Top 5 Considerations when Choosing the Best Knife for You

Come to think of it, you will never miss the knife until you need some ropes to be cut. You can use a can opener to open a can of tuna. Or get a kitchen knife to get the cooking going. But if you need a multi-tool that takes care of most of these little things you need a handy knife. Chances are a Kershaw pocket knife will get the job done. And then some.

When you’re out fishing or enjoying the best of nature among the greens, nothing may make you feel so helpless than forgetting your fave pocket knife. Not only is it the key to a sumptuous dinner in the wilds, it can be your primary protection against deadly attacks. From wild beasts and wilder men still.

The elephant in the room therefore is knowing how to choose one. If a pocket knife is so important, getting the specs right should be in order. To help you, we’ve listed 5 key considerations to put in mind. Before you hit that buy button. So you can make the most of your precious dollars on what may prove to be a monumental decision in your entire adult life. Read on. 

1. Consider the size 

Well, this is without doubt one of the most important features to put into consideration before getting a knife. And this is because the size would determine what exactly you can use it for. For longer blades you would be able to carry out more tasks and even do it quicker.

While a smaller knife in most cases would be able to perform less and even do it slower.

So depending on what you would like to use the knife for you would have to put into consideration the size of its blade. This is because it goes a long way in determining how well you can use the knife.

2. Should I opt for a multitool? 

Well, most pocket knives out there are usually multitools. They have many types of blade that makes it advantageous in a way. In as much as having a multitool is very advantageous it could also be a disadvantage. If you rarely use your knife then this could be okay for you to use.

The thing with multitool knives is that they are usually made from cheap steel. And with this they do not last for a very long time. Also, the way the blades are being folded out of its handle does not allow you to use the blade’s length to its fullest.

You should also consider that with a multitool you would have to use your two hands to get one blade out. This in turn is not only stressful but also doesn’t come in handy in cases of emergency.

Well, it’s not that multitool knives aren’t good. It’s just that having a separate quality knife could be better.

Not to worry a separate quality knife wouldn’t take up so much space in your pocket.

3. How would you carry it? 

Well, you might think this is given since there’s no other place to place your knife than your pocket. But that isn’t the case. There’s more to consider than just assuming that your knife would fit in well into just any pocket.

The truth is that not every cloth as a pocket. And even for clothes that have pockets they vary in size and depth. So what if the cloth you are putting on has a really small pocket that your knife can’t fit in completely.

Well, that’s where a clip comes in handy. Most pocket knives out there usually have a clip with which you can attach it to your pocket. But one other thing you would have to consider is where the clip is placed on the knife.

It could either be a left hand opening or a right hand opening. Also the clip could be ride tip up or ride tip down. Similarly different clips allow for the knife to ride into the pocket in varying depths. So you would have to put all these into consideration before you get a knife.

So when you want to get a knife it’s advisable that you use a knife with a clip that allows you to deep the knife completely into your pocket.

4. Blade styles 

With so many brands of knife out there you sure wouldn’t expect them to be built the same way. They have different blade styles. And knowing the different blade styles is important to knowing which one will suit your needs best.

• Spey-point: this shape is basically good for hunting. It is designed to suit the need of hunters. Also this a good blade style for skinning.

• Clip point: this is a good blade style for many purposes. You wouldn’t be wrong to call this a versatile blade. Its upswept edge is spot on for slicing. And it also has a narrow point which is also good for penetrating.

• Drop point: this actually the most useful style that you can use. It also has that timely upswept edge that’s most useful for slicing.  And its point is also adept for piercing. One difference between this blade style and clip point is that it has high grinds. Which makes your cutting experience a lot better.

• Trailing point: this blade style has a very weak tip. That’s why it’s a good skinning knife.

• Straight-back: Right here is an all-purpose knife. This knife is good for slicing, chopping and also cutting. So if you need a knife for many purposes choosing this particular blade style will be a good option to opt for.

• Tanto point: this blade style right here sacrifices its cutting performance with its penetrating power. This blade style is a pro at penetration. So if you’re not so concerned about your knife’s cutting performance you can opt for this blade style.

5. Plain edge or serrated edge?

This is another feature you should put into consideration. Why? Because a plain edge and a serrated edge has different uses. One difference is that a plain edge gives a smooth cut while a serrated blade gives a rough cut. That’s why you can use a serrated blade for sawing and can’t use a plain blade for that.

Also, when it comes to sharpening a plain blade it’s a whole lot easier. You can easily sharpen it in your home without sending it back to the manufacturer. But with a serrated blade it’s different. You will have to send it back to the manufacturer before you can get it properly sharpened.

So you have to put into consideration all these factors so that you would be able to make the best choice for your knife.

Keeping your Pocket Knife in Tiptop Shape in 6 Easy Steps

With so many bustling activities out there ignoring the knife in your pocket would be pretty difficult. Well, that’s not because it’s very heavy but because you would most likely need it. That’s the good thing about pocket knives. They come in handy when you least expect it.

Back to the point, the probability that you would not use your knife the whole day is really low. Especially when you’re going for an outdoor activity like fishing, hunting and even camping.

Also the probability that your knife would remain clean and intact even after using it is very low. Which is why we have come up with steps that will guide you on how to keep your knife in good shape. If you love your small pocket knife and want to keep seeing it for a long time then you have to read on.

1. Remove any visible dirt 

The very first thing you have to do once you use your knife is to remove any visible dirt. You can do this using  a toothpick or any other objects. You don’t have to make it a thorough cleaning because that can come later.

The purpose of this is to make sure that the knife is dry. You have to remove lints and gunks while it is dry because when it is weight it could get stuck on the pivot and that would be a lot harder to remove.

2. Wash your Knife 

The next step is to wash your knife with soapy water. The purpose of this is to make your knife really wet and to also remove all the stickiness on it. You should also pay more attention to the pivot and locking mechanism. To ensure that you get all the dirt out of the knife.

In washing the knife a soft toothbrush or a sponge would be able to the job. One thing though that you have to take note of is that you must not use abrasive to wash your knife.

Well, for multitools you will have to open each blade to clean each one separately. But you must ensure to clean the pivot properly so that the knife is made completely clean.

3. Soak your knife

If you have a lot of dirt on your knife this is where you would have to do a thorough cleaning. You would have to soak your knife in sudsy water. You can use hot water to soak your knife. This will help dissolve the sap and other dirt that are sticking on the knife.

You should not make the mistake of adding boiling water because it can destroy the handle of your knife.

4. Don’t disassemble the knife 

While washing the knife never make the mistake of disassembling the knife in the name of cleaning it. One reason why you shouldn’t disassemble the knife is because in most cases it automatically voids your knife warranty. Instead of disassembling it yourself you can call the knife company.

If the manufacturer is good they might just tell you to send the knife over for professional cleaning and sharpening.

5. Let your knife dry completely 

Once you’re done cleaning and washing allow the knife to dry completely. Yes, you heard that right, completely and not partially. The reason is because a little moisture on the knife can destroy the handle and also lead to corrosion.

6. Oil your knife 

The very last step on our list is to oil your knife. Yes this is the last step but also one of the most important steps. Since there are a lot of moving parts in your knife it is required that you oil the pivots and other moving parts. This way you are sure that your knife would still open every time you need it.

Oiling your knife is way of prolonging the life span of your knife. Once you oil your knife regularly you can be sure THAT it wouldn’t disappoint every time you want to use it.