Penknives

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Stuart said:

"Judith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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- To remove a splinter

Yo would be better off leaving it in then trying to hack it out with a
knife!

No, you use the tip of the knife to ease it back out the way it came in.
It's much the most effective way of doing it and there is no "hacking"
involved.

A pin or needle is far better

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- To trim a piece of plaster for that awkward shaped blister

Sounds a bit unnecessary

Why?
Or more simply, if you use strips of plaster rather than an assortment
you use it to cut the size you need, rather than have 2 feet of plaster
over a small cut... Why carry a strip rather than an assortment?
Because you can use a strip as an "instant tendon" up the side of the
leg to help support a badly turned ankle.

I diubt there is many *regularly* used pen knifes sharp enough to fashion a
plaster in the way you are describing

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In 25 years of walking and climbing I am yet to find a real need to

carry a

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knife!

On a day walk they're often not especially required, but on a camping
trip they're very handy IME. And this is before we get into ski touring
and paddling, where mechanical repair tools are all part of the game.

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Although I have never actually had any use for the following, I do when

wild

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camping, carry a scalpel blade, it is very small, light and sharp enough

to

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cut or slice stuff

It must make slicing bread just /sooooo/ easy... (not)

I wouldn't be taking an uncut loaf of bread for a walk with me!

Presumably you take an uncut loaf with you to justify the existance of your
knife, most folk make the sarnies up in advance.....

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There are plenty
of jobs where the more contrived the blade the harder the job. Our last
wild camping trip involved gutting fish, skinning rabbits, cutting
bread, chopping veg etc. etc. This is harder with a pocket-knife than a
proper set of kitchen knives, but it'll still be a lot easier than

The OP was discussing carrying a knife when going for a walk, Living off the
land for days on end is quite (well actually *very*) different

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with a single scalpel blade, which also shoots down your "less need for
a comprehensive first aid kit" point because the more contrived the
blade the easier it is to cut yourself with it. And scalpels are
specifically made for slicing skin...

As I said it is carried for emergency use only, and In all the years of
carrying one I have never had to use it, hopefully I never will, the only
use I see for it would be to fashion some clothing into a bandage of splint
or the likes, I don't carry a first aid kit iether!

I do know of one bloke whos only use of his first aid kit was to bandage his
hand up when his swiss army knife unexpectedly folded on him!

Judith said:

Simon Caldwell said:

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lucky the lady at Edinburgh Airport let me through because
it was sealed!!!!

Lucky? Or rather worrying?

Airport security seems hit and miss (if you'll pardon the expression).

Certainly is. I flew from Los Angeles to JFK shortly after commercial
flights had resumed post 9-11. The planes pilot took it on himself to
check out all the passengers as they boarded. A woman came onto the
plane carrying a very large, sealed, cardboard box. When the pilot
asked the woman if it had been checked by airport security she freely
admitted that it hadn't as it was too large to fit through the x-ray
machine! The pilot ordered the woman and box off the plane, and
wouldn't let her back on until the box had been opened, all the goods
inside had passed through the x-ray machine individually, and the box
had been flattened and also passed throught the x-ray machine.

Before going to LAX I had phoned United to see what sort of delay I
could expect, and was told to turn up to the airport 4 hours before the
flight which I did. 10 mins after turning up at the check-in I was
through all the security and was enjoying a beer in the departures
lounge. All in all, one of my better US airport experiences.

--
Dave McLaughlin

[censored] Sapiens Non Urinat In Ventum

Jim Ford said:

Real men need a Swiss Army knife with scissors to trim their nasal hair
- and their ear hair when they're older!

Yep.

--
Nobby

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 10:56:39 +0100, Peter Clinch
<[email hidden]> wrote:

dunno who said:

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- To cut the finger nail that got snagged on that last bit of
scrambling

aw, bless ;-)

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use your teeth

There I agree with you.

You're out doing your thang and you've a rapid inexplicable onset of
sore toes, strange you think, my toes don't normally hurt, I'll just
check. Lo! My toe nails are what's giving me the problem, they're
so-oo long! I'll just trim... er... well, on my finger nails I'd use
my teeth, but now I'm kinda between a rock and a gruesome place ;-)

Simon Caldwell said:

Lucky? Or rather worrying?

Lucky. Since it's Quite All Right for you to take a chunky glass bottle
with 1 litre of flammable spirit on board I really don't see why a pen
knife is that terrible...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Judith said:

I carry my Swiss Army Knife in my purse or handbag when I'm being a
girly, and my Leatherman PSII

<swoon> my kinda gal!

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on my belt (or in my rucksack) at all other times.

