EDC'ing a knife?

goodeyesniper said:
The last time I drove to work and got halfway there before realizing I had forgotten a knife I started freaking out.

Then I remembered I keep a couple backups in the glove compartment and I was okay.
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This is funny, but it is sort of the way I feel. I keep a backup in each vehicle just in case. But if I have to default to a backup, I'm not real happy about it.

Something is missing if I don't have my SAK on me. Other knives I carry come and go, but the SAK is always there even when I am lounging around the house. I use my SAK everyday.

People can choose to carry a knife if they want to same as a handgun. I carry a knife everywhere short of going into the court house. I would there too if I was allowed.

If you are used to carrying a knife as a tool, you get used to it being available for all the little things that crop up. If I attended a university now, I would check their guidelines and any local guidelines and carry accordingly. Even small knives are very useful.
 
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EDC pretty much all the time. I carry a DPX HEST and it has a very strong blade. I was able to use it to help pry a fellow out of a car wreck. Pry the door open.
You never know when something is going to happen.
 
I carry a knife to go get the mail.

I simply do not care what people think of my knife carrying, i really dont.
 
I carry just about everywhere I can, and I've been in suburbia my whole life. I've never had a stranger say anything, and only had some jokes from friends or coworkers. I do prefer smaller knives though, with my biggest being about a 2.75in blade (that I carry regularly anyway).

I feel like its mostly a perception problem. You're not used to being the only one around with a knife. You will though, and you'll be fine again.

Universities don't really have "laws". But there are rules/regulations. I think mine was a 3in blade limit. The city it was in had no knife laws, so even if it was against the rules, it would still have been legal, meaning any punishments would be from the university (suspensions, etc), and not the police.

But moral of the story, carry a knife that's legal, use it in a manner thats appropriate, and feel fine about it :).
 
Gideons said:
London, Ontario. Thank you so much for helping me on this.
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London looks good to go with no special regulations on the books.

Those bylaws are generally the result of social engineering by city council. Don't like some particular group who comes to visit? Ban dogs downtown or ban knives with pocket clips. So you can't keep a group away by framing a bylaw that says "no dirty hippies" but you can ban hackey sack.

As for a knife as EDC. without knowing what your courses are I can't say for sure. The less hard facts more soft soft ideas crowd will be as progressive as they come so weapon's tolerance will be low (unless you're in theory resisting one of their pet bogeymen) in practice they won't want to see it.

So practice being discrete and don't make a fetish of a knife. Once you're got a better read on the day to day you'll be able to fine tune.
 
I teach part time at a college. While on campus I carry deep pocket, unclipped. As another poster said, even small knives are very handy. Most folks don't bat an eye at a Swiss Army Knife. A lot depends on how you comport yourself.
 
Gideons said:
When do you carry a knife,
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Almost always. Can't count how many times I unexpectedly needed a knife for all sorts of tasks in all sorts of settings; IMO it's foolhardy not to carry one and then have to rely on someone who does. On a more personal note, I feel naked without a knife; it's as much a part of me as my hands.

Gideons said:
when do you not?
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When I'm in an airport or a government building such as a courthouse. That's literally it.

Gideons said:
When do you think it would be inappropriate to carry a knife?
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Where it's illegal/extremely risky to, and only there.

Gideons said:
Additional Info: Interesting points lads. For me, I use to EDC a knife all the time. I live in more of a rural location and my "job" used it often. I am in a larger city now, and attending University. I no longer EDC because I feel it would be inappropriate to bring a knife onto Campus. Or when a lot of people are around. As I am not use to that really lol. I am a large guy who many people find intimidating even without what some people may consider a "weapon" instead of a tool. So, I feel guilty about them as I don't want it to cause any issues whether that be logical or not.
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I also live in a large Canadian city. You don't need to be squeamish about carrying a knife; you only need to be smart about your choices. For instance, consider carrying a Delica or a Dragonfly instead of an Endura or a Police. A Tuff Lite instead of a Spartan. A Mini Griptilian instead of a Nimravus. Better yet, just go for a SAK if you're concerned! They're the most innocent (and useful!) knives ever. Got my SwissChamp on my belt and my Izula in my pocket as I type this. :)
 
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I've lived in the heart of metropolitan cities for over 20 years and never knew "most people" didn't like knives :)

Just carry whatever you want. I personally find anything over 3" to be obnoxious in the pocket and I've never been attracked to tactilol knives but I've never worried about other people not liking the fact I carry tools on my person.
 
