Carried but not used

Rum. Monkey. said:
Urban folk always assume everyone in the world's day consists of sitting in an office all day then getting Starbucks. Some of us actually use our tools for a living.
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I am thinking you are confused on just who is making the assumptions.
 
Before I worked construction, I had little to no use for a knife. I'd open boxes, cut tape, and occasionally plastic straps/packages. For the most part, these were tasks that could be overcome with a key or a pen or something similar. Despite having "no use" for a knife, I carried a 3"-or-under folder, simply because I had enjoyed knives since I was a kid. I never went out of my way just to pull my knife out though. I feel that many people fit this same description nowadays. They are just cool to have, and make us happy. I get it...

Currently, with me being a construction worker I pretty much need a knife. I guess a utility knife can do, but they are far less versatile when it comes to certain chores than a 3.5"+ folder is. I know I don't need a knife that is $50-$1,000 dollars for my daily needs, but I sure enjoy having that option. Also, a folder is less bulky in the pocket than a utility knife.

A utility knife does indeed have a place on the job though. Cutting things like vinyl planks, drywall, carpet, and many other things that will destroy an edge are much better suited for a utility knife. I couldn't imagine cutting something against a concrete slab with a pricey folder when I could just use a utility knife. I keep one in my truck, along with an assortment of prybars for when a knifes prying capabilities will be overwhelmed.
 
My workplace requires us to use a company approved utility knife. The company provides the knife and that's the knife we have to use. We are not permitted to use our own personal knives. No regulations against carrying personal knives in the workplace. We just can't use them.

Outside of the workplace I simply don't have much of a need for my pocket knives. Most of the cutting I do outside of the workplace is food preparation and I use kitchen knives or steak knives for those tasks.

I can carry a knife for a whole week and never need to cut anything with my pocket knife. The next week I might use it several times. It just depends.

I think someone already mentioned this but sometimes I will intentionally refrain from using a knife that I just bought. I stick it in my pocket for a test run, so to speak, knowing that I might want to sell it if it isn't the right knife for me. I can usually tell by just carrying the knife for a day or two. I also don't sharpen it until I know I'm going to keep it. In this case I would most likely advertise the knife as "carried but never cut anything" which would be the truth.
 
uofaengr said:
As mentioned before, whether they're going to get used that day or not, we carry them just in case. I carry a flashlight just in case. I carry spare batteries just in case. I carry a multitool just in case. I carry a little pry bar just in case. The philosophy of EDC is largely based off of just in case.

Nothing against any of the guys who have become to be known at work as "knife guy", I just wouldn't be able to stand people constantly coming to me asking me to cut this and that for them like children. At some point, I'd have to ask them since they need one so often, why can't they carry their own?
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I mainly do the cutting at work for my own convenience. I get asked, but people aren't constantly asking; but it does happen. My being the knife guy at work isn't a burden on me that everybody else at work focuses on. If they started always asking me to do their own personal little chores for them, then no, I wouldn't. But TBH, this type of work environment is a LOT better IMO than one where I have to hide anytime I need to use my pocketknife, no matter how small the chore...or one where it's strictly forbidden.

There are other people at work who often make and bring food, and share it with everyone else. Some people are known as the food people. Because they like to do it. It's a pretty pleasant workplace.

To be clear, I never show off my knives at work. I simply use them if and when needed, then put them away. I never make a big deal about it, and if questioned about it, I simply say it's a tool. And I don't get defensive about it if someone ever asks (usually a new employee) why I carry a knife. Nobody has ever complained or been scared by it/me.

Jim
 
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redman2006 said:
I am suprised by something. I have been browsing the ads for a new zt. The number of ads in general (not just zt) that mention "carried but never cut anything" astonish me.

This is not meant to be a jab at anyone, but it just seems impossible to do this. Every single day I NEED a knife. It may be cutting down a box, opening packaging, butchering our rabbits and chickens, cutting hay strings, working on small fix it items at home and work, camping, working in the garden, and so on, but every single day my knife comes out of my pocket and gets used.

How can people get by with a knife in their pocket and never use it.

