Perhaps you're wondering, "Who carries a pocket knife anymore?"

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If so, your next self-directed questions ought to be, "How often am I grabbing the kitchen cutlery to cut twine for gardening?" Or, "How can I quickly dispose of the boxes after my kid's birthday party? Or even, "For heaven's sake, how do I get to the actual toy in those boxes with all of the insane packaging?"

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Carry a trusty pocket knife- a good one- and you'll have a handy go-to tool that you'll use much more often than you might think.

If you are not in the military or law enforcement, and are not an avid outdoors-person, you may have never considered getting a pocket knife. But having one on hand makes sense, even if you're not in law enforcement or the military; even if you don't hunt or fish.

Not all pocket knives are the same, so it helps to keep few things in mind when you look for one that will suit your needs. One, with the host of sites offering discount knives from top brands, there is no reason that this purchase should break the bank or even dent the budget. And two, always put safety first, for yourself and your family, keeping knives away from little hands and using all safety features in the knife's design.

How Might You Use Your Knife?

The first thing to think about is the ways in which you will use your new knife. Let's say you are truly urban, do not have a backyard to tend, and don't often set foot outside the city limits. You can still benefit from a quality pocket knife. Think about:
Breaking down boxes after a move Opening packages in the mail Opening products wrapped in "high-security" packaging Cutting rope, wire, plastic or other materials for decorating Self-defense

What if you are a member of a suburban household? You take care of your yard, make trips to parks or nature preserves, perhaps go on camping or hiking excursions from time to time, so you can use a good knife for:
Cutting limbs and small branches that fall into your yard Cutting boxes and other large cardboard items Cutting twine, string, and other materials Camping uses-which are virtually endless Cutting tangled fishing line WhittlingTruly, you would be amazed at the number of times your pocket knife comes in very handy, once you have the right one.

Design

Once you realize that having a pocket knife in your possession is a pretty good idea, its time to choose one. It won't be long before you notice that your options are endless and you may have to just let yourself be stunned for a moment at the huge market that exists for knives of all types and pocket knives in particular. But don't be overwhelmed-there's one that's right for you and you can find it.

A few design details you'll want to look at and consider:
Size and length of the blade Blade type and material Handle shape (think ergonomics) and materials Design features, such as the retraction of the blade or additional tools

If you are single in the city, you might prefer a small, but quality steel pocket knife with a retractable blade; something you can grab in a flash to open a delivery box. If you are the occasional outdoorsman, a larger knife may be better. You might consider shopping from the affordable tier of a top brand manufacturer. You'll benefit from the reputable R&D behind it, even if it costs less, and get features like one handed blade retraction and easy use and cleaning.

On a side note, the more rugged individual may want to consider a multi-tool version that offers more than just a blade: something with many tools combined into a single unit. (Think Swiss Army Knife) These are ideal for camping and hiking. But many outdoor enthusiasts still prefer the basic pocket knife.

So next time you grab your favorite paring knife to open a package or use a butter knife to unscrew a battery pack, consider purchasing a quality pocket knife to keep handy.

Why You Need the Perfect Pocket Knife

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