When I was working I always carried a 4” locking-blade folding knife, with pocket clip. Whether horseback or in a truck, I always carried a number of other items (including a fixed-blade knife) that could be termed first aid and survival, in saddlebags and/or a pack. I also carried a Waterman ball point pen everyday, and usually a mechanical pencil as well.

In retirement, I carried the 4” lock blade for a while, but have since transitioned to a 2 1/2”, aluminum-scaled, Swiss Army knife. It’s quite flat (in spite of a some utility accessories) and essentially disappears in the pocket. I rarely wear a shirt with a pocket nowadays, therefore, I no longer carry a pen.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TMats,

I meant that always carrying a pen, seems to be an attribute of lawyers (although JHE didn't mention carrying one.)

It also seems to be an attribute of men in financial sales/real estate agents.

Someone else mentioned being in sales, and always carrying a business card, which would be an aspect of his profession.

(I don't. I should, and I mean to get proficient enough w. my phone to just have folks scan a QR code off my phone.)

Land buy-sell here. Pen and a Victorinox Huntsman (or other mid-sized swiss army knife). Bonus points if whoever it is is wearing a Victorinox watch (no kidding) with a nylon strap.

Cheeze— you are so funny. I’m surprised no one else caught it.
I carry a Kershaw Scallion everyday. Seems I’m always using it.

I have a big ugly Cold Steel lockback clipped to the right leg tool pocket of my carpenter pants. The left leg tool pocket has my flashlight. Leatherman in my left pants pocket and a 3 X 5 notebook with a Fisher Space Pen in a back pocket.
This stuff is EDC, but I would not wear all my gear to a job interview.

The daily carry item they identifies my profession best is probably a sharpie. Everyone carries one.

Most people carry a blade of some sort as well. The only time I don’t have a pocket knife personally is when it’s prohibited.

Daily carry is a Zebra ballpoint pen as they seem to be the only ones I can't break in a few days and a Milwaukee Fastback compact utility knife. I also carry a 3" Kershaw in my watch pocket. I also have an Ontario Rat clipped to the visor in my truck. Carried a boot knife for quite a while til I switched over to Merrel hikers everyday.
I work in a steel mill if it matters.

Daily carry you'll get from this era is a cell phone...

.MIL Signal Nerd.

A pen and Green Notebook have traditionally been daily carry items that ID the Army profession.

Many, but not all of the soldiers I run into on the regular wear a pocket clipped knife. Usually something inexpensive from the PX. The trend is most prevalent amongst Combat arms and support folk who have deployed.

Oddly enough and despite the fact that we used to issue gerber multi tools during RFI, many soldiers don't carry multitools. It seems that mine is perpetually being borrowed, even by my own techs.

I'm also surprised by the number who do not carry flashlights, they have gotten so small yet useful. Ido see a number of soldiers using their cell phones as flashlights.

Fisher Bullet Space Pen
SAK Tinker, for mundane cutting chores, and the Phillips screwdriver

and

Whatever the serious knife of the day is from my collection

plus

Surefire Back Up flashlight. Chicks dig the guy who has a flashlight during a power outage.

One of my sons "stole" my Leatherman when he left for school. I've told him to bring it back at Thanksgiving or he gets no turkey.

I always carry a small Victorinox Classic (mainly for the little scissors), along with, 90% of the time, a 3" to 3.5" flipper.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
I am interviewing a manager for the first time. (I've always promoted from within, and this is a "store manager, ideally with the ability to become a subsidiary manager", so its a bit different.)

I'd like to ask the young man coming in, if he's carrying a pocket knife, as I think its absurd for a grown man to not carry one - but I realize many people have been conditioned to not have one.

I ALWAYS have a pen on me, but I think that's a lawyer thing.

(My brother is a contractor, and always has a measuring tape on him/in his truck, and thinks its absurd that I don.t)

Here's my EDC pen/knife combo

delete

[

Badge
Gun
Spare mag
Knife
Flashlight
Fabric flex cuffs
Wallet
Keys
Phone(s)

Never leave home without them. Many of those are common; some are profession-specific (like the badge and cuffs).

I carry the same things, work or leisure.
Wallet, phone, pen, reading glasses, keys, some sort of knife in the pocket.
Nothing that would ID my profession.

quote:

Daily carry which identifies your profession

Nothing I carry identifies my profession, although I tell Mrs Q I'm really the Iceman.

Other than my uniform and duty belt, I got nothin'!

Engineer here, also running the maintenance group.

Profession-related dailies for me are a Zebra pen (F-402 or F-701), a Spyderco Dragonfly (echoing Beancooker), and a small flashlight (Streamlight Microstream or Olight I3T).

quote:

Originally posted by cajunmuscle:
Here's my EDC pen/knife combo (image)

This sounds like a fun thread for the Gallery.