Am I being rude?

P

Plumber576

Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
744
At differnt times I see other fine gentlemen carrying knives. Being a knife, and me being a knife guy, this immediately sparks my interest and makes me wonder what they are cayyring. Simetimes I can immediately rell if it is a Benchamde or SOG or Emerson, but sometimes I jsut cannot tell.

My question is this...If I spark up some conversatio with a person carrying a knife, is it rude to ask what they are carrying? usually it has ended up some guy carrying a Wal-Mart gerber, but occasionally I will catch somebody carrying somebody decent. Would any of you find it rude for somebody to ask what knide of knife you are carring?

at my job at the a resturant/bar, I find thos epeople less willing to talk about waht they have...and usually they are carrying the el cheapo brands. I have found police officer, in many cases, willing to jsut pull it out and sho me their auto, ect.

What do y'alll think? Am I out of line?
 
I'd be delighted to find a fellow knife knut willing to talk about what we're carrying. But you mentioned a job at a restaurant. Some of the customers might not want to get into a personal conversation with an employee. If you ran into one of the same people at a local hardware store, they would probably be more willing to talk.
 
I do understand that aspect. I never ask them to see it...and I do try and position myself so they see my clip...kinda like a secret "handshake."

If i sense they are not comfortable with the topic...I usually drop it.
 
I do not think it is rude at all; quite the opposite.

I once spied a guy at a local Barnes and Noble with a Gunting in his pocket. This particular knife is so easy to ID; even from far away. We ended up having a nice chat about knives and martial arts.
 
i've had that conversation with a couple of people, myself. I have both approached others and had someone approach me. In all but one instance, the results have been positive. In the one case, the guy wasn't unfriendly, just seemed not too interested in talking. So, IMO, I don't see any rudeness in striking up a knife conversation.
 
I find it harder not to be rude when after you engage the "what kind of knife is that?" conversation, and you find out that the other guy is carrying a piece of junk. :footinmou

Only once have I been looked down upon by someone else in such a conversation. I recognized what could only have been a Sebenza (just a plain small Sebenza, nothing special) in another person's pocket. He asked what I was carrying, which happened to be a BM42-400, a $200+ knife, one of only 125 ever made, and he said "oh" as though I'd produced a $5 Ace Hardware knockoff. :rolleyes:
 
No, no rude at all. I'd be delighted if someone would ask me (politely) about my knife. I emphasized "politely", on the idea that it is supposed to be a nice conversation between tow knife people, not an argument about why do I carry a knife, am I a deliquent or what ;)
 
Nah, not at all.. :cool: Unless if you shout on top of yer lungs to a complete stranger across the floor : "Is that a knife that you are carrying in your pocket?" :p :D :p

Sam
 
We should have some sort of secret handshake to identify other bladeforums members. Much like Something Awful has "Do you have stairs in your house."

This forum is big enough for smoething like that right? :D
 
Not rude at all... I have to admit it has been my experience that most every day folks carry junkers. And after that fact is uncovered it is a major let down for me, and I am not shy about say so. I am pleasantly surprised when I come acorss the occasional knife knut like myself and have made several very good friends because of it.. :cool:
 
I do it all the time. Most of the time I end up telling them what they have because they say something like "It's a Spyderco." Which model? "It's a Spyderco. I got it in the military." Kinda funny really. :)

later,

oily
 
I don't think it'd be rude at all. Actually, I rather welcome it. When I'm walking on the street and a fine gentleman asks me about the knife I'm carrying I use it as a springboard to this conversation:

Gentleman: Excuse me, sir, I noticed the knife you're carrying and wondered what kind it is?

Me: No problem at all, chap. [Extracting knife from pocket] This is a Spyderco Military.

Gentleman: Wonderful! I fancy that knife.

Me: Yes, quite. [Open knife and point in general direction of Gentleman] Now, sir, I must say I shall relieve you of the burden of your wallet.

Gentleman: Yes. Bugger. [Handing wallet over.]

Me: And that is a fine watch, boyo.

Gentleman: 'twas a gift from my wife, friend.

Me: I'll be sure to take good care of it, old chap.

