Fixed blade open carry - urban/suburban

trout #2

trout #2

Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
527
Assuming there are no laws to the contrary in your area, what are some of your thoughts on openly carrying a fixed blade in urban/suburban areas? To frame the discussion better, let's just consider smaller (~3-4.5") blades. In my area, the laws I've found so far make no mention of open fixed blades and only have the usual "concealed dirk/dagger/bowie" restrictions. I need to do some more research, but I'm thinking that there is no problem with open carry of a fixed blade. Just to be clear though, I didn't put this in the Laws forum because I'm not interested in discussing legality - it will be assumed.

Anyway, I'd like to carry something along the lines of a RAT-3 occassionally but am honestly a little apprehensive of the non-knife-people's reactions. I'm talking normal around town kind of stuff, not out on the trail or farm. Part of me, as I'm sure many of you will say, has the "it's legal, I'll carry it, sheeple be damned" attitude. At the same time, I don't want to hassle with the "oh my God, he's got a KNIFE!!!!" and "who you gonna kill with that?" reactions all the time. So what are some opinions on this? Where is the line between asserting your rights and unneccessarily getting the NKPs all stirred up and bothered about your "deadly weapons"? I'm especially interested in any actually experiences, positive and negative. Maybe I'm overestimating the terror-potential of a RAT-3, but I've had some pretty stupid reactions to normal sized folders before as well.

Oh and to preempt any search lectures, I did try a few different searches but kept getting the "page can't be displayed" errors. ;)
 
Fixed blades get even worse reactions for some reason. I have some that are no longer butt-to-tip than some of my folders' blades, and yet people get crazy about them.
 
My usual weekday carry is a Shivworks Clinch Pick in the stock horizontal sheath - about 6" OAL. On the first part of my morning commute (gym clothes) it's on a very light nylon belt (fixed blades in CA have to be worn at the waist) that I wear around my un-buttoned T-shirt (no belt loops on my shorts) for a 1/2-mile walk. Not many people around, but I will cross paths with 5-20 joggers. On the second half (gym to San Fran on a train, 1/4 mile walk on city streets) I wear it on my belt. Because I'm up early, I usually wear on open coat or jacket - so the knife doesn't really stand out - but if you look at my belt-buckle area - it's right there.

The biggest obstacle to fixed blade carry is psychological - worrying too much about how people will react. You will find that most people won't notice. I ride a train to work and back with thousands of other people and every few days I mightl notice someone looking at it, but nobody has said anything. What is there to say? They probably think that if I'm crazy enough to carry a knife I'm probably crazy enough to kill them for mentioning it.
 
They probably think that if I'm crazy enough to carry a knife I'm probably crazy enough to kill them for mentioning it.
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Oooohhh ... not nice! :D

Good point though, that not making a big deal of doing something legal is best. If someone asks, don't get defensive or explanatory, just shrug casually and ask them: "What's the problem?"

THEN slash them! :eek:
 
neck knives hanging from a beltloop, with my keys, on a carabiner. The Arclite got a few stares but only one comment. The Kagas Katne (little "paper cutter" khukuri) has only gotten one comment. And nobody even noticed the Prairie Fox. Here in SoCal I think a full sized belt knife would stand out but the neck knives seem to go, mostly, unnoticed. YMMV

Frank
 
Maybe the people looking at your knife aren't afraid, they are just interested in the make/model? :D
I know I have looked at peoples knives many times.
On the other hand, I carried my Battle Rat every day for a couple months and nobody ever noticed. . .or if they did, they remained mute- which is just as good, IMO.
 
When I carry a fixed blade it's usually concealed or usually close to home but, on occasion I will carry some sort of 7" combat knife in the open and no one will say anything. I think it's a fine idea, no one will scream murderer and no one can arrest you so, besides an unusual glance or maybe even a sheeple encounter nothing bad will happen.
 
I actually edc a rat-3 when I am not goin to college classes. I somewhat conceal it under my shirt but half is showing. People do see it and some seem to stare lol and others seem to not care. However I have noticed than when I do pull it out to use it people are a little more intimidated by a fixed blade than a folder, and I would assume the police wouldnt like it that much either.
 
