Originally posted by Goosebumps
We need MORE of this type of stuff in shows.
AMEN!
Lemmie give you a little bit of my background here. I am a novice knife-maker, and recently I have been making a lot of non-metallic knives.
I recently made my first sale of such a blade. A private citizen purchased it, and I had NO second thoughts about making it for him.
I explained taking it on an airplane would be a mondo stupid idea, and that it wouldnt defeat an X-ray.
Does he have need for it? I think so. I wont say what his exact need was, because thats his business... but I think it was a valid need, based on private places (not federal or state property) restricting his 2nd Amendment rights and his natural right to keep himself safe from predators.
Anyway... I make non-metallics, I think they are valid, and I dont apologize for that. Enough background.
Originally posted by maury
[snip]
As I picked one up to look at, he informed me that it was "invisible to x-rays and metal detectors" and "could be carried on an airplane." When I suggested that new FAA regs clearly state that "no knife of any material" could be carried on a plane, I was rewarded with a long harangue that ranged from his opinion of the FAA ("......those are regulations, not laws!"......!!) to the "fact" that he was selling "letter openers" not knives, and on to something about Hitler killing Jews and how we can't let that happen here.
Okay, I will admit this is irresponsible. Terribly so. I do believe in the 2nd Amendment and the natural right to protect ourselves, but saying things like that, and promoting them like that is grossly irresponsible and dangerous.
Secondly and even more disturbing is the whole idea of selling blades specifically designed to defeat security procedures.
Certainly there is a place for nonmetallic blades, but the only legitimate one I can think of is a work situation where the danger of sparks creating a fire or explosion might call for this specialized sort of knife. But lets deal with the real world: is it at all plausible to think that someone who's work requires having this sort of blade would also need to disguise it as a belt buckle?
I disagree, very much so. We live in a society that is AFRAID of people like us. Not for a reason, but because of illogical statements and beliefs that weapons themselves are inherently dangerous, instead of just inanimate tools. Because of this private institutions put up metal detectors, pat us down, and confiscate anything they deem to be against regulations. This is like de-clawing a cat, and putting it out in the wild, and still expecting it to survive.
Like the old Spyderco ad "All Gods critters have knives", and basically its true, if not completely literally, then at least metaphorically. All Gods critters have SOME means of defending themselves from predators. Humans have them, they are our hands and feet, but we also are tool users. Where other species dont need tools that arent part of their bodies, we do... to hunt, to gather food, to build shelters. Crows are starting to be noted as tool users also, as are some Primates. In another hundred thousand years, or maybe sooner, will they be using weapons? I think so. Chimpanzee's already do, they use clubs. Also to an extent Crows are using weapons to "hunt", by using sticks to dig grubs out of trees, or by dropping shell-fish onto rocks, to break them open. Humans are no different, hand tools, make up for what we werent made with. Even our weapons.
If someone de-clawed a cat, be it a regular house cat or a mountain lion, and then put it in the wild and expected it to survive, they would be condemned as a monster, because they, in-effect, doomed the cat to DIE because it couldnt survive, or protect itself.
Legitimate use? Self Defense IS a legitimate use!
Is it plausible that someones work would require them to have such a blade, and disguise it? Yes! No, I dont watch too many James Bond flicks... its the truth. There are people who's jobs do require such tools. Even an undercover narcotics agent might have to go into a bar to make a deal... a place he will need a weapons possibly, and that bar could have metal detectors. The bad guys could also have metal detectors, and do pat downs... again, a disguised, non-metallic weapon would be the order of the day.
Even as a civilian, without such a job, there is a need for such items.
I've been places where I got patted down, and wanded, and once inside damn near got into a fight, that I did nothing to provoke, and had I not been able to get my way out of it, could have been very bad for me if I'd had to go it un-armed. No equalizer was present, and the chances of getting my guts stomped out by 3 guys bigger than me, were real high. I talked my way out of it, but if they had been a little more drunk than they were? I dont think so. (And dont tell me to avoid such places, it was at a concert, and its un-reasonable to expect people to be shut ins, just to avoid trouble.)
There used to be a few dealers carrying plastic knives sold under names like "CIA Letter Openers" or some such nonsense. Responsible dealers have discontinued selling them post 9-11. And they now are illegal in many localities. And before the hackles rise, lets not confuse the situation by raising some Second Amendment issue: there is no right or legitimate reason for most of us to own a knife specifically designed to be smuggled past security checkpoints any more then there is to own a silencer for a handgun.
Again, I have to respectfully disagree with you 100%.
A legitimate reason is, again, defense from predators.
A legitimate reason for a silencer for a handgun? Shooting in areas where noise pollution is a concern. Handgun hunting in an area where noise pollution is a concern.
Also, just to protect the shooters ears from the permanent damage that can be caused by shooting a firearm. (I know, muffs and plugs do the same thing, but still this is another valid argument.)
Self Defense even. Have you ever fired a handgun in an enclosed area? Something tells me you havent. Its LOUD, deafeningly so, and it can be very disorienting. In a situation where you are defending against home intruders, especially at night, being deaf and disoriented can be FATAL.
Silencers, despite what the Government, or Liberal politico's, tell you, are a valid tool, for all types of people.
Smuggling a knife past security? There have been times I would have liked to. Not to do something illegal, but for my own safety. Thankfully, I have never needed to, in the end. Someday though? Myself or someone might die, or be seriously injured, because they didnt have a weapon.
Infact, I am soon going to be taking a 30 hour bus trip. I believe I will encounter metal detector enabled security, and that they will not allow me to board with a steel knife. No offense to anyone who has ridden or does regularly ride the bus, but I do not think the highest caliber of people will be riding the bus... or hanging out in bus stations. This is definitely a situation where I refuse to be un-armed. A cane, an improvised Yawara (Mini-Maglight), and a Comtech Stinger (non-metallic, and if anyone asks, its a Pagan Fertility Symbol) will be going with me, of this I am 100% sure. I am also considering taking one of my own carbon fiber blades, hidden on my person and a carbon fiber spike, disguised as a writing pen. Am I purposefully choosing items that will evade security? Yes. Am I wrong for that? No, I do not believe so. Am I going to be doing anything wrong?(Not illegal, wrong. there is a difference) No, I dont plan on it, I'm not a bad guy. I am also not a victim. I will be damned if I let myself be disarmed, when I am walking into a situation where I could possibly be injured or killed at the hands of another human.
MY LIFE is a legitimate reason to take a knife past security points.
Doing so at an airport would be stupid, I agree, just because of the amount of security, and the consequences... but the point still stands, my life is worth taking some form of a weapon on a plane. Even if its a walking cane (which I would still say is more than second fiddle, to a knife.)
Anyway, I am curious if anyone else shares my concern: As responsible collectors and users of blades, don't we have a responsibility to at least keep this sort of stuff out of our shows?
No, I do not share your concern. Infact it is just the opposite, MY concern, is YOUR concern. You scare me, Sir. Your being concerned in such a manner, makes me concerned.
Keep it out of shows? NO. That would be wrong, not only does that infringe upon the rights of the artist making the blades (YOU make one and tell me its not artistry), it would also be like saying "Go ahead, take away our rights to keep ourselves safe. Disarm us. The world will be safer." Or in other words,
"BAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Morgan Atwood,
Knife Maker.
MAD_tactical@yahoo.com