What penknife/multitool ??

[Yorick]

I always carry a flick hammer for those little emergencies.

[Ian]

I've had a couple of Victorinox swiss army knives for 30 years. Honestly the blade is the least useful part. Have a think what are you actually going to do with it because they're not cheap.

Just looked, my cybertool 34 is 90 quid now but it's been bloody useful (but the blade rarely gets used)

[Count Steer]

Did someone mention a flick hammer?

A bit blunt....

[katana]

When you say your friends carry 'Flick knives' do you mean actual flick knives or just Laguiole knives which look simillar but aren't automatic, nor do they even lock.


Along with Opinel they're about the most French knives I can think of.

As for multitools I used to own a Leatherman Fuse which had a good main blade in 154CM.
Gave it to a mate though cos I never used it and nowadays I just have a single blade non locking UK legal pen knife. It does have very a good edge retention steel blade though.

In France, the law gives Opinel, laguiole and SAK part of french heritage.

Every tabac sells knifes. As well as supermarkets.

[Noggin]

When you say your friends carry 'Flick knives' do you mean actual flick knives or just Laguiole knives which look simillar but aren't automatic, nor do they even lock.


Along with Opinel they're about the most French knives I can think of.

As for multitools I used to own a Leatherman Fuse which had a good main blade in 154CM.
Gave it to a mate though cos I never used it and nowadays I just have a single blade non locking UK legal pen knife. It does have very a good edge retention steel blade though.

Some of them carry those, some have things with a bigger blade. Some lock I believe, some don't. Weirdly, the times I mostly see them are when we're all at lunch, the first time half the blokes pulled out what I thought of as flick knives was interesting We were having steak and so I asked if it was that bad they needed their own knives

[Noggin]

I'm really not sure what would be useful!! I was just annoyed that I had nothing on me that would cut a ziptie!!! Then wondered if I should look for more than just a knife, maybe I should look for something that has more uses.

Hence the question!!

[MrLongbeard]

We were having steak and so I asked if it was that bad they needed their own knives

Been there, done that.

[DefTrap]

I've got loads of knives (because I like them) and to be honest I find them all a bit fecking useless because whenever I want to use them I realise that I've managed to let the blade go dull. And I really CBA to sharpen them properly, certainly not just when I have an urgent need to cut something anyway. Maybe this will change when I'm retired and I just potter about all the time sharpening stuff.

So, I tend to use a "folding utility knife" as it's easy to change blades and there's a degree of safety from the folding part over normal utilty knives (and I really don't like those self-retracting utility knives). Obviously it would be stupid to use one of these when you're eating but IME it's only showoff wallys that tend to use pocket knives at mealtimes anyway.

[MrLongbeard]

but IME it's only showoff wallys that tend to use pocket knives at mealtimes anyway

[Skub]

I've got loads of knives (because I like them) and to be honest I find them all a bit fecking useless because whenever I want to use them I realise that I've managed to let the blade go dull. And I really CBA to sharpen them properly, certainly not just when I have an urgent need to cut something anyway. Maybe this will change when I'm retired and I just potter about all the time sharpening stuff.

So, I tend to use a "folding utility knife" as it's easy to change blades and there's a degree of safety from the folding part over normal utilty knives (and I really don't like those self-retracting utility knives). Obviously it would be stupid to use one of these when you're eating but IME it's only showoff wallys that tend to use pocket knives at mealtimes anyway.

A Lansky kit is great for sharpening knives. I do the kitchen knives regularly and usually the pocket jobbies at the same time. It does take a bit of time,though.

[DefTrap]

Did someone mention a flick hammer?

A bit blunt....

To the eternal shame of my love for tools, I needed a hammer for an emergency job on a property I was letting. In to the Tesco Megastore (because all the proper diy shoppes were an hour's drive there and back across town) and no kidding all they had in the DIY aisle for hammers was an awful multitool with a hammer-head on it (low budget Draper or Silverline). The shame of it. I think it's hiding in the glovebox of one of the cars - I'm secretly hoping I get to pass in on to someone else for their own emergency and never see it again.

