So, what are the modern uses of the pen blade?

[Woodrow F Call]

Pen blades seem to be a popular secondary blade in many of the knives I see in this sub-forum. I know that traditionally, they are used for quill prep (for writing). I'm just curious about what kind of modern tasks everyone designates for this blade.

 

[Thalestin]

I find them useful for cutting small things like string or opening an envelope

 

[Humppa]

I use the penblade often. I use it mainly for "dirty" cutting tasks. When I say "dirty" that means cutting tapes, rope or something like this. And on some tasks when a centered-tip is needed. The clipblade has a too fine tip for some daily work - a centered tip on the penblade is nice to that. And sometimes I use it to put a sharpen my pen, out in the field.

The mainblade (mostly) clipblade is used for food prep and several clean(er) work.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I found the pen blade very useful, on a Case Peanut a while back, for cutting some small-diameter holes in some roof insulation. My Dad & I were on the roof investigating some damage done by burrowing bugs, which had been boring into the closed-cell foam insulation. I was using the blade to probe for voids created by the bugs, and doing a little excavating of material in the process. The narrowness of the pen blade and the piercing tip were perfectly suited to such work. The working principle is very similar to that behind the narrow 'melon tester' blades on other knives, to be used for cutting circular plugs out of fruit samples.


David

 

[dogstar]

I do exactly as Humppa does. Save the big blade for food related use; use the pen blade for everything else (provided blade size is not a limitation).

 

[Woodrow F Call]

That's an interesting concept, but it makes sense.

 

[Will Power]

For carving bits of wood used as cleaners and prods for knife liners

Nail cleaning need not be overlooked either, but, these are eternal rather than 'modern' uses

 

[dogstar]

Also, people are less likely to be put off by the little pen blade.

 

[festerfromnzed]

I used the pen blade as a pencil.... FES

 

[sitflyer]

Good point dogstar! Using around sheeple, plunge cuts into clamshell packages, small delicate work, by choking up on the blade one can do controlled depth cuts into boxes. I use my pen blades probably more often than the main blades...

 

[Will Power]

Very kool and practical FES! You use it to score

 

[knarfeng]

Also, people are less likely to be put off by the little pen blade.

Yes.

I also like a pen blade for delicate cutting or for cutting chores where I don't want to mar something. The best example is I was at one of my daughter's soccer games a number of years ago. One of her teammates had forgotten to removes a braided string bracelet (they were all the rage at the time.) The refs would not let her play until she removed it and she could not get it off. I cut it off with a pen blade because I could slip the tip of the blade between the string and her arm with no fear of scraping her arm. You can't do that with a clip blade.

 

[eisman]

I find it the ideal blade for triming my fingernails. Also one of my favorite whittling blades.

 

[Modoc ED]

I guess I'm different (no wise-cracks guys) but I tend to keep my pen blade in reserve and sharp for when I need something sharp - i.e., I don't think I've ever used the pen blade on my Powderhorns:

I just keep them sharp for emergencies and use the main blade for everything.

 

[shrapne1]

i use it for sharpening pencils while woodworking, and carving, whittling, and as a marking instrument if im without a pencil

 

[shrapne1]

Mr Ed, you made a good point there, before i got into the habit of stropping my blades before leaving home everyday, i used to keep my pen blade sharp for "emergencies," but in 20+ years i only really had one worth remembering; my dad got stuck with a barbed hook whilst fishing and i had to cut a slit in his finger to get it out!

 

[quattromori]

I use all my secondary/smaller blades (most are pen blades) for "dirty" tasks as well, cutting into boxes, tape, and so on. Since blade length is never an issue on those tasks, a pen blade is easy to control, gets the job done, is very safe (it's very unlikely to cut someone accidentally, even if you're clumsy) and lets me keep my main blade for food.
As a sidenote, I tend to prefer a straight blade as secondary, although in the end I don't think the difference is that much.

Fausto

 

[popedandy]

Sharpening pencils, opening letters, cleaning fingernails, trimming fingernails, cutting string, etc.

 

[black mamba]

Great for reaming out pipes (the smoking kind), trimming fingernails and whenever a really thin precise cut is needed.

 

[Jack Black]

I use my pen blades at least as much as the primary blade, and for many of the reasons that have already been stated. I find it more discreet if somewhere public. Also I find it easier to control and choke up on, great for carving or scraping tasks. Also good for boring into things.