I don't use my folder for kitchen tasks, and I don't make up work for it just to have it out. I also understand collecting with no intention to use it. I just don't know how anyone can not use a knife they have on them.

Anyway, I am just curious if anyone ever noticed it and thought it odd.
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I think that there are many of us who have to rely on the internet to acquire the knives that pique our interest. Personally, I don't have a local brick-and-mortar that carries a good selection and variety where I can physically handle all the knives that appeal to me before I purchase. Sometimes I'll buy a knife online, but when I get it in hand, I might be on the fence about whether or not it's a keeper. Maybe I'll carry it a bit, just so I have it on hand to fondle, examine and consider. If it is a particularly popular and/or spendy knife, I'd have a better chance selling it (or at least feel better gifting it to someone else) if it is in mint condition. And I almost always have another knife on hand if needed, anyway... :D

So I guess until I decide *a* knife becomes *my* knife, it kinda feels like a loaner and I'm a lot more careful with it... but of course, YMMV :)

-Brett
 
I moved to the Country just to get away from the City folk and there fears and thoughts and out here in the Country
98% of the people carry a Knife and some even carry a Gun.! You have to in these days and times as if you watch the
news you will know why we do.! You just never hope you will need it but it is better to have it and not need it than
not have it and need it.!** I think everybody should have that choice.!
 
wolf-man-12 said:
I moved to the Country just to get away from the City folk and there fears and thoughts and out here in the Country
98% of the people carry a Knife and some even carry a Gun.! You have to in these days and times as if you watch the
news you will know why we do.! You just never hope you will need it but it is better to have it and not need it than
not have it and need it.!** I think everybody should have that choice.!
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That's what I love about the Country! I was working in Nebraska and Iowa as a distribution/stock person, and I saw employees at Walmart with fixed blades strapped to their belt! I asked one of the employees if the company allowed them to carry knives and he said "no, but we do anyways" lol. I was using a Spyderco Manix to cut stuff at the time, and I never felt so comfortable pulling out a knife to cut a box:)

Out here in the suburbs of Illinois, it's pretty rare to see someone with a knife strapped to their belt or clipped to their pocket. I'm about an hour from Chicago, so there are a lot of city-slicker types that see knives as weapons. I was cutting some tape at the post office with a little slipjoint about 3 months ago, and the lady next to me looked twice at my knife. She didn't freak out or anything, but I can tell she thought it was a little weird... Or maybe she felt stupid for not carrying a knife herself:D
 
Blues Bender said:
That's what I love about the Country! I was working in Nebraska and Iowa as a distribution/stock person, and I saw employees at Walmart with fixed blades strapped to their belt! I asked one of the employees if the company allowed them to carry knives and he said "no, but we do anyways" lol. I was using a Spyderco Manix to cut stuff at the time, and I never felt so comfortable pulling out a knife to cut a box:)

Out here in the suburbs of Illinois, it's pretty rare to see someone with a knife strapped to their belt or clipped to their pocket. I'm about an hour from Chicago, so there are a lot of city-slicker types that see knives as weapons. I was cutting some tape at the post office with a little slipjoint about 3 months ago, and the lady next to me looked twice at my knife. She didn't freak out or anything, but I can tell she thought it was a little weird... Or maybe she felt stupid for not carrying a knife herself:D
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For the most part, cities =/= knives. In Philadelphia, it's completely illegal to carry a knife.
 
That's terrible. Up here, as long as it's being carried as a tool, you're generally good to go. Machete downtown, probably not; delica clipped in the pocket, no issue.
 
Here is my philosophy on this, I carry minimum 1 but normally 2-3 knives plus multi-tool as EDC's. First knife is single purpose for self defense ONLY, second knife is multi purpose for self defense back up and/or utility, third is utility ONLY. I usually buy 2 identical high quality knives, that I carry always. SD knife is carried but never used, so it always stays sharp, just in case God forbid I have to use it to save mine or someone else's life. It's twin is used as utility knife, this way I get to test it's cutting ability, when I don't carry third cheap utility knife due to season and type of clothing that I'm wearing that day.