<eek!> I'll remember that on our date
;-)

stuart said:

A pin or needle is far better

Not IME for fine splinters, where you want something a little broader
to make sure you catch the end. At home, with a full sewing kit
available with /plenty/ of pins and needles and all sorts of other sharp
goodies to hand I will usually use the wee blade on my SAK to extract
splinters, 'cause IME it's what works best.

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I diubt there is many *regularly* used pen knifes sharp enough to fashion a
plaster in the way you are describing

Mine has scissors, it's not a problem at all.

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I wouldn't be taking an uncut loaf of bread for a walk with me!

Presumably you take an uncut loaf with you to justify the existance of your
knife, most folk make the sarnies up in advance.....

It's not entirely unheard of to resupply on the route of a bigger trip,
and I can't guarantee that all the supplies will be ready chopped into
convenient portions for me.

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The OP was discussing carrying a knife when going for a walk, Living off the
land for days on end is quite (well actually *very*) different

I don't live off the land, I live out of shops. Sometimes the shops are
augmented by what the land (and sea) provides because it's very nice and
makes the trip more enjoyable. If you'd rather save 50g and eat out of
packets that's your choice, but it isn't mine or that of many others.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

stuart said:

A pin or needle is far better

Not IME for fine splinters, where you want something a little broader
to make sure you catch the end. At home, with a full sewing kit
available with /plenty/ of pins and needles and all sorts of other sharp
goodies to hand I will usually use the wee blade on my SAK to extract
splinters, 'cause IME it's what works best.

You should try that tool that no-one dares use, its the db's for that
sort of thing... y'know the one I mean, the one for getting stones out
of horses' hooves.

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

stuart said:

A pin or needle is far better

Not IME for fine splinters, where you want something a little broader
to make sure you catch the end. At home, with a full sewing kit
available with /plenty/ of pins and needles and all sorts of other sharp
goodies to hand I will usually use the wee blade on my SAK to extract
splinters, 'cause IME it's what works best.

Quoted message said:

I diubt there is many *regularly* used pen knifes sharp enough to

fashion a

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plaster in the way you are describing

Mine has scissors, it's not a problem at all.

Quoted message said:

I wouldn't be taking an uncut loaf of bread for a walk with me!

Presumably you take an uncut loaf with you to justify the existance of

your

Quoted message said:

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knife, most folk make the sarnies up in advance.....

It's not entirely unheard of to resupply on the route of a bigger trip,
and I can't guarantee that all the supplies will be ready chopped into
convenient portions for me.

Quoted message said:

The OP was discussing carrying a knife when going for a walk, Living off

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

land for days on end is quite (well actually *very*) different

I don't live off the land, I live out of shops. Sometimes the shops are
augmented by what the land (and sea) provides because it's very nice and
makes the trip more enjoyable. If you'd rather save 50g and eat out of
packets that's your choice, but it isn't mine or that of many others.

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we were
discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

SteveO said:

You should try that tool that no-one dares use, its the db's for that
sort of thing... y'know the one I mean, the one for getting stones out
of horses' hooves.

The marlinspike. Would have to be a pretty big splinter :-(

I /have/ used that to extract a large nail from some chap's boot on the
circuit of Loch Muick a few years ago, and I've also used it to add some
extra buckle-holes to neoprene crampon straps that wouldn't adjust quite
right as supplied.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Stuart said:

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we were
discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

For some values of "walk" and some values of "necessity". That you're
mad to do without one would be a gross overstatement, but that one will
not conceivably be handy is a bit OTT as well, because different people
will get different things out of a walk, including (but certainly not
limited to) serious picnics and rooting about in the local biomass.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Stuart said:

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we were
discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

What's this necessity business? I often carry a pen and a camera when
I go on a walk, and I don't need them either.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

Stuart said:

"Chris Malcolm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stuart said:

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

What's this necessity business? I often carry a pen and a camera when
I go on a walk, and I don't need them either.

A pen and a Camera are two very useful things to have with you, but a knife?
I think the police should be asking some very serious questions into why
anyone has a knife on them, and stories such as "Its in case I get a
splinter" or other such [censored], is quite frankly not good enough!

You're scaring me now, Stuart!

Some things are illegal to carry but most things are not. Most things
*could* be used for illegal purposes ..... but aren't.

Why are you carrying......

.... a piece of string? So I can garrotte someone.
.... a stainless steel flask? So that I can club someone over the head
(and have a hot cup of tea afterwards.)
.... a camera? Because I'm a potential blackmailer looking for a
victim.
.... sandwiches wrapped in a platic bag? So that I can suffocate
someone with a small head.
.... a map? So that I can evade the authorities.

