How does one non-awkwardly approach a knife-bro in the wild?

In the shop it is easy as people usually pull their knife out and show it to me before I can get a word out. Outside of work it can be a bit odd sometimes approaching some people but I will usually just say I am a knife nut and am curious what you are carrying? I try to only do it when I know it is a nice knife. You ask a guy that carrying a $5 flea market knife and they are gonna look at you pretty darn funny!
 
Hahaha.

Hand shakes :)



I always approach. I'm ashamed to admit, I really know my pocket clips.

I find that approaching with a calm friendly demeanor that displays sincerity and confidents works every time.

I try to ease the knife into the conversation unless it's something prestigious or high end. Then I can cut to the chase and be more direct.

What's awkward is that I strategize about it. Hahahaha
 
whitty said:
In the shop it is easy as people usually pull their knife out and show it to me before I can get a word out. Outside of work it can be a bit odd sometimes approaching some people but I will usually just say I am a knife nut and am curious what you are carrying? I try to only do it when I know it is a nice knife. You ask a guy that carrying a $5 flea market knife and they are gonna look at you pretty darn funny!
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I usually don't say anything if I can't identify the clip or handle. Chances are, it's just some boxcutter or offbrand hardware store knife.

I still wanna know if that officer had a legit Select Fire or not. Not enough to lose my TR4, though.
 
There are three ways to go about this, if one decides to speak to the knife wearer, at least for me.

1) Hey, I like your knife, How do you like it?

2) Nice *model knife here*, and leave it at that.

3) Hey I like your *model knife here*, how do you like it?

If I don't know if I like their knife, then I don't speak to them about it. Simple.
 
I like talking to people. You can usually tell if they don't want any conversation. The other day in class I noticed a guy with a anodized keybar clipped to his pocket and asked him about it. I assumed he was a knife guy due to that and some paracord stuff. He responded but nothing else came about.
 
I try to determine how they are gonna react before I do anything. I usually don't say anything, just a nod. I get a lot of people come up to me and ask about my knives and my gun because I oc.
 
Yeah, if I see someone with at least a little regularity and they carry a knife I'll ask about it. Then it's something in common with a co-worker or whatever.

Just some person on the street or whatever you don't know what they might think. Most people are golden but some aren't.
 
PNWhovian said:
This is my stance. I honestly don't even think about it and if I notice I make a mental note and continue on my way.
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Ehh, maybe this thinking is a location thing. People here don't mind talking about weapons. I usually just start with something simple , "Is that a (insert knife brand here). How do you like it?" Like talking to women. Keep it simple.
 
killgar said:
I treat others as I want others to treat me.

Although I'm a friendly guy, I'm also rather anti-social. I don't like total strangers trying to strike up conversations with me in public about anything, I prefer that people just leave me alone. So I leave other people alone.

I carry a knife as a tool, not as some form of open invitation for people to approach me, start talking to me, and "interrupt my peace". And I don't assume that other people carry their knives as invitations for social activity.

I'm not saying it's wrong to start talking to total strangers when you see them carrying a knife, in fact, some people might like it. But the way I see it, unless they are carrying something that you might be interested in buying and can't identify, or unless you are looking to make a lifelong friend, what's the point of striking up a conversation over someones knife.

But like I said, I'm rather anti-social, and that heavily influences my feelings on this topic.
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You have 2,432 posts on a social media forum.

I wouldn't say you were anti-social. You just seem to be uncomfortable with face to face interaction.
 
killgar said:
I treat others as I want others to treat me.

Although I'm a friendly guy, I'm also rather anti-social. I don't like total strangers trying to strike up conversations with me in public about anything, I prefer that people just leave me alone. So I leave other people alone.

I carry a knife as a tool, not as some form of open invitation for people to approach me, start talking to me, and "interrupt my peace". And I don't assume that other people carry their knives as invitations for social activity.

I'm not saying it's wrong to start talking to total strangers when you see them carrying a knife, in fact, some people might like it. But the way I see it, unless they are carrying something that you might be interested in buying and can't identify, or unless you are looking to make a lifelong friend, what's the point of striking up a conversation over someones knife.

But like I said, I'm rather anti-social, and that heavily influences my feelings on this topic.
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It's time for you to look into deep-carry, cerakoted clips that perfectly match the color of your pants!
 
THR-Thumper said:
You have 2,432 posts on a social media forum.
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And I'm free to ignore this forum anytime I want. But if this forum popped up on my computer screen uninvited when I was doing something else (like a total stranger coming up to me in public and wanting to engage me any time they feel like it), I wouldn't like it.

I wouldn't say you were anti-social. You just seem to be uncomfortable with face to face interaction.
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No, I just don't like people bugging me whenever they feel like it.

Don't quit your day job. Making psychological evaluations of total strangers on an internet forum is not a skill you possess.

Since we've never met, and since you don't know me personally, I'd say you are talking out of your backside.
 
