In 1st Century, Roman invented folding pocketknife. Yet it was until the late 16th Century that pocketknives began to regain popularity especially in America. Unlike sheathed knives, which were generally conspicuous and sometimes cumbersome, pocketknives were easily, safely, and invisibly carried in the pocket. Men carried pocketknives to aid in various tasks, including eating. In particular, they have been important tools of survival for soldiers. Even during World War II, pocketknives were issued to American soldiers, sailors, and marines.

While knives and pocketknives could be used for tasks other than eating, portable cutlery used exclusively for dining was also created. During the 15th Century, European nobles often carried utensils with them when traveling because many inns did not provide guests with cutlery. Usually knives, forks or spoons could be folded or had interlocking handles that could fit into small traveling pouches that were attached to a belt. Pocket spoon/fork combinations were also made some with folding forks whose tines slid into loops on the back of a detachable spoon bowl. In America, particularly during the Civil War, folding knife/fork/spoons combinations were widely sold.

In pre-Modern Japan, members of the military class traveled and carried portable eating sets containing chopsticks and a knife that could fit in their obi (sash).

Nomads like Mongolian have long required easy-to-carry eating sets. As Mongolians usually wore a pocket-less garment called a del, they attached eating sets containing chopsticks and a knife to a sash. A silver loop attached to the end of a chord locked the knife and chopsticks in place so they did not fall out if the owner.