Awkward knife carrying moments...

rickppoole said:
In retrospect, I agree with you that the SAK was probably all I needed (though I'm not sure if my little Classic would have been able to fix the broken wood on the dance floor or not).

I don't know what the worst thing that could happen at a wedding is. I hope I never find out.

I didn't lay out all my knives that morning and decide which I thought would be the most fun to have at a wedding. I was going someplace to provide free labor for a friend (the groom) who didn't have enough cash to pay hired hands. On weekends I always carry either a small fixed blade or a Leatherman Wave. I know all about Busse's reputation for durability, it's one of the reasons I purchased one, but a three inch blade is still a three inch blade- and entirely legal where I live.

I don't know what to say about your high esteem for Busses especially since I own and carry one. Busse ADs are tough little utility knives, but a Rhinocerous is tougher (don't flame me hogs, it's true :) ) Rhinos eat acacia bushes with sharp, five inch thorns for breakfast. You may be skilled enough to gut one with a three inch knife but I could not.

I didn't break any laws and if I had known I would have made someone uncomfortable I probably wouldn't have brought a knife at all- and as a result the wedding would not have gone as smoothly as pointed out by others.

As to your point about machete collectors, I'm not sure I agree with you on that one. I believe that machete collectors should be able to have a machete with them wherever it is legal for them to do so. They should also be prepared to hear the occasional complaint from people who don't like machetes.

I'm not trying to bash anyone who feels uncomfortable around knives. I'm not even trying to criticize them for complaining (though I think it was a bit hypocritical). I suppose I'm trying to understand what specifically made them feel uncomfortable.

Clearly people are afraid of weapons, this is somewhat understandable, but why are knives so often viewed as weapons instead of tools? Why aren't the same people afraid of a pair of scissors, or a hammer? Why is a three inch knife scary to people who are holding a 5 inch fixed blade (possibly illegal :eek:) to cut their dinner with?
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Oh haha, like I said, I don't think you were bringing the knife for the wrong reasons. And as for the rhino it was just hyperbole.

And as for the machete thing, my point was that the machete could have fixed those problems too, but I doubt anyone wants a machete at a wedding.

As to WHY people are uncomfortable around knives is not the issue, all I know is that they are.

I think your intentions were 100% spot on, but I think that the perception you were trying to achieve was a bit off. Like I said, bring a folder next time. Even if its scary looking.

If I didn't see knives as tools, I would say a folder is a collection thing. They fold so they are portable. But a fixed blade is less conspicuous and spells out that you are expecting something. I doubt if you whipped out a folder anyone would have said anything because they'd just think "Oh, good he has a knife to fix that. It's a bit of an overkill, but it's his thing, and I won't argue with that." But what they probably thought was "Oh he's got a knife. What does he think he needs that for? Does he really have to carry that thing around?"

I dunno. It's just something about it being a fixed blade. People know there's diversity in folders, which is why they probably see why people collect them. But when people see fixed blades they think rambo. They don't realize fixed blades are just as diverse, they just think they are all the same rambo knives.
 
The problem is not what people think. The problem is that these people are not thinking, they are reacting as they've been led to react, that knives are weapons.

Read the stories: under what seem like unexceptional circumstances, there are people who will call a Vic. Classic a "weapon". These people have a psychological problem. Shielding them from the sight of useful tools, properly used, will not help them deal with their problem, it will enable it, by crippling ourselves the same way, fearing to show or use knives.

Stop pandering to their instability and ignorance.
 
I hear you Squeezymo. If I knew in advance I'd be doing something to upset someone I feel like it's my responsibility to decide whether or not it's worth it. I usually decide not to upset them.

My grandfather carried a combat knife for seven months in WWII, but he used knives as tools for over 70 years. My father carried a combat knife for a year and a half in Viet Nam but he's spent the last 30 years using one to peel and eat apples on the back porch. Anything can be a tool or a weapon- it's all about the intent. The human hand can wave hello or it can make a fist.

I think we've removed personal responsibility from so much of our culture that when a crime is commited with a weapon (knife, gun, baseball bat, rock) many people see the weapon as guilty (vs the person wielding it).

