How many knives is too many at once?

natecham

natecham

Joined
Jul 29, 2013
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38
I am curious as to how many of you guys think that I am going over board by carrying 5 knives on at all times? In no certain order they are a Spyderco Gayle Bradley, a small sebenza 21 insingo, a blackwashed Kershaw leek, a cold steel micro recon I, and a small anza skinner. I know that there is probably not a single situation in the world that would constitute me needing all 5 of these knives, however, I maintain that you never know what situation you might find yourself in that you need to cut something and I want to have the right tool for the job.
 
"Too many" is however many you cannot feel you can justify.

I used to carry three - left hand, right hand, beater - and I now consider that "too many" as I've yet to run into a situation where one has been insufficient, but I could easily see carrying as many as four with reasonable justification: right hand, left hand, beater, and an innocuous keychain or peanut-style knife to not terrify people.

See, now, add a fixed blade into the mix, and you're at five. Boom. Justified. It's only too many if you think it is.
 
Comeuppance said:
"Too many" is however many you cannot feel you can justify.

I used to carry three - left hand, right hand, beater - and I now consider that "too many" as I've yet to run into a situation where one has been insufficient, but I could easily see carrying as many as four with reasonable justification: right hand, left hand, beater, and an innocuous keychain or peanut-style knife to not terrify people.

See, now, add a fixed blade into the mix, and you're at five. Boom. Justified. It's only too many if you think it is.
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Thank you. You see that is what I say, but everybody is like why do you need 5 knives? Too which I usually reply, "Because I like knives" thus ending the conversation hopefully.
 
Certainly, any one of those knives is more expensive than most people are likely to see as reasonable or necessary. Having more than one on your person makes you incredibly unusual to most - five such knives is a figure that is going to raise eyebrows no matter who you are talking to.

I wouldn't broadcast that you carry five knives, as you're literally never going to have someone think / say "What a reasonable person and/or number of knives."

However, I will now say exactly that to any person who tells me they have X number of knives on their person.
 
2 is the limit for me, I have enough other stuff in my pockets to keep all that steel on me at once. It's pretty rare when I carry 2 knives anyways.

However, when I'm in my car I usually have 3 nearby. I keep a Spydie DLC Manix in my work bag and a Spydie Gayle Bradley in my car. These are for when I'm carrying a folder that I don't want to risk getting dirt/dust into the pivot, like something with bearings (mostly IKBS). Or if I don't want to use a fancy custom for construction-related work.

5 knives on me at once is crazy though. If I found myself being harassed by authorities (not uncommon around here) I'd have a hard time explaining why I truly needed 5 knives.

"But officer, I swear I belong to a knife forum":D
 
I used tocarry 4 almost always on me- folder, BK14, sak and multitool. And a couple others in my lunch box.
Depends on what you are doi.g I guess, wouldnt carry all those the the movies. The multitool could stay in the car for that.
 
I usually only carry one knife. There is simply too much other stuff I carry around, including keys, firearm, spare mag, phone, etc. If I'm going out at night, I usually carry a small flashlight and possibly a karambit for weapon retention. Carrying another blade would be too uncomfortable.

I do have a spare knife in my car.
 
Blues Bender said:
5 knives on me at once is crazy though. If I found myself being harassed by authorities (not uncommon around here) I'd have a hard time explaining why I truly needed 5 knives.

"But officer, I swear I belong to a knife forum":D
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I'd just pull out my phone, show my paypal account and ebay history, and how I have Bladeforums General Discussion saved in my bookmarks and also always open in at least one window on my phone's browser.

"See? I'm not dangerous or paranoid, just a hobbyist."
 
natecham said:
I am curious as to how many of you guys think that I am going over board by carrying 5 knives on at all times? In no certain order they are a Spyderco Gayle Bradley, a small sebenza 21 insingo, a blackwashed Kershaw leek, a cold steel micro recon I, and a small anza skinner. I know that there is probably not a single situation in the world that would constitute me needing all 5 of these knives, however, I maintain that you never know what situation you might find yourself in that you need to cut something and I want to have the right tool for the job.
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I don't know how you manage to carry all those knives. For me I generally carry a dedicated folder, a SAK and my leatherman squirt ps4. Plus I carry a flashlight, pen, phone, and wallet. This seems like plenty in my jeans but I have knives that I want to carry for no other reason than I like them and sometimes wish I could realistically carry more. I would say carry as many as you want, just don't expect to need them, just carry them because you love them.
 
Comeuppance said:
I'd just pull out my phone, show my paypal account and ebay history, and how I have Bladeforums General Discussion saved in my bookmarks and also always open in at least one window on my phone's browser.

