Are you ashamed of your hobby?

I'm not ashamed as much as I am tired of explaining it. I will show off whatever I'm carrying and talk about it if asked. I like to dump my pockets if I'll be sitting somewhere I'm comfortable for a while, and I find it's easier to get squirrely people used to you having a knife by setting it in view with other useful stuff.
 
I dont spread it around.

A few people know my brand preferences, fewer still have seen me with one of my own knives.

I do lots of stuff. Im not a knife nut. I like knives, thats really about it. I dont let any of my hobbies rule my life in such a way that I would advertise it.
 
I am only 20 years old, but I have carried a knife on me since I was ten or eleven and got my first nice knife when I was six or so. My grandfather always had a knife on him, dad always has a knife, uncles always have one on them, and my girlfriend's family is the same way. And everyone around me knows about my hobby and, as they might not understand it, they accept it. The question is always, "can I use your knife?" or "can you cut this for me?"
 
Nope, I love my hobby. My family and friends all know I'm a knife guy. A few knives have been given as gifts and I know they are appreciated. On hikes with friends they know I've got something in my pocket, but surprisingly most of them do too...although I'm a Benchmade guy most of their knives are SAK's, which is cool.

Best part is my wife supports my hobby and gives much valued input on what she likes and doesn't. Since she runs the household finances, I pay attention too. ;)
 
I see it as like guns, ultralight long-distance hiking, politics, fitness, and all the other things I'm into: not a secret, but not something that others want to hear about 24-7 either. I am very enthusiastic about my interests, as are others about theirs. However, my eyes glaze over after the first several minutes of hearing about sports or cars, so I try not to be "that guy" about my interests. At that point, you just come off as a kook.

Should my colleague at work who has a half dozen sweet vintage cars be ashamed of his hobby? (he EDC's a decent little Gerber slipjoint, BTW). I drive a '89 Corolla but carry $330 pocketknife. It's just boys and their toys: nobody needs to be ashamed.
 
Why would I be ashamed?

I used to have a growing collection as a kid. My dad grew up in a small country town. He's done everything from farmer and wire man to insurance salesman and horse breeder. He's owned several knives...mostly Old Timer, Buck, and Case knives. He passed that appreciation on to me...as well as several knives. I didn't have any Spydercos or Benchmades...but I had plenty of blades.

We had a falling out as I got older(he divorced my mother when I was 5 and made some stupid choices along the way). I assume my knives are still at his house. I never really think about them. I do miss one in particular. He'd bought it for me as a Christmas gift. It was a green handled Old Timer with a spine lock I believe. It was a really attractive knife and apparently hard to find(limited edition or limited run maybe?).

Since then I've mostly owned only a knife or two at a time. I've taught myself how to sharpen a knife reasonably well and found my way into the higher end of the spectrum. Though, like I said, I hadn't really started collecting.

I've gotten back into very recently while looking for a new knife. I told my fiancee last night that I think I'll start collecting again.

Edit: I grew up in northern Louisiana and live in central Louisiana so I've never really encountered the stigma with carrying a knife. Hell, one of my best friends throughout school was the son of the people that owned Simmons Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods stores in the state and possibly entire region(Southeast).
 
Hobbies aside, any man that doesn't carry a knife should be ashamed. The thought of asking another man to cut something for me makes me sick. If another man asks me to cut something for him, he gets an earful. Every man should carry a decent knife and carry it everyday.
 
My work up until recently was at a church and so people at church/work both knew that I was both into knives and that I make them.

Allen
 
I have grown up around those in the military and am now in the military, most people don't know much about different locks or steel types so i just save it and go after good knives for myself
 
Most people I know know it about me. Not ashamed. I don't go broadcasting it out into the world either. Knives aren't "fun" for everybody and I realise that.
 
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