Are knives weapons, or are they tools?

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JAM said:
Of course it can. But there is also a reason there aren't specific exceptions in your state law on the size of rock or hammer you can carry or how heavy your cane can be. And we all know why.
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JAM said:
Appeasement is not the answer. You are letting them control the narrative. "That's scary you shouldn't be allowed to have that." So you get a little shorter blade. A pink handle. It's still a weapon to them and you've let them push you farther to having no blade. They won't stop until you have nothing.
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The irony is that you keep making blanket statements that knives are weapons even while you say that of course not all knives are weapons, seemingly without realizing that that type of language is gold for the people trying to ban all knives.

Openly contending that "knives are weapons. Period" and then complaining that "They won't stop until you have nothing" seems silly to me. You could be the poster boy for the anti-knives campaign. Lol

I have a nice collection of knives. Not one of them is a weapon
 
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T.L.E. Sharp said:
Sure. It's an adult working at a daycare. If they want to do harm they can, regardless of what sort of knife they're carrying. I'd be more concerned about a "Get the **** off of my ***" bumper sticker. A road ragey personality definitely isn't the person I want dealing with my little one.

Knives can be tools or weapons. Mine are tools. I've got no interest in engaging someone with a blade.

Sure, I'll use it if all other options have been exhausted, but that tiny chance isn't factored into my purchases.
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Fair enough sir, we all have our views. But carrying a knife in this scenario, and many others, is inappropriate and aberrant behavior. Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should. Most of society realizes in an instinctive instant what aberrant and inappropriate behavior is. And the premise that because an individual is an adult, that rational behavior is guaranteed, isn't supported by common assaults, murders, suicides, or poor individual mental health. Marching into a local church on Sunday decked out in camo and an AK-47 may be legal, but it is outside societal norms. So is packing a big folder in certain circumstances. No one cares about the SAK on a key chain, or being brought out to peel an apple.
 
rje58 said:
I've read and participated in the entire thread and I don't recall anyone taking that position...? Did I miss something?
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Your own posts in this thread started at "Tool. As others have said, almost anything can be used as an improvised weapon." While you have clarified that to concede that some knives are in fact weapons, there are others that are sticking to the strict "tools, not weapons" stance. That sort of absolute stance doesn't jibe with reality. Then you have the post immediately following the one I'm replying to, which explicitly takes the unreasonable absolutist stance while acknowledging that it's disingenuous.
 
A lot of you are trying to pigeon hole various blade styles into an evil corner.....

I've got one for you, that I don't think has been mentioned?

What is a machete?

* The answer is (Tool)
 
Of course, rational behavior is not guaranteed.

However, legal behavior and non-violence must be EXPECTED of the citizens.

When "common assaults, murders, suicides, or poor individual mental health" take place, the resolution is to apprehend the perpetrators and hold them accountable, and protect society from them.

The resolution is NOT to EXPECT all adults as likely to commit "common assaults, murders, suicides, or poor individual mental health" and take steps to render them defenseless.

upnorth said:
And the premise that because an individual is an adult, that rational behavior is guaranteed, isn't supported by common assaults, murders, suicides, or poor individual mental health.
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chalby said:
The irony is that you keep making blanket statements that knives are weapons even while you say that of course not all knives are weapons, seemingly without realizing that that type of language is gold for the people trying to ban all knives.

Openly contending that "knives are weapons. Period" and then complaining that "They won't stop until you have nothing" seems silly to me. You could be the poster boy for the anti-knives campaign. Lol

I have a nice collection of knives. Not one of them is a weapon
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I don't think you understand that it doesn't matter a wit what you or I consider a weapon or a right , when it comes to the banning . This is a pattern oft repeated .

Once you let them take "weapons" away , it's all over but the crying .

We'll be lucky to be left with plastic scissors ! :(
 
soc_monki said:
The vast majority of knife related crime seems to be done with large kitchen knives, probably cheap dollar general ones at that. Anyone who had intent to hurt or kill someone with a knife is probably not going to go and buy an expensive bowie to do it. Just get the cheapest thing you can that will do the job.
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I was with a woman for several years who had two local cops in her family (father, brother). I used to hear all the stories. Lots of domestic crimes committed with kitchen knives, but the knives they took off most street criminals/gang bangers were cheap gas station/liquor store folders.

Why gas station/liquor store folders? We assumed because they were cheap, readily available (even criminals need to buy gas, and they like alcohol), and were considered disposable. Lots of those types of knives used in violent crimes.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
A lot of you are trying to pigeon hole various blade styles into an evil corner.....

