Handle colors and the perception of violence

R

roguesoul

Joined
Oct 21, 2000
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When was the last time a non-knife-person said to you, “nice knife but why is the handle black? Are you planing to go on a killing spree!”
I’ve had just such a question from a hunting friend when I bought an AR15 but never had questions about the color of knives!
It appears that a Knife-knuts exposure to the tactical-knife-label has skewed his perception on how he sees himself viewed by others. My point is that if you personally don’t like black handled knives, fine. Or if you’re tiered of black and want colors, cool. But if your argument against black handles is that they are somehow scarier than blue or green for example, to the non-knife person, in my opinion is a bogus view to have because it’s not base on reality. The reality is the Knife-knut knows black is tactical but the non-knife person has no knowledge of the tactical application and is simply in fear of the knife as a weapon.

Personally I look at my Military, and similar to a tuxedo, I see class and elegance! When I look at my Temperance folder I see a knife with a green handle and even though it is my favorite user and I like the color well enough, it lacks that special elegance!
 
I don't think it's so much a matter of "black is tactical" as just a cultural perception of what colors mean. Depending on how it's used, black is frequently associated with negative.

Everybody knows the bad guy always rides a black horse and wears a black hat. People apply this same idea to other objects as well.
 
Black being associated with things negative is a bit overgeneralized in this day and age. Yes, bad cowboys in vintage western movies wore black hats, but today preachers, nuns, cops and judges among a whole host of other highly visible public figures wear black as their uniform. In this(American) culture, black seems to associate with things business-like, and as stated before classy or elegant, all things of a 'serious' nature, whereas blues, purples, red and oranges are uplifting and 'fun' and I've observed that when things are not 'fun', they are considered bad. People are so consumed with projecting an image of fun and seeing it, they attribute negative feelings to black because of it's serious nature(fun's over, it's time to go to work).
The confusion for me was always that a knife is still as it was in the beginning, a tool for work or war and never a party favor or a symbol of fun and festivity. So to make SWAT teams wear pastel color armor and use assault weapons and gear painted out in rainbow colors to make them seem 'less threatening' and more socially acceptable is hard for me to understand. Long and short blades are objects that need to command a certain degree of serious respect from the user and those around them. Knives are dangerous and require(depending on particular users)discipline and training to deserve to have one. If intelligent adult aficianados of cutlery can still frequently nick and cut themselves, they can't say knives are harmless.
Paint a knife any color, but it doesn't change it's dangerous nature. By making them seem 'friendly and playful' people will become careless due to lack of serious respect for the tool.

take care,
Ken
 
KenN: I agree your conclusion. I don't like careless people to use things that's powerful and/or dangerous.
As to the black knife... people have black gun syndrome, and I can see the same thing for the knives that aren't in the kitchen drawer.
 
I have seen this many times when i was working retail. To many people, bright polished metal with bright colors is often perceived as a tool, while matte or black metal and black/very dark green is considered a weapon. I have heard this applied to knive and firearms both.
 
Paint a long flat head screwdriver black and see what are people's reaction.
 
Roguesoul,

I just finished posting in the one of the Native threads about how a blue one might make the most of what I perceive as a somewhat non-threatening design. After reading this thread, I wish I hadn't made that statement. I don't believe one knife to be more or less threatening than another, as of course they are not. I have also not made a habit of pandering to the "sheeple" in my world in the past and their reactionary ways; in fact quite the opposite. So now I feel a little embarrased to have said what I did, as this is surely giving in to the illogical attitude and fear mongering.

By the way, I adore my black Military too and would not want it any other color. Thanks for writing what you did.

Jeff/1911.
 
Fishbulb rereading you post now I wonder if I have been subconsciously influenced to recommend Ivory Micarta as a handle color. When a blue tie is worn, it is supposed to project a coolness and strength. A red tie projects warmth. That is only in the world of business and politics though. Hmmm maybe we’re trying to influence the people who have power over us. You may have hit it on head.

Jeff/1911 Thanks for the reply. Sal has a thing, for whatever reason, with “ABB anything but black”. Many people on the forums have also expressed this sentiment. Of course I assumed I knew the reason for it, maybe I should have asked directly for the answer.

Sal, why ABB?
 
Truly, I just really like the appearance of the blue Delica's I've seen pictures of...and I'll bet a similar treatment would be nice on other models.

Jeff.
 
While I do think that there is something to be said for the point that black has become associated with "tactical", whether in firearms or in knives, I am personally tired of black on everything. For instance, I will not give house, or pocket, room any longer to anything with a black blade on it as I see most of those blade coverings as pains in hte butt that wind up rusting underneath the covering if you don't take extra care. The exception is probably Parkerizing, such as the old GI M-1 rifles had. I enjoy the blue anodized scales on my Lum Chinese Folder and I also enjoy the Cadet Grey (a blue/grey) scales on my CUDA MAXX 5.5, which nobody in the right mind could call "hoplophobe-friendly", that baby doesn't need any black on it to be scary!
 
I think that brightly colored handles are less likely to scare people than the standard black. The orange Rescue doesn't cause as much of a stir as I would expect. The worst reactions seem to come from black handles and black-coated blades.

I do try to inform people and explain to them why I carry a particular knife and how its features are used, but any advantage helps. If it can be made to look a little less disturbing to them without compromising the design, so much the better, IMO. Black should always be available as an option though.
 
I agree with many here regarding black-handled knives being generally favored for the tactical/strictly-business flavor.

My opinion on the black blades, however, is that they originated STRICTLY AS TACTICAL tools meant to prevent moonlight (or other illumination) from glinting off the steel in low light. It has since been espoused as "Superior coatings for corrosion resistance" and such, but I would doubt that the majority of buyers get past the "Cool" factor of a black blade. This fad too, shall pass.
 
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