... carry a pocket knife

You may not be MacGyver, or even a Boy Scout for that matter, but that is no excuse for being unprepared.  And there is no single tool that will allow you to be prepared for more situations than a pocket knife.

Pocket knives come in many forms, and each one tells you a bit about a man.  For instance:

A Swiss Army Knife says, "Last week I borrowed the knife that my girlfriend keeps in her purse, and I must have forgotten to give it back."

An Oldtimer says, "I am a man that has an appreciation for nostalgia... I'm also too damn cheap to buy a good knife."

A Spyderco says, "I have a pocket knife, but it also kind of looks like a martial arts weapon.  So I might just be looking to kill you."

And, of course, a Buck knife says, "I have a firm handshake and strong resolve."

Now, every pocket knife is different, and it is a very personal decision.  I happen to prefer my Buck Knight that I received as a groomsman gift (thank you Mr. Pedroza), but every man needs to pick out the knife that suits him.  However, here area  few things to keep in mind:

1)  Make sure it locks - While using a non-locking blade is suitable for cutting a loose thread or popping a balloon, you never know what task you will need to perform.  Go ahead and spend the money on a lock blade.  It will come in handy sooner than you realize... plus, it will buy you some points with any ladies who have their priorities straight.

2)  Stay focused & leave it at the blade - while it can be cute to have multiple blades and various tools, it is pretty unnecessary.  Every Man Should be able to do whatever those various tools are designed to do (screwdriver, scissors, tweezers, toothpick) with a standard lock-blade pocket knife.

Unless you know exactly what you want, you should not shop for a knife online.  Go into a knife store and try them out.  You will find one that is right for you.