"See? I'm not dangerous or paranoid, just a hobbyist."
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Lol!
If I showed them my PayPal/Bank account, they would probably take me to a mental hospital instead:D
 
I have actually been deknifed by the cops before and I know that the situation could have played out very differently, but since I am from a small town and I'm guessing the highway patrol that pulled me over were from not very far away they simply put my hands behind my back and frisked me to get four of the knives off and then I told them where the anza was on my belt and they took that off as well and put them all in the diver's seat of my truck. The patrolman that was watching simply said that one is none and two is one I simply replied yeah I am a knife guy and the conversation was ended. I do know what you mean though I was quite scared.
 
I had an encounter with a cop, and all I had was my Manix on me. He temporarily took it and said "cool, a spyderco!", and he pulled out a paramilitary and said "I have one too". And that was it...

That was in the middle of nowhere in Iowa though.

Here in a north suburb of Chicago, police will do a full field-sobriety test because you swerved around a pothole (ask me how I know:)). Or harass you because you're walking your dog wearing "gang colors" (aka, my baby-blue company shirt and blackish-grey jeans). Also it's worth noting, Chicago (1hr south of me) has a strict 2" blade limit.

I don't worry too much, but I know 5 knives on a mid 20's Caucasian male around here would warrant backup:D

I envy you small town folks though!
 
Blues Bender said:
I had an encounter with a cop, and all I had was my Manix on me. He temporarily took it and said "cool, a spyderco!", and he pulled out a paramilitary and said "I have one too". And that was it...

That was in the middle of nowhere in Iowa though.

Here in a north suburb of Chicago, police will do a full field-sobriety test because you swerved around a pothole (ask me how I know:)). Or harass you because you're walking your dog wearing "gang colors" (aka, my baby-blue company shirt and blackish-grey jeans). Also it's worth noting, Chicago (1hr south of me) has a strict 2" blade limit.

I don't worry too much, but I know 5 knives on a mid 20's Caucasian male around here would warrant backup:D

I envy you small town folks though!
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Yeah if campus police knew I had five knives on me they would probably freak out, but hey what they do not know will not hurt them. Could a world wise person such as yourself please explain to me where such arbitrary numbers like two inches come from? I am just a simple country guy and do not understand the regulation of tools that a person can carry.
 
When you can no longer keep your pants up that may be a sign. Even then I would just get some suspenders.
 
natecham said:
Yeah if campus police knew I had five knives on me they would probably freak out, but hey what they do not know will not hurt them. Could a world wise person such as yourself please explain to me where such arbitrary numbers like two inches come from? I am just a simple country guy and do not understand the regulation of tools that a person can carry.
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I have no idea why the intelligent congressman of Chicago (gag:barf:) made up the 2" law. It's not like most people don't have knives bigger than that in their kitchen; what do they think they're preventing?

Who knows:rolleyes:
This can get political pretty quick, so I'll leave it at that:)

I'm just happy I'm an hour away from where the 2" rule kicks in:D
 
I limit myself to 2 knives. One is a constant, a Kershaw Chive that rides in my pocket with my keys. The other is my knife of choice for that day, Hinderer Skinner today. The chive is my "Do you have a knife on you?" knife, because I tend to always assume my knife is about to become a pry bar every time I hear those words. Most of my closer friends know I do this and they feel honored when I reach for my good knife to lend them!
 
savage99 said:
When you can no longer keep your pants up that may be a sign. Even then I would just get some suspenders.
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And suspenders are PERFECT for sheaths and clips. You could have two vertical bandoliers of knives!
 
Blues Bender said:
I have no idea why the intelligent congressman of Chicago (gag:barf:) made up the 2" law. It's not like most people don't have knives bigger than that in their kitchen; what do they think they're preventing?

Who knows:rolleyes:
This can get political pretty quick, so I'll leave it at that:)

I'm just happy I'm an hour away from where the 2" rule kicks in:D
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Do you take your knives off when you go to Chicago or do you try to pretty much just try to stay out of it as much as possible?
 
I carry two knives - a folder (3 - 4 inches) & a traditional. Usually the traditional does the bulk of the work…the question I've recently asked myself is less related to a "number" limit (for me that sticks at two - just by virtue of personal preference), and more related to a "size" limit. Either way (all laws being equal) the conundrum is basically the same - what's "too" much? There has been mention of "needing" X number of knives etc. - but I don't think this is put quite right, it's not so much a matter of "need" as it is a matter of "want" (IMHO). We like knives, so we carry them - some carry more than others, some carry larger knives than others etc. As long as you're prepared to deal with the social or law-enforcement issues that go along with these "extremes" it's all good in my book.
 
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