The first time I ran across a Panic at the Picnic knife online, I knew I had to have one. It’s unique and a whole lot of fun.
Panic at the Picnic
The knife is obviously modeled after the classic white plastic butter knife that you’ll find at picnics, parties, and similar events. This one is larger, though, and substantially stronger. It’s also razor sharp.
This is a fixed-blade knife. It runs 8.75 inches from end to end. The blade is 3.5 inches long. This is one solid piece of 0.125-inch AEB-L steel that’s been shaped and ground. There’s a lanyard hole at the base of the handle for those who like to adorn their knives.
From end to end, the knife has been powder-coated white. Each one is hand-ground, so there may be very slight deviations in measurements. Mine weighs 2.4 ounces.
The Panic at the Picnic comes with a white Kydex sheath. There’s a bit of a thumb break to make deployment easy. The sheath is equipped with a clip that can slip onto a belt or possibly serve as a pocket clip if you’re feeling particularly froggy.
Panic at the Picnic Performance
I haven’t used this knife a ton, but it’s quite serviceable. There’s a lot of belly on the blade, which helps it perform as a great slicer. I mean, this is modeled after a knife designed for meal times, so it makes sense that it works well in that regard.
Given how slim it is in the handle, as there are no scales at all, this isn’t a knife I’d want to use for long periods of time or for any sort of heavy work. But that’s okay, that’s not what it’s intended for. I do like the jimping on the spine. Between that and the handle shape, you can really choke up on the knife for leverage as needed.
The Kydex sheath is great. It holds the knife securely and complements the overall aesthetic quite well. The clip can be removed or shifted around to any number of configurations.
Who Needs It?
Well, need is such a strong word. Few people truly need to buy anywhere near as many knives as we knife nuts do.
Is it cool? Absolutely, 100%, no question about it.
Is it more novelty than practical? If we’re being honest, yeah. But y’know what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Some things are just fun, and that’s okay.
That said, here’s what I’ve done. I keep an MSR Titan Long Spoon in my EDC bag. It’s there for the times when I’m on the road and swing through a drive-thru, only to find that they forgot to give me utensils. The Panic at the Picnic lives in that same pocket in the bag. It’s perfect for slicing up fruit or other foods. Sort of like how you’d use one of those white plastic knives, but better. Whip this thing out in the employee lounge and people aren’t going to raise an eyebrow.
Blunt Force Blades produces the Panic at the Picnic knives in small batches. You can find it at their website for $125.
