Good knife experience

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
4,704
I was grocery shopping with my girl friend the other day and she saw some small pears and asked if I had ever had them. From talking with employees in the produce department in the past they have told me to try something if I ever want to know what it tastes like or to check ripeness. So I whipped out my ever present Benchmade Rift (the M4 version that day) and cut the little pear in half and then quartered one side and cut the core out.

It was around 6pm and the store was busy with people on their way home from work. As we were eating the pear I saw one lady in particular watching us and then start walking over. I have never had a bad experience with a knife so I started thinking of all the witty come backs I have stored away for the occasion. Surprisingly she just asked us how it tasted and if it was sweet? So my girlfriend answered and I asked her if she would like to try a piece. She said sure so I opened my knife using the AXIS lock with one hand because the other was holding the pear. I cut the other piece into quarters and gave her one. She didn't seem to mind at all that I was using a 3.5" black blade 'tactical' knife to deanimate the pear. We walked away after my girl friend bagged some pears and I turned around and saw the lady was also getting some to take home.

I have been carrying knives for 8-9 years on a daily basis and I have yet to have a negative comment. I use a knife whenever the need arises and I use it confidently while paying attention to the task. I think just using the knife like you know what you are doing and not trying to hide it and look over your shoulder helps put people at ease. When you look like you are doing something you aren't supposed to be doing is when people get upset or make snide remarks. At least that has been my experience so far.

Anyone else have a good experience lately?
 
That's a good experience. Thanks for the story. I've never had any negative comments either, but we both live in the South so that may have something to do with it.

I was in a metro Atlanta Chik-Fil-A a few weeks ago and noticed that four or five of the young (late teen to twenty something) guys behind the counter all had knives clipped in their pockets. Obviously it wasn't a problem w/ the manager and if there had been any complaints from customers I imagine he would have prohibited it.
 
I agree with your observations about just using the knife as a normal tool and people won't freak. I live in urban California and I don't get negative comments either.
 
Last week I was in Physics class and a the teacher needed to open a package. I pull out my folding knife (which looks exactly like an Italian style switchblade) and handed it to him.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
...I have been carrying knives for 8-9 years on a daily basis and I have yet to have a negative comment. I use a knife whenever the need arises and I use it confidently while paying attention to the task. I think just using the knife like you know what you are doing and not trying to hide it and look over your shoulder helps put people at ease. When you look like you are doing something you aren't supposed to be doing is when people get upset or make snide remarks. At least that has been my experience so far.

Anyone else have a good experience lately?
Click to expand...

Thanks for that inspiring vignette, FMB. :thumbup:

People tend to be quite accepting of knife use and carry if you approach a task in a 'matter of fact' manner and don't try to hide your actions. Older people know that a good knife was the mark of a man in the past.

I let everyone and their dog know that I collect knives and the majority are curious what I carry at the time. If you treat knives as the tools they are, others will see them that way too.
 
This seems like it is kind of the ANTI "why is everyone a sheeple but me these days" thread that covers this subject.

A.P.F. said:
Thanks for that inspiring vignette, FMB. :thumbup:

People tend to be quite accepting of knife use and carry if you approach a task in a 'matter of fact' manner and don't try to hide your actions. Older people know that a good knife was the mark of a man in the past.
Click to expand...

I agree with the comment about being a man of the past. My clients are stunned if I don't have a good sized working knife in my pocket.

A few of the guys actually want to see the knives I have if I use them in front of them.

A few days ago I was in a client's home and she had received a shipping tube with some delicate parts inside. To be UPS, USPS, and FexEx proof, these things are bomb proof, made out of some extremely dense pressed cardboard. She was struggling just to get it open as the end plugs had so much tape on them she was getting here paring knife stuck in the tape.

I slipped out my JYDII comp and stabbed into the end, then sliced off about an inch. No problems.

She was relieved, and laughingly told me she was "going to have to get one of those!". Then she told me her "Daddy" always had a sharp knife in his pocket, and sighed.

Robert
 
That was a good read.

I can't ever remember my Grandfather not having a knife on him. it was just always on his belt. life is just easier with one handy, I don't think there is a day I'm not using mine to some degree or another. the knife & Koga are always with me all the time.

Thanks for the read my friend, maybe she went out and purchased a nice folder right after that! :)
 
I don't think I have ever received a single negative comment about a knife I am carrying or using...a few snickers cause I carry three of them daily but no negative comments about the knives themselves. Here in the bible belt most folks still carry at least a small pocket knife.
 
Up here, knives are pretty well accepted and don't raise a eye brow. However some business's limit bade length that employees carry at work.
 
I've had a few negative comments, mostly by rich WASPs, but then again I live in Chi-Town.

Also, FlaMtnBkr, you do NOT live in the CSA. (not supposed to be a troll)
 
dangreco said:
I've had a few negative comments, mostly by rich WASPs, but then again I live in Chi-Town.