Gentleman: Yes. Checkmate, I suppose.

Me: Rather. Have a nice day, then.

Gentleman: Well, it looks a little like rain, doesn't it?

Me: Ah, yes, good point. That reminds me, hand over the umbrella while you're at it.

Gentleman: Sigh.

Then we part ways.
 
Are you a bartender or a server at the restaurant? If you are a bartender, I see no harm in carrying on a conversation while you are working during the slow hours. When you're hustling for the drunks, you're making money, so I wouldn't stop to chat then. As for asking someone what knife they're carrying, I don't see any problem with it, except for this fact. I was told to not take any fancy shooters to the range because some guys would follow me and steal it, or worse. Now, this seems like paranoia, but you never know who you are talking to. In point, someone paranoid about getting jumped might not take kindly to showing their 100 buck plus knife to a stranger on the street. I would and have shown my EDC's, but then again, I don't bring my high dollar stuff with me.
 
Plumber576 said:
My question is this...If I spark up some conversatio with a person carrying a knife, is it rude to ask what they are carrying?
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That's how I strike up the conversation to begin with. It's especially easy if you recognize the make, and that's really the only thing that'll make me ask-it's not like a junk knife is going to make me initiate conversation, after all. Standing in a line while on vacation last year, I saw a familiar clip, and asked the guy in front of me "hey, what kind of Emerson is that?". So we talked knives for a few minutes instead of staring at the ground, waiting for the line to move.
Rude? I can't think of anything more appropriate if you're going to start a conversation with a stranger. If some guy comes up to me and starts talking, there needs to be a point, immediately, or I'll assume he's a fag, or con man, or something and tell him to keep moving. Ask me about my knife, though....well, be patient. I'll shut up eventually:o
 
I met Dan Magrino (who's written for Blade) at work because he was wearing a Strider AR and I recognized the clip. I don't think it's rude unless your behavior is rude- interrupting them, following them, flicking your knife at them and yelling 'draw', etc :)
 
IMO, asking about a person's knife isn't being rude. However, the majority of guys that I've come across, are usually carrying $5 flea market ripoffs. In fact, I do my best to not be rude when they proudly hand their knife to me in order to show it off.

It's a shame that some of these guys actually believe that blade play is NORMAL in folding knives!! :eek: :eek:
 
wouldnt it be weird if you were carrying a bali?
like wut knife is that?...O isnt that dangerous???
 
Chiro75 said:
I don't think it'd be rude at all. Actually, I rather welcome it. When I'm walking on the street and a fine gentleman asks me about the knife I'm carrying I use it as a springboard to this conversation:

Gentleman: Excuse me, sir, I noticed the knife you're carrying and wondered what kind it is?

Me: No problem at all, chap. [Extracting knife from pocket] This is a Spyderco Military.

Gentleman: Wonderful! I fancy that knife.

Me: Yes, quite. [Open knife and point in general direction of Gentleman] Now, sir, I must say I shall relieve you of the burden of your wallet.

Gentleman: Yes. Bugger. [Handing wallet over.]

Me: And that is a fine watch, boyo.

Gentleman: 'twas a gift from my wife, friend.

Me: I'll be sure to take good care of it, old chap.

Gentleman: Yes. Checkmate, I suppose.

Me: Rather. Have a nice day, then.

Gentleman: Well, it looks a little like rain, doesn't it?

Me: Ah, yes, good point. That reminds me, hand over the umbrella while you're at it.

Gentleman: Sigh.

Then we part ways.
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That has to be one of the funniest things I've read. I'm practically crying over here, it kind of reminds me of Shaun of the Dead for some unknown reason. Ah man fun stuff there.

Honestly though I would welcome somebody asking me about my knives and I have asked others about theirs before, it's kind of rare though lately to run into people who carry knives. What happened? I mean just a few years ago everybody carried knives, now I hardly see anyone in public.. Hmmph! :(
 
nelsonmc said:
... just a few years ago everybody carried knives, now I hardly see anyone in public.. Hmmph! :(
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Slipjoints resting in the bottom of their pockets? :) Not every knife has a visible clip ...
 
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