EDC: The pocket knife

Life is full of little problems. Here are more then 20 solved by the humble pocket knife.

This particular knife is the Gerber Paraframe I - Serrated. I've carried it for several years. In my opinion it's the best choice for an EDC (EveryDay Carry) pocket knife.

Safety Caution: Knives can cause serious injury. Always handle a knife within your experience. Here are some good tips for knife safety.

Legal Caution: Many, if not all, jurisdictions have laws governing knives or any cutting implement for that matter. Check with local law enforcement before choosing a knife to everyday carry.

Step 1: How to one hand open a pocket knife

First things first. Here's a couple ways to open a knife.

Step 2: Bottle Opener

By using blade channel along with the blade you can easily open a bottle.

Step 3: Can opener

 

Open a can by using the inside edge of the can as leverage.

Step 4: Wire Cutter / Stripper

Place the wire nearest the pivot point though still within the blade portion. Close the blade to cut the wire. To strip, roll the blade the over the wire. Use the tip of the blade against the handle to pull the sleeve off.

Step 5: Heavy Gage Wire bending

This is for when you lock your keys in your car. Find a coat hanger and shape the end with the blade channel.

Step 6: Score your registration sticker

Since you have a knife on you use it to score your registration sticker. That helps prevent the theft of it.

Step 7: Key ring opener

Spare your finger nails. Use your knife.

Step 8: Soda can opener

Just like the key ring, spare your finger nails.

Step 9: Emergency window punch

For when your car plunges into San Francisco Bay, use the hilt to bust your way out.

Step 10: Safety Cutter

Expose just enough of the blade to fit the cord. Close the knife as you cut.

Step 11: Paper Craft

Use the smooth edges of the knife handle to sharply crease paper. Use the blade to cut the crease.

Step 12: Splinter removal

Place the edge of the blade against the spliter. Use your thumb against it to pull it out. Don't do this if your knife is razor sharp. Note: the splinter has been exaggerated for demonstration purposes.

Step 13: Door Stop

How many times have you told someone "let me back in". On your way out stick your knife in the jam. Let yourself back in.

Step 14: Door knock

This is best used on heavy doors where your knuckle knock will be drowned out. Just be careful not to dent the door.

Step 15: Lazer level

The curved handle has plenty of surface to level a laser line just right.

Step 16: Open a package

Enough said.

Step 17: Paper weight

Keep those top secret plans from blowing off the back of your car.

Step 18: Secret message

Use the handle to impress a message on paper. A crayon reveals what you wrote.

Step 19: Hand Grip

For those times when that furniture edge is just a little too sharp for your hand.

Step 20: Staple Remover

Because when you need one you can't find it.

Step 21: Tire Valve

For when your changing out a bicycle tire.

Step 22: Fuse Puller

When you go on a trip pull out a few ignition fuses from your car. If it doesn't start it's harder to steal.  


Help me to expand the list.

Thanks for reading.

Comments

[KemikalzAreFun]

Nice way to think out of the box... But still I would never use my knives like this, they're the only babies I have...

[pcanywii]

i have a sweet stainless steel boy scouts of america double-blade lockback knife! It is boss!

[mrpesas]

I've been doing this for years and is the best way to remove a staple without damaging the paper. You can also just use a fingernail on light-weight staples.

Great usage!!!!

[h8864]

i use my fingernail on heavy-weight staples!

[ppanchal1]

Yes!
it works pretty good!
:D

[mikaleda]

you can also buy a p38 can opener for less than a dollar that goes on your key chain easier to use and it saves you from dulling your knife

[simondburt]

Came in useful during the summer the day I forgot to bring my can opener on a 3 day stint on the AT with a group from a summer camp!

[Knave]

Should you become stranded on an island with only yourself, your trusty pocket knife and the crate of canned foodstuffs you were lucky enough to float in on; this may come in handy~

[mikaleda]

i carry one of these with me every where i go it is also a good screwdriver also. another thing i carry is a magnesium bar and flint.
and it is more likely that you will need to keep your knife sharp for other circumstances. opening cans will dull your knife quickly. so carry one of these as much as your knife and you are good. they are very small and fit right on your key chain

[knifecollector]

Nice instructable. I EDC the Spyderco Delica 4

[tareko]

Thank you for sharing this instructable. I have in fact learned two uses which I probably wouldn't come up with on my own.

Still, what about all the other day to day uses?

Let me bore you wuith a story I repported to Vitorinox (that's right, I'm a Swiss Army Knife fan), a few years ago:

"...I have read the "True Stories" section and to be frank, I'm not surprised. Let me explain:
I've had the same Swiss Army Knife since 1989 - almost twenty years. It's a "Camping" model.
I may not have live-saving stories to tell, but I do have many problem-solving stories. That is why I carry it we me at all times.
The story I'd like to share with you is the following:
Last month, my wife and I were on motorcycle in Spain. The weather had been cloudy for a few days and and there was an eminent threat of heavy rain. Descending the "Sierra de Gredos" we suddenly left behind the clouds and found ourselves in a sunny mountain side. I stopped the motorcycle on the side of the road and we got off. We just stood there enjoying the beautiful view.
In the saddlebags I had some "manchego" cheese and some crackers. With my Swiss Army Knife - would you believe it? - I sliced the cheese. It was a most delicious experience and one of the best moments of the holidays..."