I carry everyday. Not where it's illegal to carry. I have a friendly Spyderco keychain knife i use in plain view, and a larger folding knife as a backup. I don't consider them weapons, but i am carefull where i deploy my large folding knife.
 
Jim malone said:
..... I don't consider them weapons, but i am careful where I deploy my large folding knife.
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I don't consider the knives I carry a weapon either. But using the word "deploy" sounds like deep down you consider a larger knife a weapon. Have you ever heard of deploying your wrench, screw driver, or rechargeable drill? I say, follow your instincts when it comes to choosing your blades.
 
Gideons said:
I am in a larger city now, and attending University. I no longer EDC because I feel it would be inappropriate to bring a knife onto Campus. Or when a lot of people are around. As I am not use to that really lol. I am a large guy who many people find intimidating even without what some people may consider a "weapon" instead of a tool...
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That's where a nice little SAK or slip joint comes in great... Something that doesn't lock, fits on your watch pocket on your jeans, and you still have the convenience of the "tool" for cutting, and no worries about the "weapon" stigma, as even the majority of the most liberal knife-nazis doesn't feel threatened by a basic SAK or classy tradional...

I'm in the boat where I carry a knife pretty much everywhere, unless there are security measures in place to prevent it, (Ie. metal detectors)... Even on my trips to Philadelphia, where their ridiculous laws prohibit carrying blades of any sort, (and I go to philly a few times each year to see family or attend events), I still discteetly carry concealed knives.I don't flash them, and most people would never know I even have them, (my same attitude when conceal carrying a firearm, it stays concealed and no one knows). I would just rather have a sharp edge and not need it, then need one and not have it...plus I feel naked whenever I find myself without one...
 
22-rimfire said:
I don't consider the knives I carry a weapon either. But using the word "deploy" sounds like deep down you consider a larger knife a weapon. Have you ever heard of deploying your wrench, screw driver, or rechargeable drill? I say, follow your instincts when it comes to choosing your blades.
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I accept the fact that knives are weapons. They've been considered as weapons since the very beginning.

Yes, there are many non-weapon uses of a knife. In this sense, they are dual use as both tool and weapon but I don't think it's reasonable for us to imagine away the history and reality of knife as weapon.

Three considerations that I think tip things one way or the other...

1) Blade length. Blades under 3" generally get accepted in most places as non-weapons. But, small flippers that open with a clack will still scare people.

2) Location and context. I was in the office yesterday and in the hallway, there was a table with pies, cake and other holiday treats. Laying in the open was an 8" chef's knife. Weapon? Nobody batted an eye but if I had pulled out my Buck 110 to cut the cake, people would be startled. Expecting logic to apply fails to account for emotional reality.

3) Demeanor. I'm a swell guy. Just ask me. I can pull out and use a large folder and women will walk up to me and ask me to hold their baby. Other people carry a tiny Kershaw Chive, deploy it with a sneer and buffed body builders cringe and whine about them pulling out a weapon. I'm reminded of that scene in Justified. A prisoner complains to Raylan about all the <jerks> he's dealt with during the day. Raylan, "If you meet a <jerk> in the morning, you met a <jerk>. If you meet <jerks> all day long, maybe you're the <jerk>." Some knife people are jerks (not you!!) and people are right to be fearful of them - more so when they pull out a knife.
 
pinnah said:
2) Location and context. I was in the office yesterday and in the hallway, there was a table with pies, cake and other holiday treats. Laying in the open was an 8" chef's knife. Weapon? Nobody batted an eye but if I had pulled out my Buck 110 to cut the cake, people would be startled. Expecting logic to apply fails to account for emotional reality...
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This reminds me of a time, I was on parole (for a non violent crime) and one of the stipulations was, "no weopons allowed in the home"...

