Pocket-sized utility knivesrealistically, more useful than a regular folder, when you are on a motorcycle ...
So, let’s be honest.
When you are out there on a motorcycle, what kind / type of cutting tasks you’d encounter?
The more you think about it (and the more honest you are, to yourself), it makes a lot more logical sense
to carry a utility knife than carrying $200 + folder alone.
(If your idea of “motorcycling” always involves hunting & fishing, camping, that’s a whole different story.
But, most of the time when we are riding, we are surrounded by concrete and steel, NOT woods and grass.)
From left to right,
GIL-TEC RUK (clear anodized aluminum version)
https://gil-tek.com/product/ruk-aluminum/TPT (Titanium Pocket Tool) original version
https://store.itstactical.com/products/titanium-pocket-toolSheffield 1282 folding utility knife
https://www.amazon.com/Sheffield-1282-Folding-Utility-Knife/dp/B01A0JZUWI(Amazon no longer carries this knife. It is still available on eBay.)
Gerber EAB lite
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Lite-Pocket-Knife-31-000345/dp/B002RILCLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544768382&sr=8-1&keywords=gerber+eab+liteStanley 10-855 Folding utility knife
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-10-855-Folding-Utility-Knife/dp/B0050PI78MAnd, quite frankly, scissors are more useful and safer, than using the knife, more than 50% of the time when you need to cut something.
OFLA SCS-1
https://www.amazon.com/d/Scissors-Shears/OLFA-9765-Stainless-Serrated-Scissors/B0000X1H90/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1544902529&sr=8-2&keywords=olfa+scs-1KLEIN TOOLS 2100-7
https://www.amazon.com/Electrician-Scissors-Theater-Klein-Tools/dp/B000VL03NC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544769431&sr=8-1&keywords=klein+tools+2100-7As for the utility knives I showed here, only two of them are worth owning.
GIL-TEC and TPT.
I ALWAYS have either one of them in my pocket.
#1 It is great to have some cutting tool you can use without worrying about damaging the blade.
In a mild case of vehicle (or other kind of ) emergency, there are times that you have to cut something on the metal, or, you have to worry blade potentially hitting the hard object while performing the cutting task.
#2 When you have to use the knife in the public, those pocket sized utility knives are visually far less threatening, it won’t upset some people who can only think anything sharp and pointy = weapon.
You can pretty much forget about Sheffield and Gerber.
They are not worth buying.
Despite the 4.6 star rating on Amazon customer review on Gerber EAB, I would say this is one of the worst design out there.
It is heavy, it is thick. Very annoying to carry it in the pocket, and who wants to clip this thing on the belt or pants pocket?
One hand opening and closing is doable, but awkward. Especially when your hand is cold and / or wet.
Sheffield 1282 is highly regarded by one of the well known Youtube knife reviewer(look at the video above), but there’s nothing special about this utility knife.
It is light, it is cheap. That’s all.
It really is cheaply made. You can open it with one hand, but can’t close it one hand, you have to use both hands to close it. (If you force it, you’d probably end up breaking the locking mechanism, that’s how cheaply this thing is put together.)
Also, it is quite bulky.
Stanley is not a bad utility knife.
It’s cheap, but sturdy. (I would constantly worry about Sheffield 1282 breaking and falling apart in pieces in my hand, or Gerber EAB slipping in my hand and cutting myself. Stanley is okay.)
But, it is tad too big and heavy for my preference. And I really don’t like “folding” design on utility knives.
GIL-TEC RUK in aluminum is light, really light. Also, sliding the blade out of this is the easiest of the bunch.
But, that is all with this tool. You can’t use it as ply bar, even for really light duty plying job.
My favorite is TPT. It’s thinner than GIL-TEC, it can be used for light duty plying, it can be used for tightening tripod screw etc, you can slide out / retract the blade with one hand.
(The second version is now available, but I don’t like the pocket clip, and since I don’t have a problem with one hand opening / closing, I consider the original version better.)
Also, take a look at the scond photo carefully.
With TPT, you can pull the blade all the way out.
But, you can’t do that with GIL-TEC.
Putting paracord lanyard makes it easier to grab it in the pocket and pull out.
The scissors, they are both excellent.
I personally like OLFA better. Lighter, more comfortable to use.
The only problem with scissors for motorcyclist is ...
how do you carry them, really?
You can’t put a pair of scissors in the pants pocket.
The realistic solution is either to put them into the elastic band on the multi-tool sheath
or keep them in your tool kit (box , bag, tool roll), or put them into small EDC organizer and make your own “grab-and-go” bag.
