In my younger days, every man carried a pocket knife.
If a guy had his pants on he had his wallet, his keys, and of course his knife.
The first time I asked a man if he had his knife and he did not answer, "I have my pants on don't I?", I was not sure what to think.
Some people stopped carrying them because, unfortunately, knives have obtained a stigma that makes them somewhat socially unacceptable.
When you pull out your knife to open a box or something, people gasp and back away like you have just pulled a weapon on them.
Crap people, your great grandfather probably carried a gun like you carry a cell phone and the country was much more polite then.
Makes you wonder why, does it not? Well, I guess I am somewhat old fashion when it comes to knives.
To me, carrying a pocket knife is right up there with shaking a mans hand.
It is also like a right of passage from boyhood to manhood.
Being allowed to carry your knife is a sign of a boy becoming something more than just a boy.
The only time I do not have a knife with me is when I know I am going somewhere they might want to confiscate it like at a concert for instance.
When this happens, it goes in the glove box of my truck right next to my Leatherman multi-tool.
Okay, enough about the emotional reasons to carry a pocket knife, let us discuss some practical reasons I carry a knife.
Knives are the ultimate pocket tool.
The earliest known knives date to at least the early iron age.
They have been issued to our soldiers throughout American history and I bet are carried by every law enforcement officer and firefighter in the country.
While a knife can be used for many practical tasks, one of the most important reasons I carry my knife is for safety reasons.
If I find myself in a situation where I need to cut something to escape some calamity, I always have a knife within arms length.
The most obvious of these situations, an automobile accident in which the seat belt will not release for some reason.
In a case such as this, there would be no one thing more valuable to have then your trusty pocket knife.
Finally, I would just like to add.
Though a knife is meant to be rough and tough, many people consider them a thing of beauty.
Many knives are remarkable in their looks and I suppose this is why so many wind up in collections.
Whether you are a sportsman, a collector, needing a gift, or you are looking for a knife to carry, this is no place to skimp.
Choose the best knife you can afford.
One that is good quality and has a positive locking mechanism.
If you follow those guidelines, you will have a pocket knife that is safe and provides you with many years of usefulness and pleasure.