Have been using this trusty $0.50 penknife bought at a local convenience store to open my packages.
And so recently I don’t know what happened, suddenly checking out the hype over knives. So looked around, read some reviews, and it seems that Enlan Bee EM01 is a hot favourite. Sanrenmu M1 also looks nice. What about a Sanrenmu 603PR-603 fruit knife? What’s the difference between normal knives and fruit knives?
What do you recommend as a starting knife? What made you get your first knife? 
The first knife I bought was the Sanrenmu F1-723. I asked in a thread about knives here on BLF and it was recommended, looked cool.. yeah. :D
Maybe fruit knife = wooden?
Generally speaking, thinner blades make better slicers, which is a useful quality when cutting fruit. Also, a fruit knife can be considered one small enough to pack with lunch and not offend others when produced.
Of course if you own an Espada XL, what you class as a small knife suddenly becomes much larger than the norm.
For a knife you can use anywhere without issue, I’d suggest a Victorinox, probably a Waiter to start. It combines a blade with combo tool (cap lifter, can opener, flat screwdriver, flat phillips) and a corkscrew on the 84mm chassis so it basically covers all the bases. They’re also pretty cheap.
The Sanrenmu M1 looks like an interesting knife, and at the moment I’m thinking the Sanrenmu range benefit from their work with Spyderco and Benchmade.
I got my first knife when I was a cub scout - you use it for cutting rope, building a kite, etc. The box cutter that you have is great for opening packages… I have a bunch.
Get a knife if you feel the need to use one often. I need a knife at least ten times a day.
If you own an Espada what kind of knife you own doesn't matter .
Lamborghini is always a good idea .
Those Chinese pocket folders are nice, are good values, and are fun to play with.
But they won’t beat an actual box cutter for cutting boxes. The blades aren’t as sharp, and they’re easy to plunge too deep potentially damaging the contents of the box.
My SRM folders are mostly letter openers now.
I have a similar pen knife that I carry around and use a lot: http://www.amazon.com/5018-SVR-1-Stainless-Slide-Lock-Utility/dp/B0006Q9CMK/
My favorite utility knife for around the house is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-48-22-1901-Fastback-Utility-Knife/dp/B003I85GT6
I use these more than I use folding knives. But on to your questions…
The very first knife I bought for camping was this: http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-M16-01KZ/dp/B001C63SP0/
I chose it because it has a dual locking mechanism, so there’s no chance that it’ll accidentally close if you are trying to power it through some tough cuts. I picked the version with the spear blade because I think it’s easier for slicing food and peeling fruit than a tanto blade or something with serrated edges.
I own the Enlan and it is a superb small/medium pocket knife for the money.
I also own the Sanrenmu 603. I think I paid $6 for it and $7.50 for the Enlan EM01. For the extra buck fifty, go with the Enlan!!! It is a FAR better knife in every way.
The SRM 603 is not a “fruit” knife, its just a small pocket knife. It has a terrible blade profile to slice anything unless you just want to juice your fruit. LOL! The quality is decent but it is smaller than the Enlan and will not cut as well.
A “fruit knife” is simply a knife that is good at cutting and prepping fruit to eat in an efficient manner. If you have ever tried to slice an apple with a thick knife like a Buck 110, you have used the opposite of a good slicer.
People love Swiss army knives, Opinels, and other thin, flat ground knife blades because they work better at cutting and slicing than thicker “tactical” style knives. I maintain that there is no better EDC blade than a 3 1/2” full flat ground Warncliff blade. The Spyderco Centofante 4 was one of the best designed production ever made. It wasn’t full flat ground but was only 2.5mm thick so was a good slicer still.
My first high quality knife was the Benchmade 910S. I was amazing with the Allen Elishewitz design and saved up a long time to buy it.
NightCrawl: The checkered handle looks quite nice!
Chloe: Thanks for the info. I think if I took out a knife, people won’t be offended but surprised instead 
Freman: OMG $480 knife. Yup I do have a Victorinox. A little heavy, with a jagged edge blade, can opener, flat and pointed screwdrivers, tweezer, pick…
adnj: Yes a box cutter is really handy, very slim and lightweight, and interchangeable blades (though most likely just get a new one instead)
Boaz: I wish I have that car 
rojos: I agree. I would feel I have more control using a smaller knife to cut boxes.
khaangaaroo: That stainless steel penknife looks nice and classy. Nice, thanks for the other suggestions also.
Speedsix: Looks like the Enlan could be my first knife… Thanks for the fruit knife info. I think most (other) people would think of Swiss army knife the moment I mention a small portable knife.
BrightKen: The slightly matted handle should feel quite nice to hold.
I too love my new Enlan EM01! It's my EDC and I now leave my Swiss Army knife at home (I also carry a small multi-tool anyway).
-Garry
San Ren Mu M1 is an OK knife for, say, 8 bucks.
It would have been a great, GREAT knife, for 20 (TWENTYYYY) bucks, if there had been a blade lock, linerlock, compressionlock WTFlock But seirous LOCK.
But there is no lock.
So for, 8 or 9 us dollars, it’s ok.
But for more money, consider another knife.
I got the G10 version, so it was a fair bit cheaper, but yes I might do a review some time. Hey, compared to the aluminium version the G10 is budget, right?
Actually I tried carrying my Spyderco Persistence yesterday. It’s remarkable how useful a small blade can be. I understand their popularity now.
Surprised as in, “Why do you have a knife?!” and “What do you need that for?”
My first knife that wasn’t a kitchen knife or “disposable” (i.e. Swann-Morton, Stanley, Olfa) was a Spyderco Bug. It was so small and cute and affordable, I had to get it. It went downhill from there. xD
In my naïvety, I did not know these things were not legal to carry since they aren’t a folding non-locking knife but fall under “bladed article”:
They are incredibly sharp! The blade of a Victorinox Classic is almost as sharp as the Olfa TK-4, and Swiss Army knives (SAK) are friendly and familiar enough here.