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brancron said:
It's time for you to look into deep-carry, cerakoted clips that perfectly match the color of your pants!
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I openly carry a fixed-blade on a daily basis almost everywhere I go (picture below). I carry what I want, regardless of how people might react to it. I certainly (and obviously) don't feel the need to hide my knife from the public.

Not surprisingly, in almost ten years of openly carrying a fixed-blade, very few people have commented on it (only 4, and all friendly). And I get out a lot.

And coincidentally, my knife and sheath DO match what I wear. I am nothing if not color-coordinated. Or I just prefer black, ;).

P1000909800x600_zps3b57f8ae.jpg
 
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killgar said:
And I'm free to ignore this forum anytime I want. But if this forum popped up on my computer screen uninvited when I was doing something else (like a total stranger coming up to me in public and wanting to engage me any time they feel like it), I wouldn't like it.

No, I just don't like people bugging me whenever they feel like it.

Don't quit your day job. Making psychological evaluations of total strangers on an internet forum is not a skill you possess.

Since we've never met, and since you don't know me personally, I'd say you are talking out of your backside.
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Didn't mean to hit a sore spot. Apologies.
 
Complete strangers, rarely. Passing acquaintances, or someone I just met, sure. I'll usually start out with "Hey, I noticed you're carrying a (Brand X) knife. Are you a knife guy?" That gives me the chance to find out right away if we will have something to talk about. Even if not, I usually have a chance to check out a knife, and show off my own knife. Well, maybe 'show off' is a little pretentious. I take the opportunity to educate. :D
 
Every time I see a clip worth asking about I say (enthusiastically and with a smile) "hey I found another knife guy like me, what kind of knife do you have there"...in this way I'm not calling them out for having a knife, but rather letting them know we're in "the same club" so to speak. They usually look at me and see the clip in my pocket and about 90% of people are thrilled to be asked about it and are more than happy to whip it out and compare.
 
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A simple " whatcha carrying" has worked in the past. But you have to size up the person. First if you make eye contact, that person will let you know if they are approachable or not. A simple nod my indicate they are approachable, then follow it up. If you make eye contact and give you a strange look, then they are not approachable.
 
killgar said:
And I'm free to ignore this forum anytime I want. But if this forum popped up on my computer screen uninvited when I was doing something else (like a total stranger coming up to me in public and wanting to engage me any time they feel like it), I wouldn't like it.

No, I just don't like people bugging me whenever they feel like it.

Don't quit your day job. Making psychological evaluations of total strangers on an internet forum is not a skill you possess.

Since we've never met, and since you don't know me personally, I'd say you are talking out of your backside.
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Woah Mr. Grumpy pants. So what if he was making any kind of evaluations on you. You came here and said you're anti-social and somebody responded.. Seems to me that if you we're truly anti-social you would've ignored what he had to say and you would've been on your way.. but you responded. If you're going to be able to talk over the internet and forums then I would have to agree with THR-Thumper in that you are just non-confrontational.


In my instances where I've been in a situation where I have been overly eager to confront someone about their pocket knife, it is usually a disappointment. It's usually somebody with a local hardware store blade that once I finally identify the clip I just go back to what it was I was doing. In only two, maybe three instances I have ran across someone worth mentioning it.

One time in Home Depot an older fellow had a smaller fixed blade on his waist with a leather sheath. It looked like a Arno Bernard 3" knife, so I walked up and greeted him by thanking him for fellow service (he was wearing a vet hat) and then I said "hey, that looks like a nice knife, I also carry a knife but continued on about how my grandfather got myself and my brother into knives and asked him if I may see his." Pun Intended :D.. but seriously.. So he pulled it out and said it was a fully custom by a south African maker (the name, I was unfamiliar and forgot by the time I remembered to look) (No, not CRK) but he wanted to talk about service and etc.

One other time I was at a work picnic and saw another guy wearing about a 3-3.5" fixed blade. I saw him turn around and saw that he was wearing a Morris Knives Company t-shirt. (At the time I couldn't recall where I had seen that name) but I figured what the heck, I was carrying my sebenza that day and figured that a fellow knife guy would know, at least who CRk was. I went up to him and said "Hey, what kinda knife ya got there?" He proceeded to show me and tell me all about "Morris Knives" and that he was the son of the owner and that they we're on this forum. I went home and looked up the company and to my believe I found out right away who they were and that I was just looking at the Morris Friction Folders not even a week ago.

Only one more story. One night in Key West on duval st. I stopped by a little bar across the street from Irish Kevin's (I believe) and started talking with a guy about a sports game on the tv at the bar and then it led into him talking about his underwater welding job and we talked for a while and just as I was about to leave, I noticed a Spyderco Clip..I mentioned it (as I had my salt 1 on me since it's so humid down there several other of my knives had spotting just from being in pocket) He ended up having a fully serrated tasman from his job and said that it was his favorite and best knife he's ever had. I bought him a beer and then was on my way..

It's a small world out there, especially for service members.
 
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