Knives are such a basic, practical, handy-to-have thing. I don't
understand why some people /don't/ carry one!

Judith

"Chris Malcolm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stuart said:

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

What's this necessity business? I often carry a pen and a camera when
I go on a walk, and I don't need them either.

A pen and a Camera are two very useful things to have with you, but a knife?
I think the police should be asking some very serious questions into why
anyone has a knife on them, and stories such as "Its in case I get a
splinter" or other such [censored], is quite frankly not good enough!

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stuart said:

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

For some values of "walk" and some values of "necessity". That you're
mad to do without one would be a gross overstatement, but that one will
not conceivably be handy is a bit OTT as well, because different people
will get different things out of a walk, including (but certainly not
limited to) serious picnics and rooting about in the local biomass.

Pete.

didn't understand any of that!

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Knives are such a basic, practical, handy-to-have thing. I don't
understand why some people /don't/ carry one!

Because I can't think of a single occasion when I needed to use a knife
outside of my house or garden.

I'm still thinking, and will let you know if I remember.
--
Gordon Harris

Judith <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 21:44:22 +0100, Gordon <[email hidden]>

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I would feel under-dressed going on either a walk or a picnic without
a folding knife.

Judith

Titanium?

I carry a Swiss card, takes up very little room, has everything I might
need and nobody points and says "Ha ha! Look at that guy with a Swiss
Army Knife".

So what *do* they say?

;-)

Judith

They say: "Look at that old goat in the Tilley hat, where is his Swiss
Army Knife and where are his Titanium walking poles?".
--
Gordon Harris

Chris Malcolm said:

In my experience most of the faults which occur with complex
electronic devices such as computers are simple connector problems,
and you can fix those with the computer geek version of the Swiss Army
Knife. I usually have enough in my pockets to fix trivial faults in a
TV, computer, or central heating system.

Separated at birth! :O)

--
Regards

Nick

Stuart said:

"Chris Malcolm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stuart said:

Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a walk!

What's this necessity business? I often carry a pen and a camera when
I go on a walk, and I don't need them either.

A pen and a Camera are two very useful things to have with you, but a knife?
I think the police should be asking some very serious questions into why
anyone has a knife on them, and stories such as "Its in case I get a
splinter" or other such [censored], is quite frankly not good enough!

I don't know anyone who would use "Its in case I get a splinter" as
any form of justification. A knife is a tool it's as simple as that.
If you don't have a reason to carry a tool then don't, I never carry a
camera, which is the right tool for taking pictures with, when I'm out
walking. I did at one time but hardly ever used it so I stopped
carrying it.

Anyone who carries a knife as a weapon deserves everything the law can
throw at them but you seem to be making the assumption that anyone who
does carry a knife has no justification and is some sort of criminal,
that a knife has only one use, to hurt or damage other people.

Do you really think those of us who carry a Swiss Army knife carry
them for such a purpose?

You choose to ignore any argument that might, in any reasonable
person, give them cause to re-evaluate their position. When you do
concede that a knife *may* be of use you then can't resist a comment
about first aid being required because a knife closed over someone's
finger, the inference being that if he hadn't had a knife he wouldn't
have needed a first aid kit. A very poor argument!

Is your mind really as closed as your posts make out?

--
Regards

Nick

"Judith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stuart said:

"Chris Malcolm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stuart <[email hidden]> wrote:

> Of course a knife is of use on the type of trip you describe, but we

were

Quoted message said:

> discussing the necessity to carry a knife when simply out for a

walk!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What's this necessity business? I often carry a pen and a camera when
I go on a walk, and I don't need them either.

A pen and a Camera are two very useful things to have with you, but a

knife?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I think the police should be asking some very serious questions into why
anyone has a knife on them, and stories such as "Its in case I get a
splinter" or other such [censored], is quite frankly not good enough!

You're scaring me now, Stuart!

Some things are illegal to carry but most things are not. Most things
*could* be used for illegal purposes ..... but aren't.

Why are you carrying......

... a piece of string? So I can garrotte someone.
... a stainless steel flask? So that I can club someone over the head
(and have a hot cup of tea afterwards.)
... a camera? Because I'm a potential blackmailer looking for a
victim.
... sandwiches wrapped in a platic bag? So that I can suffocate
someone with a small head.
... a map? So that I can evade the authorities.

Knives are such a basic, practical, handy-to-have thing. I don't
understand why some people /don't/ carry one!

Judith

Of course other items can be used as weapons, I know this very well as
someone once stuck me with sharpened screwdriver. But knives are far more
sinister, much too easy for one to turn to in a moment of madness.