Carrying fixed blades in public.

Hey Guys,

It was a real shocker for me to hear so many people say they have to carry there knives in shame in order to keep from scaring the "sheep"
I carry a 12.5 knife everyday (except in church, then i carry a neck knife) every where I go. I have a pair of shorts and a t-shirt on most days, no coats or baggy shirts. I couldn't imaging not having my knife by my side. I guess it is a luxery of living in the sticks of alabama. Being a full time knife maker it makes you feel as if you are making something shamful or dirty. They don't stare at construction workers when they swing hammers or use nail guns.( I can personally testify that a nail gun is a heck of alot more dangerous than a knife. I have never accidently cut a guy but my brother in law has shot my father in law 3 times. Do the math) It is time for the sherard to take control of the "sheep"

Keep It Sharp,

Chris Bowles
www.bowlesknives.com
 
I always wear a fixed blade in public unless I'm going to be going into a high security area. People actually never really give me a second glance, but I look fairly unobtrusive. I usually carry either a Mora #1, a Mora 2000, a CS mini bushman or mini tanto. Around the house I carry either a Recon Tanto or a mini khukuri...
 
I don't carry a fixed blade as an edc, except for a neck knife sometimes.

Earlier this week I was back home visiting family in rural northeastern Oklahoma, and a guy in line in front of me at a convenience store was carrying an Old Timer Sharpfinger that looked pretty well worn.

It was good to be home...:)
 
The law in Texas is 5.5" blade length fixed or folder, but no autos or double edges. I carry fixed blades up to that length out in public without any fear all the time. I absolutely LOVE fixed blades! I trust them infinitely more than folders, and I usually have one on me at all times. Work is a different story...

At work, I am restricted to a 3" blade or less so mostly I carry my Kershaw chive. When I get home though, the fixed blade goes on! The three knives I have been using lately are a Tops Street Scalpel (the smallest of the bunch), a Greco Companion, and a Trace Rinaldi L.E.O. All I have to do to hide them (if I want to) is wear a button up shirt without tucking it in. The L.E.O. is an Excellent knife. Since I got it, I have no desire whatsoever for any other knife in that size range. That says quite a bit. For a 4" fixed blade I think it is damned near perfect. It fits my hand incredibly well, looks great, and I don't feel bad about actually using the hell out of it.

IMO, fixed blades are definitely the way to go. Just learn your local laws, and learn how to carry them and when you can. Fixed Blades Rule!!!!!
 
hey buzzbait, let us know what he says, i'm kinda curious as it seems like it might be a convenient way to carry a small fixed blade.

- Pete
 
Originally posted by calyth

I just got some funny remarks by a guy in HOK (I was chatting with the clerk) The guy had a SAK on me that was dull as hell and asked me why I need a Spyderco Endura that has a lock and could be opened one handed. I told him it was much more convenient than his SAK, and when he take his SAK to whack branches (yes he told me he did... boy this guy got guts for his fingers), he'd be more prone to have his blade folding on him and make some nasty cuts on his finger, unlike my Endura. He's still unconvinced.
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Hahaha which HOK was this?
I know it can't be me at HOK Metro because I don't have my SAK as an EDC. Now you got me thinking of who might this clerk is. I am totally on your side of the argument for this one.
 
Originally posted by mikemck
If more people would start carrying knives around openly, instead of worrying about getting looks from people, pretty soon they would stop getting looks, and carrying knives would be more acceptable for everyone.
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Amen! I carry a Mora Frosts 4 inch Swedish Army knife on my belt almost every day. I tend to use it for almost everything, too! I'd bought a Fallkniven S1, with a 5.3 inch blade (Tx limit is 5.5), but after carrying it some, I decided it was too big for EDC on a belt in a city. Also, I was afraid if the cops confiscated the S1, I'd be out $100, while the smaller SwAK is less than $10! A lot of times I tuck the tip of the sheath into a pocket and toss the hem of a shirt over the handle to make it less obtrusive, but sometimes that handle just sticks out anyway. I haven't noticed any wierd looks from people, but it has made me a little more observant of other folks carrying knives, whether small fixed ones (one fella w/ a small skinner) or folders clipped in pockets.
just my 2 cts.

Matt in Texas
 
Saw someone in a Walmart in Temple wearing a fixed blade knife a couple of years ago. I was surprised and was wondering what he was doing wearing that dangerous 4-6" blade hunting knife in public. Then when he wasn't hauled off and arrested, I thought well if he can do it maybe I can to. Did some research and found out about the 5.5" carry law in Texas. Before this I only used my fixed blade on my own property. I now carry my 5" fixed blade when out on hikes, boating, etc. (am still looking for a 5.5" fixed blade) When in and out of car or in town I revert back to the large folder on belt because of convenience (knife blade hitting car seat, etc.) and no one seems to notice them. At work we're limited to 3" or under blade. Here I carry a pocket knife.
I really prefer fixed blades. Reading all this may lead me to purchase another smaller fixed blade for more convenient open carry.
 
Originally posted by mikemck
...I carry whatever I want to carry, as long as it's legal, because I can and because I want to.
If the sheeple are telling me what to do, what does that make me? I'm not the sheep herder, I'm the sheep herded...
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A double "Amen" to that. (I think we'd get along just fine, Mike!:) )

My favorite memory of Texas is visiting a friend in Plano and driving by the local highschool just before a championship football game. I swear the attendance was about double that of your basic Superbowl - now THAT's spirit!
 
Some more FB experiences:

So yesterday I'm trying to get my POS car back home, when I start overheating downtown Vancouver. I pull over and pop the hood to get some air in then start looking for a pay phone - happened twice. I'm not in the best part of town, but not the worst either. Point is there are plenty of "undesirables" that wander through. I don't look like any of these, however I *do* have my aforementioned Bowie knife on my belt. Sure I've got an untucked t-shirt on, but this knife is *not* unobtrusive. Most of the sheath still shows out the bottom.