[aristide202]

Now I shall tell the story about me slicing swiss smoked gendarmes sousages and pain paisan ( a tipical swiss loaf) with a "locksmith" model Victorinox knife while trecking in Valais swiss alps. Gorgeous bread , gorgeous sousages and a pretty nice multy purpose folding knife I suggest to examine. Possibly examine bread and sousages too .

[Rangemaster42]

You are a lucky guy! I've been trying to buy a Victorinox Locksmith for over six months. They discontinued the model and anybody that has one hangs on to it.
Congrats!

[chrisdp]

Wow. i have learned a couple of things with this. I carry a Victorinox Spartan and thanks to Mr Wade Tarzia and his little pocket hook, it is really easy even in my office clothes.

Some guys have commented on "taking care" of your knife. Well, it is a tool at the end of the day and I wont use a knife with special meaning or that was a gift in such a manner.

[kmiksch]

Obviously those are the tasks you can do with a Gerber. Cause why ruin a decent knife when you can ruin a Gerber :)

[camping crazy]

I love this instructable!!! lots of great ideas I wil post a pic of my E.D.C knife below I also have the mini version of your knife.

[kendonn]

Went out and bought two of these gems. excellent uses for an excellent knife.

Many Thanks

[briscoekid]

What knife is this?

[Mrballeng]

the Gerber Paraframe I - Serrated

[briscoekid]

Thank You

[Pwag]

I really was smug when I saw the title of this and didn't expect to learn anything...but holy cow did I.

Changed the way I look at my knife! I wonder if the bottle opening trick will work on my buck 110?

[fredellarby]

Anything that can't be done, somehow, with a pocket knife probably doesn't need doing. I've carried one for over 50 years and can't figure out how people get by without one.

[commanderzhao]

There has been many a time I've had to strip wire with a knife.

[cnogueira1]

Loved the Instructable. Though I have carried some kind or other of knife for most of my life, I eventually settled fo a Victorinox Swiss Champ, which does everything I need on my daily routine. Ok, it's heavy and bulky, but I am still allowed to carry it on a belt holster, so no problem.

But I think you forgot the most basic use of all for an EDC: Cutting meat.
I've lost count of the times when I went to a barbecue where there weren't or the host didn't give enough tableware for all the guests and in the end most of the men would end up eating with their EDCs...

[cnogueira1]

And there's also pizza slicing on a park bench or a tailgate.

[cnogueira1]

Guess another mundane task that was forgotten is removing thorns from one`s trousers.

[XysflightchampX]

Not as bad as the bottle opener trick, but I still wouldn't pry with my knife. Just use your finger and avoid possible damage to your knife. Although it would be a little bad ass to open a soda with a knife.. I'll have3 to think about this one..

[XysflightchampX]

That's a big no no. Never pry with a knife.

[Schmidty16]

here is my pocket knife notice any differences

[SG1Oniell]

Of course, yours is lacking the peg. This means one of two things. Either your knife is the "mini-paraframe" or it is perhaps an earlier version of the paraframe. I like the author own a full-size paraframe(serrated) and use it almost everyday. Though I take better care of mine judging by the nicks on his blade edge.

[Schmidty16]

no mine has a pegs i use mine every day i got mine in a survial kit

[SG1Oniell]

The photo you posted doesn't have any pegs. You are mistaken.

[Schmidty16]

u mean the things that on the bottom of the para frame that connect both sides

[SG1Oniell]

Well, its hard for me to understand your poor grammar and spelling so I'll attempt to explain. I refer to the two thumb pegs on either side of the blade located at the very back of the blade, almost against the frame itself. You can see them in the author's photos. Your blade has indentations instead, which makes me think yours is the smaller version of the paraframe.

[Schmidty16]

sorry about my grammer im only 14 years old and i had to go to speech for 1st through 5grade im still working on it bye myself and im so used to texting

[halimaw96]

you mean a thumb stud, just to make things a bit clearer

[Schmidty16]

ohh ok i thought u meant the studs inbetween the knife now i see

[Schmidty16]

it was orignially 25 dollars but i found mine in a mini survival kit that was 20 dollars wow i saved over 5 dollars

[jsgraham]

I used to do this when Texas had plate stickers. But that was 20 years ago. We've since changed to the window sticker that is mounted on the driver side lower portion of the windshield, just above the safety inspection sticker.

Most states nowadays have the window sticker in lieu of a plate sticker. If these are pealed off, they automatically show void all across the surface of the sticker. Now, in the state of Texas, the window stickers are printed with the plate number and the vehicle VIN. So stealing it wouldn't do any good.

[cupojoe999]

Nice ideas and uses. Some of those ideas are only viable for that particular knife though, like the heavy gauge wire bending. I personally love my benchmade mini griptilan. Its my EDC knife of chioce, size is just right, easy to open and close one handed, crazy strong lock up, great blade steel, sharpen it once a month (if that). A bit pricey but worth it to me.