Pocket knives have been around for thousands of years. There are many reasons to always carry a knife that you may not be aware of. There's nothing quite like having one at the ready when you need it the most.
It doesn't matter if you're an outdoorsman, an artist, or an office worker, a knife can be extremely handy. Keep reading to find out how much a knife can help you out.
1. Protect Yourself
It's something you hope you never have to do, but defending yourself is something you might have to worry about at some point. A knife is one of the best things to carry that gives you some self-defense that's easy to carry.
Carrying a knife for defense is a safe option, especially when talking about a folding knife. They can be easily carried and secured with very minimal chance of accidental injury.
Once your kids are old enough you can even include the gift of a knife during your lessons about stranger danger. You don't need special training or certification to carry one and you may quickly find yourself carrying it with you everywhere you go.
2. Survival
Some people take survival preparedness very seriously. It's important to be ready, but you don't have to dig an underground bunker. A knife is a simple, yet effective way to be ready for a lot of emergencies.
If you find yourself stranded or suddenly without things like power, having a knife on you can make things so much easier.
In tough survival situations, a proper knife can be the difference between life and death. Even if you think your chances of needing it are slim, it doesn't hurt to have one just in case. Even a small one that doesn't weigh much can be useful.
3. Arts and Crafts
It's not all about keeping yourself alive, knives can also be a great way to create things with your hands and simple tools. A knife can be used in many different ways to not just make crafts, but also modify clothes and other projects.
One popular hobby that you can do with knives is widdling wood. Carving wood with a knife is a skill that is fun to learn and hone over the years.
Widdling wood is something you can use to not just make fun crafts, but also make useful tools. From making and carving things like spice racks and knife blocks to punching new holes into an old belt, learning how to use a knife pays for itself.
4. Make a Fire
What's one of the first things you need to figure out when out in the wild? Making a fire is not just important for staying warm, but it also allows you to make food and make clean water.
If you always carry a knife that means you're always just a couple of steps away from being able to make a fire when you need it. Gather some dry tinder and flintstone and you can simply strike the blade with the rock to make sparks. You'll want to purchase a high-quality knife to do this.
You may go your whole life without needing to make a fire, but with all the other uses for a knife, you may as well include this in your skillset.
5. Outdoor Sports
Ask any hunter or fisher and they'll all agree that a quality knife is not just helpful, it's a must. Without a knife, you're going to have less fun and you may even endanger yourself or others.
When hunting, you'll need a sharp knife to field dress the animal. When fishing, the needs are many. You'll need to cut fishing line, remove hooks, and filet the fish.
Do some research and talk to other hunters and fishers to make sure you buy the right kind of knife. Every knife has a specific purpose. A big hunting knife may seem like it can do everything, but when you need precise cuts, it can actually be dangerous.
6. Household Needs
You need to stop using your kitchen knives or car keys to open boxes and packaging. You're ruining your other knives and run the risk of cutting your hand or destroying the things in the box.
Having a knife on you, especially a simple pocket knife, means you'll be able to open your boxes quickly and without harming anything or anyone.
It's especially useful to have a knife if you need to buy something like a phone charger while traveling. Cutting open plastic packaging can be tough and very stressful if you need to quickly charge your phone before a business meeting. Use your handy pocket knife to save your fingers.
7. Food Preparation
No, you shouldn't use a pocket knife to carve up vegetables for a stew, but you can use it to prepare food in a pinch. Whether you're camping or just stuck in the wild, a knife allows you to cut up food and share it amongst your friends and family.
If you really want to look cool you can always slice a piece of apple and eat it off the blade, but be very careful.
It may not be glamorous, but sometimes you have to eat a bag of chips or something similar when you just don't have time to grab a real meal. A knife makes things much easier, especially if you're digging into some salty crisps in the car.
Be Prepared and Always Carry a Knife
Another benefit for people that always carry a knife is that people will always be thankful when you have it when needed. If you've ever been with a group of people and one of them asked if anyone had a knife, you know how great it would have been if you had it.
A simple pocket knife for things like cutting boxes and random needs while traveling is very useful. A larger pocket knife or a specialty knife is crucial for things like hunting and fishing. Talk to the knife experts to find out the best blade for you.
