I live in a very urban part of San Diego CA where it's legal to openly carry any size or type of fixed-blade, and for over ten years now I have been exercising my legal right to do so on a daily basis.
To get a better understanding of my carry experiences you need a little info about me- I've been riding motorcycles for the past 30 years now, and I don't mean occasionally or just on weekends, I mean everyday rain or shine. I was 41 years old the first time I drove a car. So technically I guess you could call me a "biker", and I guess you could say I look the part. I'm not what you would call "clean-cut", my riding gear shows decades of wear and use, and I don't own any boot polish. Basically, I look kind of rough, and that's fine with me.
The first FB that I started carrying openly on a daily basis was an Entrek Cobra. I carried this in a custom leather back-pocket sheath that I made. I only carried that knife for a little over a year before switching to a Wilson Tactical model 25 (pictured below). I carried (and still do), and used this knife at work and away from work. I carry my Wilson just about everywhere I go when out in public.
As far as interactions with the public, only a few regular people have said anything to me about my knife, and none of it was negative, just inquisitive. Polite and friendly.
As far as cops, a lot of cops have seen me carrying a fixed-blade. Only once did a cop say anything about it- I was outside a store getting ready to get on my bike and leave. The cop was already there sitting in his car when I arrived at the store, so it's not like anyone called him because of me. As I was getting ready to leave, the bottom of my jacket accidentally covered my knife (Entrek), thereby making it concealed. But all the cop did was give me a friendly heads-up about my knife being covered. He didn't ask my name, or ask for my ID, or detain me, or give me any kind of hard time. Just a few friendly words, I thanked him, adjusted my jacket, and I went on my way.
Several other cops have seen me carrying the Wilson. Many of them close enough to reach over and touch it. Many times I've passed cops in a 7-11 near my house. The cops and I just smiled at each other, exchanged "How's it going", and "Have a good day", and we went about our business. Not one ever stopped me or said a word about my knife.
On several occasions there have been cops stopped in the lane next to me at stop lights. My knife was clearly visible to them. But I've never been stopped, and not one of them has ever said a word to me about anything.
On one occasion, I walked into a fast food joint to get something to eat. There were 5 or 6 cops sitting at a table near the counter. It was cold and I was dressed in my leather jacket, leather pants, and I kept my helmet on (cap style) because I wasn't planning on being there for long, so between that, and the sound of my bike as I pulled up, there was no mistaking that I was a "biker". I walked right past the cops, went up to the counter and placed my order. Then I stood around waiting for my food. A few of the cops were close enough to reach over and touch my knife. But not one of them said a single word to me. It was like I wasn't even there. I got my food and left.
I read on this forum about people having negative experiences with the public over their knives, and I read about people having concerns regarding the cops, but I have no such concerns. No one has ever called the cops on me. No one has ever freaked-out on me. And if people are staring or making comments, I haven't noticed. And even if they are, frankly, I really couldn't care less.
When I do carry a fixed blade, I carry horizontal in my belt at 11 o'clock (just behind the first belt loop for right handed crossdraw--it's also easier to remove the sheath from the belt from this position, imo) or the knife and sheath is small enough to drop right into a pants pocket.
