A knife is a tool... sometime you have to pry with it! Doug and I have had a few conversations on this... and don't see eye to eye. But, in an emergency you use the tools you have at hand. One of the factors I use when choosing a knife for work is how well will it hold up if I need to pry or "pop" a door with it. One of the reasons I went to carrying a Leatheman Knife at work is the flat screwdriver to pry with.

I dislike using the words never and always for emergencies. There is typically an exception to every rule. A knife shouldn't be used to pry, if you have a more appropriate tool.