I will be more aware of my choices in the future.
 
rickppoole said:
I hear you Squeezymo. If I knew in advance I'd be doing something to upset someone I feel like it's my responsibility to decide whether or not it's worth it. I usually decide not to upset them.

My grandfather carried a combat knife for seven months in WWII, but he used knives as tools for over 70 years. My father carried a combat knife for a year and a half in Viet Nam but he's spent the last 30 years using one to peel and eat apples on the back porch. Anything can be a tool or a weapon- it's all about the intent. The human hand can wave hello or it can make a fist.

I think we've removed personal responsibility from so much of our culture that when a crime is commited with a weapon (knife, gun, baseball bat, rock) many people see the weapon as guilty (vs the person wielding it).

I will be more aware of my choices in the future.
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I completely agree. I carry a knife with me everywhere, but I think if I used it in self defense, I could get myself hurt more than I could prevent myself from being hurt.

My dad never goes anywhere without a knife. He always carries a SAK. He always used it as a tool. I had some friends in high school that took knives with them everywhere for self defense, so I stopped hanging out with them. If they get in a fight and pull out a knife, who's to say that the other guy doesn't have a knife, but just wasn't going to use it?
Shit... I went on a mini rant of agreement.

Yeah my family knows knives are tools. But other people can even look at a SAK and say to me "why do you have a knife?"

But I see where you're coming from. When I don't have my knife on me I feel naked.
 
Ottoshot said:
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.
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and they usually try to use your knife as a screwdriver or to try and cut something like steel wire :mad:

wutitiz - EDITED said:
My solution is to carry 2 knives. One is a Kershaw mini cyclone, the other is a 2" blade William Henry. If any potentially squeamish person is present, I use the WH.
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I have a small SAK on my keys; if I'm in a crowded area, and the job can be completed with its tiny blade that's what I'll use. In all other instances I'll use my larger (slightly tactical looking) folder.

Some people will still be intimidated by that (the SAK), but I'm not prepared to waste my time explaining to those people how useful carrying a knife could be for them. The phrase "never argue with a fool..." comes to mind.
 
Esav, you're right but too many are changing their lifestyle to pander to the sheeple. Don't apologise just tell them to get psychiatric help , they really need it!
 
Robert H said:
I carved Christmas a turkey at my mother's house with a Cold Steel Voyager XL. I open it with a wrist flip, which I needed to do since all of her knives were dull.

Since then my dad expects me to pull out some sort of blade or another, and always wonders what sort of pocket gun I have on. He's not a gun guy, so it's a treat for him to see.

I've given up on people having reasonable reactions to knives. My wife gets looks of shock and horror at her government job when she pulls out her Spyderco Meerkat form the key chain sheath I made her to cut those plastic strips on printer paper boxes.

A whole Building of sheeple.

(And they're in charge) :eek:
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I work in an office and have pulled out my Case Canoe to cut those straps on the printer paper boxes and have gotten awkward looks. Someone once said "What do you need a big Buck knife like that for"

I thought a Case knife was more Sheeple friendly then a SAK.

I just laughed and said "This is a very small knife" and left it at that.

Make no mistake about it thought - Being in an office job I do not broadcast that I EDC even a small knife.
 
Over here in the UK it's absolutely ridiculous, in the city just the sight of a folder could well see you getting questioned or even arrested, and in the outdoors you still need to carry a fixed blade discreetly. People see a knife and think you're some kind of psycho.
 
rickppoole said:
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."
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Honestly, I think this was a BIG mistake on your part. You had a bunch of examples of when your knife came in handy and you didn't tell them!

Even I might raise an eyebrow at somebody carrying a fixed blade in an urban environment, especially something as formal as a wedding. I specifically bought a black folder with black clip for things like this so that it wouldn't stand out. And I always have my tiny Byrd Finch as a keychain if I need something REALLY sheeple friendly.
 
I was on a 48hrs fishing trip with a couple of friends.
I was carrying my usual fixed blade ( Fallkniven F1 ) and a folder clipped to the front of my camo`s.I received a comment from one friend "what are you doing carrying TWO knives for,Rambo"
He learnt, when he got a hook embedded in his thumb three hours later and he wanted a sharp knife to cut the skin so he could the barb out.
I said to him "would you like to borrow a knife or keep the hook dangling from your thumb for another 40hrs"
Don`t you love "sheeple" when they realise a knife is a necessary "tool" that we all need?
 
