You might subscribe to the view that a pocketknife is just a tool like any other. But I think a pocketknife is more than that. I would never marvel at the beauty of a screwdriver or hammer if it came with an elegant jigged bone or stabilized burlwood handle. I wouldn’t save my pennies so one day I could own a box cutter made with Damascus steel.
Yes, more than anything a pocketknife tends to be an everyday companion that helps you to complete simple cutting tasks. But no one says it needs to be ugly. These days I normally carry two knives. OK, one I do keep ready for the possibility of unavoidable interpersonal conflicts. The other, the one that actually gets used, is most likely to be a simple but elegant folder from W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery.
A TOUCH OF CLASS
In life’s struggles that entail endless hours of tedious work to earn a few minutes of soul-restoring leisure, it’s reassuring to have a reminder of the nice things. It’s even better to carry one of those nice reminders in my pocket. I can turn a Case folder over and over in my hands and appreciate its timeless design, fine craftsmanship, and artistic beauty.
USED EVERY DAY
I can also take comfort in knowing how useful my Case knives have been. We have a history together, this one I’m holding now and the countless others I’ve carried. A Case knife is like a dependable old friend who has shared many experiences with you and has been at your side through good times and bad.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TIP TALK
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLADE TIP SHAPES AND WHY IT MATTERS
HOLDING FIRM
GETTING A GRIP ON KNIFE HANDLE BENEFITS, MATERIALS, AND FUNCTIONALITY
EDGE UP
TIPS, TRICKS, AND TECHNIQUES TO SHARP WHEN ADVENTURING FAR FROM HOME
THE COMBAT KITCHEN
SLICE, DICE, CHOP, AND CUT: FOOD PREP WITH BLADES FROM POPULAR TACTICAL KNIFE COMPANIES
MORAKNIV Classics
THESE TIMELESS BUSHCRAFT KNIVES HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND ARE BETTER THAN EVER
ONE FOR THE ROAD
CHOOSING AN “EVERYWHERE KNIFE” CAN BE DIFFICULT DUE TO COMPLICATED KNIFE LAWS
TRAVELING LIGHT
SOMETIMES, INEXPENSIVE UTILITY BLADES YOU PICK UP AT YOUR DESTINATION CAN GET THE JOB DONE
MATCHED PAIR
JB KNIFE WORKS LAYMAN KNIFE AND GAMBIT HATCHET COMBO: ONE PICKS UP WHERE THE OTHER LEAVES OFF
WHEN BIGGER IS BETTER
THE CAS IBERIA CHOP HOUSE IS A MACHETE THAT PROVIDES BIG BLADE CUTTING POWER
KITCHEN KNIVES DON'T HAVE TO BE DULL
I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
