Do people think you're crazy?

Eh, my first job in high school was in a local super market. The majority of the employees were kids like me. We all got razor blades to carry around... and I wasn't in HS all that long ago. :p

These to be precise. Didn't have yours? Too bad! Get ready for a struggle. :)

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There are a lot of factors that contribute to negative perceptions of--and reactions to personal knives. Couple big ones I can think of are: increasing urbanization, and the manner in which a person is raised and socialized. In urban areas, knives tend to become more marginalized since there are fewer perceived 'legitimate' uses for a personal knife. And with so many people living with restricted or zero access to real nature, maybe that perception isn't completely off the mark.

Then you have how people are raised. Unfortunately, the only exposure a lot of people have to personal knives growing up is through the media (news/entertainment), and so over time they come to absorb the media's conclusion that knives=weapons. (Obviously there are different ways to arrive at that conclusion, but the media influence is not to be understated.) My father was raised in the woods in the 1930's and so developed a healthy respect for the actual utility of knives. Luckily, he passed that same sensibility down to me as a child and I remember getting my first Swiss Army Knife at a very young age. At the same time, I have friends born and raised in the same area without so much as coming near a personal knife until adulthood, when they already become locked into the "knives are weapons" way of thinking.
 
Jesse B. said:
There are a lot of factors that contribute to negative perceptions of--and reactions to personal knives. Couple big ones I can think of are: increasing urbanization, and the manner in which a person is raised and socialized. In urban areas, knives tend to become more marginalized since there are fewer perceived 'legitimate' uses for a personal knife. And with so many people living with restricted or zero access to real nature, maybe that perception isn't completely off the mark.

Then you have how people are raised. Unfortunately, the only exposure a lot of people have to personal knives growing up is through the media (news/entertainment), and so over time they come to absorb the media's conclusion that knives=weapons. (Obviously there are different ways to arrive at that conclusion, but the media influence is not to be understated.) My father was raised in the woods in the 1930's and so developed a healthy respect for the actual utility of knives. Luckily, he passed that same sensibility down to me as a child and I remember getting my first Swiss Army Knife at a very young age. At the same time, I have friends born and raised in the same area without so much as coming near a personal knife until adulthood, when they already become locked into the "knives are weapons" way of thinking.
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Much agreement, brings back a memory thanks.

I was lucky. My late dad was a tool and die maker. I remember bringing home some cheesy penknife when I was a round 10 and to my surprise, my dad seemed kind of happy that I was discovering something steel. He could not hide his obvious cringing of the knife I had dragged in, though he did try.lol. But then, two days later, he brings home this lovely little swiss army knife, and then I guess our relationship went on to the next level.
Like I said, I was lucky, and I think the moral of the story is..'Some parents need to take their heads from up their (you know where) and stop using televisions to raise their children'
Cheers
 
Well I'm already pretty crazy as is.lol. Knives have gotten me in to trouble with sheeple before, and not just because I'm 14! Down here in south texas people don't care to much though, I've seen other people (older than me) open carrying fixed blade in public. The knife culture doesn't stop me from carrying what I want though! I love that robin 2, I got one with g10.
 
I get looks when I have a really flashy knife. But not usually. But then again im very discreet about my carry and use of a knife. If I use one in public I try to shadow the fact Im using one just to be courteous to those not familiar with them. I did bring a makora II to a christmas get together to cut ribbon and open boxes. It was certainly overkill and got some looks. I still never found a practical use for a makora II.
 
[QUOTESome parents need to take their heads from up their (you know where) and stop using televisions to raise their children'
Cheers[/QUOTE]

I could not agree more. I'm trying to get myself away from technology more. I have to teach my parents how to teach me what is right!
 
Crazy is a relative term. To us we would see most people who dont carry knives as crazy. Most of us see them for what they are tools. This includes firearms. Living in Los Angeles I would have more luck finding a unicorn than getting a CCW permit. I do however always have my blade on me (spyderco Yojimbo 2). I do use it quite often at the office no one seems to mind being in the trucking industry and all. The previous posters did hit on very good points like urbanization. Which when you really think about is probably more cause to have a knife. My father and some of my uncles have all been avid outdoors men and one of the gifts I got when i turned 16 was a bowie from my dad and a swiss army knife from my uncle. I keep multiple knives in each vehicle I own. Some people usually females question why and when I explain to them in a rationale manner they usually understand. I usually gift knives to female friends as well. The knife for me is just an everyday tool like a pen or post it.
 
