Are traditional designs still non-threatening

[MSCantrell]

It's all dependent on the user. I've read of numerous incidents involving violence and knives. The knives used run the gamut, from the Buck 110 to the Spanish Navaja to the khukuri to the balisong to the Douk-Douk. All these knives would be considered traditional.

You left out machetes, too. There's a tool that's been used to commit some atrocities! :barf:

But Esav's right, of course. Those all kinda step outside the realm of the discussion at hand.

Very true. Here is something i do to illustrate my point...

Lay the knife on the table and yell at it telling it to attack me or whoever is watching.

:thumbup: Hilarious. I don't think I'd do this on somebody who was actually critical of me, but with friends who don't quite see the light, perfect demonstration. Thanks, Wildcat!

Is a traditional type knife still pretty much not offensive if you use one? Given that the ban everything types are starting to look at knives are traditional designs still somewhat acceptable to use?

I have ran into people who think that anything with a pocket clip and can be opened one-handed is evil. I have found that these same people view a trapper or stockman as at least OK.

Anyone else run into these types?

I'm finding out as time goes on, that I'm in a comparatively knife-friendly area of the country (central Michigan). I'm starting to think that the few surprised comments I get on my knives are more because people can't imagine having a sharp knife, than that they're afraid because I have a knife.

For example, a week or two ago at church, we had ham for lunch. My choice was: Victorinox OH Trekker, or plastic butter knife.
So a gal said "You're using your pocket knife?"
"Well, yeah; it's sharp."
"Oh, ok."

Mike Cantrell
mscantrell at gmail.com

 

[will62]

Here in Kuwait the locals are not really an issue, they are into blades more than some of the troops. Same on my trips into Iraq. There are some restrictions on blade length here, most folders are ignored unless you pull it out and make a scene.

Got a few ban everything types in the unit ( This is a group of reservists from all over the US) that do not carry a knife and only carry a multi tool because it is required.

 

[Will Power]

Not too sure that those looking for drama and hysteria WOULDN'T be freaked by a 'traditional'....

My Canal Street Amber Bone fixed might well elicit idiocy...it's HEAVY and SHINY

Same would apply to Bark River Golok or Bowie, traditional alright.....so is a First War German sawback bayonet

OK, it's folders I know...Weidmansheill lockback at 8.5" open might put the theory to the test or a Clasp knife. I think the thing that scares sheeple(excites?)them about one handed openers is that many of them look like MACHINED GUN PARTS.....but it shows the illogicality of knife-phobia all round.

 

[sunnyd]

ARE TRADITIONAL DESIGNS STILL NON THREATNIG?.

Thanks to you all who responded to to this question!

My response is:

Who Cares?..:yawn:

 

[Franciscomv]

I guess it really depends on the cultural outlook of the people. In Buenos Aires, a big city with millions of inhabitants, sheeple rule supreme and almost any sort of knife can be considered threatening. SAKs seem to be the exception, and sheepfoot blades as well.

In most of the smaller rural towns you can carry a fixed blade of considerable size and nobody will look at it twice, unless they like it. My dad lives in the country, although he works in Buenos Aires, and when I go to his place I carry fixed blade knives all the time and nobody seems to mind. There's a town 5km from his house which is very well known for keeping alive Argentine rural traditions, it's always filled to the brim with foreign tourists, mostly British and American, that bring in a lot of money. But you can still walk into the fanciest restaurant in town with a 12" fixed blade without raising any eyebrows.

 

[rbmcmjr]

The best argument I can offer is this:

[CITE: 18USC930]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES CHAPTER 44--FIREARMS
Sec. 930. Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(b) Whoever, with intent that a firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime, knowingly possesses or causes to be present such firearm or dangerous weapon in a Federal facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(c) A person who kills any person in the course of a violation of subsection (a) or (b), or in the course of an attack on a Federal facility involving the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be punished as provided in sections 1111, 1112, 1113, and 1117.
(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to--
(1) the lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of law;
(2) the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a Federal official or a member of the Armed Forces if such possession is authorized by law; or
(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.

(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm in a Federal court facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to conduct which is described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d).
(f) Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish for contempt or to promulgate rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons within any building housing such court or any of its proceedings, or upon any grounds appurtenant to such building.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) The term ``Federal facility'' means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.
(2) The term ``dangerous weapon'' means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2\1/2\ inches in length.
(3) The term ``Federal court facility'' means the courtroom, judges' chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States.

(h) Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal facility, and notice of subsection (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) or (e) with respect to a Federal facility if such notice is not so posted at such facility, unless such person had actual notice of subsection (a) or (e), as the case may be.

The section in red offers a legal definition of what the feds think is threatening.

 

[Pipeman]

I'm going to toss my two cents worth in.. Has anyone noticed the type of ads in the mags???? Tactical knives??? FOR WHAT???? They show some bozo Supposedly the good guy all ready for the bad guy to come near and be cut up... Give me a break, when and where are "tactical" knives used???
What the non knife people see is dangerous looking (designed to look dangerous) with dangerous looking people holding them. Tell me,, how many times does a knife get used by law enforcement or military people when it is a life and death situation (other than rescue)???

"Just hang on while I draw my very scary looking Tac" Is NOT what happens in real life when the knife holder and or the other guy has a gun.....

Just my opinion...

R

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I walked into a Walmart recently, with my Benchmade 710 with a lanyard clipped into my back pants pocket. A county cop was conversing with two people, and as I walked inside, I thought to myself, Oh crap, I probably shouldn't have my 710 sticking out of my pocket. He didn't even glance in my direction, and when he was still there, as I was walking out later, he didn't even look. It's legal, but I just didn't want any hassles. If you look like a peaceful citizen, then you probably are. He might not have seen my 710. I know some people who hunt and fish, and who have all kinds of guns, who get upset over my tacticools. Not because of me, but the knives themselves. It really amazes me.

Now that I've started carrying traditionals again, we'll see what happens. I've used my 705 in plain view for small tasks, and no one freaked. I've used my Native III at family functions and people almost fainted. Go figure.