Can I use my folding pocket knife as a pry bar?

You can, but if you like your knife, don’t. Doing so can cause serious damage to the blade tip, pivot mechanism, lock, and handle. Folding knives are designed for cutting, and prying can lead to the blade snapping, the lock failing, or voiding your warranty. It's also a safety risk to yourself. For prying tasks, it's best to use a pry bar.

Is it okay to use my folding knife as a screwdriver?

It might be okay for you, but probably not for your knife or the screw. Knife tips are designed for precision cutting and piercing, not for handling the torque required to turn screws. This can cause the tip to snap, bend, or deform, compromise the blade's integrity, damage the screw head, and create a risk of slippage and injury.

Can I throw my folding pocket knife?

’Can I?’ and ‘should I?’ are two different questions. No, throwing your folding pocket knife is not recommended. Folding knives are not structurally designed or balanced for throwing.

What happens if my folding knife is exposed to extreme heat or open flames?

Exposing your folding knife to extreme heat or open flames can be very damaging. High temperatures can alter the blade's temper, which is crucial for its hardness and edge retention. This can make the blade too soft to hold an edge or, in some cases, more brittle.

Why is it important to regularly clean and maintain my folding knife?

Regular cleaning and maintenance are important for your folding knife's longevity, performance, and safety. Cleaning helps prevent rust and corrosion, especially on certain types of steel.

Is it dangerous to use a dull or damaged pocket knife?

Yes, using a dull or damaged folding knife is more dangerous than using a sharp one in good condition. A dull blade requires significantly more pressure to cut, which increases the likelihood of the knife slipping and causing a potentially severe injury.

Should I be careful about who I lend my folding knife to?

Yes, it's wise to be selective about lending your folding knife. If someone is not familiar with safe knife handling or the limitations of a folding knife, they could injure themselves or unintentionally damage your knife by using it for tasks it wasn't designed for (like prying or as a screwdriver).

7 Things You Should Never Do with Your Folding Pocket Knife

More Than Just a Blade – Respecting Your Everyday Carry

Your folding pocket knife, an indispensable part of our everyday carry. It’s there for opening packages, slicing an apple at lunch, cutting cordage on a weekend camping trip, or a hundred other tasks that pop up unexpectedly. A well-made folding knife, like the ones we pride ourselves on here at American Buffalo Knife and Tool, is designed to be a reliable cutting companion for years to come.

But just like any quality tool, its longevity and safe performance depend on proper use and respect for its design. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t use a screwdriver to hammer a nail. The same principle applies to your trusty folder. It’s a specialized cutting tool, engineered for slicing and (sometimes) for piercing. When we start asking it to do jobs it wasn’t built for, we not only risk damaging the knife but also compromise our own safety. Let’s dive into some common misuses to avoid.

Mistake #1: Using Your Folding Knife as a Pry Bar

It’s a tempting scenario: you need to open a paint can, lift a stubborn staple, or separate two joined materials, and your trusty folding knife is right there in your pocket. Surely, a little bit of prying won’t hurt, right? It’s true, we’ve all done it, and sometimes we get away with it; other times the knife snaps. This is one of the quickest ways to seriously damage your folding knife and potentially injure yourself.

Here’s why prying with your folder is a bad idea:

Blade Tip Damage
Pivot and Lock Stress
Handle Damage
Voiding Your Warranty

The ABKT Tip: Your knife is a cutting tool. If you need to pry something, grab a dedicated pry bar or even a sturdy flathead screwdriver. They are built to handle that kind of stress. Keep your ABKT knife sharp and ready for what it does best – cutting.

Mistake #2: Treating Your Knife Like a Screwdriver

Another common temptation is to use the tip of your folding knife to tighten or loosen a screw. The pointed tip might seem like a passable substitute in a pinch, but this is another misuse that can lead to a damaged knife and potential injury.