Also, FlaMtnBkr, you do NOT live in the CSA. (not supposed to be a troll)
Click to expand...

Are you serious? Someone just now tells me?! Thanks for coming into my thread about a good experience and calling me a troll.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I was grocery shopping with my girl friend the other day and she saw some small pears and asked if I had ever had them. From talking with employees in the produce department in the past they have told me to try something if I ever want to know what it tastes like or to check ripeness. So I whipped out my ever present Benchmade Rift (the M4 version that day) and cut the little pear in half and then quartered one side and cut the core out.

It was around 6pm and the store was busy with people on their way home from work. As we were eating the pear I saw one lady in particular watching us and then start walking over. I have never had a bad experience with a knife so I started thinking of all the witty come backs I have stored away for the occasion. Surprisingly she just asked us how it tasted and if it was sweet? So my girlfriend answered and I asked her if she would like to try a piece. She said sure so I opened my knife using the AXIS lock with one hand because the other was holding the pear. I cut the other piece into quarters and gave her one. She didn't seem to mind at all that I was using a 3.5" black blade 'tactical' knife to deanimate the pear. We walked away after my girl friend bagged some pears and I turned around and saw the lady was also getting some to take home.

I have been carrying knives for 8-9 years on a daily basis and I have yet to have a negative comment. I use a knife whenever the need arises and I use it confidently while paying attention to the task. I think just using the knife like you know what you are doing and not trying to hide it and look over your shoulder helps put people at ease. When you look like you are doing something you aren't supposed to be doing is when people get upset or make snide remarks. At least that has been my experience so far.

Anyone else have a good experience lately?
Click to expand...

the only question I have is did you pay for the pear you ate? Just wondering..
 
Getting very tired of these snips in the general forums. Very tired.
 
I haven't ever had any really negative commentary, but I have had people (oddly, usually family members) raise eyebrows at the size of the knife I have sometimes used.

Opening Christmas packages and trimming small limbs for Christmas decorations using a Spyderco "Police" model as an example.

I don't know why my family members continue to be surprised at such things, considering how long they've known me...... ?

Andy
 
I was walking out of the Lowe's and saw an older gentleman struggling with the complimentary tie down rope. I offered my Spyderco Bob T. and it made short work of the rope. He returned my knife and told me how much he appreciated a sharp knife. :thumbup:
 
where i live people dont feel bad about knives. i went to the local grocery store carrying a 3' chinese sword in a scabbard so i could show the owner. nobody paid any attention or seemed worried.
i have walked through the store before carrying a handful of knives to sharpen with quite a few customers around and nobody even paid attention.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I have been carrying knives for 8-9 years on a daily basis and I have yet to have a negative comment. I use a knife whenever the need arises and I use it confidently while paying attention to the task. I think just using the knife like you know what you are doing and not trying to hide it and look over your shoulder helps put people at ease. When you look like you are doing something you aren't supposed to be doing is when people get upset or make snide remarks. At least that has been my experience so far.

Anyone else have a good experience lately?
Click to expand...

That was a good read and I agree with you 100%.

I've had a couple good experiences.

One time, when I was picking up my single vanity cabinet for my bathroom remodel, I was at The Great Indoors. I was waiting in the pick up area for my cabinet to be picked from the shelves. A line of, how shall I say this, yuppie suburbanites formed behind me waiting for their orders. The warehouse worker wheeled my cabinet to me and it was boxed up, stretch-wrapped and plastic strapped very well. But this was too big to fit even in my minivan so we had to unbox it. Well, the worker did not have his xacto knife and had to go back to the warehouse to get it and there was a collective eyeball rolling by the impatient line behind me. So I pulled out my EDC knife back then (SOG Twitch II), and began cutting the plastic straps, stretch wrap and cardboard off the cabinet. Made short work of it much to the approval of the folks in line. The worker asked if he could "check out" my knife so I handed it to him and he and the guy behind me were looking at it like it was some wonder tool. They handed my knife back to me and we loaded the cabinet into the back. About 2 weeks later, I came back to pick up another cabinet I had custom ordered and the same worker with another guy were there to load it and lo and behold I noticed he had a knife clipped to his pocket. He remembered me and was eager to show me his new knife - a black Kershaw Blur Tanto CE he picked up from WalMart. He said he carries it all the time now and has never had the need to look around for a box cutter. I converted someone! :thumbup: Hopefully the guy behind me in line did the same thing.
 
Here is one...though it is sort of negative.

I was helping set up for a tournament and we were taping mats together. A guy was cutting the tape with what appeared to be a very dull and very small knife.

Because the tape was wide I thought my sharper 4-inch blade would do a better job so I offered it. After the first cut zipped through the tape the guy looks up at me and says, "Oh, you must not actually use this thing, it is sharp".

Perhaps this is one of those things some people say when they are not comfortable saying "thanks"?
 
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