carrying a fixed blade

For simple day hiking, I have a small, pocket-size fixed blade. If I'm camping, I usually have a larger, non-tactical looking one that is clearly a camping implement in that setting.
 
Hi Guys, just thought I'd throw my experiences out there for all of the California nay-sayers.:)

I live in Northern California, have done for a good four or five years now (At the momant I'm in Bezerkeley:eek:). I've done lots of hiking and camping, always have at least one knife on my belt, sometimes my axe. I have never noticed any dodgy looks, just friendly people greeting me.
For what its worth, I've travelled much of the west coast had the same experiences, if anything, the hikers I have experienced in California have been friendlier!

Matt.
 
When you think about it, the person who carries a sheath knife on the belt is the type who is likely to be using it as a hiking tool.

Criminal types, muggers etc are likely to be hiding their knives away from view, but this is what the sheeple with their knife-nausea have created:barf:The situation whereby knife owning is automatically associated with some kind of violent wicked behaviour-hence the need to conceal weapons.

I am not of course suggesting that forumites who carry knives from view (as we all do with smaller pocket knives)are in the category of gangland thug.

Ideally, we should get back to a situation where knives are viewed as tools, art objects and even items of prestigious dress:D As in Elizabethan times:thumbup:
 
willgoy said:
When you think about it, the person who carries a sheath knife on the belt is the type who is likely to be using it as a hiking tool.

Ideally, we should get back to a situation where knives are viewed as tools, art objects and even items of prestigious dress:D As in Elizabethan times:thumbup:
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Exactly, I only take my big oh sheath knife with me in the bush because it is going to be my most useful tool. Just like everyday I carry a sog powerlock because it is my multi tool of choice for the kind of work that I do. If people want to give funny looks about carrying a tool around, then I'll give funny looks when I see people on their cell phones on "work calls" because that is their "tool" for the trade.
Hiking in bush = Big knife
Working in city or office = cell phone or brief case

It is just something that should be expected especially when out in the bush.
 
RussMo said:
I can't believe how everyone is refusing to stand up for your right to carry. Why do we have to bend over, cause we might OFFEND some little city slicker piece of crap?
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Amen.
I'm of the rather unpopular opinion that appeasement to the antis means you're capitulating. They seem to take it that way also, seeing as how they keep encroaching further.
It's sad that now we even have knife (and gun) enthusiasts are brainwashed to the point that the possibility of offending someone WHILE DOING NOTHING WRONG, will make them hide their legitimate tools or not carry them at all.
 
I carry my 4" fixed blade about 4 o'clock on my belt. In town, I shove the end into my pocket and pull my shirt over it. No one knows the better.
 
When I'm hunting on private land, or with permission on public land, I will carry whatever I like on my belt. Just lately I've discovered how useful khukuris are, so I will generally have one of these swinging at my left hip (my shortest is 12" overall).

In town I will have a folder in my pocket.

On some occasions I will carry a fixed blade in a horizontal position on my belt at the front of my body. During the cooler months this is totally invisible because of the clothing I'm wearing. When I'm wearing just a thin shirt, then if I have my shirt hanging loose I find that a shorter fixed blade is fairly hard to see under the shirt hidden under my slightly protruding pot gut.

I've also got a small, thin Marbles 'Bird and Trout' knife which I sometimes carry on a cord around my neck along with my watch, a small LED flashlight, and my car key. This just helps ensure that I always have a knife. It is hardly a 'tactical weapon' because it would generally take too long to find under my clothing and pull from the sheath. A great little knife for splinter removal etc.
 
Honestly, I never give it a second thought. I learned long ago that I'll never change some people's minds, so I just ignore them. They need to learn to live and let live.
 
I'm with Bill S...I carry my fixed blades inverted on my left pack strap for quick easy access. I ran across a grizzly in Montana several years ago and the knife was ready for instant deployment..it was very re-assuring to have that fixed blade. Where we were in a National park, a firearm was not an option.

I could care less about what people think in the woods about the knife. It's my knife that I made, it's legal to carry and I have a genuine need for it. While hiking, I come across far too many that are unprepared for their wilderness hikes.

Actually on a recent hike in Montana, I had a guy stop and ask me about the knife I was carrying. He was very impressed that I had made it and wanted me to make him one! A future knife nut in the making! :D
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned my favorite carry method.

Horizontal carry.

Worn on the back it is fairly unobtrusive.