I went into one hotel, used the phone, even got change from the clerk, no problems. I saw him looking too, but he said nothing and didn't react.

Later on, and a few blocks away, I overheat again (hey, who knew these car things needed "coolant"?), so I pull over and go hunt down a payphone - the closest one is a strip club on Granville, The Cecil Hotel for those who know the area. Now this place is definitely not a good part of town. Kind of a ratty place.

And yet, with my knife, in I walk to use the phone to call BCAA and get towed home. I saw the clerk looking, and a stripper, and a big fat guy (he *did* look surprised), but nobody said a thing. No police were called, nothing.

Get back to my car and a store owner approaches me and asks if I need any help. I've already walked by him a couple of times, so I'm sure he's seen the knife, but he still offers. Nice guy, I'm thinking I'll head back there and gift him with something.

Anyhow, the point of this ramble was that I was in the downtown core of a major Canadian urban center walking into ratty downtown hotels and strip clubs, while my car had broken down, and *nobody* said a damn thing. I was treated with nothing but respect, because that's how I treat people.

So all you Vancouverites too afraid to wear your fixed blades, wear 'em because people here aren't going to say anything. They're legal and they're fun. So go for it.

Pierre
 
Hey Caylth, its not your frieldly HOK Lou ppl is it?? If it is, I am shamed by what they said. Tell me and I will" educate" them. Many new ppl so must be one of them.
 
Aie... I should've been more clear.
I was chatting with the clerk and one of the two potential customers there was commenting about my Endura.
My Endura is mostly well received in all the HOK ;), spare a certain manager/supervisor (not Christine) that I don't think highly of.
 
I have started to carry my Fallkniven F 1 a lot more since I found out it's gonna cost me around $ 670,- + any and all weapons licenses (I shoot too!) I might have, to carry a one hand opener here in Denmark!
One hand folders are a big no-no (considered auto's here) and while it's illegal to carry a fixed blade in public, it's a lot easier to make it sound like I just came from a walk in the woods and forgot to take off the knife, than to explain carrying a knife that simply is illegal to own!

I always carry it concealed (open carry is just as illegal:rolleyes:)so I never hear any comments!
Oh yeah...I also carry a SAK Recruit or LM Micra to use in public!:)

Bo
 
The Porcupine,
Illegal to wear fixed knife blades in Denmark? There must be some Vikings turning over in their graves about this.
 
I was in Nu Jork today and saw many folks wearing ball chain or cord around their necks for handy access to a railroad or subway ticket; or had a security tag attached. Still others had a small black leather wallet attached for display of a tag or some personal papers and such.

Time to break out my neck knives!

I've got this small one - figure I would hang a small wallet or railroad ticker\t on it that cooincides wtih the sheath. I might even think about matching the color knive handles to the shirts I will be wearing (well, not exact matches, but dark with dark, off-white with white, etc.) - all "hidden in plain view."

Even if the neck knife is under-shirt, it seems like more and more folks have ball chain or cord around their necks, so that exposed cord or chain shouldn't be any real tip-off to anyone.
 
Damn Rubber Ducky...you make Vancouver sound like such a rough place to be in...I didn't think the Cecil area was that bad...

As far as carrying those fix blades in public though...I pick up my Ka-bar tomorrow so maybe I should give that a try...

calyth - who might that be? L***** maybe? Don't answer me...
 
Rubber Ducky: You convinced me. I'll try it for once. ;)
BOK: *try to look innocent* <font color =#dedfdf>Damn right!</color>
 
Originally posted by mikemck

If everyone refrains from carrying what they want to carry, even though it is legal, sooner or later it will become illegal...most probably sooner.

I carry whatever I want to carry, as long as it's legal, because I can and because I want to.
If the sheeple are telling me what to do, what does that make me? I'm not the sheep herder, I'm the sheep herded...

If more people would start carrying knives around openly, instead of worrying about getting looks from people, pretty soon they would stop getting looks, and carrying knives would be more acceptable for everyone.
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Mike, I agree completely with what you posted above. What you say makes a tremendous amount of sense.

Bo, the knife laws in Denmark really suck. It might be a great place to live, but it is a lousy place to be a knife knut.
 
I carry what i feel I need, legal or not. This is my line of thinking: I should be able to carry whatever i feel needed to protect myself and my loved ones. ya big woo-hoo, great, we have cops, but what are they going to do if someone walking down the street decides to stick me just for kicks? calling them then would be a little late, therefor they have NO RIGHT to limit the weapons that people can carry. That said on a daily basis i carry a Custom neck knife for cutting boxes(im a shipper), usualy either my CRKT M-18 or my Buck 110. And for 2 leg threats a 21" ASP. Everything is visable expect the neck knife and Baton. I have also been known to walk the streets of vancouver with a bigish fixed blade when needed but now that i have my ASP i dont see the need for a big fixed blade unless im in the bush.
 
I've carried fixed blades in public before... my favourite to carry was an older [but really good condition] Cold Steel mini-california hunter... excellent knife... I miss it a lot. (I traded it off like a fool :() carried very well the little I carried it... excellent blade shape, for utility, or defense.
Once I even carried an Ontario Spec-Plus Marine Raider bowie strapped to my thigh while I was in town.
got some interesting looks, got some bland looks, no one said anything negative... talked to a few people who were interested, or who recognized what it was.
but... I've never risked it again, figured it was an anomaly that nothing more come of it.

And I've worn neck knives ont he ourside of my shirt a few times, without incedent.
 
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