How do you "deploy"?

[tradja]

I admit that I consider the audience. If I need to use it around NKP, I do not hesitate to do so, but I open it efficiently and almost absentmindedly, cut, close, and return to pocket. I don't do the slow 2-hand deploy while looking around nervously. I act like it is as much a non-event as deploying a pen when you need one. Even at the office, this has allowed me to casually use my Stretch as if it were nothing at all.

Please note that I don't deploy my pens with much fanfare either.

Related story that I've probably told before: I live in an outdoorsy, but very non-redneck community. Last winter we saw some people pulled over slowing traffic. We stopped to help. As I walked up, I saw a woman trying to choke a kicking half-crushed deer with her bare hands. She asked me through a tear-streaked face, "do you have a knife?"

"Yes, I do," I replied gently. "But it would be better for the deer and us if we just shoot it". I did not really want to try to dispatch a kicking deer with my Delica.

"Oh, you have a gun in your car? Can you go back and get it?" She stood up and moved beside me.

Again, calmly: "I've got it with me. Cover your ears". *BANG*

According to my wife, it was: draw, aim, fire, and reholster in a single, unhurried, fluid movement lasting less than a second. The woman helped me drag the deer off of the shoulder and back into the sagebrush. The crowd hung up their cel phones and dispersed, traffic cleared, and that was that. I left pretty quickly, just in case any bedwetters placed a "man with a gun" call. Nobody seemed to be too upset. Everyone was just relieved that it was over.

Sure, maybe I could have made a big announcement. But even in retrospect, some big sheepdog speech involving the phrase "I gotta gun!" :foot: was not necessary. I had an appropriate tool with me that I've had formal training on, and I made appropriate use of said tool without making a big deal out of it.

Looking back on it, I'm still kind of surprised that I pulled it off. I attribute that to deploying confidently, competently, calmly, and safely, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. So that's how I use my knives now, too.

ETA: ...except around elkins45. I would give him the courtesy of a calm, polite heads-up as well. :thumbup:

 

[knivesandguns]

Depends on the situation.

Around college, I'm just going to get the knife out and back in the pocket as fast as possible--too many PC liberals...

Around my buddies? They practice and practice and they still aren't as quick.

I try to make sure I'm not opening the knife into a table/person though.

 

[Roger999]

If I'm in an urban area, I will most likely have a slippie, so with 2 hands, if I'm in more rural areas(like say going fishing) I'd just have flick it out with my thumb(if I have a 1 hand opener).

 

[pinhead]

If you are not sensitive to the fears of others around you those sensitive people will support laws restricting your supposed rights to offend their sensitivity.

That is why "feelings" should be left out of law-making.
If we keep babying people it'll only get worse. IMO

I agree with both of these statements even if they are contradictory. This is the conundrum. Time and again I used to meet gun nuts who were anti-gun and hated guns until someway or somehow they were properly introduced to them and now they love them and defend them. I am sure the same probably goes for knives. If you scare someone or appear to be nutty with a knife then people will develop a negative impression of knives. On the other hand if we are all being so discreet to where those people simply never see a knife for so long that by the time they see one it freaks them out then you also cultivate negative attitudes.

 

[CL01]

Consider getting her into a different class? That bunch, sensei included, doesn't seem too switched on.

I mean, if you were coming to and looking up at your daughter's classmates apologizing to you for their hasty actions, you'd likely think "yep, she's gonna learn some good self defense here. Sure is."

The incident at a High School was work related & not related to the knife incident at the Dojo. The Sensei didn't say anything because he knew what I do & my training (Defensive tactics, RangeMaster, etc). It was the "no response" from the few parents that were in the front room that surprised me. However, this Dojo does teach Pakamut (Stick fighting), so maybe that was part of it.

In relation to this thread, I think everyone's different. I, for one, don't want to nor like to advertise what I may or may not be carrying on my person. However, I suppose if one's being legal with what they have, then more power to them if they flick/flip open their lg. folder in front of a group of people.

The comment about LE not knowing the laws I think/hope is improving. I like to think training has improved, however I can't speak for smaller Depts or ones with less resources that may rely on outsourcing their instruction for their Officers training/knowledge. The problem with that, is it "usually" won't allow for attention to specific issues that might be particular to a certain area, municipality, etc. We even have our own Instructor teach the Policies/legalities issues for our Officers' EVOC (Vehicle training) training that's done every other yr. This allows for us to deal with specific issues. We do the same for briefings/training on new laws & enforcement on current laws & the ones that seem to be more open to "interpretation", such as knife laws.