No people do not believe me this crazy ...
They think they are a dangerous psychopath, for carrying a SAK
 
sometimes people think it's weird when they first find out I carry a knife everywhere. normally after enough time I show them how useful it is. it doesn't normally convert them to knife people but they stop making serial killer jokes and usually ask to borrow it to cut something. :p

people often form strong opinions with very little thought applied to the subject, this us why it's often easy to sway these people. for instance I have talked to plenty of girls who would mention how they think hunting is barbaric if the topic comes up. almost without fail I can convince them their opinion is highly hypocritical unless they are strict vegans.

the key is not to be preachy about it. with knives I generally keep it to a sentence or two the first time they ask. simply say how i often have to open things or cut things and it comes in handy every day. after a few more times they usually get it.
 
Well, I've been considered crazy for much longer than I've been into knives ;)

I am transferring to one of the most liberal state universities in the South this fall, though, so we'll see.. I picked up a Spyderco Kiwi for a more discrete option.
 
Well if you dont tell anyone you have a sak or pocket knife on you, how will they know!?!

Even with carrying a knife with the clip i have dealt with people who never realized i had a knife on my until 1 was needed!

I really dont care if someone is afraid of me because of a sharpened piece of metal, heck i encourage it, less people i have to talk to
 
I just keep it to myself: it's nobody's business! If I do not advertise it: so how would they know I have got it on me - as MNofUSN has pointed out. I do not hide it either, do not get me wrong! I carry my wallet around in a pocket and do not hide it or anything. But should I pull it out every time somebody is short of cash? I don't think so!
 
A dude once said to me (jokingly, at least) "Damn dude, someone breaks into your room they gonna call the cops on you!". Admittedly, aside from my folders I have a large number of machetes, a baseball bat, a couple of clubs, a sword, a couple of tomahawks and hatchets, a throwing axe, an assortment of kubotans/yawara sticks, several firearms(yeah, I basically collect any sort of blade or weapon)...so my room could certainly seem a little shocking, heh. Admittedly though, most of my friends know about my collecting habits and while some of them find it a little odd, they generally don't really give it too much thought beyond that(or at least don't mention it, heh), to be honest. A couple of them find it "cool" and like seeing my various acquisitions even if they don't personally collect or have any desire to collect.

Oh, I am in Texas though...most people down here are pretty relaxed when it comes to knives and guns.
 
I've never been called crazy for carrying a knife, nor for carrying 5. (1 clipped on pocket, 1-2 in the pocket, 1 on keys, and sometimes on clipped to back pocket or around neck) Usually I'm only using one at a time though...usually. If there are people around I won't play with my knife, and they stay clipped to my pocket unless I need it, which is rare at a store or walking down the street. Most people I know have a knife on them. Sometimes I like to openly carry one of my neck knives, and mine all have a "weapon" appeal to them I guess *rolls eyes* Especially in stores and such, I'll pull it out from under my shirt and behind my hoodie (darned PA weather, need a coat 15 months out of the year) with it unzipped so the knife is clearly visible. I've never had anyone, not even store managers and such say anything and I've never even seen anyone looking at it. Brous blades SSV2 black version with hi vis orange 550 cord on a contrasting background of a shirt isn't exactly discrete either. Maybe in my neck of the woods everyone has a knife, just might not be clipped. I do see a good bit of people with kershaw and gerber clips showing. (walmart..) here and there I'll catch a spyderco or a benchmade but it's rare. I used to work with a girl at a factory, she was cute, and her brothers both collected knives. I used my mini ritter to cut the strap on a bundle of flattened carboard boxes and she said "Hey *my name* my brother has one of them" I was like what? Then we talked and stuff on break and she is only the second girl I've ever met that was fine with knives. She has a purple blur (super jealous of that, it was a gift from her oldest brother, she wouldn't trade it because my knife wasn't purple. :'c ) in her purple purse with a purple 550 lanyard. She had an obsession with purple. The only other girl is my girlfriend, sometimes she will carefully steal on of my edc's while I'm lost in tv land or in her eyes (cheesy but true) then I hear a click and my face goes to this -_- "put it back.." and she does after she plays with it lol. Well I've rambled enough for tonight. Wow, I used a lot of parenthesis for some reason (I don't know why) (it's weird) (I kinda like the look of them) (I'll use them from now on as periods) Maybe someone should call me crazy, or lock me up with Murdoc with some trash bags...
 
