Is It Smart to Carry a Pocket Knife?

Is it smart to carry a pocket knife with you? The short answer is yes. The longer answer? Yes, a pocket knife is an easy-to-carry, useful tool for life’s unexpected moments, but be careful about safety and local laws. Let’s take a closer look at why.

Ready for Anything

When you have a pocket knife in hand, or on your belt, you’ll be prepared for any surprises. You can cut rags for bandages, or small branches for kindling. It can slice through ropes or thorny branches to free you from entanglement. It can even cut through meat to cook up a nice dinner. No matter how many things you cut, it’ll stay sharp enough for the next round. And if you need to break glass to get a dog out of a hot car, our Trek field knife can even do that! It’s classified as a glass breaker knife. So slip it on a black Cinch belt and carry it around with you. You’ll be prepared for anything the world decides to throw at you.

Easy to Carry

What’s easier to carry than a wallet? A pocket knife. With the right sheath, drawing your knife is effortless. And we here at Trayvax have made two perfect sheaths. The only difference is in your dominant hand. It’s made of the same metal and leather as any of our best tactical wallets, so you know it’ll stay strong. And to keep it going, you can shift the blade upward as you draw it.

Getting the knife back into the sheath is a bit of a learning curve, but once it’s figured out, it’s just as effortless as drawing it. Other knives can be even easier to carry, especially folding-blade knives. They don’t even need a sheath; they fold down into their handles. But whichever knife you choose, you have to remember to be careful with it.

Potential Risks

To be a good knife, a knife has to be sharp. And that can lead to some dangers. If held improperly, the knife can slip out of your hand and end up in the skin or deeper. Luckily, the Trek has a good, skeletonized handle to grip tightly. And if you don’t trust yourself with the simple metal handle, that’s OK too. It can easily be wrapped in paracord or leather scaling.

Another thing to watch out for is the people around you. It doesn’t happen often, but if you’re chopping with a little too much gusto, a knife could fly out of your hand and hit someone else. Let people know when you’re using your knife, so they can know to stay out of the way.

And the last, but most important, piece of advice is that “a falling knife has no handle.” Don’t try to catch your knife if you drop it, because the blade might make its way into your hand. But it’s also a smart idea to jump or step back from a falling knife so your legs and feet are safe too. In short, treat knives like the useful but dangerous tools they are, and you’ll stay safe.

Legalities

Always be aware of the laws in your state. In some states, you can’t carry any “dangerous” knives outside of your house. That’s how it is in New Mexico, for instance. Other states have limits on how long a fixed blade can be. In Massachusetts, for example, a fixed blade can only be an inch and a half long. It’d be illegal to own a Trayvax Trek there. It’s critical to know where your knives will and won’t be allowed, as you may be fined, have them confiscated, or, worst-case scenario, be arrested for dangerous weapons.

In Conclusion

Is it a smart idea to carry a pocket knife? It certainly is. They’re good in a lot of different emergencies, or just for everyday use. They’re as easy to carry as your average wallet, too, so keep it on you wherever you go. But knives can be dangerous, so keep a good grip on them, tell people to stay away from your cutting, and never attempt to catch a knife that’s falling. Also, keep aware of your local laws regarding knives, so you don’t get fined, your knives confiscated, or yourself arrested. Stay smart, and a knife can be a great tool. And for the best knife you can get, why not try a Trayvax Trek? It’s the best for anything you need.