A
credit card knife isn’t the tool that you’d see in the hands of
Crocodile Dundee or Rambo. It’s not going to be used to skin the hide
off a deer or cut through glass to save someone trapped inside a car.
There are other knives designed to do those things.
The knife that can be as small as a credit card, on the other hand,
is ideal for both men and women. It can lend a touch of suavity for a
man, and at the same time, give a woman the extra confidence of knowing
that she’s got a tiny tool belt in her purse.
The credit card blades or knives, so named because it’s small enough
to fit inside your wallet, has a unique style and usefulness that’s part
007, part handyman. It’s a knife that goes everywhere you go, along
with your wallet and your car keys, and you always have it on hand when
you need a sharp blade.
The wonderful thing about these knives is that they can cost you less
than $20. The beauty of this kind of knife, too, is that you have so
many quality knives from which to choose.
Credit Card Knife: What Else Comes With It?
We’ve gotten accustomed to seeing more and more of the things we
use—computers, cell phones, etc.—shrink dramatically in size as they
increase enormously in capability. This is true of credit card knives,
which confirm the adage that good things come in small packages.
A credit card tool may consist of parts that can be removed for
standalone use. This may include tools such as flashlights or clips, so
that the tool can be attached to a flat surface. Some credit card tools
even have a theme, such as golf, where a divot repair tool, ball marks,
pens for keeping score, a grip rest, and a scraper are all included. So
if you’re thinking of a gift for the person who has everything, think
small—a credit card blade might just be the way to go.
A typical card knife, small as it is, often includes some of the following useful tools:
- Knife
- Screwdriver
- Toothpick
- Ruler
- LED light
- Compass
- Tweezers
- Letter opener
- Ruler
- Whistle
- Bottle opener
What are the Most Popular Knives?
This
British-designed, lightweight knife folds up to the size of several
credit cards and fits into your wallet. The 65mm cutting edge blade is
only 2.2 mm thick, but it’s sharp, and the folding mechanism is smooth,
and the overall effect is elegant. It unfolds and locks in place as it
should, and lays flat when it’s folded back into shape. The CardSharp2
isn’t intended to be a general hard-use utility knife or a combat knife,
nor is it the kind of knife that you’re going to put to use on a daily
basis because it’s not designed for that level of durability.
In response to some complaints about the “fancy but flimsy” CardSharp2, the design has been improved, and the CardSharp 4 body is no longer made of plastic which can crack, but of aluminum for greater durability.
The new two-part safety lock of the CardSharp4, new rivet holding the
blade, and the updated hinge, along with new folding engineering, are
popular upgrades, but you can kiss the $9.97 price goodbye—along with
the upgrades in quality comes an uptick in price. The CardSharp4 is $63.
So if you want an affordable knife that you don’t intend to use a
lot, the CardSharp2 is still a bargain. Know how often you intend to
make use of your knife before choosing which one to purchase and you
won’t be disappointed.
- Victorinox Swiss Army Secretary
You knew that there would be a Swiss Army Knife in the list, right? Victorinox doesn’t disappoint, and it only costs $17.
At 3/16” thickness the Swiss Army Secretary fits easily into your
pocket; so easily, in fact, that you might want to try this trick so
that the knife doesn’t slip out of your pocket: roll a rubber band
around the end of the knife to add a little extra friction that will
help the knife to stay put until you reach for it.
The credit knife has two tools, a large and a small blade, stainless
steel components to prevent corrosion, and a lifetime warranty. And it’s
a Swiss Army Knife—sometimes that’s all that you need to know.
- Tool Logic Credit Card Companion Knife
Yes, it fits in your wallet. Yes, it has tools. Yes, it has a
serrated blade. But this knife doesn’t suffer from an identity crisis
over whether it’s going to rescue your life or just make your everyday
life a little bit easier, because sometimes there is a knife that can do
it all.
It’s simply Tool Logic’s way of making sure that you have everything
that you need right inside your pocket. The knife brings along a 2-inch
serrated blade, a magnifying glass, ruler, scissors, toothpick, and
tweezers.
Other versions of the Tool Logic knife carry different tools,
including a firestarter, a whistle, and a compass. If you plan to use
the knife at all hours and under unpredictable conditions, or you’re a
first responder, you might want to try Tool Logic SVC2 Survival Card
which comes with red LED for better illumination at night.
- Victorinox SwissCard Swiss Army Knife
The SwissCard
is like having a toolbox in your wallet, because in addition to the 1.5
inch stainless steel blade, it also features nine stainless steel tools,
including a letter opener, scissors, toothpick, nail file, tweezers,
pen, and screwdriver.
It’s also available in pink, so if you’re looking for a useful gift
for a daughter who’s going off to college, this makes a perfect choice.
And since the knife is only $22, you’ll be able to still afford to pay
her tuition bills!
If Swiss Army Knives are smart enough for NASA and durable enough to travel to Mt. Everest, they might just be able to handle a college freshman.
Founded in 1986, the SOG Company
chose its name from a Special Operations Unit that developed a knife
during the Viet Nam war. Maybe that “special operations” inspiration is
why the SOG Access Card brings power as well as versatility to this card
knife which weighs 1.8 ounces, has a 2.125-inch VG10 blade, and is
3/16” thick without the clip.
The SOG’s Arc–Lock gives you easy, ambidextrous, one-handed opening
and a strong, dependable locking mechanism. The stainless steel handle
even has some tools hidden inside, and the pocket clip, which is
included, can be used as a money clip, making it a handy accessory for
both indoor and outdoor excursions. SOG knives are made and/or
assembled in the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, and China.
Card Knives as EDC Knives
The tools on a card knife aren’t as fully functional as a full-sized
tool would be, but it’s a lot easier to carry a credit knife in your
pocket at all times than it is to carry your knife collection, toolbox,
or junk drawer. If you need to open a package or cut something, you’ll
be grateful for the all-in-one knife in your wallet that saves the day.
Traveling with a Knife
It’s important to remember that knives, no matter how small in size, are still regarded as weapons.
When traveling by air, you’ll need to keep in mind that the contents
of your pockets will be examined. For a brief time in 2013, the Transportation Security Administration
considered dropping its ban on small knives, but following fierce
reaction to this proposal, the ban on knives has been maintained.
So before you travel, check the contents of your pockets well before you reach TSA officers.
Another warning—if you’re entering a building such as a courthouse,
make sure to empty your pockets beforehand, or the armed security staff
will be confiscating your knife before you reach your destination.
Conclusion
Credit card knives are handy resources, but you can become so
accustomed to having yours around that you forget that others—like the
men and women in blue who tend not to smile when a blade shows up on the
scanner—will not share your enthusiasm. You might not get your knife
back.
So do be careful. But it’s important to know that if you’re looking
for a small, everyday knife that you can take with you on the go and
help you do a variety of helpful tasks in a pinch, it doesn’t get much
better (or affordable) than these handy knives.
