I can see what you are saying, Paul in 1 Corinthians 8 is speaking about eating meat that has been offered to idols:
1Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
Paul is specifically saying that if a weaker brother sees you eating meat that has been offered to an idol and then eats it, being conscious that it is an idol, defiles themself becuase of his personal belief. So if you do this and you know it, you in "essence" cause your brother to sin. Even though you yourself know its a worthless idol, not to be feared, your brother sees you doing it and repeats it and defiles his own consciense becuase he believes it to be something (to be feared).
Paul, is basically saying not to do anything (in this case eat meat), that you know would cause a brother to stumble. If you do not know that it can hurt your brother, then you do not know. However if you do know that you could cause your brother to sin, then you should not do it.
Can you apply this to carrying a pocket knife? I think that's a bit of a stretch here. No where has it ever been a sin to carry a pocket knife. I have three verisons of the Hebrew Old Test. (Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, green's masoretic text) and two verisons of the Greek New Test. (in original koine greek and the textus receptus in koine by Erasmus) and no where have I seen any such thing.
On a different note, when I lived in arkansas, even some of the woman carried knives
In church it was common place that the majority hunted, fished, etc. etc. etc.
Being an evangelist/outreach minister I have always carried a pocket knife. We would do different projects all over the area of Columbus and we would set up different projects, such as tents needed for outreach. I would often use my knife to make repairs, cut rope, tape, etc. Many of the people, especially the youth that I encouraged to get involved in outreach, would really be surprised (here in Ohio) to see me carrying a pcoket knife. After many got to know me and see me use it in different projects they began to understand that it was a tool, not a weapon (like many they watch too much TV and movies). In fact before the Lord moved me on from that church to other things, many in the church, men and boys, began to collect and carry pocket knives. One even began to learn to make knives. After he saw my knife work, he wanted to learn.
We have to remember knives are tools. Some are made as weapons, many are not though. Even military knives such as the F/U's we carried in desert Shield/Storm, were (almost) never used as weapons, but as tools. Knives are not evil, just as most any inatimate object. Do I still think guns should not be carried in church....yes...for those of us that disagree on this, we will just have o disagree. Personally any service that I am speaking at, or presiding over, the gun stays at home, but pocket knives are fine
A pocket knife, like anything else can be used for evil, but so can a screwdriver, or a kitchen chair (if you use it as a club, and in that case it wont matter what you use).
As far as a dormat? Well Im not advocating being a dormat, but I am advocating trying to
avoid any kind of violent conflict.