[Sadlonelygit]

Over 'ere, opinel, swiss, multitools and lagoulies are, by law not considered weapons, but a essential part of french life and therefore exempt.
Opinels have a locking blade, as befits a hunting knife, but you'd better be wearing camo gear or a bfo orange bib if caught with one. However la Nog doesn't fit the terrorist persona (unless her hormones are playing up), so unlikely to get the blue rats whiskers twitching.
HG used to do an ace leatherman copy. Mine goes everywhere in the tankbag.

[Yorick]

Over the years I've had 2 nice Swiss Army style thingies bought for me.
Both went in the bottom drawer, never to be seen again.
If I tour, I take proper tools.

[katana]

We were having steak and so I asked if it was that bad they needed their own knives

Try cutting an air dried salami at a bar with one of the bars blunt as anything knives.

[katana]

Over 'ere, opinel, swiss, multitools and lagoulies are, by law not considered weapons, but a essential part of french life and therefore exempt.
Opinels have a locking blade, as befits a hunting knife, but you'd better be wearing camo gear or a bfo orange bib if caught with one. However la Nog doesn't fit the terrorist persona (unless her hormones are playing up), so unlikely to get the blue rats whiskers twitching.
HG used to do an ace leatherman copy. Mine goes everywhere in the tankbag.

It is not that the knives are considered weapons, it is part of french culture. Not hunting, more cutting dried sausage and cheeses as a snack.

Carried an opinel No7 round in a rucksack and never had any issues in France.

You can buy a pocket knife in every tabac I have been to, most supermarkets have cheap kitchen knives and most garden centers have amazingly large machetes.

[DefTrap]

Unless you're a massive trouble-seeking penis living in the inner city 'hood the likelihood of being stopped and searched in the UK or France is pretty remote. There's at least ten objects within easy reach right now that I could do a good job with bludgeoning or stabbing an intruder and none of them are knives.

[katana]

Unless you're a massive trouble-seeking penis living in the inner city 'hood the likelihood of being stopped and searched in the UK or France is pretty remote. There's at least ten objects within easy reach right now that I could do a good job with bludgeoning or stabbing an intruder and none of them are knives.

Oi are you calling me a trouble seeking penis? As I have been arrested and the Met police tried to give me a caution as I was carrying (blunt kitchen) knives, in a cycle pannier, and I was stopped at a red traffic light. While cycling, i'd liketo point out that I was stopped at a red traffic light!!!!! Policeman stopped me as they were looking for someone in a hoodie....I was wearing a hoodie. Had a search request, you know the have you got anything that I could hurt myself and I said yes blunt knifes, in a knife roll wrapped in a tea towel. Was polite to the copper, as I got off the bike. Wasn't being difficult till he rquested to search me and I ask what where the grounds. Do I meet the discription of the person they were looking for. I did not as I was taller, the wrong colour and the wrong age. Which I heard over the PC radio.

In France, a few times going in to places and no one cared about the knife, but the cycle multi tool (with no knife) was an issue. But easy enough to put in to a bag and collect at th end. Even had no issues with not carrying ID.

Likelyhood at our ages, low. Younger and ethnic changes matters in London. From experience.

Then again I can tell you shite you would not believe, and get corroberation with people who were there. I am a shit magnet.

[MyLittleStudPony]

I've had a Victorinox Handyman Penknife for over 40 years and it's still great and very handy. It lives in the cutlery draw and I take it on trips sometimes.

[Count Steer]

A Turkish security guy confiscated my SAK at Istanbul Airport saying (with a laugh) 'I think you are very dangerous man'.

I thought 'Oh well, that's the last I'll see of that'.

Lo! Landed at this end and going round on the luggage carousel in a little plastic security bag was my SAK.

[katana]

A Turkish security guy confiscated my SAK at Istanbul Airport saying (with a laugh) 'I think you are very dangerous man'.

I thought 'Oh well, that's the last I'll see of that'.

Lo! Landed at this end and going round on the luggage carousel in a little plastic security bag was my SAK.

And that was the most amazing bit of the whole holiday