A friend asks, "Lemme hold yer knife a minute." What's your response?

Really depends on who it is. Most likely they will have their own knives.

Actually, nobody would ask to just hold one of my knives, they may want to "use it" or maybe "look at it", but not to "hold it".

Just in recent times (50 or more years ago), you wouldn't ask someone for their knife or ax because of the respect of it. If you needed help, you asked another person, and he would do the cutting or chopping for you.
 
Certain people I would have no problem with, LE and current/former military that I know. Others I would be VERY wary of letting them hold it. 90% of the people I work with carry some type of knife so when I get a new one they usually take a look and check it out.
 
Most of the time I respond with, "I think not." I had a gentleman tell me to, "Throw out the knife and get another with no problems. It'll cut just as well." The knife in question doesn't have any problems, I just wanted to see if I could find some different finished screw for it. It is a Sebenza. I contacted CRK to see if I can get some unfinished screws and I'm waiting to see what they say.

Anyway, most people just don't understand what a knife is for. They don't have the concept that all knives are not the same, just like cars, houses, firearms, everything. It is a tool specific for a job. One wouldn't use a belt sander to cut down a tree or drive nails. I think of my knives as personal items, just like a wallet. There is no need for someone to touch, look at or use my wallet.

Edit: I just wanted to add a little something. I real friend would bring his/her own knife!
 
Though he's not really a knife person, my best mate can use any of my knives without question. Anyone else I'll ask what they need it for, and then probably give them a Mora clipper.
 
"here, catch!"

k srsly, I just loan knives that I dont really care for, or cut stuff for them.
 
Depends on how much I trust the person. Most of my friends know how much value I place in my cutlery so they treat them with respect. Those who do not treat me, or my tools with respect, do not remain friends for long.
 
I have stopped lending knives to people, Period.
Last month some guys visited and one managed to chop the other ones finger with a LMF II so he ended up with five stitches.
Why is it so extremely hard to pull out a LMF II from the sheath. Hey, you have two straps. I had to heat and bend the black plastic part to minimise the risk of more people cutting themselves.

So in short, people I know can handle knives and for some reason does carry one at the moment, yes they can borrow it. People who use a knife as a screwdriver and destroyes the tip. No way.
 
If it is a friend or family member I simply hand it over and say, "be careful ... it is sharp."

This has happened so often now that my friends have started to try and give me crap about that saying. "Is it sharp?"

I have noticed however that they continue to borrow knives.
 
Having my Severtech at work I just hand it to them, say," I't's sharp", and,"hang on tight" then watch the education begin. Some things just sell themselves. A guy might damage himself or some furniture, but I have yet to see anyone do damage to my 6 year old beater Severtech.
 
Several weeks ago, all I had in my pocket at church one Sunday was my Buck 419 folding Kalinga Pro. A nice young lady asked, just before the services, if any of us men in the foyer had a pocket knife she could open a bag of Life-Savers with to put in the candy dish there. I was the only one equipped - so I apologized for the size - and held it in my open hand. She grabbed it and said "Nice! A bit harder to open than my switchblade... good and sharp!". I watched her open and close it with one hand, holding the bag in the other. Wow! She can borrow any of my knives... most men, unless I know them well, get a 'sacrificial' knife. My older son, well, I usually just tell him to get the box the next time he's at my house - any knife that enters his hand is history. he must have a collection!

Stainz
 
As has been said...it depends on who asks. I don't let strangers or people uneducated in their use handle my carry guns and I apply the same criteria to any of my tools. The "what do you want cut" answer is the best.
 
I lent a multitool to a coworker who, to return it, dropped it from a 33 foot pole without even closing it. The blade snapped. Before i even said a word, he said, "I guess you shouldn't lend out your tools." and laughed. I have taken his advice ever since.
 
most of my friends are competent with knives, so it's usually not a problem. People I don't fully trust get the blade from my leatherman kick instead of my usual EDC.
 
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