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With the exception of a few posts, I've read of people only giving funny looks while hiking etc. Has anyone ever approached you and spoken of the knife they are giving the funny looks about? If so, how did the course of the conversation go? Did you do your best to explain the need for a FB in the bush? Or did your comments fall upon deaf ears? I'm only curious as to how many had positive or negative interactions with those who made and effort to question the knife or hiker. -Matt-
 
A couple of times, it *always* falls on deaf ears. Their questions are always, "Yeah, but...." The kind of conversation where you know they aren't listening, they are thinking of the next sentence they want to say.

These days when I hike in the woods, most sheeple are too busy staring at my gun on my hip to even see the knife.... :D
 
I've been carrying a Mora 780 on my belt lately (been up to a few construction projects where a stout knife comes in handy), have even worn it in crowded grocery stores, Home Depot, etc. And I have to say, it feels good! I have carried folders since time out of mind, but never a fixed blade. The Moras are so ugly, most people can't readily envision them as "weapons". They've usually got a vision of tactical, "Rambo" knives in their heads as the ones that are used to kill people. Moras are so homely, they don't even count! When I hike, I carry a camera pouch (medium sized Sundog) on a chest rig. I've managed to attach an inverted Becker Necker behind it. No one even knows it is there. And I carry not only a camera, but a mini-psk and some other items in the camera case. It stays on me at all times, even when I take the pack off during breaks.
 
sodak said:
These days when I hike in the woods, most sheeple are too busy staring at my gun on my hip to even see the knife.... :D
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My experience as well - they spend so much time looking at the 6"-barreled S&W M629 on the right hip that the Randall with the 9" blade on the left hip doesn't even register on their pea-sized little brains.

And yeah, except for major cities (and super-snooty Aspen), that's perfectly legal just about everywhere in Colorado.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Amen. It's sad that now we even have knife (and gun) enthusiasts are brainwashed to the point that the possibility of offending someone WHILE DOING NOTHING WRONG, will make them hide their legitimate tools or not carry them at all.
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I'm really hope you're not referring to me, because in the final analysis, I don't give a shit what they think. They can kiss my a$$. The point I was making is that the more they see 'knife-wielding' wierdos, in their favourite hiking spots, after a refreshing Cappucino (spelling?) the more compelled they will be to put the pressure on their candy-ass politicians.

The fact of life is, there is a hell of a lot of anti-knife, anti-gun, anti-hunting, anti-everything people out there, and they will eventually curtail a lot of your pleasurable activities and you're not going to stop it by telling them to kiss your a$$. The only hope you have, if any, is to educate people about the outdoors and the commensurate tools thereof, otherwise, the chapter's been written, like it or not.

Doc
 
c00per said:
Hi Guys, just thought I'd throw my experiences out there for all of the California nay-sayers.:)

I live in Northern California, have done for a good four or five years now (At the momant I'm in Bezerkeley:eek:). I've done lots of hiking and camping, always have at least one knife on my belt, sometimes my axe. I have never noticed any dodgy looks, just friendly people greeting me.
For what its worth, I've travelled much of the west coast had the same experiences, if anything, the hikers I have experienced in California have been friendlier!

Matt.
Click to expand...

I live in Northern California, as well. It's perfectly legal - barring local rules like campusses- to carry a fixed blade unconcealed. and I often do. Never had a hassle from it. Hiking or working (then again, when I'm working it's construction or landscaping type stuff and the 4 inch blade is the least of what's dangling from my belt.)
 
I'm going on a hunting trip tomorrow and plan on having my RAT 3 on my belt horizontally and my USMC Ka Bar on my right thigh vertically.

We'll see if I get any looks, I doubt it though.

I took my RAT with me into the woods one time and my friend and I came across two big and mangy looking dogs(owners nowhere to be found) and boy did I feel better knowing I had a decent sized fixed blade on me. I didnt have to use it though, thankfully. What if those dogs attacked and I had left my knife in a drawer because I didnt want to offend anybody? Anyway, I can "what-if" every situation but it just feels good knowing you're prepared.

Just my .02 and figured I'd add to the discussion.

-Cuchuga
 
RR, to be honest I get that feeling sometimes. Though it doesnt stop me either. I carry my nimravus everywhere with me, woods, out town what have you. All anyone would see if I dont have a coat on (which they wont now that we have snow) is a small black nub about 1" long sticking out under my shirt on back. I wear my sheath horizontal on my back, right there when I need it, its comfy sitting and It doesn't catch on things.
 
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