Awkward knife carrying moments...

rickppoole

rickppoole

Joined
Jun 1, 2007
Messages
290
Appologies in advance if this belongs somewhere else. I wasn't entirely sure.

I went to a friend's wedding last night. I had volunteered to help set things up and clean up afterwards. On weekends I usually EDC a small fixed blade and since this wedding was outdoors I had an Active Duty with me. I was carrying it sheathed on my belt underneath a shirt and a jacket and I thought it was very discreet.

It first saw use when the wedding coordinator asked if anyone could remove an offending branch on the arbor canopy where the ceremony would be. It seems one branch hung down too low and would be in the groom's face. I quietly fixed the problem.

The next time I needed the knife, the photographer was having a hard time unfolding a small step ladder they had provided and it's legs were fastened by some thick plastic packing strap from the store. No problem.

Later on I used a small SAK to help one of the bridesmaids remove one of those amusement park neon wrist bands so it wouldn't be in the photo's.

Finally, there was a laminated wooden dance floor set up and many of the ladies were dancing barefoot (I guess the 4 inch heels are hard on your feet). One young lady had injured her foot after stepping on a jaged piece of wood that had splintered up about an inch and a half from the dance floor. I found the problem and Mr. Busse's AD handled it in no time.

When dinner time came, I was sitting eating my steak and sipping iced tea when a man about my age (mid-thirties) says "Dude, I saw you pull out some knife earlier. That thing was freakin' huge! What the heck are you doing bringing weapons to a wedding? Are you expecting a gangfight?!"

I sat there slightly un-comfortable while about 12 sets of eyes all turned to look at me in shock and horror. I calmy set down my silverware and explained "I do have a knife and it's actually quite small. It's intended to be a tool more than a weapon. The blade is only about three inches long- in fact, it's shorter than these steak knives we're all holding."

A dozen pairs of drunk eyes looked down at the knives they were busy eating with. I didn't see the lightbulbs go on over anyone's heads, only a sort of mildly confused look. After about a 10 second silence a young lady asked "Ok, so what could you possibly need to bring a knife for?" I sighed and replied "No particular reason. I guess I just like to be prepared to help out when help is needed."

I have carried a knife for years and this is the first time I've ever had this problem. Is it because it was a fixed blade??? How many of you have been in this situation? I never thought twice about carrying a knife to an outdoor event among friends and relatives. I guess I will think twice from now on. While frustrated with their reactions, I did feel a bit awkward about frightening easily frightened people. Next time I'm sticking with the SAK which seemed to frighten no one. Maybe it's the friendly red handles???
 
Not suprised, I hate when sheeple try to tell you what to do.

One time I was walking into urgent care bleeding severly and this old hag of a nurse almost didnt let me in because I had a BM griptilian in my backpocket.
She said something like thats so big its a weapon
 
Makes you scratch your head doesn't it? I grew up always using a knife with never a problem and never giving it a second thought. Unfortunately time don't always change for the better. I catch myself thinking twice as to whose around and who may be offended, doesn't stop me but I do think about it whereas I never did before.
 
I see your location is Texas. I am surprised at the reaction if that is where the wedding was. I grew up there and attended a funeral 2 years ago. Half the men had a knife clipped to their suit pocket. No one thought twice. It is a shame that sheeple don't recognize a tool when they see one...
 
I get the same thing everywhere I go. But, I do question your reasons for bringing a fixed blade to a wedding. I mean, we here at bladeforums have no problem with that but maybe that wasant the best decision.

At the same time, there was really no reason for said guy to get involved other than to make you feel uncomfortable and somehow make himself look real tough questioning the guy with the knife. I mean, you pulled it out, it was used for a task for probably no more than a few seconds, then it was out of view again.

I see no threatening action, no reason to bring it up let alone in front of people. Some guys are just so macho they just cant carry knives because they think unless its a steak knife and they are eating with it, its a weapon. And they couldnt possibly let some one see them with a weapon, It might make them seem weak or in need of carrying a "weapon".

Blah Blah same shit different pile. I feel for ya man, But maybe leave the fixed blades out of your dress atire in the future. The way I deal with this BS is to avoid anyone seeing my blades in use, sometimes that takes comprimise.

Know what I mean?
-Otto
 
Some folks would not accept a knife even if it was in the shape of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man...
 
Im in a tour and trail guide course.At first all I got was why ,do you carry two knives?
(rescue or endura ,sak multi and 5" fixed in side pouch)(the fixed they haven't seen)
Are you looking for a fight? Now I get hassled every hour to lend a knife out.The funny thing is a number of guys carry glocks but that seems to be legit.People seem to be more afraid
of a knife than a gun.btw I live in Israel
 
Ya its funny how that works isint it.

"Why on earth would you need to carry a knife"

20 min later

"Hey, can I borrow your knife"

And then usually after they use your blade they turn around and question your motives again.
 
I know what you mean. It's frustrating that the public at large is scared, apprehensive, or just downright horrified at the sight of a knife of any kind. Growing up and living in the south is no different. Since we (those of us that carry, use, respect, and appreciate man's oldest TOOL) are a small, small percentage of the World's population, I believe it is up to us to maintain a fine, upstanding reputation that is above & beyond reproach. That way, when people see us use our "sharp-edged tools" they won't be horrified. In doing this, who knows, maybe everyone around us may come to respect and appreciate edged tools as well. We as knife users, collectors, and afficionados have a great responsibility to maintain regarding use of our edged tools.
 
