Boys and pen knives
When I was a lad every boy that I knew owned a penknife or pocketknife. Essential equipment for boys activities. Not for the original use which gave the penknife it's name,of course, sharpening quill pens,but necessary for pencils. There were few pencil sharpeners about then. And then there were all those other uses. Making Bows and arrows. Removing broken football studs Whittling tree branches Carving bones into strange shapes Hoof cleaners if you ever came across a lame horse and were game enough to give it a try. Making Boy scout woggles from broken belts or other odd bits of leather The list was endless. Swiss army knives were just making an appearance and were objects of envy. It's a shame that these innocent activities have given way to being offensive weapons in the hands of children.