Christmas with family - "why do you always carry knives?"

Family doesn't ask, and if they did ask about it, it would be more in line with, what are you carrying, as opposed to why.
I've reached an age where I don't feel the need to explain my life to other people. I'm also pretty low key about stuff. I keep to myself a lot.
 
Most of my family hates my "large" 3"+ blades, but have grown to accept it.

My grandfather and uncle like pocket knives, but only small ones under 2". I whip out a spyderco or a benchmade, and they look at it with 0 approval.

My grandmother is straight up scared of them. She got stopped by a ribbon this year, and since I was beside her: asked me if I had a knife.
I said "yeah, but let me see the package to cut it for you"
She says "thats ok, I can do it"
* *I snap open a 4" benchmade with a loud SNAP, and hold it out to her handle first* *
"Oh......you better do it" she says
 
As a kid, every man in the family (and several women) had a knife on them. Buck 110's and Schrade LB7's on their belt or a slip joint in their front pocket. My grandfather told me that every man should have three things on them at all times, a knife, watch and pen! 30+ years later and the tradition continues. Every man in my house on Christmas day had at least one knife on them and there was quite a bit of time standing by the safe or outside at their vehicle admiring various guns. There were a few knives gifted and my youngest sister managed to talk me into selling her one of my Smith & Wesson Shields she's had her eye on since I let her shoot it a few months ago.
 
It is easier for me as they don’t really ask anymore :)

i carry knives, but I use them only for my personal needs so they do their own things and I do mines ;)

mat this point no one try to convince the others they shall do differently
 
The problem is alot of people see a fancy knife and the first word to pop up in their head is *weapon*
 
milesofalaska said:
I've carried a sheath knife since the early 60's , even as a kid in school. Totally illegal today. All my life, got asked why carry? Family, friends, bosses etc. I had the impression these people are nervous in the presence of what is perceived by mainstream as 'a weapon.' I gave the question thought and have replied, "A knife is a symbol of a lifestyle I believe in." Meaning self-sufficiency etc. If you end up isolated - voluntarily or in a plane car crash into the wilds, the single most important item to have is a knife. So to me the knife is a symbol of this. I explain, "You wear a tie, why? I think it is a symbol of your lifestyle, class , shows who your peers are, serves as an identification, helps others decide if they want to sit next to you on the bus etc. The tie is important to you, and you would be offended to be asked or told to remove it. Yet the tie serves no functional purpose whatever. My knife means the same to me, only it is not just a useless symbol, it is functional." We are all nervous around those who are not of our tribe. I do not want others to feel afraid being around me because I carry. I am not a bad-ass. My hope would be help people feel at ease, understand about symbols, lifestyle choices.In my view part of 'feeling safe,' involves hanging with people who understand the world we live in. If I look around for a seat, I might spot the guy in leathers and a blade at his side. I sit next to him and ask, "You been stringing steel?" I know he understands I'm asking if he has been trapping furs. If I add, how I just caught a wolf, I know this guy is not going to scream for security and have me arrested or burn my house down. I know this guy knows PETA stands for "People for the eating of tasty animals." We got stuff in common, feel comfortable around each other. I wonder if this has to do with how we dress, how we present ourselves in public. Guy wears a tie, I'm nervous, scared, he might be a lawyer. I'm gonna plead the 5th.
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The funny thing is, that no one around me is worried about me and behaving violently, inappropriately or even recklessly or carelessly with a knife.

Same with the select few friends or even coworkers that know I carry an edged tool with me.

But... I do self-censor... Like... My Alox Electrician or my Leatherman PS4 squirt are just about the only things I'll break out at work.

I think ppl are just unused to pocket knives themselves and are either taken aback or just nervous about the tool itself... Because it's not a knife thing...

These ppl cut steaks, roasts, etc at home and no one gets weirded out about someone using a shiny 8" kitchen knife to cut someone's retirement cake... :rolleyes::confused::rolleyes:o_O
 
I'm "the knife guy" in all my circles. Always have been.

I embrace it and try to work knife gifts into holidays when it (even sorta) fits.

This Year...

Close colleague and friend's 40th birthday? Leatherman Skeletool.

My daughter's roommate's birthday (male and yes platonic)? Leatherman Skeletool.

Adult niece's birthday? SAK Evolution Grip with added eyeglass screw driver.

Nephews birthday? Byrd Robin.

Son In Law for Christmas? Previously went with sharpening stones, realized he likes sharp knives but lacks the passion for sharpening so Work Sharp.

Family Christmas White Elephant? Dexter Russell Chinese "vegetable" clever that I thinned, reprofiled, and softened all the edges.
 
Crikeyyy said:
Most of my family hates my "large" 3"+ blades, but have grown to accept it.

My grandfather and uncle like pocket knives, but only small ones under 2". I whip out a spyderco or a benchmade, and they look at it with 0 approval.

My grandmother is straight up scared of them. She got stopped by a ribbon this year, and since I was beside her: asked me if I had a knife.
I said "yeah, but let me see the package to cut it for you"
She says "thats ok, I can do it"
* *I snap open a 4" benchmade with a loud SNAP, and hold it out to her handle first* *
"Oh......you better do it" she says
Click to expand...

The longest blade I carry daily is a BK14 which has a 3.25" blade length and people aren't generally put off or startled by it.

My other edcs are 3" or shorter and either fixed, slipjoints or spydercos.

I don't carry flippers or axis-lock blades that snap out loudly and can be confused with a switch blade. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

My Tasman Salt would raise pulses, I'm sure... Being that it's so pointy and serrated (a fellow freediver and knife guy jokingly called it the disembowler - and yes.. I have used it to gut fish... :p), but I only carry it for emergency use like entanglements, rope, seatbelts, etc or any other specialty application for a hawkbill.

3" is my ideal size range and I shy away from double edged and too tacticool knives. Small and practical. That helps, I think.

Anything more than 3.5oz is too much.
 
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Another thing I've started doing is when I go to someones house for dinner, I take my work sharp and put sharp, durable edges on their kitchen knives.

I then show them the paper test and tell them to be careful.... They are sharp.

Ppl get used to such dull kitchen knives!

It's always been well received! Ppl are thankful.
 
Crikeyyy said:
Most of my family hates my "large" 3"+ blades, but have grown to accept it.

My grandfather and uncle like pocket knives, but only small ones under 2". I whip out a spyderco or a benchmade, and they look at it with 0 approval.

My grandmother is straight up scared of them. She got stopped by a ribbon this year, and since I was beside her: asked me if I had a knife.
I said "yeah, but let me see the package to cut it for you"
She says "thats ok, I can do it"
* *I snap open a 4" benchmade with a loud SNAP, and hold it out to her handle first* *
"Oh......you better do it" she says
Click to expand...
My grandmother doesn’t get made fun of. Ever.
 
glwanabe said:
Family doesn't ask, and if they did ask about it, it would be more in line with, what are you carrying, as opposed to why.
I've reached an age where I don't feel the need to explain my life to other people. I'm also pretty low key about stuff. I keep to myself a lot.
Click to expand...

"Always carry a knife with you in case there's cheesecake, or you need to stab someone in the throat."

General Mattis
 
Years ago my daughter was on a swim team, the team mom thought it was a good idea to bring baked potatoes, oops no knife, i happily handed her my Benchmade mini grip and the first words out of her mouth were, what are you going to kill with that thing, i smiled and told her i carry it in case someone needs to cut a potato.
thanks for listening, troy
 
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