Needless to say during my parole officers first in home inspection he asked me if I had any weapons, and I told him " no, we moved all the guns out over the weekend"...

So he walked through and saw a couple various 3 - 3.5" (my prefered length of carry) pocket knives on my night stand (didn't have my son yet), and he says, "I thought you said there weren't any weapons?"

I responded, "Dave, if I was going to use a knife as a weapon in my home, I'd opt for the 6" utility knife or the 8" chefs knife, or one of the other knives I have in the kitchen; great handle and sturdier blade, optimal for cutting meat. I also have softball bats, hammers, a chain saw, scissors, and 100 other things I could use as a weapon, but that doesn't necessarily mean they ARE weapons."

He let me keep my knives, without issue... But to go along with point #3, had I been on for violent charges, or had I been a known repeat offender/criminal, it very well may have gone differently.
 
I went to university out on the prairies here bud, and I am originally from southern Ontario. I did not carry on campus and never felt a need to. I was so busy and focused that the Berlin wall fell and I found out about it two weeks after the fact. Today I carry what I want out of town. In town I go smaller/utilitarian like a SAK. Discretion is the key here. Use your head, dress and act like the normal person you are, and carry in Canada is basically a non issue.
 
I am also a Canadian, went to University in Kingston (yep that one.) I often had a knife, mind you that was a few years ago... Rules on campuses may have changed, depends on each university. And how you act, and how touchy-feely the students are at your university (yes Its the purple one I suspect). If you're in engineering probably not too much problem if you're reasonably discreet.

There will in all likelihood be no local by-laws (for London) about weapons because in Canada that is a federal matter. Basically weapon is defined by intent in Ontario, and the rest of Canada except for the various prohibited devices which are not permitted in the country. If you carry a knife with the intent of cutting boxes, letters and stripping wires its a tool. If you carry a pen with the intent of using it for defense its a weapon. Same with a walking stick or a cane. (Yes I'm getting older... :) ) If you really want to be below the radar carry a leatherman. Some have decent tools and decent knives all in one nice handy useful package. And the intent is work rather that stabbiness... :D I love my Surge which I also carry daily.

I routinely EDC knives of all sorts, folders, fixed (2.5" to 6" blades) and open or concealed without concern or incident. A few of my co-workers tease me, a few think its cool, but they all come to me when the want to cut something. LOL
 
I went to university down in Thunder Bay back in the 1970's and as students we carried fixed blades on our belt I remember in biology and used it to cut samples when out in the Boreal forest. Same thing in geology courses, not sure if they still do today at the campus. Today I continue to carry both a fixed blade and folder on the belt most of the time. I usually take the fixed blade off for doctor visits, but keep the folder belted. Knives are quite common in these rural parts.
 
I've never felt looked down upon for having a knife. If anything gratitude as the only time anyone would care is if I pull it out to help cut open a package or use the screwdriver. It's just so handy ya know. I could understand flicking out a one hander could be intimidating to some, noone has ever felt intimidated by my SAK. I suppose it could be weapon, though I figure in such usage it's liable to fold onto my fingers and possibly cut them off. The situation is simple, if you want to carry a knife, carry one. If you choose to carry a tactical looking folder, you might get some looks when you pull it out. If you choose a SAK or traditional slipjoint that's 2.5 to 3 inches, it'll be looked upon for what it is,a tool. A lot of people come here wanting to get scientific about when or what to carry. There's no science, just common sense.
 
I'm currently around north Toronto and I EDC a knife almost always, never had any problems. Still, given the situation now, some of the more sheltered types in universities may frown on carrying a knife, even if you have a perfectly good reason to carry that particular tool. Overall, if you want something that would not scare people as you whip it out, the Izula in venom green or orange works like a charm. Mine's in venom green with black g10 scales and I've had people refer to it as "cute" many times. From my experience, other knives that seem to elicit the same reaction are the Boker Gnome, Kershaw Shuffle (get the brightest, most obnoxious colour) and pretty much any SAK.
 
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