knives with various blades.

There are also newer pocket knives available on the market today. They are known as assisted opening knives. These knives have Forward Action Spring Technology (FAST). It means that they can be opened quickly and easily, permitting the user to open the knife with just one hand. These folding knives are also [equipped | set] with a safe locking liner, which is means to keep the blade in position until the user needs to open it.

Other folding knives are ambidextrous, meaning left-handed persons can also handle them well.

Some considerations to think about include: Lock Type. A lot of single blade pocket knives come with a locking system to keep the blade in place.

This is basically a feature in order to keep the knife from folding into the user’s hand when in use.

Lock types include lockback, frame, liner, and compression locks.

Pocket clip. Does your knife have a strong and firm pocket clip such that the new blade does not fall out of your pouch? Can it be used for both of your hands? Can it be tipped up or tipped down when carried?

Steel Types. You generally need steel that’s fairly easy to sharpen, won’t dull easily and must be corrosion resistant (important in tropical and humid places).

Choil. Finger choils are grooves in the blade or handle that enables better grasp and lets the user “choke up” on the blade for better control while doing fine cutting jobs.

Blade Shape and Grind. The 3 basic pocket knife grinds include hollow, flat and convex. Each shape and type of blade has its pros and cons so make sure to do your research.

Handle Material. A good grip isn’t only for safety but a knife’s handle is important for the knife’s weight, stability and design.

Blade Length. Choose a pocket knife that seems convenient to carry for you every day. For a lot of people, the best length of blade will be somewhere around 2 to 4 inches. Anything less than 2 inches won’t give a useful blade for most everyday tasks. Anything that is more than 4 inches long is considered too big and heavy to be considered as a pocket knife. A lot of countries also have legal limits to maximum blade length for carry knives. Blades more than 4 inches would be definitely illegal for most countries. In the UK 3 inches is the limit for a folding blade pocket knife.

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