Some people think it is strange when they see me carry a knife. Heck I am in my mid 20's and I had someone staring straight at my knife a ka-bar dozier for a good minute or two it seemed since I was standing listening to someone lecture us on a facility, this just happened 2 days ago. I don't exactly look like a thug either, as I am wearing properly fitting clothes and generally look like a productive member of society. I wasn't drawing attention to it, and in fact I was wearing khaki pants which match the color of this particular knife, which helps keep it a bit more hidden as it's not as deep carry as most of my knives which you usually won't be able to A) see on me which how I carry it B) or all you can see is the clip.

I have been in an Administration of Justice classes, this one in particular was on specific laws and was being taught by an attorney if I remember correctly, I asked him about what specific knife laws I need to worry about during class as we were discussing weapon laws. In particular folding knives as that is what I carry, as I know in my specific area I generally have to keep it under it's 5in or 5 1/4 whichever classifies it as a deadly weapon, 2 cities nearby have 3in limits, and government buildings have 2.5in limites. I wanted to know if there was anything else beyond this, this sparked someone attempting to rip me a new one as I quote "You shouldn't be carrying a knife, there is no need to do such a thing. It's dangerous. There's no need to carry a weapon!!" this went on for awhile.

My reply to her was something along the lines of this "I don't think a guy who is trying to find out knife laws and follow them is going to use it as a weapon, do you? In my opinion this is the best tool known to man. Beyond cutting things like boxes/packages I also am training to be a firefighter so I can tell you I can use this to help stabilize a vehicle in a car crash so the patient's don't get further injury, and cut seatbelts if I don't have a safer alternative, and a million other uses uses in an emergency. And I can list reasons to carry a knife all day long. Can you tell me 3 GOOD reasons to not carry a knife?". Yeah she wasn't able to convince me to say the least, best I got was still "You shouldn't carry a knife". I offered to put my knife away in my backpack if it make her feel better or even my car if I remember correctly. She didn't take me up on my offer (though that still leave the swiss army knife and leatherman micra on my keychain I had no intent on removing, that no one knew about).

What is also quite funny is we have people like this which swear up and down you shouldn't carry a knife, than on the other hand I have had a firefighter (instructor) rip the 2 people in our fire science class a new one for not carry a knife when he asked us if we were carrying a knife. Everyone raised their hand but 2 people out of a class of 30. I also it a little entertaining shortly after that we ended up having the 2 firefighters teaching the class showing off the knives they were carrying to each other, one of them referring to there's as a mini hatchet, which seemed appropriate the closest thing I could think of describing the knife is a kershaw rake but bigger as it was closer to 5in blade. And yeah this was strangely enough not inappropriate and no one was intimidated or uncomfortable by this. As this was one of more advance classes and this was part of the firefighter 1 academy so most of the class (minus a few of us taking things out of order) have already handled axes, chainsaws, sledge hammers, etc so a small blade is nothing in comparison. Not to mention pretty much everyone knew each other extremely well by that point.

My general rule for carrying knives is to conceal it when you can, which is put it in the small top front pocket on most blue jeans so it's not that visible as my t-shirt will just barely cover it majority of the time. And when it doesn't the fact that most of my knives have a black clip and handle and a wear a black belt will make it blend in unless your up close. Or just toss in a larger front pocket and the fact I generally get ones with deep carry pocket clips is usually enough to conceal it enough. But if I am in public and need to cut something I use it and put it as away when the task is done and try to open it quietly as flicking them opening draws unwanted attention with that distinctive "click" sound of one opening.
 
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Yes and I don't care. Everybody needs a knife in his pocket but everybody doesn't understand. Hence the funky reactions...
Keep it legal according to your aera and use it, abuse it and rely on it. You will love it.
 
dragonsprayer said:
i actually could kill you with my wrist. i hit door jams 2-3" from hand

i also forearm my house and door jams

the door jam shot is a one off, it takes a few weeks too heal at full speed. old school bruce lee self taight mUAY tHAI

for many decades, i demstrated once..... no details..... your either crazy or dangrous


then again i could be bad azz with a butter knife!
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Not crazy, just dumb.


No, I don't get many comments on my knife 'hobby', including always carrying. I don't get into how much of a collector I am until I know someone a little, because until someone gets that you see knives as tools or art, they see it as hoarding or obsessing. I spend a little time with strangers explaining why I carry knives, and, most of all, I don't do stupid things with my knives to show off.
 
I found that most people wont think that you are crazy because you collect knives but when you tell them that you have knives that cost more than 100$. They will say: OMG! OMG! you cant spend 100$ on a KNIFE (and you didn´t even tell them that some knives cost more than 200$:D)
 
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