As well as the basic folding or retractable pocket knife models available, many incorporate additional features to enhance ease of use and functionality. These additional features are outlined below.
Internal blade storage
Some pocket knives incorporate an additional compartment inside the handle in which replacement blades (between 1 and 5 depending on the model) can be stored for easy access. This is sometimes referred to as ‘on board’ blade storage.
This feature is valued highly by DIYers and tradespeople alike, as it negates the need to carry an additional blade storage device on the worksite – the less you have to carry, the better!
Multi-blade functionality
Some higher-end pocket knives feature more than one blade for different purposes; most commonly this comprises a standard pocket knife blade at one end and a specialist blade, such as a sport blade, at the other.
Some multi-blade pocket knives, however, feature two of the same blade type side by side, so that a broken or blunted blade can be swapped for a sharp one without the need to physically remove and replace it.
Most multi-blade pocket knives incorporate a safety feature to ensure that only one blade can be used at a time.
Incorporated wire stripper or wrap cutter
Some pocket knife designs incorporate a wire stripping tool into the handle.
This is a small tool designed to strip the plastic insulation from thin electrical wires and cables, and usually appears as a small, rounded notch in the bottom of the liner, which exposes a section of the hidden blade’s sharp edge.
To use the wire stripper, the notch is simply dragged over a section of wire; the insulation will be cut by the blade edge and stripped away by the sliding motion.
The same notch can be used as an inbuilt wrap cutter, to safely and quickly cut through cling film and wrap, packaging, package tape, duct tape, and similar.
To use the wrap cutter, the user simply positions the pocket knife so that the section of exposed blade within the notch rests on the edge of the section of wrap or tape, and pulls it toward them.
