Folding Knife: Varieties and Selection Nuances

For the first time, foldable knives appeared in Ancient Rome. Locals, legionaries, and sailors actively used them as auxiliary tools (to slice cheese, repair gear). Nowadays, enthusiasts of extreme tourism and fishing actively use such items. If the blade length does not exceed 90 mm, it does not belong to cold weapons.

How to Choose a Knife

Folding knives are most often used for minor tasks: fruit cleaning, simple food cutting, package opening. Such items are rarely used during hikes or picnics. Based on the sphere of knife usage, you can identify the main criteria to pay attention to when purchasing:

• All construction parts are strong and precisely fitted to each other;
• The blade is strong, holds a sharp edge well, and is resistant to corrosion;
• The handle (wooden or metal with rubber inserts);
• The opening mechanism (manual, automatic, semi-automatic);
• The blade material (ideal option: stainless or high-carbon steel).

Be sure to hold the knife in your hand to understand how convenient it is to use. The item should not have dents or rust marks.

Construction Features

In the past, folding or pocket knives were used to sharpen goose quills, used for writing. Today, they are used for other purposes. Usually, when a person wants to buy a tool, they are guided by several reasons. One of the main advantages of a folding knife is its convenient design, allowing:

• To carry the tool with you at all times;
• To reduce the knife's size without compromising its functionality;
• To achieve safe carrying.

Depending on the design, knives are divided into tourist, combat, hunting, and other types. Some manufacturers offer universal models that can be used at home or during weekend trips outside the city.

Depending on the operating principle, a folding knife is classified as:

• Automatic;
• Semi-automatic;
• With or without a blade lock;
• Multifunctional.

Automatic knives may have side or front blade ejection. The latter are further classified as single-action (blade ejects upon button press, and to reload, you need to pull a special handle) or double-action (one movement is sufficient to open or close the blade).

Folding knives are convenient and practical, suitable for both home use and outdoor activities. The most important thing when choosing an item is to pay attention to the mechanism and how easy it is to open and hold in the hand. A good knife should work reliably, have a reasonable price, and cut well.