In Texas, its illegal to open carry any knife with a blade longer than 5 1/2", so I usually have one of my folders such as my Camillus or Buck knife. Thats really all you need unless youre in a rural area. Most folders are legal to carry and the nly thing you might get is a stare or comment by a sheeple. One time someone even asked me where I got my Camillus (I think its discontinued), and wanted one like it. Its cool meeting other knife collectors like that.
 
Actually, I get loads of comments on FBs as opposed to folders. Like, my SAK or my Spydies never got any comments or more than a raised eyebrow, but my Prairie Fox, about half to 2/3 the size, got "That's a big knife!" and "Is that in case you need to stick someone?"
 
Although it is illegal to carry a fixed blade here without a good reason ( ie for work or camping etc) I would carry one if it was legal. I prefer fixed blades to folders and locking blades to slipjoints. Though all I can carry is a slipjoint and I have had comments due to carrying that. The UK has alot of sheeple and the press doesn't help.
 
I only cary fixed blades.Either my impact warthog(3.5") Or my impact spear point(3.8").On one has given me **** about either.I cary all day in town or country.
 
pardon me, but why would you need a fixed blade in an urban/suburban setting? Unless you are gardening, I don't see the advantage of carrying a fixed blade over a folder in an urban setting. I mean, nearly all common "emergencies" in an urban setting can be solved with a good folder.
 
I agree with LongDistance...having said that.....

The Rat 3 sounds like a good choice and should not be a problem in NC. The new small Benchmade fb is also a good choice and BM Nimravus Cub. There are many cool fbs that are smaller than folders.

Suggest a horizontal small-of-the-back custom sheath for low profile carry.
 
Carl64 said:
Fixed blades get even worse reactions for some reason. I have some that are no longer butt-to-tip than some of my folders' blades, and yet people get crazy about them.
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This is true. I've even had a local cop freak out more from the Busse (~3 1/2" blade) on the left side than the Colt Officers ACP on the right. I have a CCW and both were 'covered' at least with a shirt tail.

This really stunned me. He admired the 1911 (after making it safe, the cops here carry full size ones, or did at the time), but kept remarking on why I needed such a 'big' knife on my person. LOL I thought he was putting me on at first. He wasn't.

Just suprised that he would be more rattled by the knife than the pistol. Guess it's what you are used to.

Rob
 
Having once been asked "why are you carrying that samurai sword" I stick to
neck knives or large folders. Or go IWB, it just is not worth the hastles to
carry a large fixed blade knife. I bet if you carried it next to a cell phone
belt holster / clip no one would even notice.
 
Hey Guys...

I wouldn't have a problem carrying a Rat 3 around in view at all. Many times I've carried slightly larger while running errands around town,, bank,food shopping, general things... I get a few looks, and usually don't care less..At the bank now I usually tuck it,just not to offend anyone or on the other hand to show my hand,so to speak..

Took my daughter to dance class with a 4" blade showing, had a few moms nervous so went out for a smoke, and when I came back in it was not to be seen.. Out of site but still there..

Don't want to freak them out there, so I usually don't display there any more...
All depends what your doing I guess..

Basically the only time I really don't carry a sizable knife around is when I come to the US,, and then it's usually only a real small SAK...
One thing you don't "F" with is US Custom/HS. Period!

ttyle

Eric...
 
I have occasionally carried a KJ Eriksson #1 Mora on my belt. Most people don't seem to notice. I've occasionally seen curious, maybe frightened looks.

I've decided that I don't care a damn about what random strangers think. They mean nothing to me. I don't see anything in the law that prevents me from carrying a fixed blade of any size. However, I'm conscious about what I carry to work or in certain social situations.
 
LongDistance said:
pardon me, but why would you need a fixed blade in an urban/suburban setting?
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Many people prefer fixed blades over folders for any number of valid reasons - fixed blades are more elegant, they don't need a lock, they have fewer maintenance issues. Folding knives are just a compromise. If it weren't for legal issues, I would never carry a folder, although I would continue to keep an SAK in each of my briefcases, backpacks, messenger bags.
 
LongDistance said:
pardon me, but why would you need a fixed blade in an urban/suburban setting? Unless you are gardening, I don't see the advantage of carrying a fixed blade over a folder in an urban setting. I mean, nearly all common "emergencies" in an urban setting can be solved with a good folder.
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Ask yourself why you would ask such a thing. Sheeple-think is dangerously pervasive.

The next step is to ask why does one need a knife over ___inches, or with a locking blade, or with a pointy tip. . . :mad:
 
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