I've got to agree with Dekz.
You had the perfect reasons for the knife you carried, and providing it is legal you have a perfect right to carry and use it in the manner you described.
I think sometimes WE need to be more paranoid and have reasons for knife carry 'to hand' rather than getting flustered and tongue-tied from incredulity. I try to have a couple of standard reasons ready on my tongue, ever since I got told that my little Fallkniven U2 was large and dangerous as I was cutting a tomato in the lunch room!
I usually have 3 or 4 knives on me, including a fixed blade for any heavy or critical work. I also carry an 'art knife' for manicuring hangnails and for cutting threads--which I do at every chance.
I also think we have to be non-confrontational, I want people to understand and appreciate rather than feel bad after I talk about my knives. Currently I tell them "I'm a collector." and ask them what they collect.
Greg
 
Greg said:
I also think we have to be non-confrontational, I want people to understand and appreciate rather than feel bad after I talk about my knives. Currently I tell them "I'm a collector." and ask them what they collect.
Greg
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I really like that idea. Give them something they can relate to instead of alienating them and then ask them a straight forward question- the ball's in their court.
 
Maybe you could have glibly replied: " Oh, no this is no weapon...its an SUV knife...unnecessary much of the time, but invaluable when you need it, such as....(explain all the uses it got that day at the wedding).
(idea stolen from tactical knife - SUV thread)
 
Have I understood it correctly, you brought two knives to a wedding (Active Duty and SAK)? Hm, I can understand that some people reacted to that, but I mean, if you actually had use for them and you weren't breaking any laws, it's totally OK.

In Sweden we have a law against carrying ANY kind of knife (regardless of blade length, edge type, opening method, locking device etc.) in a public place, meaning anywhere except for on your own private property.

There are however a bunch of exceptions to this law. If you use a knife in your work you can carry one and it's Ok to carry a pocket knife if you have use for it. In reality it is actually Ok to carry a knife as long as you have an acceptable reason for using it, show it as little as possible in public and of course don't get into trouble.

A lot of people who don't know exactly how it works, still have this "no knives in a public place" law in the back of their minds though and will react strangely if they se that you have one.

The bottom line is though, if you're smart, it's no problem carrying one.
 
In 2000 my sister got married at a fancy hotel over on St. Simons Island, Georgia. At the reception all the men, most of us in tuxedos, were drinking beers when the groom offered us cigars. A waiter said, "You can't smoke in here". As each of us got our cigars, a host of lockbacks snapped into view at the table. As the waiter ran off to "tell" management, we cut the tips off our cigars and lit up. I was using my dress knife, an Al Mar Eagle. This was before it was illegal to smoke in restaurants in Georgia. We never saw the waiter again, and the celebrations continued. Nobody even said anything about the knives. This is Georgia, but I bet we would all be arrested on weapons charges and illegal smoking if the same thing happened today.
 
I've seen reactions to my EDC change radically over the last couple months, and I'll tell you why:

I'm part of a student body on campus at my University, and whenever we're having a social event, we'll normally end up ordering some pizzas for everyone who's there. Best thing to do with a pizza box is to cut the top off and then make plates out of it by cutting it into squares.

First time I did it, people got a little freaked out, but I said nothing, made a nice little pile of plates, and went about having a good time, folder back in pocket.

A few months later and a number of events down the line, all the familiar faces now expect plates for the food, and ask to borrow my knife if we have more people than plates and we need to cut some in half. It's gone from people questioning why I would carry such a thing to people wanting to use it and being supportive of it, all from just seeing it in use with no second thoughts from the user.

Maybe one of these days one of them will even carry their own.
 
By asking "what did you bring the weapon to the wedding for" he is putting you on the defensive. A typical liberal tactic. It is like he is the judge and jury of what and why you have one. "Why do you have a knife I don't have one" is a self righteous, self centered, egotistical, I know it all, and determine what is right and wrong attitude. You did well, I know you wanted to tell him FO you commie AH but the situation dictated another response.
 
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