Squishor

-age - 41
-country of residence - USA
-occupation - Investigator
-sex - Female


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person? - No (used to for many years)
a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you? - Owned Buck, Gerber, Swiss Army, and various other knives I can't recall the names of. I had a collection of at least a dozen pocket knives, many more at times.
b. if not, why do you not carry a knife? - I got out of the habit when I was on probation for a number of years (wasn't supposed to carry one), and also all my knives are gone now.

Uses have included cutting up food for dinner, cutting twine, cardboard packages and tape, digging splinters, glass and thorns out of myself and animals, cutting my fingernails, cutting gas hoses and radiator belts, general prying, digging and carving and, most importantly, creating sharp sticks. I've never thought it would be a good idea for me to use a knife as a weapon because it could be taken away and used against me. Also I haven't had to.

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc) - I prefer a knife that has about a 3-4 inch blade, not one of those big serrated Rambo-looking hunting knife things but more like just a simple classic blade. I like knives to lock into place, and some of my favorites have had a little knob on the blade for easy opening with the thumb. I prefer a wood handle just because I'm a traditionalist, and I don't really like the look of the white horn that's commonly used. Also small, unusual or novelty knives are fun, just for a change. My favorite ever was sold as a French shepherd's knife - it had a fairly narrow, graceful blade, with brass inlay on the handle and decorative metal engraving along the back, but it was also very functional and held an edge well (most important).

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife? - My biggest problems have been resisting the urge to use my knife as a screwdriver, and carrying it without having a big bulge in my pocket or looking like I'm on my way to the Renaissance Fair with a big sheath on my belt. Oh, and occasionally cutting myself. If I tried to carry a knife now I'd have trouble at airports, since I fly fairly often for my job.

Edit: I think I found a website for the French shepherd's knife. I'm just about certain it was made by this company. http://www.laguiole-elite.com/index2.htm

moot1337

18
USA-CO
convenience store clerk/data entry person
male


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person?
Yes
a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?
Single blade kershaw folder... cutting string, opening boxes, bags, other packaging, and anything else I might need to cut/tear/open

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)
brand- Kershaw makes the sharpest, finest knives I've seen, other than a few key features... sharpest blades of hard stainless, with a good design and nice shape. The steel used should be of high carbon content if the blade is to hold an edge for any period of time... what I've always wanted to see, though, is a steel main blade with the cutting edge only being made of ceramic.... this would be more durable than all ceramic and less expensive as well...

the case of the knife shouldn't rust and should have a durable finish... shape should be round/tapered so that it fits easily into a pocket or has a pocket clip. it's also critical that it opens quickly, but not in the pocket. Kershaw has a nice tension bar design that assists the open once initiated by a thumb stud.... it's nice

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife? mine in particular needs a more comfortable thumb stud, but other than that it's nearly perfect

DelayedReaction

Basic Information (if you do not want to give this input, your welcome not to)

22
College Park, MD USA
Student
Male


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person?

Yes

a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?

I carry a 4" folding S&W SWAT knife and a Leatherman SuperTool. Currently they provide a cutting surface and tool funcitonality, and I suppose the folding knife could be used in a self defense situation. I would probably end up hurting myself in that case, but it's there. I plan on swapping the SWAT for a Spyderco Police Model after Xmas, because the SWAT has a crappy edge on it.

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)

It fits my hand well, and is comfortable to use. Unfortunately the blade can't keep an edge, which pisses me off to no end.

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife?

I'd give it an edge that doesn't suck, and improve the smoothness of the opening action. Occaisionally opening the knife is gritty.

__________________
If ignorance is bliss, you must be having an orgasm.

Big Cholla

Over 50
USA
Law Enforcement Patrol Officer

1. Yes, two all the time; Swiss Army Master Tinkerer and a Spyderco Police with plain edge.

2. The Swiss Army is for everyday tasks. The multiple blades all have come in handy one time or another and its two cutting blades hold a good edge for quite a bit of use.

The Spyderco Police is for emergency use around accident victims. It opens with one hand and cuts seat belts with one pass. The metal in the blade holds a very nice edge for a long time.

3. Problems are practically none with either one. I did lose a scale off one side of a Swiss Army, but I had abused the knife in use. The shop keeper exchanged it for a new one and returned the old to Victorinox.

An aside: I teach Desert Survival to LEOs. I recommend to them to have in their survival backpack one of the top quality single-blade folders with a 3 inch to 4 inch blade that are available today. A larger, heavier knife really speeds up many chores that come up in survival camping. I carry in my backpack a custom made 4 inch blade locking folder in a soft case that can be carried on a belt when needed.

tropple

56
USA
Tech Writer
Male


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person?
No
a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?
NA
b. if not, why do you not carry a knife?
I carried a knife when I needed on day-to-day. My job requires a nice pair of scissors more often than a knife. Besides, my company has internal policies that forbide such activity.

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)
I carried a nice brown anodized Buckmaster for a number of years. Very nice, reliable, held a good edge. Also, I carred a electrician's pocket knife (3.5 inch blade, and straight slot screwdriver blade.


3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife?
Never had a problem with either knife, though I sometimes wished that the handle of the electrician's pocket knife was a bit thicker and cushioned.