Originally posted by tikigod9:

I see your location is Texas. I am surprised at the reaction if that is where the wedding was. I grew up there and attended a funeral 2 years ago. Half the men had a knife clipped to their suit pocket. No one thought twice. It is a shame that sheeple don't recognize a tool when they see one...
Click to expand...

I'm surprised too. I live in Fort Worth and I've never had a problem. When I have big church outreach events I ussually wear my Becker Necker since most of the little tasks I'm likekly to take care off require an easy access small fixed blade. On a couple of ocations I've had to go out, still wearing the Necker, to buy stuff we've run out off or something like that and no one has ever looked at me twice.
 
Really well written post, RickPoole. You write like a pro. My solution is to carry 2 knives. One is a sport utility knife (SUK*), a Kershaw zdp mini cyclone, clipped to my back pocket, and most of my pants have flaps on the back pockets so the clip doesn't show.

The other is a 2" blade William Henry, also zdp. If any potentially squeamish person is present, I use the WH.

Carry of fixed blades is illegal here, so I don't chance it. But it's interesting how people freak out over fixed blades. The mind works in strange ways. I suppose it's due to movies or something. Whatever it is, it's very irrational.

*formerly known as 'tactical folder'
 
The lessons I take from Rick's and other experiences here are:
(1) Choose carefully who you want to associate with, and...
(2) Don't bother to help stupid people who then insult you.
 
I really had no motive in bringing a fixed blade. I'd have never carried a fixed blade had I been wearing a tuxedo or even dressed up. Since I was a volunteer and I knew I'd basically be moving heavy things around I just brought the knife I'd normally be carrying on the weekend. I was in jeans, boots, a sweatshirt and a nylon jacket in case of rain. I'm from the south and was raised in Texas. This is the first time I've had anything like this happen. I've concluded that it must be for one of 3 reasons:

1. It was a fixed blade (and therefore viewed as a weapon by some people)

2. The average age at the reception was early 20's. I don't see why this should matter, but perhaps younger people (even those in Texas) just aren't used to seeing knives anymore except in the movies- where they are almost always weapons.

3. Just a fluke. Like Otto pointed out maybe it was just been some fella who wanted something to blab about and unfortunately I had given him a reson to blab.

I've honestly never thought of this before, but maybe in the minds of a good number of people a Fixed Blade = weapon, a Folding Knife = dangerous tool?
 
It's been ingrained in many people's heads that unless you're using
it to eat with or cook food a knife is a weapon. It's sad but we must educate
the public. My girlfriend thought my SAK was a weapon and called it that.
But now after some time she uses them regularly.
 
I'm glad no one saw me trying to baton the wedding cake with my Khukri... ;)

Seriously though, a lot of the kids (I should say young adults) there weren't just tipsy, they were smashed. How many of them drove themselves home? Cars are more dangerous than knives. Gravity must kill more people each year than knives. Heck, from a nutritional point of view that wedding cake may have been more dangerous than either!

I guess my point is when did THINGS start becoming more dangerous than our own choices?

When I grew up I was taught that anything could be dangerous when you give it permission to by making a bad decision.
 
The correct answer is "Weapon? Heavens no! What I'm doing with a knife at a wedding is enabling the whole thing by helping the florist with the arbor canopy, the photographer with his ladder, and the bridesmaids with their costume. It's a good thing we had this tool handy to make this event go smoothly, eh?"

One of my favorite wedding-related pictures was taken at my younger brother's wedding. It is of the florist pinning a boutonniere to my older brother's lapel. In her hand is my AFCK. It was the only knife there (even the florist didn't have one) and it got a heavy workout.

One of my favorite wedding stories took place at a good friend's wedding at which I served as Best Man. Minutes before the wedding was to begin, one of the Bride's Maids -- who knew me as a clever problem solver -- came to me in a panic and explained that this metal clip that holds the train onto the bride's dress had broken! "I'll take a look. Oh.... this is not good. It's completely broken..." Then, I noticed it: a paperclip!... on some papers being held by the bride's panic-stricken mother. "I need this," I said commandeering the clip. Without even thinking of the effect that it might have on this exclusively-female crowd, I produced my Leatherman PST and opened it to the pliars balisong-style! While the bride's maids attended to the mother of the bride having taken a bit faint, I quickly fashioned a replacement clip and worked it into the dress. Problem solved.
 
Last Christmas I was at the relative’s house, opening a clam pack toy for my 6 year old cousin with my BM 941, and one of the extended family asked if I was some type of gangster. This was a green and purple knife, and I was wearing a pink Ted baker button up.

A few years back, I was at the shooting range with my dad, and had to remove a jammed .22 with my Delica 3. "Jesus, do you really carry that thing? It looks like a murder weapon!" This, from my own father, who knew I had seen me carrying the thing for years.

A few days ago, a girl next to me in class couldn't open her chocolate bar. I tried manually, couldn’t, and so I subtly deployed my ladybug 3 SE, success. Big smile- my first positive reaction. Had I deployed my endura, I'm sure it would have been a much different reaction

Bottom line, if it can be cut it with a small knife, then that's what you should use in public. Real folders are best kept for private consumption unless the situation really demands it.
 
At my wedding I know for a fact about 90% of the people attending were carrying concealed handguns...lol. Imagine the reaction those folks in the original post would of had there! The Quaker Judge that performed the ceremony was packing an older 1911 himself.
 
Multitools seem to be more socially acceptable . I tend to use them round the sheep .

Chris
 
Sheeple suck ass and a bunch of a$$holes.

You should have said "Go sit in your damn chair and try and eat without your 'weapon' "

My wife's side of the family always comments as to why I need to carry a knife. It has never stopped them from asking to use it though.

Did I say Sheeple suck ass already?
 
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