So, yes if I was selling my SD blade I would say carried everyday but never used, and it would be true. If I re-sharpened it professionally on by belt sharpener I would say that as well, but that doesn't mean it was used for actual cutting, so it's still like knew from the box.

PS regarding carrying knives at work that have rules against it, I suggest you follow SAS motto "Dare, Do & Keep Silent". Office rules aren't legal laws you can ignore them, they can't throw you in jail for having a knife on you concealed! "Better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission!" Just carry knife in your pocket concealed, don't talk about having knife on you, don't pay with it at your work space. Stop being "helpful" when they ask if you have blade to cut something, tell them to use scissors or their keys or kitchen knife. Or you can use cheap 1" red SAK to cut things with, nobody is ever afraid of that one, and carry your SD/tactical/pocket knives in secret.

We live in dangerous crazy times people get stabbed and shot at their work by crazies/terrorists/disgruntled ex-employees etc all the time, in that situation it would be better if bad guy doesn't know you are armed and a threat to them. Surprise in that situations gives you advantage that might save your life. That is why bad guys target cops first because they know they are armed and danger to their plans of attack. It's always better "to be judged by 12 than carried by 6"
 
Lots of people on here carry multiple knives. They may throw a new one in their pocket to get a feel for and play with but
use the one on their belt sheath or another pocket etc. I carry an SMF in a belt sheath and for many years carried a secondary
usually a smaller knife in my pocket. Often this would be new ones I was trying out, an auto that I really had no reason to "use"
etc.
 
I'm guilty of this.
When at work I'll use my box cutter for opening boxes.
When at home opening the mail theres a cheap letter opener by the computer.
I might go several weeks without using my daily carry blade.
CD
 
I'm sure there would be a correlation in the higher the price of the knife the more likely it will show up to be sold as 'never used.'

People who carry high-dollar knives balk at many of the tasks they DO run into daily. Some carry a 'back-up' for that very reason. They carry it but don't want to get a mark or scratch on it. Then they feel sick once it happens.

Hooey.
 
EChoil said:
...
People who carry high-dollar knives balk at many of the tasks they DO run into daily. Some carry a 'back-up' for that very reason. They carry it but don't want to get a mark or scratch on it. Then they feel sick once it happens.

Hooey.
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You got extra boots for working in mud, or do you wear you wear your church shoes? Is it ok with you if guys who break down a lot of boxes
for work use a box cutter or should they have to use their hinderer because they own it? I thought we were all allowed to buy what we want
and use it as we see fit.
 
I was bartending/serving on my last job in Monterey CA so no I didn't carry anything. If I did I would have made sure I'm legal as I came from FL and knew they had stricter laws with knives.

Now I am back in FL which has very lenient knife laws.

I'd put it like this. I'd say its one thing to have a small keychain knife when its on a set of keys. If you're in any kind of institution with a switchblade or butterfly knife then its going to look like a weapon.

Job pays for the knives.

What I will get when I get back to bartending is one of those bartending butterfly knives or switchblades. So then I can scare the mean people and just pretend I'm opening their drink at the end. Can't get in trouble from anyone for that.:eek::p
 
My philosophy as well. I carry a large SD dedicated knife all day, nobody knows. I carry a clipped utility knife that can double as SD (3.5-4 inch folder) and people can see it if they pay attention to the clip sticking out, otherwise it stays pretty unnoticed. Then I carry a smaller knife for utility/lending to others and my multitool which can be clearly seen on my belt sheath and can be used to do most knife-chores, and I won't say "no" if someone asks to use it.
 
I have actually bought a few of them decent, inexpensive knives before. They sit at home holding a shelf down somewhere.
 
I guess because I typically only carry one knife, a Rift, I had not thought of the multiple knife reasons. I do have a multitool in my bag.
 
I have a lot of knives, some are users I carry and do about anything with. The rest I will carry but I never use them, because I want them max-sharp in case I need to defend myself. Those knives are always the ones, with bigger blades, as well as having a blade shape I consider suited for self defence. So, yes they're carried but not used. Hope I never do have to use them either! And yes I do carry two knives always.
 
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