A pocket tool is a folding knife,
typically sheathed in a pocket or on a keychain, and intended to be used with
one hand. It may also be called a button knife, but this term can also cover
other types of knives with folding blades such as switchblades.
Early Pocket Blades:
The first pocket tool was developed
as early as 1835 by James Black of England. The most popular design is the
clip-point blade which has its tip shaped in the form of an inverted
"V" that rests between two flat transverse ridges.
This design enhances the strength of
the point by concentrating it; so despite its size, it is capable of piercing
fairly well into most materials including thick leather.
The blade's blade is commonly
enclosed in a handle of one or two pieces of hardened steel that are riveted or
screwed together. The pocket
knives with this design have a shape and function which is shaped by the
limitations of the materials used .
Pocket Blades in WW 1
The folding knife was popularized by
the United States Army in World War I, when it was used to open rations and
drink cans. During that war period, another famous design of "purse
knife" was designed by Chris Reeve Jr.
It featured a 5 inch long 3 1/2 inch
wide Bowie style fixed blade knife in an 8 inch handle and had an automatic
stop at 5 inches to prevent the accidental closure while wearing heavy gloves.
Chris used a curved handle and strong forward finger choil for secure,
comfortable use without the need for a full grip.
It was produced by Buck Knives under
contract to Reeve, who sold it as the Model U. This design became the template
for future folding knives in America, with dozens of manufacturers making
similar knives.
Pocket Blades in WW 2
A minority of traditional cool
pocket knives are still made with straight blades or only slightly curved
ones (like fileting knives), but these have not become popular since World War
II due to their lack of utility and safety compared to newer designs.
The clip-blade has never gone out of
fashion because it is useful as a utility knife, with both large cutting
capacity and ease and convenience of carry. Patterned after the pocket blade,
the utility knife can have many variations in size and style, but it will
always have a large blade that folds into its handle to protect it from
damage.
The blade is single-edged (much
larger than the sharp edge of a double-edged razor blade) and may be straight
or slightly curved at the end, so most utility knives are not considered
daggers because they lack a point. The typical utility knife is a medium-sized
folding knife with: Modern utility knives fall into two major classes: slip
joints and locking folders.
Pocket Knives: Safety Measures!
We all know that pocket knives are
cool, but they can be a risky tool to use in the wrong hands. If you provide
your kids with a pocket blade to cut their Christmas presents this year, it's
important to make sure they understand how to use it safely. Here are some
safety precautions for carrying and using a pocket blade:
- Always lock the blade open when
you're not using it. This is because the blade can close suddenly on your
fingers and cause injury if used improperly or accidentally.
- Keep the blade away from your
body when you are not using it. This is so that if the knife accidentally
falls, it won't protrude into your body.
- Don't threaten to cut anyone
while you are holding the knife in your hand. This can be really scary and
might make them act out of character.
- Don't let kids use the blade on
anything other than paper or construction paper, or anything that can be
easily destroyed by cutting.
- These Knives should only be
used for cutting things like trees and twigs in a fire pit or branches
from a tree in a wooded area. Don't use the knife to flip people off their
bikes, play catch with a baseball, etc.
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