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bookiebye

31
Canada
Student
Male

1. I carry a two ince folding pocket knife with me at all times. I use it for anything that arises from opening packages, stripping wires and turning screws.
2. The positves include the shape(very thin) and weight. I can carry it in my change pocket without even knowing it's there.
3. No problems. It has a very simple design, smooth opening motion and maintains a good edge.

Hope this helps DL

__________________
Get it done!

shakran

-age 30's
-country of residence USA
-occupation photojournalist
-sex M


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person? yes
a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you? a leatherman and a spyderco endura with the 50/50 blade. The leatherman does all the million things I need it to do for my job. The spyderco is an insurance policy.
b. if not, why do you not carry a knife?

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc) Talking about the spyderco here. Great little knife. Durable, sharp as hell from the factory, I prefer the hole rather than a thumb stud - I can get it flipped out faster that way. The weight is great. They managed to make a hard plastic handle grippy with the texturing they used, although I've fortunately never had to use it in earnest, and if I did I'm wondering if the blood would make the handle too slick.

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife? the clip. The resin that makes up the handle has a channel in it that secures the top of the clip. Doesn't take too long for this channel to get damaged by the clip trying to move back and forth. Then it's very hard for the clip to stay in place. The screw holding the clip also tends to come loose often, so half the time I wind up with a very loose clip.

raeanna74

30 - age
US - country of residence
Home Day Care Provider - occupation
Female - sex


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person? Yes - Not on my person but in my purse so I still always have it with me.

a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?
It's a small stainless steel pocket knife with about 4 options on it. EDIT: (After closer inspection it has 6 options but two of which I rarely use. It has knife, scissors, phillips screwdriver, straight edge screwdriver, corkscrew, can opener. I've only used the corkscrew and can opener's once each. I could do without them even. I do like the design and grip on the handle so won't be trading it in for a different one unless it's the same design.)
The small scissors I've used to cut out coupons in the grocery store. I've used the knife itself to open boxes or packages. I've used the scissors to cut threads when I've repaired an article of clothing (this is mostly when I'm traveling) and I've used the screwdriver end of one of the options to open the back of a toy (in travel) and replace the batteries and I've used the screwdrivers for many other things. I find that I actually use it fairly often.

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)
Small - fits in the palm of my hand
It has three rubber stripes on each side where you fingers end up when it's open. Makes it easy to hold and use.
It's not too heavy and has mainly the options that I would use.

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife? It does not have a tweezer as some swiss army knives have and I would like to have that. I have needed that option on more than one occaision.

__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

THGL

-34
-USA
-Graphic Designer
-M


1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person?
-Yes
a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?
-Victorinox Secretary

-Opening boxes, cutting string, carving my initials into dead hookers

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)
-Dual blade, all stainless steel, very thin profile (can wear with jeans or dress slacks and it doesn't show). I've found that Victorinox makes blades that are extremely sharp, very strong, and hold their edge for a very long time.

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife?
-Nothing, it's the perfect all around "pocket knife"... that's why I bought it. I also have within my reach a Victorinox Cybertool and in my car I have a Victorinox Handyman

Redlemon

So, DLChaney, when do we find out about your knife?

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.

jwoody

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person?

NO, that would be illegal. I use one at work very often.


a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?

A scalpel. I use it for cutting paper, mounting board and flooring samples.


2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)

It's the only knife that cuts clean enough for presentation purposes.


3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife?

Blades blunt easily or snap. Handle is very uncomfortable.

Lebell

-age - 40
-country of residence - US
-occupation - Partime Database Admin, Partime Student
-sex - M


Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person?

Yes

a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you?

A CRKT M16 - 13M.

I use it constantly to open/break down boxes and for other misc cutting tasks. It is also a backup self-defense weapon.

b. if not, why do you not carry a knife?

2. What are the positives about your particular brand, style and shape of your knife? (material, wieght, form, etc)

An exceptional quality to value knife. I like the skeleton handle and the cutting serrations (they saw through cardboard quickly)

3. what problems do you face with your knife, what would you change if you could about your knife? I can't think of a single thing I would change about it.

__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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MXL

-age 35
-country of residence - US
-occupation - Computer Programmer
-sex - Male

Questionare:

1. Do you own a knife that you carry on your person? YES
a. If so what type, and what uses does it provide you? Leatherman Wave and Leatherman Clip

I use it for everything from tightening screws, to open beer bottles to projects around the house. I feel naked without. This is not a defensive weapon, but rather a tool.

JustDisGuy

Age: 36
Country: Canada
Occupation: Network administrator / user support
Sex: Regularly

1. Yes. I carry my Victorinox Swiss-Army CyberTool 34 with me religiously.
2. The multi-purpose nature of the knife ensures that I find a use for it almost daily, for everything from opening bottles to cutting off hangnails to repairing eyeglasses or writing a note. It fits in my pocket, so it is not obvious that I'm carrying it, which makes the PTB's happier.
3. The only thing I would change about it would be to keep a better edge on the actual blades longer, or to have a pocket-sized sharpener that I could carry with it, or to make it just a utilitarian but a bit smaller. Not a very realistic change that last one. The only other thing I would like to change is people's perceptions - for some reason, most people I know see a knife and think "weapon", where I see a knife, and I think "tool". Dunno why that is, or how to change it...

__________________
"Act as if the future of the universe depends on what you do, while laughing at yourself for thinking that your actions make any difference."