EDC scenario: should I have helped her?

I would just take out my Victorinox keychain and use the scissors. ;)
I don't see a point in carrying a pocketknife and be afraid to use it in public. So I only carry Victorinox or other harmless looking folder.
 
I agree the 810 might have been a little overkill. They might have been scared by that but not by something a little smaller and less black. My wedding knife is a William Henry B12 Terrain. I don't think that knife would scare anyone, usually it's just oohs and ahhs over how beautiful it is.
 
Some guys here have clearly forgotten what it was like to be young and self-conscious. ;)

This is why I carry more than one cutting implement. A Vic Classic or Micra would have saved the day, and not drawn any unwanted attention.
 
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Oh well. For the next wedding or fancy ceremony, consider bringing a smaller, more low-key type of knife than the Seal Team Six one.


(Also, alternatively, telling someone you have a knife and offering help if they're willing to accept is good advice--as has been mentioned.)
 
I don't think this is such a simple question. Each instance is an individual judgement call. Since OP was at the same wedding, he's obviously not too remote from other guests in the social order, so maybe he could have produced a knife and won a convert. Or maybe she'd see the knife and think OMG! Bandits! She probably wouldn't scream, but she might back away and look for help.
I usually carry a smaller traditional knife like everybody's older male relatives always used to carry, so maybe I'd have been safer offering her my knife, but maybe not. People perceive in categories.
I was once working at the other end of a table from a young woman with whom I was on amicable, though not intimate terms. I produced a half-inch blade to open a carton of something, and her eyes bugged out. She asked if I wouldn't rather have her scissors, and pushed her 10" shears at me. Not only could she not see that my tool was better than hers for the job, she couldn't see that her tool was much more dangerous than mine in the wrong hands. She just saw "KNIFE", apparently.
So this is a great reason to always carry a tiny knife with scissors.
 
Lennyo3034 said:
Unfortunately I live in the people's republic of Maryland, where people have gotten scared when I used much smaller knives in the past. In fact it happens almost every time I pull one out to use it in public, quite sad. I'd hate to see their reactions if they knew I was CC a firearm.

The attractiveness comment was a poor attempt at humor. If they were guys, I probably would have helped.
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How do you manage to CC a firearm in the Peoples Republik Of Maryland?
 
I would have helped them. I usually carry a small dress knife for those types of occasions anyway.
 
mmarkh said:
I would have helped them. I usually carry a small dress knife for those types of occasions anyway.
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^^^^Yeah, this. I always carry a small dress knife when in a suit and usually carry my Gerber Shortcut no matter what I'm wearing for the convenience of the scissors and the nail file. I would have helped. And if that bothered someone, then I would have considered them idiots, shrugged my shoulders and ignored them. Not too worried abut how someone else reacts as long as I'm doing nothing wrong.
 
The last wedding I went to, all I had was the Wakizashi I'd brought for the Bride & Groom to cut the cake with.
 
I would have asked if she wanted me to cut the thread with my pocket-knife. If "yes," I would have made a friend.
Sonny
 
Lenny,

I read your attempt at humor loud and clear, no worries. And I totally understand your hesitation at busting out nearly a 4" tactical blade. That being said, I agree with what most people are saying. Ask if she was cool with you cutting the string with a knife, and just be careful how you touched her! Unless she was into it :D
 
I would have interrupted the conversation and said something like, "Excuse me ladies. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I might be able to help..." That simple. I don't know where you like that people go into a frenzy over seeing a folding knife, but I'd be making plans to move. I wonder if the passerby would have been more understanding had he seen you gnawing on the shrubbery. ;)
 
I might or might not have helped them, depending on whether I felt self conscious or not in that crowd.

In the past I've bought a few "gentleman's knives" for carry with a suit and those would have been perfect for that occasion. However I found that frequently I carried a normal folder anyway so I did away with the gentleman's knife category in my collection. We talk here occasionally about carrying multiple knives and in your situation I probably would have been carrying multiple knives and could have used the smaller one to cut the thread. Again I find that in my circumstances I usually use the bigger knife so I haven't been as serious about carrying multiple knives these days.

Our state is about to make automatic knives legal. It would have been fun to pull out a 4" automatic Microtech, snap it open, and cut the thread. I would probably actually do that in a group of people that I know.
 
the kid said:
I don't see a point in carrying a pocketknife and be afraid to use it in public.
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Me neither. So I openly carry a fixed-blade custom with a slightly-under 4" blade :D

Never had a single issue with "sheeple". Granted, I live in East TN and used to live in Central WI. YMMV elsewhere.
 
OP calls these two ladies "sheeple" because he "thinks" they might be afraid of his knife.

Some might call the OP a "NOOB" for not carrying a small utility blade because he is too afraid to use his 4 inch tactical knife in public.
 
FYI I haven't read any of the other responses, so, if this has been said already, sorry.
I do always try to help people. And I think that it is especially important to show "sheeple" how useful a knife can be. So yes, I would have helped them.
 
Lennyo3034 said:
For what it's worth, the two girls were not very attractive.
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Hey, it's a wedding, have a few drinks. The more you drink, the better looking they will get. Never underestimate how much fun an "unattractive" woman can be. :D

On a serious note- I would strongly suggest that people not go anywhere near a bride with an open flame (the thread burning technique). Brides, and women in general, use a lot of flammable chemicals (hairspray, perfumes, anti-wrinkle sprays on their dress) and these sprays can leave unseen residue all over their dress. You don't want to be the guy who sets the bride on fire.
 
hmmmm, so women deserve help when they are attractive...otherwise no help because they aren't men. Well thank goodness I carry my own knife, and I can wear a dress. Can't tell you how many men freak out when I offer help with my pocket knife. I suggest you ask politely first to provide assitance for anyone.
But I think you probably have enough common sense to figure that out.
 
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You should have helped, occasions like that are why we carry! With that being said, next time you are at a wedding or somewhere you are going to be afraid to use a large knife then carry a little one. Why carry at all if you don't use it???
Last time I went to a wedding a carried a small slip joint in my inner coat pocket
 
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