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Comment by Raphmedia | Hacker News Reader

People judge you until it's useful. If I received a dime whenever I've used my pocket knife to cut steaks when everyone had only picnic plastic knifes I would be rich by now.

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As a confirmed gear head I always have at least one folder on me unless strictly forbidden. Usually it's a smallish locking folder on the right pocket, and a larger folder in a slipcase in the left pocket (my "burrito knife"). Then I may have a fine work knife in my tool pouch in my bag (I cycle/transit, so I always have a bag). Finally, I may (usually?) have a larger camp/SHTF knife in the bag as well (I work/live in Metro L.A.¹).

Also: I'm a lifelong nail-biter and I'm basically screwed for lots of little tasks if I don't have some kind of blade on me. (The struggle is real <wink>).

¹— a new habit is keeping a pair of work/utility gloves in my bag at all times. I have enough pairs so I don't have to shuffle them around. When SHTF/The Big One/WOROL happens, being able to protect your hands will be a huge differentiator.

One advantage of an Opinel, is that it doesn't look too out of place as a steak knife. The other advantage: It's cost is very reasonable, especially for the quality of blade you get.

I can also attest that their chance to pass an airport security inspection when forgotten in some pocket of a backpack is surprisingly high.

I lost my knife at an airport just exactly for this reason. I bought the same one when I returned from my trip.

And if you have to give it up at airport security because you forgot it was in your pocket, oh well, $15 will set you up with a new one.

Same with duct tape. I used to always have a roll on me (I work remotely now, and get out less). People would laugh, up until the point something needed to be fixed, or affixed somewhere.

Do you re-roll it around something smaller to make it easier to carry?

Never done that, though I know people do it. When a roll was used up a bit (50+%), I'd flatten the roll and have a version small enough to put in my jacket. But I almost always had a backpack or a large bag with me in those days (school, then university), so I had a place for a full roll too.

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