Of course, even when one's being within what's legal, it could be a PITA for someone to have to go through being interviewed by LE etc, because someone was "scared" by their knife.

Personally, I think it's just better to be more conservative in "showing" what you have on your person.

 

[gundude73]

well if i need to cut a thread or something in public it will be my SAK classic. if i know who i am with i use my paramilitary. and deploy it as fast as possible

 

[knifezoid]

Double roll out Or maybe a latch drop if I'm in front of ppl...

haha, no I don't actually do that with my balisongs, that would
scare the crap out of ppl.

If do have my bali it's a fast draw, but done slowly and quietly
if others are around. Otherwise it's thumbstud/spydie hole.

 

[mr-winkie01]

I open all my knives deliberately and rarely 'flick' them open regardless where I am if I'm not using a slipjoint or a SAK. I pack a Spyderco Dragonfly all the time, so hardly anyone notices I have a knife out 'till I'm done cutting something...

 

[tsiloics]

I admit that I consider the audience. If I need to use it around NKP, I do not hesitate to do so, but I open it efficiently and almost absentmindedly, cut, close, and return to pocket. I don't do the slow 2-hand deploy while looking around nervously. I act like it is as much a non-event as deploying a pen when you need one. Even at the office, this has allowed me to casually use my Stretch as if it were nothing at all.

Please note that I don't deploy my pens with much fanfare either.

Related story that I've probably told before: I live in an outdoorsy, but very non-redneck community. Last winter we saw some people pulled over slowing traffic. We stopped to help. As I walked up, I saw a woman trying to choke a kicking half-crushed deer with her bare hands. She asked me through a tear-streaked face, "do you have a knife?"

"Yes, I do," I replied gently. "But it would be better for the deer and us if we just shoot it". I did not really want to try to dispatch a kicking deer with my Delica.

"Oh, you have a gun in your car? Can you go back and get it?" She stood up and moved beside me.

Again, calmly: "I've got it with me. Cover your ears". *BANG*

According to my wife, it was: draw, aim, fire, and reholster in a single, unhurried, fluid movement lasting less than a second. The woman helped me drag the deer off of the shoulder and back into the sagebrush. The crowd hung up their cel phones and dispersed, traffic cleared, and that was that. I left pretty quickly, just in case any bedwetters placed a "man with a gun" call. Nobody seemed to be too upset. Everyone was just relieved that it was over.

Sure, maybe I could have made a big announcement. But even in retrospect, some big sheepdog speech involving the phrase "I gotta gun!" :foot: was not necessary. I had an appropriate tool with me that I've had formal training on, and I made appropriate use of said tool without making a big deal out of it.

Looking back on it, I'm still kind of surprised that I pulled it off. I attribute that to deploying confidently, competently, calmly, and safely, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. So that's how I use my knives now, too.

ETA: ...except around elkins45. I would give him the courtesy of a calm, polite heads-up as well. :thumbup:

My wife and I were walking down the hill on Awbrey, headed towards Portland, around dusk - about 6 years ago. The typical fool in the SUV comes barreling up the hill at about 45, and sure enough, out jumps a deer. I had a 4"-ish fixed blade with me, and conditions being what they were, figured I could get away with the knife method. Things went smoothly, but I did get the "Gee, do you always carry a knife?" comment. I think the guy was pretty surprised when the blade appeared so quickly, but he was already so terrified that it added little to the equation.

 

[Zaner01]

(Excellent anecdote snipped)

I attribute that to deploying confidently, competently, calmly, and safely, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. So that's how I use my knives now, too.

When I was doing freelance photography, I found that the best way to be hassled or arrested while doing street photography was to behave furtively. If you show confidence, behave as if you have a legitimate purpose, and have a friendly mien, you'll be left alone.

I'm surprised this is even a debate. If I open a knife, I open it to cut something. The fact that there's something to cut legitimizes my having a knife and using it. I open the knife as it's designed to be opened -- AO, one-handed, whatever -- and cut what needs cutting, and then put it away. Not a big deal.

But I'm not using my Nitrous Stryker as a letter opener, either.

 

[J85909266]

I remove the knife from my pocket and use whatever one-handed opening device, whether hole or stud, to slide it smoothly open, and go about my business.

Flicking, flipping, dropping and what not are unnecessary. Why cause a scene and increase wear on your knife for 1/2 second quicker opening?

