Still Smarter

Do you carry a penknife?

Asking cos since interesting research was published and I fancy testing it.

Once a few answers are in I will reveal.

I do have a pen knife in my work bag, along with others. Used for opening pallets etc. The pen knife is a medium sized swiss army knife, but it's handy for all sorts as it's got lots of blades etc (it was a freebie corporate gift thing).........

I've got a penknife, had one most of my life mainly workwise.

Ice.

I gotta pen, don't know how to use it, but I gotta pen.

Plenty of pens.
No knife (unless you count what’s in the knife & fork drawer)

Just changed mine,it was a lock knife with a 5" blade used as a work /hunting knife for nearly 40 years now bined,the new one came from B & Q a 3" lock knife and a stanley knife in the other end

I have always carried an Opinel.
In the past it was a No10, but these days to stick to the law it is a No6 with the rotating lock removed.

That's interesting I like the number 8..never thought about the lock.

The great reveal....

In recent magazine article I read that if you have a problem, find a chap with a penknife, he is more to be prepared for unforseen situations and is normally better prepared.

Aargh a subject close to my heart.

I wear a leatherman. Have done for 30+ years. At work, in court and around town. It is a 'charge', I also have a 'Wave' and several others. I also have a 'Buck, field', single blade but keen, several 'Opi' including several fruit knives, .. I cut lemons with them.

About 20 years ago when I was observing in a magistrates court, my leatherman tripped the detector on the way in, I put it, my pen, keys, some change on the disclosure tray by the side of the detector the security guard kindly gave them all back to me, ...so that I could enter the court complex feelings safe I suppose.....

A few years later I used the saw blade on the wave to remove the feet from a deer that had been hit by a car in front of me while driving towards Dol, the driver of the severely damaged car was upset, but insisted on driving away before vet and police arrived. He had overtaken me early in the morning in late autumn, deer are common on the roads at that time, he had ignored the 3 previous signs before hitting the unfortunate animal.

About 2 years ago while waiting for my wife outside a local Sainsbury's, after 30 minutes or so I became bored, I remember I had blunted the end corner of my Buck throwing axe on a flagstone splitting kindling, so I sat in the car with my door open sharpening it with a file and an oil stone. Several people noted what I was doing, however, no one disturbed me.

I have recently given a leatherman to my oldest grandson, a coming of age thing, I believe........

Yes, knives, they separate men from those who need to carry plasters. Enough said, eh?

I collect pens too.

My favourite a Duofold, a copy of the one my father gave me 44 years ago. I use it for pen and ink drawing including several others. These things define us don't they?

The marks we make, tangible, real and leave behind. Bury them with me.

I also have a Wilkinson Sword Welsh Cavalry Sabre, I drank too much Gin one year and joked about using it for cutting the turkey on Christmas Day, it is however near 40" long and grip, so I was put on gravity duty.

A long time ago after a summer holiday in Mali, I checked in for an Air France flight from Bamako to Paris.
I was told that I could not carry the souvenir throwing knife (tourist junk) in my hand luggage, and to put it in the hold baggage instead.

When I asked about the Opinel in my pocket I was told it was fine.
Just hand it to the stewardess and she will give it back when you land in Paris. She did.

How times have changed!!!

On day one of jury service I had my bag and person searched. They didn't notice the Victorinox in the bag. Or what was on my keys.

Being a good lad I had left my EDC leatherman Wave in the car.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Best of both philosophies, a PenKnife.......

Great topic.

I enjoy writing, I like my writing style and I can throw an axe to embed itself in timber, fence posts etc. A visiting now friend doing his grand tour from Australia taught me, he introduced me to the Leathernan products. He told me they saved his life, at dinner 35 years ago I noticed his forearms were scared and burnt. He told me 4 years previously he had been caught in a brush fire, his horse had panicked and ran into a barbed containment fence, everything was alight around him. He had been given a leatherman on his previous birthday, he cut the wires away so he could escape but unfortunately he had to shoot his horse. He only had a rifle, he commented that if he hadn't had the wire cutters on the leatherman he would have shot himself.

One very great pleasure I have is sharpening a pencil, for drawing or carpentry. It is an art in itself.

Pencil & Knife.

Make your Mark...

I learnt to throw a knife years ago.

Axe throwing I see now has leagues, and the there is an axe throwing "shop" in one of the out of town shopping dollops.

I assume there is quite a skill to it?

No, I don't think so, I was shown with a set of throwing knives first.

The axe rotates as it travels toward the target either 1 spin/Rotation or multiplies of. I became quite good at 2 spin. You just need to gauge the distance and have an axe where all the weight is not in the head or it can easily rotate too quickly which lessens the particular distances that the axe will stick in the target at. Ofcouse when we see it in the movies the axe/tomahawk always sticks in, however I can assure you the professionals particularly using a 'tommy' have pre arranged marks on the ground, because those little 'bleeders' spin way too quickly. They look impressive but are difficult to throw and have register/stick in a target.

I like my bow best, but then I am Welsh. If I had to stop someone I would use my bow, with a nice 11/32" Port Orford Cedar shaft, preferably footed with a nice heavy pile, on impact, yes it travels through the target a bit, then as the momentum weight and energy of the arrow is absorbed the target moves down range a few meters. Very effective.

I was brought up in Cambridgeshire, Fulborn to be precise, on the edge of the Fenn's.
Guns were discouraged so I had Catapults and still do. These are accurate and formidable
weapons when used with 12mm or half inch ball bearings and better than any airgun.

Grew up not to far from you gaza.
Didn't we have a proper upbringing?
Cut fingers. Burnt fingers, bruised knees.
I enjoy my shooting and appreciate a good knife.

I have a lead ball mold, never did catapults.
I guess I could use them in a catapult, are they very accurate?

The axe rotates as it travels toward the target either 1 spin/Rotation or multiplies of. I became quite good at 2 spin. You just need to gauge the distance and have an axe where all the weight is not in the hea

Right, so it's a distance thing balanced with a good throw. Similar to knife throwing (or knife finding in my case )

Yep. Also initially, throw it like a football with 2 hands over the top of your head. One handed throws by novices remove ears!

"ears" Lmao. Really hit the spot

See what I did there

Not heard anyone mention catties for years, finished this one yesterday. It's to see off pesky pigeons that eat my garden stuff and crap all over everything. Now they're going in a

Standard regulation 3 inch job for me

Buff, please forgive the familiarity,

Love the blade, where is 3" a regulation?
I use the leatherman most days, I carry it on my waste. The little one almost as much, hairs, nails and sharpening pencils, the larger Swiss always in my car dash.

The catapult, lovely you do commissions I assume?

It's currently illegal to carry a blade over 3 inches in length, or I should say, I'm fairly sure it is. I think it might be illegal to carry lock knives too