Have people reacted to your knife with shock or fear?

Ankerson said:
Oh they dress like that too here.... :thumbdn:

Like I said they dress like crap... :barf:

I remember watching the AI auditions and the people from NC were the worst dressed of all the ones I saw, most of them looked like complete bums....

Really sad.....
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Yeah this is a big part of the anwer to the OP question:

Have people reacted to your knife with shock or fear?
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One's appearance and demeanor can certainly have a huge influence on the reaction of non-knife people to seeing drunken, rowdy, dressed like cr*p, stoned, loud mouthed, boisterous guys or gals for that matter taking a blade out to use it. Heck they may have alienated the onlookers by their behavior before the knife was ever withdrawn from a pocket! :(

Sorry if someone has mentioned this already.
 
cziv said:
Yeah this is a big part of the anwer to the OP question:



One's appearance and demeanor can certainly have a huge influence on the reaction of non-knife people to seeing drunken, rowdy, dressed like cr*p, stoned, loud mouthed, boisterous guys or gals for that matter taking a blade out to use it. Heck they may have alienated the onlookers by their behavior before the knife was ever withdrawn from a pocket! :(

Sorry if someone has mentioned this already.
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If they are drawing attention to themselves like that in the 1st place and then pull out a knife the reactions won't be all that good.

Everything matters, people might think it doesn't, but it it really does, presentation is everything. ;)

Believe me when I say if there are people around dressed like that etc I keep my eyes on them at all times, very aware of every move they make, I keep them in my line of sight at all times...
 
One night I went to the local store for something to grill. I was thinking ka-bobs so I took a walk through produce before going to the meat dept. As I walked into produce, I noticed this little old lady look at me. She immediately made a bee-line for her cart and grabbed her purse out of the cart while keeping her eye on me. I was dressed in my best board shorts with a ratty tshirt and flip-flops. Appearance is everything.
 
Yes from my own family, I was visiting my niece and sister and a package had to be opened (forgot what). I pulled out my Emerson Commander opened it using the thumb disc and my niece procceded to curl up in the fetal postion and whimper. I was like WTF? Come to find out my sister who is not the brightest bulb in the drawer had consistantly been telling her that knives are bad evil things that will kill you and cut you to bits (description from my niece). I told my niece its was ok to use a pocket knife to open packages and cut food and stuff and I showed her how to pick one up and pass it before I cut the package open for her.

Another was my wedding day, the photographer was asking is anyone had a knife. I handed her a Emerson Mini cqc-7 to cut what she needed. Her response was shock and awe and why I would need to carry a big knife. My reaction was in direct line with what she was doing... I said " you just never know when you need one to cut something... just like you asked for a pocket knife" kinda got a dear in the headlights look from her and she didnt say but a few words to me after that. I think she knew her comment was without warrant.
 
Recent exchange with my ex-wife:

"So, you wear a knife around your neck? Have you lost your mind?"

"Well, it's just a little bitty one."
 
GallantEdge said:
That sounds like two legitimate situations for the use of a one handed knife and shouldn't be a problem. The problem occurs when someone at the local mall decides to whip out his AO w/blacked out 5" serrated tanto to open his snickers bar and show everyone around him what big bad man he his.
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Whats wrong with that? I open my tic-tacs with my 24" machete all the time. Doesn't everyone do this?
 
One time in a sports store I saw a scruffy looking guy in dirty plaid shirt and jeans, wearing a fixed blade openly. The handle was unsecured, so the knife tilted out a bit like a cowboy's six shooter. It didn't help that he acted strange. Open carry of knife is completely legal here, but I still kept him in sight. If he can make a knife-carrying guy like me feel uncomfortable, imagine how regular guys would react.
 
I don't really see how wearing flip flops is going to cause people to react any differently, but I think this is more a generational gap issue.

I was exchanging an item in a store and the customer service rep wanted to make sure the exchanged item was correct, so they tried to open the box. After breaking a pen trying to tear through the tape, I offered the use of my knife. It was a paramilitary two and handed it to her closed. After looking at it in her hand she kind of freaked out and handed it back to me. She then broke another pen trying to open the box before going to look for scissors. She's probably used much larger kitchen knives, but obviously people don't feel comfortable with bigger (really?) pocket knives.

And stop hating on flip flops. They're both convenient and comfortable and really help in saving your feet from boots all day.
 
What annoys me where I live is that if people see someone carrying:

A gun, they are cool and assume he/she is a cop or a businessperson owning it for personal protection.

A baseball bat in the backseat, that guy plays softball!

A machete, that's ok must be a farmer the machete is a tool.

A tiny 3" pocket knive: That person must be a criminal! He/she is carrying a lethal weapon. :rolleyes:


At one time a guy asked me if I was violent because I carry an utilikey in my key-chain.
 
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Zombie Zeke said:
I pulled my Rajah 2 out at the 4th of July BBQ to cut up some meat...I didn't really give two nickels as to what adults with all the BS rules and social mores thought, the meat got cut. The kids did the ooooo's and ahhhh's thing so that was cool.
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Amen.
 
I never really get reactions, but, i dont have many friends my age, as i have stated before, most of my buddies are older then me, And they I always show them my new knives, and they show me theirs . :)
 
When I was a kid, I grew up in the country and everyone had a pocket knife, a slipjoint normally.

At around 40 yrs old I got interested in knives again. Like anyone else I thought the tactical one handed opening folders were neat. Like any guy I liked to play with mine (pun intended). It was my business and legal, who cares.

I'm 56 now. I don't like an even mild dose of the "stink eye" if I use my knife in public so's I'm getting into slipjoints again, "grandpa knives".

Maybe I can even play with them in public with no reaction. Why look for trouble? There's plenty out there.
 
People who get attention - probably like the attention. Yes, they will then complain, like celebrities, for getting too much of it, or getting the wrong kind of, and that they did not ask for it. But their subconcious knows better...
I carry knife every day. And I use it when I need to. But I have never noticed any reaction from anybody. Though I do make some attempt not to open it in anybody's face. I think when people see that you do that they do not feel impelled to come to you and tell it is not OK...
 
Poez said:
People who get attention - probably like the attention. Yes, they will then complain, like celebrities, for getting too much of it, or getting the wrong kind of, and that they did not ask for it. But their subconcious knows better...
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For the most part, yes.
Then there's those who maintan a low profile, much like Harrison Ford manages...
Hey, that's it! I'm the Harrison Ford of the knife world! Hooray!!!:D
 
Poez said:
People who get attention - probably like the attention. Yes, they will then complain, like celebrities, for getting too much of it, or getting the wrong kind of, and that they did not ask for it. But their subconcious knows better...
I carry knife every day. And I use it when I need to. But I have never noticed any reaction from anybody. Though I do make some attempt not to open it in anybody's face. I think when people see that you do that they do not feel impelled to come to you and tell it is not OK...
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Kinda like some women when they dress like a hooker and then complain when they get a lot of attention..... Not the type they want ect....

When people draw attention to themselves they will get it... If they want it or not and not always the type of attention they want either.

I believe in blending in to the background, it's worked well for me for the past decades.
 
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I have learned that a traditional is usually less likely to upset people than a one-hander or anything with a serrated blade. I had a patient complain to my supervisor because I opened the box containing the medical equipment she required with a serrated Spyderco Meerkat. It did not help much that the supervisor is anti-gun, anti hunting and about anything else, so I ended up with a write-up in my file. Now I use a Buck canoe to open boxes in the field.
 
There is plenty of anti-knife bias out there. 9-11 really had a major impact. I just think it is easier to duck than to fight. And, in the long run, that may have the most positive impact.
 
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