Here’s what can go wrong:

Snapped or Deformed Tip
Compromised Blade Integrity
Damage to the Screw Head
Risk of Slippage and Injury

The ABKT Tip: Keep a multi-tool with screwdriver bits or a dedicated screwdriver handy for those tasks. Your ABKT knife’s finely honed tip is meant for precision cutting, not for turning screws. Respecting this distinction will keep both your knife and your fingers safe.

Mistake #3: The Temptation to Throw Your Folding Knife

We’ve all seen it in movies or maybe even been tempted at a backyard barbecue – the allure of expertly throwing a knife and watching it sink satisfyingly into a target. However, your folding knife is not designed for throwing. This misuse can lead to significant damage.

Here’s why you should resist the urge to throw your folder:

Structural Integrity at Risk: Folding knives have several components that are not built to withstand the impact forces of throwing.
- The Pivot
- The Locking Mechanism
- The Blade
Balance and Design: True throwing knives are specifically designed and balanced for that purpose. Folding knives are not balanced for throwing.
Safety Hazard: An improperly thrown folding knife can easily bounce off a target or fly in an unexpected direction, posing a serious risk of injury to the thrower or anyone nearby.

The ABKT Tip: If you’re interested in knife throwing, invest in a set of dedicated throwing knives and learn the proper techniques in a safe environment. Keep your ABKT knife for cutting.

Mistake #4: Exposing Your Knife to Extreme Heat or Using it Near Open Flames

Your ABKT knife is built to handle tough conditions, but extreme heat is an enemy to both the blade and the handle. Understanding how heat can affect your knife is crucial for its longevity and performance.

Here’s what to be aware of:

Altering the Blade’s Temper: Knife steels often undergo a precise heat treatment process to achieve the perfect balance of hardness (for edge retention) and toughness (to resist chipping). This is often referred to as the “temper.”
- Exposing the blade to extreme temperatures – such as leaving it too close to a campfire, on a hot stove, or even the intense heat from aggressive power grinding/sharpening without coolant – can ruin this temper.
- If the steel gets too hot, it can become softer. A softened blade will lose its ability to hold an edge, meaning it will dull very quickly and require constant resharpening. In some cases, overheating can also make the steel more brittle in certain areas.
Damaging Handle Materials: ABKT uses a variety of durable handle materials, including G10, micarta, and various synthetics. While these materials are chosen for their toughness and resilience, extreme heat can still damage them.

The ABKT Tip: Keep your knife away from direct flames and sources of extreme heat. Don’t lay it on a hot engine or use it to poke around in a fire pit. If you’re sharpening on a power grinder, use coolant or take frequent breaks to ensure the blade edge doesn’t overheat.

Mistake #5: Neglecting Basic Cleaning and Maintenance

One of the simplest yet most impactful things you can do for your folding knife is to keep it clean and lubricated. Regular maintenance not only keeps your ABKT knife looking its best but is also vital for its smooth operation, safety, and lifespan – especially if it’s the knife you use every day.

Why skipping on cleaning is a problem:

Corrosion and Rust: Even stainless steel isn’t completely “stain-proof”; it’s “stain-resistant.” Given enough time and exposure to moisture, salts (from sweat or food), or acidic substances, most knife steels can develop rust or pitting. This is especially true for high-carbon steels or even some tool steels like D2 (which ABKT often uses for its excellent edge retention) if they aren’t cared for properly. Regular cleaning removes these corrosive agents.
Gritty Action and Pivot Wear: Pocket lint, dust, dirt, and grime from daily tasks can easily find their way into the pivot mechanism and locking surfaces of your folding knife. This debris acts like an abrasive, making the knife harder to open and close. Over time, this grit can cause premature wear on washers, bearings, and the pivot itself, leading to a loose or gritty-feeling action.
Locking Mechanism Issues: Debris can also accumulate in the area where the lock engages the blade tang. If this area is gunked up, the lock may not engage fully or securely. A compromised lock is a serious safety hazard, as it could disengage unexpectedly during use.
Hygiene: If you use your knife for food prep, even occasionally, keeping it clean is a matter of basic food safety.

