Do you carry a pocketknife?

[Voadam]

I carry one most days unless I'm going to be on a plane, going to the Supreme Court, or Congress. Usually a three inch folding buck knife.

I use it most days to slit open the plastic covering on the frozen lunches I bring in to eat at work. Also to cut big pieces of food in the entrees like fried chicken.

I've never had to use a weapon in self defense.

 

[Voadam]

Man...that seems odd.

I associate the US with being pretty free and easy with weapons in the hand sof their citizenry.

Here in Canada, if you're knife has a blade under 5 inches in length and only has one edge, then it is perfectly legal for you to carry it. Just about everyone I know has one.

Handguns on the other hand...uh uh.

Weapons restrictions are a local law jurisdiction issue, so it varies greatly from place to place throughout the U.S. What the definitions are, what is allowed, and what you need to do to be able to use or carry various weapons varies greatly.

I think the NRA puts out a guide for what the various regulations are for possession and carrying firearms broken down by area.

 

[Exquisite Dead Guy]

Not only is a Leatherman handy, but it can save your life! I prefer the Super Tool myself.

I've never had to use it for self-defense though. I rely on my disarming personality.

 

[Kastil]

I carry a boyscout swiss army knife in my purse at all times. It's quite handy to have so I make sure it goes in the suitcase when I fly.... don't leave home without it.

 

[painandgreed]

I typically carry a Gerber multi-tool. It comes in handy very often at work.

For self-defence, back in my punk rock (and pizza deliverer) days, I carried a straight razor in my boot as was in vogue at the time in my city. I never had to use it but a friend of mine had to when some redneck pulled a knife on him.

 

[Imperialus]

I have a swiss army knife on my keychain. Mostly used for opening packages... I don't know what I'd do without it.

Back in my teens/punk rock days I usually kept a double edged 3 inch long bootknife.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I carry a swiss army knife. It's useful for cutting stuff open mostly. Most of the tools on it I don't use but some of them have come in use (tweezers, tooth pick, can opener, saw, beer cap popping thingy). I just wish my knife had fish scaler my old one use to, my current knife though higher quality does not.

 

[Xath]

I thought about getting a weapon after my second time getting threatened on the DC metro system. Then I realized I'd be just as likely to hurt myself as defend. So I got some mace and I carried it around. I've lost it now, but I'm not alone on the metro at 3am every week anymore either.

My martial arts teacher once told me that a knife is the most dangerous weapon that someone can pull on you. You don't have to be skilled to use it, and it's dangerous from many angles. A gun can only shoot from one spot and you have to have some decent aim to really hurt someone. But somehow, I think I'd still be more afraid if someone pulled a gun on me than if they pulled a knife.

 

[WayneLigon]

I keep a multi-purpose knife and tool in the car. You never know when you'll need something like that.