13 Everyday Uses for a Swiss Army Knife You Haven’t Considered

Make Moving Day a Breeze

A box cutter is often considered the standard tool for moving day, but a Swiss Army Knife is even better, says real estate expert Ryan Carrigan. Use the knife to cut open taped boxes, the can opener to pry open wooden crates and the screwdriver to secure them closed again.

“The awl is also perfect to punch holes in boxes for a better grip,” he says. “It’s not quite long enough to tear the bubble wrap or damage what’s inside.”

Cook With Creativity

Victorinox, maker of Swiss Army Knives since 1897, offered us a few suggestions for the kitchen:

• • Use the small blade to peel fruits and veggies.
  • Open clams with the flathead screwdriver by inserting it into the hinge.
  • Break out the tweezers to remove bones from fresh fish before cooking.
  • Decipher a hard-to-read expiration date with the magnifying glass.
  • Prop up your phone with the multipurpose hook to more easily follow a cooking recipe.
  • Clean out the buildup between the countertop and stove with the flathead screwdriver.
  • Don’t forget the can opener for when you’ve got a stubborn tin.

Pick a Lock

“What really shocked me, in a good way, was when I witnessed someone pick a lock with a Swiss Army Knife,” says Carrigan. The lock was rusted, so the key wouldn’t work. Rather than wait for a locksmith, the answer was to use the toothpick and tweezers to turn the tumblers. “How they did it, I don’t know, but a couple of minutes later, the move continued,” he says.

Crack a Coconut

I used to have a couple of coconut palms at my house, so I can attest to how difficult it is to open one up, even using power tools. But of course, it’s no problem for a Swiss Army Knife.

“The eyelet is one of the few tools strong enough to puncture a coconut shell without breaking,” says interior designer Seymen Usta. “Use that as a punch, then use the knife body to pry it open.” Safety first: Make sure the coconut is stable when you punch it.

Fix a Cell Phone

Another of Usta’s favorite Swiss Army Knife hacks is using tweezers or the pin tool to remove a stuck SIM card. “When your phone’s SIM tray won’t budge, you can use those to gently pry it out without damaging anything,” he says. Safety tip: Turn off the device before trying this hack, and wrap the tip with tissue for a bit more grip.

The toothpick can also reset buttons on GPS devices, says Brian Raffio of Climbing Kilimanjaro. “It’s a great little addition,” he says. “But a word to the wise: don’t drop it, or it’s impossible to find.”

Zipper It Up

A toothpick or screwdriver can help reset jammed or frozen zippers. Insert the tool into the slider and gently wiggle it to re-align the teeth. Take it slow and steady, being careful not to force it, says Usta. “No need to throw out gear over a stuck zip,” he says. “It’s great for backpacks, coats or a tent.”

Check the Wind

If you want to know whether a storm might be rolling in, use the scissors or knife blade to check the weather. Simply tie a scrap of thread and hold it up like a tiny wind sock, says Raffio. Bonus points for using unraveled paracord instead.

“It’s not going to win any awards, but it sure looks cool, and you will know in which direction the wind is blowing,” he says.

Camp Like a Pro

The uses for the hook on a Swiss Army Knife might not be readily obvious, but there are many. Freeborn suggests tying a piece of string cord around some firewood to carry a bundle without cutting off circulation to your fingers. It can also prop up your phone to play some camp tunes or lift a pot off the fire.

“Just make sure you test it first, no one wants their can of beans in the dirt,” he says.

Resurrect Footwear

For knots in shoelaces or paracord, gently work the hook or corkscrew tools into the jumble, twisting gently to loosen it. “I find this handy during my kids’ baseball season,” says Justin Trump, editor and writer for CAT Outdoor.

Jared Spaulding of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) says you can also use the awl for an emergency shoe fix. “Sometimes even brand-new boots fall apart after a week in the mountains,” he says. If that happens, use some cord, Barge Cement and a stitch with the sewing awl for a quick fix.

Build a Fire

Turn your scissors into a tinder-making machine for campfires by grabbing some lint or dry grass and snipping it into a fluffy pile. You’ll have a fire going in short order, says Army veteran Chad Lipka.

“On a freezing night in the Boundary Waters, my friends and I were fretting over damp wood when I did this with some sock lint,” he says. “Bam, instant fire, warm night.” Safety tip: point scissors away from your body, keep them razor-sharp for clean cuts and store your knife dry to avoid rust.

Build Another Fire

Trump offers up this alternative emergency fire starting method: Use a CR123A battery from a flashlight, brace its flat end on the bottle opener, close the can opener until it almost touches the positive nub, then bridge fine steel wool between the nub and can opener.

“The wool heats and ignites tinder,” he says. “Essentially, you can use the tool to create some makeshift electricity if you need to.”

Sharpen a Fishing Hook

A popular Swiss Army Knife hack for anglers is using the awl to sharpen hooks, says Lipka. Glide the point of a dull hook along the awl’s groove with gentle pressure, turn the hook to maintain even wear, then grip test on your thumbnail.

“I encourage you to play without fear, but to try gently,” he says. “Maintain a secure grip on the knife in order to prevent slippage.”

Fix Firearms

The small flat-head screwdriver on the tip of the can opener fits many iron-sights and optic screws, so you can re-zero or snug a loose mount while out hunting or at the range, says Trump. You can also use the awl or back-spring flathead to push takedown pins, drift slide pins, scrape carbon and tighten loose fasteners.

“This gives you a pocket armorer kit when you need to make adjustments on a firearm in the field,” he says.

About the Experts

Jared Spaulding is a field staffing coordinator at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He also teaches climbing and mountaineering.
Brian Raffio is a senior travel specialist and coordinator for Climbing Kilimanjaro trekking tours and safaris.

Aiden Freeborn is senior editor for The Broke Backpacker, a site dedicated to adventure and inspiring people to work away from their desks. He never leaves home without his Swiss Army Knife.

Seymen Usta is an interior designer and lighting expert at Seus Lighting, an online outlet for modern light fixtures.

Chad Lipka is a wellness expert and president of North Shore Sauna, an outdoor wellness e-commerce brand. He is also an outdoor enthusiast and U.S. Army veteran.

Justin Trump is president of Like Mind Brands and an editor and writer for CAT Outdoor, where he specializes in tactical gear, EDC and knives.

Ryan Carrigan is a real estate and business expert and CEO of moveBuddha, a platform that helps with moving and relocation. He also never leaves home without his Swiss Army knife.