The ABKT Tip: Wipe it down. After use, especially if it’s come into contact with food, moisture, or dirt, wipe down the blade and handle with a clean cloth.

Mistake #6: Persisting with a Dull or Damaged Blade

It might seem counterintuitive, but a dull knife is a dangerous knife. Similarly, continuing to use a blade that’s chipped, has a broken tip, or is otherwise damaged isn’t just inefficient—it can be a safety risk. At ABKT, we want the knife you use to be both effective and safe, and that starts with a well-maintained edge.

Here’s why working with a compromised blade is a bad idea:

Increased Force Means Less Control:
- Dull Blades: A dull blade doesn’t slice easily. To make it cut, you have to apply significantly more pressure. When you’re pushing that hard, and the blade finally does (or doesn’t) bite into the material, it’s much easier for it to slip and cut you instead.
- Damaged Blades: Chips on the edge can snag on material, causing the cut to jerk or stop unexpectedly, again leading to a loss of control. A broken tip makes piercing tasks difficult and dangerous, as the altered point may not penetrate as intended and could deflect.
More Severe Injuries: Because you’re using more force with a dull or damaged blade, if it does slip and cut you, the injury can be deep and ragged.
Damage to Materials (and the Knife): Forcing a dull or damaged blade through material can ruin what you’re cutting, whether it’s a piece of rope, a package, or food. You’re more likely to tear and crush than slice.
Inefficiency: Simply put, using a dull or damaged knife is frustrating. Tasks take longer, require more effort, and the results are subpar.

The ABKT Tip: Keep your blades sharp! Learn basic sharpening techniques. Regularly inspect your blade for any nicks, chips, or a rolled edge. If you notice damage, address it before it becomes a bigger problem or a safety hazard.

Mistake #7: Always Saying Yes to “Hey, Can I Borrow Your Knife?”

Your ABKT knife. It’s your reliable sidekick, the tool you’ve come to know and trust. You know its edge, how it deploys, and exactly what it can (and can’t) handle. But then comes that moment: someone asks, “Hey, can I borrow your knife?” Before you reflexively hand it over, reveling in how much more prepared you are than the person asking (which is of course true), pause and consider why lending your prized folder can be a mistake:

Their Safety is Your Concern (Indirectly): This is the big one. If the person asking isn’t familiar with safe knife handling practices (like always cutting away from themselves, keeping fingers clear of the blade path, or understanding how the lock works), they could easily injure themselves. And while it’s their action, you’ll likely feel some responsibility if your tool is involved in an accident. Not to mention, it’s safe to say you don’t want their blood on your knife.
Risk of Unintentional Abuse to Your Knife: You know not to use your knife as a pry bar, screwdriver, or hammer. Does the borrower? They might see your sharp, pointy ABKT knife as the perfect solution for a task that would make any seasoned knife owner cringe.
The Accidental “Pocket Permanence” Predicament: Let’s be honest, ABKT knives are pretty great. They look good, they feel good in the hand, and they perform. We’ve all heard tales of tools that were lent out and never quite found their way home.

The ABKT Tip: It’s perfectly okay to be selective about who you lend your knife to. You maintain your knife, you know its condition, and you’re responsible for its use. Handing it over relinquishes that control.

Proper Care for a Reliable Companion – Keeping Your Folding Knife in Top Shape

Your ABKT folding knife is designed and built to be a knife you use every day—a dependable tool, a trusted companion for your daily tasks, and an essential part of your gear for adventure. As we’ve explored, a little knowledge and a commitment to proper use and care go a long way in ensuring that your knife serves you safely and effectively for years to come. Keep it clean, keep it sharp, and use it wisely.

Ready to find your next everyday carry? Explore ABKT folding knives today and add to your collection!