Different Types of Pocket Knives

Pocket knives are some of the coolest pieces of equipment you can carry. They have a multitude of applications and can save you when you are in a pinch. From turning a screw to cleaning your fingernails, pocket knives have too many uses to count. Pocket knives can be simple contraptions or complex pieces of machinery, with numerous blades and tools. You can pretty much spend what you want to spend on a pocket knife but you will get what you pay for.

Most pocket knives simply have a blade that folds into the handle, but others are more complex and specialized. I’ll take a look at some of the most common pocket knives here and discuss some of the pros and cons, as well as other considerations.

First and foremost is the simple traditional pocket knife. This is the one your grandad used to carry, could very well have been an Oldtimer. These are usually anywhere from 2” - 4” long and can have one blade or more. Not usually more than 4. Often times they only have knife blades of different sizes and shapes and not any other type of tools. They are often not lock blades but will simply be held open with a spring mechanism. When the blade is fully open it resist closing because of the spring, but when it is closed past a certain point it will snap shut. These pocket knives are handy and timeless. They fit easily into your pocket and are not usually bulky or noticeable.

Lock blade pocket knives are nothing more than a little but of simple modern technology being applied to the traditional pocket knife. If you have ever had the misfortunate of having a blade close on your fingers you will recognize the benefits of having a blade that locks in place. The structure of these knives is the same. Most of them still operate with a spring mechanism but when the blade is fully opened it locks into place. There are different forms of locking mechanism, most of which are very effective at keeping the blade off of your fingers. Unlocking the knife is often a bit difficult at first but once you get the hang of it, it can easily be accomplished with one hand. Lock blade pocket knives are now much more common than old style traditional knives because they are so simple, straightforward and effective at saving your fingers.

One of the most simple and effective forms of locking blade knives are the liner locks. This is a very simple form of lock that is actually nothing more than a spring loaded cut out, often shaped like a leaf. When the blade is closed the leaf is depressed but when you open the blade the leaf springs into place against the base of the blade holding it in place. It uses a simple lever system to hold the blade against a locking bar on the other side. To close the knife, nothing more is needed than a quick depression of the leaf spring. Some knives actually employ more than one form of locking mechanism to increase safety and also the rigidity of folding knives which are not famous for being ultra sturdy.

Swiss Army has also made famous the multi tools, some of which have hundreds of tools. Anything from magnifying glasses, to tweezers, to flash drives. Multi tools are highly useful but often border on gimmicky. Many multi tools can get fairly large and bulky and be difficult to carry in your pocket. There are actually a couple of different kinds of multi tool.

The original being the old style Swiss Army knife that is modeled after the traditional pocket knife, with simple fold out blades and tools. These are often not lock blades and can be kind of difficult to handle. They also often have a limit on the size of the blade, and the tools are usually quite small.

The more modern version of multi tool, made famous buy Gerber and Leatherman and the varieties that fold out into pliers. And, while doing so expose the undersides that gives you access to other blades and tools as well. These multi tools are often a little bigger and heavier and require a sheath to be carried comfortably. But their usefulness is unmatched. You can literally carry around one tool that does many jobs well instead of a hundred jobs badly. The blades on these multi tools is also usually a lock blade and can be large enough for many uses.

Pocket knife manufactures enjoy coming out with new models every year that constantly seem to put old models to shame. You can now find carbon fiber pocket knives, with flashlights and ceramic blades. There is not end in sight to where this most useful and crude tool can go. One thing is for certain, pocket knives will remain an important part of our lives.