Why You Should Carry A Pocket Knife Every Single Day

You’re not a pirate, swashbuckling – whatever that is – across the seven seas. Are you a surgeon who just can’t stand being unprepared to operate at a moment’s notice? I doubt that you’re on the Olympic fencing team.

So, that begs the question: why would anyone want to carry a knife? More specifically (and more practically), why would YOU carry a pocket knife every day? 

We’re going to tackle that very question. Keep reading to learn more about the philosophy and practicality of carrying a pocket knife every day, and some of the benefits of doing just that. T

The Philosophy

It’s very likely that you’re familiar with the concept of everyday carry (or EDC) – you’re on the Knafs blog, right? For those who aren’t, let’s talk about it briefly. EDC is all about preparation. Carrying daily necessities to make your life easier and make you more functional in your world. Most people walk out the door with wallet, keys, phone. 

But for those of us that consider ourselves part of the EDC community, we take functional to a higher level. We live for that tingle of joy when someone asks, "Can you help me cut this?" Admit it – you love being that guy (or girl). There’s something magical about being more useful. Something fulfilling. It's being independent and dependable, self-reliant and reliable, all at the same time.

It’s easy to fall into the trope of saying that you want to carry a knife because you want to be ‘prepared.’ So let's explore some practical reasons for keeping a knife in your daily essentials rotation. 

Practical Benefits of Carrying a Pocket Knife

Let’s talk about practicality. We live in a consumer’s world that loves tape, plastic, and packaging. If nothing else, it helps with the mundane mailer opening. But that’s the low-hanging fruit. That’s an obvious one. Let’s talk about other situations where you’d want to be sure to have your favorite EDC knife readily available. 

Situations Where Knives are Invaluable

Opening Packages

For these situations, smaller knives are a great option. They’re lightweight and don’t add unnecessary bulk to your pockets. 

• A personal favorite of mine is the Civivi Baby Banter with a wharncliffe blade. The wharncliffe, or ‘wharnie,’ is absolute perfection for slicing through tape and opening packages. The straight edge and sloped spine allow for great control and precision cutting.
  

Cutting ropes, strings, or tags

You might lump this in with the usual packages and tape, but I’d argue they’re different. If you’ve ever struggled to get the plastic tag off of a recent purchase – don’t chance tugging and pulling until you put a hole in your fresh new hoodie. Using a knife to cut it off will prevent any mishaps. And if you ever come across a rope that needs untied, but the knot just won’t play nicely – a good pocket knife will make easy work of pesky rope. 

• If you’re looking for a reliable knife to fill this void - check out something in the mid-size range. The Knafs Lander 1 is an incredible budget-friendly option with a ton of customization options as well! The D2 steel on the Lander 1 is tough, but easy to sharpen. It works well for everyday tasks and doesn’t miss a beat if you need to put it through slightly harder work. 

Food preparation when on the go

Speaking from personal experience - food prep is one of the most common uses for an EDC knife. I’m not talking about dicing onions and chopping up bell peppers – I mean the real life food prep that most of us could handle more effectively with the assistance of a functional knife. I’ve even used my knife to slice a hole in the lid of the chocolate milk bottle to make way for a straw.

• If you need something for more than just impromptu drinking straw holes - check out a fixed blade. There are plenty of small- to mid-sized fixed blades that are great EDC knives. Fixed blades are great at cutting, easy to clean, and won’t get food gunked up in the bearings or pivot.

The Knafs Lulu is a solid choice worth checking out. And if you’re looking for something closer to the budget-friendly price point, Knafs also just launched the Lander 4 fixed blade on Kickstarter. 

First aid and emergency situations

Consider the benefits of a knife in first aid and emergency situations. One example that comes to mind would be cutting through a seatbelt after an auto accident. Many popular EDC knives also feature a glass-breaker at the base of the handle. 

• Consider a knife that takes advantage of utility blades to stay prepared for these situations. Utility blades are inexpensive, readily available, and super sharp! There is a huge selection of utility knives that blend into EDC life seamlessly.
• Gerber Gear EAB Lite Utility Pocket Knife
• Civivi Elementum Utility Knife

This is not an exhaustive list - there are countless situations where a knife is super handy. It makes sense to be prepared for things that could happen, but it makes even more sense to be prepared for the things life is already throwing at you (aka, the things that do happen). 

Tips for Pocket Knife Carriers

How could we make the case of carrying a knife every day without providing a few tips? Aware of the pun. I’m keeping it in. 

• Use the right tool: It’s important to make sure that you use tools in the manner they’re intended to be used. It’s not worth risking an injury. Choose the appropriate knife for the task.
• Keep it sharp: It’s important to maintain a sharp edge for efficiency and safety. A sharp blade means a clean, efficient cutting tool. If you’re worried about DIY’ing your edge maintenance, check out our sharpening bundle.
• Basic maintenance: If you’re regularly using your EDC knife, it’s important to keep up with more than just the edge. Regular cleaning, oiling, and checking the lock mechanism can ensure your tool works as intended and stands up to normal wear and tear.
• Check out the Loaded Tool Burrito to make sure you’ve got all the necessities 
• Legal considerations: It’s imperative that carriers understand the laws and regulations regarding carrying knives in different areas.We’re not lawyers, so be sure to do your own homework or consult a legal professional.
• If legal considerations are a cause of concern - consider a few alternatives. There are edc tools, otherwise referred to as pocket tools, that can work in a pinch. 

Take the Everyday in Everyday Carry Literally

Consider the practicality and benefits of carrying a pocket knife daily– undoubtedly, something we’ve mentioned resonates with you. 

If you’re not already carrying a pocket knife every day - we’d like to challenge you to give it a shot. Carry a pocket knife for a week - and after the week, reflect on the opportunities you had to put it to use. We’d guess it made something easier. Surely it handled some task with ease?

At the very least, did it provide you with something to fidget with at some point throughout your week??