A Pocket Knife That Cuts a Dash and Gives Sharks a Run for Their Reputation
Is that a knife in your pocket or are you just happy to read this article? OK, I’m sorry about the inappropriate joke. Not really sure where I was going with that one, but my point is – a lot of people love pocket knives. And what’s not to love? It is an iconic tool used by handy people, people who spend time outdoors, and just normal everyday men and women throughout the world. And the reason why it is so popular is because it’s one of the most multi-functional tools available today. Having some cutting power with you at all times can come in handy in all kinds of situations you might get yourself into. It might even save your life comes the need to cut yourself loose from a dangerous situation or fend against an attacker. Going camping without a pocket knife is just plain stupid and you might as well go naked. And you can forget about surviving a zombie apocalypse without one of these babies in your pocket.
But how do you choose the best pocket knife for you? Even if you eliminate all the cheap Chinese knock-offs, you are still left with a huge number of high-quality pocket knives brands and models. How do you decide between the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and the Spyderco Tenacious with a combo blade, for example. Well, there are 4 basic factors you need to have in mind when choosing a pocket knife.
The Blade
It is more than obvious that the blade is the core of the knife. A knife without a blade, well you can’t really cal that a knife, it’s just a useless piece of metal. A knife’s blade needs to be razor sharp, strong, resist wear, corrosion, and have good edge retention. This is why knife manufacturers put great emphasis on the blade and what it’s made of. But, even the blades made out of the best steel will eventually go dull and a sharpening kit may come in really handy.
The Handle
This is another major factor when it comes to choosing a pocket knife. The handle of the knife must be tough, resilient, and shouldn’t absorb moisture. A good material that has all those properties and is very popular nowadays, is a fiberglass based laminate called G-10. You should also have in mind that the design of the handle is just as important as the materials used, which leads us to the next factor.
Design and ergonomics
Having the right ergonomics is a key part of the knife design. The knife must feel comfortable in your hand. In fact, a quality knife should feel like and extension of your hand. Good ergonomics should not only provide comfort while using the knife, but safety as well. The locking mechanism is also an important feature, since it determines how easy you can open or close the knife.
Price vs Value
Of course, if you are filthy rich, choosing a pocket knife should be very easy. You just buy all of them. But if you are on a budget, you want to get maximum value for your money. Buying the most expensive knife doesn’t necessarily mean best performance. But, you should also have in mind that quality does go up with the price. So if you are passionate about knives like me, you shouldn’t hesitate to buy a pocket knife such as the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 which is currently my personal favourite, that is until the next upgraded model from Spyderco hits the market.