| It seems like almost everyone owns some level | | | | finger. Unlike a Swiss Army knife, the blades of |
| of pocket knife. Soccer moms, business | | | | these knives can often be deployed with one |
| executives, teenagers-they all carry at least one | | | | hand, making them very convenient. The blade is |
| in their purse, their briefcase, their car or some | | | | often divided into two sections. The outer half is a |
| other handy location. Most knives tend to be | | | | straight edge, designed for basic cutting, while the |
| designated into one of two categories: those | | | | inner half is serenaded, intended for sawing and |
| intended for domestic use, meaning for the | | | | cutting tougher materials. The blades are usually |
| preparation of food in the kitchen, or those | | | | stainless steel, and the handles can be nylon, |
| intended for outdoor use. Pocket knives, of | | | | fiberglass, aluminum or some other lightweight |
| course, fall into the latter category. However, | | | | material. |
| there is quite a bit of variety in pocket knife | | | | These single-bladed knives are manufactured by a |
| designs, and certain kinds are more likely to be | | | | variety of companies and cover a fairly wide price |
| used in specific situations. | | | | range. The least expensive are only about $15, |
| When it comes to soccer moms toting pocket | | | | but these are usually miniature versions of full-size |
| knives, they usually favor the classic Swiss Army | | | | knives. The Gerber Paraframe, for example, has |
| knife, or some knockoff thereof. Everyone | | | | a 2.25 inch blade and weights just over one ounce. |
| knows what a Swiss Army knife looks like: lots of | | | | Similarly, the Buck Metro Knife's blade measures |
| little knives, saws, screwdrivers, bottle openers, | | | | just over an inch and weighs only 1.5 ounces. |
| scissors, pliers, corkscrews, files and tweezers | | | | These miniature knives are very convenient, but |
| that fold out of an ovular cavity. Of course, Swiss | | | | they are not intended for heavy duty outdoor |
| Army knives come in a variety of levels. The | | | | use. |
| most basic model, the Swiss Army Classic Knife, | | | | Full-sized locking knives start at around $30, but |
| has only a knife, a nail file, a pair of scissors, a pair | | | | these are very basic models. The Gerber |
| of tweezers and a toothpick. This is the probably | | | | Paraframe I-Serrated, the Columbia River Mt. |
| the most popular model across various | | | | Shasta and the Leatherman C303 Combination |
| demographics, which would explain why it is | | | | Edge knives are all examples of good, basic |
| offered in non-classic colors like translucent pink, | | | | knives that can be purchased for a reasonable |
| amethyst and even tie dye. More comprehensive | | | | amount of money. |
| models include the Swiss Army Climber, Champ | | | | If you really want the best outdoor knife available |
| and Huntsman knives. | | | | and money is no object, expect to spend about |
| Outside of Swiss Army knives and their kin, there | | | | $200. Benchmade make a number of high-quality |
| are a number of single-bladed knives designed for | | | | models, including the 930 Kulgera Locking and the |
| rough outdoor use. The blade of such a knife | | | | 940 Osborne Serrated knives. These feature |
| locks into place, allowing the user to use it without | | | | powder-made steel blades that remain sharp and |
| fearing that the blade will snap shut and cut off a | | | | are resistant to corrosion. |