You have a pocket knife. You are not a ninja or a warrior. Grow up and get over yourself.

 

[CQC15]

I use my special ops training and deploy with stealth. :yawn: :thumbup:

 

[tradja]

My wife and I were walking down the hill on Awbrey, headed towards Portland, around dusk - about 6 years ago. The typical fool in the SUV comes barreling up the hill at about 45, and sure enough, out jumps a deer. I had a 4"-ish fixed blade with me, and conditions being what they were, figured I could get away with the knife method. Things went smoothly, but I did get the "Gee, do you always carry a knife?" comment. I think the guy was pretty surprised when the blade appeared so quickly, but he was already so terrified that it added little to the equation.

Good for you for being prepared to take care of a situation! :thumbup: Based on your observation, I think people who are stunned or shocked are less sensitive. When your paradigm is turned upside down, what's one more thing?

These Bend "town" deer sure get whacked a lot. There are some great bucks outside my office on Columbia.

 

[tradja]

I open the knife as it's designed to be opened -- AO, one-handed, whatever -- and cut what needs cutting, and then put it away. Not a big deal.

I am jealous of people who can say with one sentence what I attempt to say with a page. :foot:

You have a pocket knife. You are not a ninja or a warrior. Grow up and get over yourself.

FTW! :thumbup: This could become my new sig.

 

[TwitchyBlade]

I generally use my Tenacious on everything, since its waved i try to watch how fast i pull it out because im worried some may think its an auto. but when im around friends or family i just whip it! WHIP IT GOOD! LICORICE WHIP but ya i usually dont care whose around me cause like all of you have said draw with confidence and purpose.

 

[Harry Callahan]

I once heard of a guy getting charged with a sex crime for pissing on the side of the interstate. Whether that was true or not I don't know. But think about it. If that could happen (which it probably could) then doing a Spyder-drop opening in a bus stop COULD be stretched into "brandishing" a weapon. Don't open yourself up to these kind of things. If you need to cut something by all means cut it. But don't go all Chuck Norris when deploying the blade. Even when you think you are in good company. It just isn't cool. Use the knife as it was intended. Mall ninjas belong at the mall. Spyder-drop openings belong at gunshows and in your living room. Impress your friends in your garage. That is all...

 

[tsiloics]

These Bend "town" deer sure get whacked a lot. There are some great bucks outside my office on Columbia.

Not to stray O/T, but yeah... you have to be really careful in some areas and at some times. We're down low on the east side of the Butte, and they are roaming about like gangs. It's not uncommon to see a group of 15 bopping up the street. You know that concrete block sound wall on Mt. Washington, above River's Edge? It's right on the curving hill. Deer will sometimes just issue forth over that, into the road. From the driver's perspective, that would be about the literal equivalent of "it just appeared in front of me". Throw in the sun, the phone and characteristic stupidity, and Ms. SUV has no chance. What you *really* need to be watching there is the potential reaction of oncoming traffic.

 

[scoundrel314]

I agree with a couple of the points here. When surrounded by non enthusiasts, it is helpful to avoid scaring them with unnecessary displays and flourishes, however, there is not necessarily a need to hide the presence of a knife as hoopster said. I work in the kind of setting where carrying a knife is seen as very odd, but my colleagues have come to learn about knives because of the way I openly carry, deploy and use them without any crazy flourishes or drama. Many think I carry an automatic blade, but when I show them that it is only my thumb doing the work, it can frighten them. As for the disgruntled female divorcee image as the most likely to be put off by knife carrying, that doesn't track in my experience. It is usually the men who freak out about me carrying a knife.

Just to be a pain.....I wonder about the "right" to carry a knife...let alone deploy them...
When I was in London this summer I found it annoying to have to conceal my blade, but it was only a minor inconvenience. What I found more disturbing was the news report I heard about the efforts to completely criminalize knife carrying in England. The report discussed knife crime the way we discuss gun crime in this country.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

What I found more disturbing was the news report I heard about the efforts to completely criminalize knife carrying in England. The report discussed knife crime the way we discuss gun crime in this country.

I wonder if criminalizing knife carrying in the UK would be as effective at stopping violent criminals from carrying knives as banning guns in the USA would be at stopping criminals from carrying guns? Make them illegal and law abiding citizens wont carry them, if only criminals are carrying then that makes us all safer how?

 

[scoundrel314]

Agreed....you can take my knives/guns from my cold dead....you know the drill.