I've got one for you, that I don't think has been mentioned?

What is a machete?

* The answer is (Tool)
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Except machetes have been used as the poor man's sword many times in history .
 
Some of the knives that played the biggest role inspiring my interest in knives were the stiletto switchblades that my uncle carried (and used as cutting tools). I was fascinated by the idea of a knife designed specifically as a weapon. Today, at the age of 51 I have 17 folding stilettos (had to pause a moment to count). Several are among my most prized possessions (not just most prized knives). I've never used one as a weapon, and I hope I never have to.

I don't have any prejudice against "weapon" knives. The folding stiletto is my absolute favorite type of knife.

Quick story, because I think it's amusing. I was at the grocery store recently looking to buy a box of cereal. The cereal I wanted was out of stock in it's usual spot on it's usual shelf. But there were boxes laying flat up on top of the shelves way up high. No amount of stretching would enable me to reach them, and even a little jump didn't give me enough elevation. Considering my options, and being the tool using mammal that I am, I waited until I was alone in the aisle, then I pulled out one of my Cold Steel Ti-lite 6's, opened it (13" long), gripped it by the butt end, reached up, stuck the tip of the blade under the flap at the top of the box, and carefully worked the box out so it would fall and I could catch it. Put my knife away, with no one the wiser.

A weapon used as a tool ;).


.
 
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rje58 said:
I agree with what you said in the rest of your post (the part I did not quote) but I have to disagree with your thoughts on this thread. We can't decide what we will or won't say on Bladeforums - or any public forum - based on whether or not any "media" is paying attention or what they might think or say about it!

I'm sure they'd have much more of a field day in PracTac then anything discussed here, anyway. But no, I don't think PracTac threads should revolve around "OMG, what will the media or some other naysayer/opponent think or say about this!??!"
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You're probably right, healthy discussion of the topic casts away ignorance. It's not productive to live a whole life pandering to the closed minded.
 
eveled said:
Weapon or tool, is how it’s used not what it is.

If something is a weapon or not is irrelevant.

you either use deadly force or you don’t.
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So a broadsword or katana isn't a weapon if all it does is hang on the wall? And they only become weapons when used with intent to kill? As a self-defense pistol that's never actually used in a defense situation not a weapon either?

killgar said:
Some of the knives that played the biggest role inspiring my interest in knives were the stiletto switchblades that my uncle carried (and used as cutting tools). I was fascinated by the idea of a knife designed specifically as a weapon. Today, at the age of 51 I have 17 folding stilettos (had to pause a moment to count). Several are among my most prized possessions (not just most prized knives). I've never used one as a weapon, and I hope I never have to.

I don't have any prejudice against "weapon" knives. The folding stiletto is my absolute favorite type of knife.

Quick story, because I think it's amusing. I was at the grocery store recently looking to buy a box of cereal. The cereal I wanted was out of stock in it's usual spot on it's usual shelf. But there were boxes laying flat up on top of the shelves way up high. No amount of stretching would enable me to reach them, and even a little jump didn't give me enough elevation. Considering my options, and being the tool using mammal that I am, I waited until I was alone in the aisle, then I pulled out one of my Cold Steel Ti-lite 6's, opened it (13" long), gripped it by the butt end, reached up, stuck the tip of the blade under the flap at the top of the box, and carefully worked the box out so it would fall and I could catch it. Put my knife away, with no one the wiser.

A weapon used as a tool ;).


.
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If Cold Steel's new owners had a sense of humor, they'd have Lynn Thompson reenact this story in a video and release it on April 1, 2021.
 
This would be easier in a Russian forum.
See in Russia some knives are just knives and other knives are considered "cold weapon". There is a specific criteria that makes a certain knife considered a weapon and that's that. A lot of these not considered "cold weapons" will raise your eyebrows, so not just of those who get scared of a 2 inch knife.
 
rje58 said:
Tool.

As others have said, almost anything can be used as an improvised weapon. I was in court one day, a case came up for a woman that had been arrested for DWI. When the officer arrested her, she became upset and "attacked" him. In addition to DWI and resisting arrest, she was charged with "assault with a deadly weapon". The "deadly weapon"? A metal hairbrush she had in her car.

So perhaps this begs another question: Is a hairbrush a tool? or a weapon?
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In this case, the officer is a tool.
 
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