How much is too much?

M

mudguard

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Aug 2, 2013
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How much blade do you think is too much blade size to use around non-knife general public.. lets say office, post office, supermarket.. etc.

Would it be something like a VIC pioneer or scout knife, or would the limit be at a Case Peanut kind of knife? I love carrying my pocket knives but I never mean to scare someone.. however although I work at an office space I find a 3 - 3 1/2" blade so useful!
 
In a traditional knife, I think 3.5-4" is fine. No one gets scared when you have a beautiful pocket knife like their dad and granddad used to carry.
 
I have never worked.in an office but have been in many. I have never found anyone offended by my benchmades. Then again i live in the south where everyone has a knife on them. And most have guns. Id say 4" for traditional style and maybe a bit smaller for a black knife. Id skip the serated blades. It is mostly in presentation. If you whip it out and sling it open one handed people may look.
 
As long as it's slender, I think 4" is OK. But a medium stockman or mini-trapper are great, too, at 3-1/2 inches.

My "gonna eat lunch in public" knife is this stainless GEC trapper in elk stag. Beautiful, and so good at food prep.
3-7/8" closed, and no patina to make people think it's "dirty."

ElkTrapperMark.jpg~original
 
I have always carried whatever knife I want to carry. When I go out later today, I'll be wearing my new JK Knives "The Tool" (see pic below) in a sheath on my belt. 5" blade, ironwood handle, full tang. People who know me don't care that I carry large knives on occasion. People who don't know me - eh.

I have never lived in a place where people as a whole judge you based on things like knives. I grew up, worked and lived in S. La. Everyone there carried a knife. Even when I worked in an office there, I carried what I wanted.

Then I moved to the Mtns. of New Mexico and you'll even see an occasional gun in a holster here [Edit: especially during hunting season]. I like that. I guess I'm just an ole country boy at heart. ;)

The other day a real cowboy (we still have those here, cattle is a major part of the economy) rode up to the supermarket on his horse, tied it up to a sign, and went in. This is also a tourist area and people gathered 'round to take pictures. For me, it was just another day. I've seen that many, many times in the 13 years that we've lived here.

I wouldn't like being in an environment where people judge you based on a knife. If I did have to be somewhere like that, though, I would carry something that meets applicable laws and it would most likely be a nice traditional.

JMO.

tool1.jpg
 
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black mamba said:
As long as it's slender, I think 4" is OK. But a medium stockman or mini-trapper are great, too, at 3-1/2 inches.

My "gonna eat lunch in public" knife is this stainless GEC trapper in elk stag. Beautiful, and so good at food prep.
3-7/8" closed, and no patina to make people think it's "dirty."

ElkTrapperMark.jpg~original
Click to expand...

Wow, that handle is beautiful
 
As far as alarming the populace goes, it's how the knife looks and its size relative to the task at hand that may cause you to get odd looks or comments. That's one of the many benefits of traditional knives. They look like tools rather than weapons, and their style and appearance calls to mind images of what parents or grandparents would have carried, or camping experiences of their youth.

A SAK Pioneer/Electrician or Cadet are handy sized pocket knives with plenty of other utility. Likewise a medium sized jack, trapper, or stockman pattern gives you a choice of blades to use and with their natural handle materials are more likely to elicit a "pretty knife" rather than "scary knife" reaction.
 
Interesting question, but I don't think I've ever had anyone say anything about a traditional slipjoint.

I've been carrying this muskrat by Bret Dowell pretty much every day since I got it last month. It's just over 4" and scary sharp, nobody in my office has said a word.

Muskrat3.jpg
 
okbohn said:
In a traditional knife, I think 3.5-4" is fine. No one gets scared when you have a beautiful pocket knife like their dad and granddad used to carry.
Click to expand...

I think 4" is too much for sheeple. I think the most for public consumption is a 3" blade. I say blade length not pocke knife length.
 
depends on where you are and how you act.
first, you dont want to be completely out of compliance with state and local laws. some places (such as new york city, i hear) are all over every little thing whereas some places have permissive laws that let you carry all sorts of things. i reckon a victorinox or a peanut would be ok most places.
second, you dont want to be a doofus. if you just need to open mail or cut the straps off an occasional ream of printer paper then dont carry a big hunting knife; you will stick out like youre wearing a chicken suit at a preachers funeral. and if you need to cut something, open your knife, use it and put it away. how you act has a lot to do with how people re-act.
assuming it is legal in that jurisdiction, i guess a three inch blade in a traditional style knife would not raise eyebrows most places. if you are in doubt get one that doesnt have a very pointy, 'stabby' looking blade. if you are still in doubt, listen to yourself and pick something small in friendly colors.
 
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I'd think any traditional slippie around 3.5" +/- would be unassuming and accepted by 99% of the folks you'll run into unless you live on the Berkley Campus.
 
Follow applicable state/local laws.
Act responsibly.
A lot depends on the LEO/authority.

Did I mention not acting like a maniac ?! :D

Doug
 
All depends on where you are. Downtown in Washington D.C., most federal buildings have a 2 inch blade limit. They usually don't measure it, but eyeball it. General rule of thumb is if it looks innocent enough, it'll go. Even today, my downtown knife is my peanut. Looks innocent and is pretty. The female building guards always like it.

9502035763_4ac9785303_c.jpg
 
How do you carry your peanut? along with your keys or on its own? I always feel like it will fall out of my pocket.

jackknife said:
All depends on where you are. Downtown in Washington D.C., most federal buildings have a 2 inch blade limit. They usually don't measure it, but eyeball it. General rule of thumb is if it looks innocent enough, it'll go. Even today, my downtown knife is my peanut. Looks innocent and is pretty. The female building guards always like it.

9502035763_4ac9785303_c.jpg
Click to expand...
 
mudguard said:
How do you carry your peanut? along with your keys or on its own? I always feel like it will fall out of my pocket.
Click to expand...

I can´t speak for Carl, the High Muckba of the Cult of the Peanut, but I carry my Peanut(s) in the watchpocket of my jeans. So I prevent it from falling out of pocket.
 
mudguard said:
How do you carry your peanut? along with your keys or on its own? I always feel like it will fall out of my pocket.
Click to expand...

I carry it in the official cult approved method. Drop in right hand pocket along with my Fenix E01, and shove in loosely wadded bandana on top of it. Color of bandana is up to the cult member, but if any male bovine's are around, suggest not using red.

Carl. Grand High Muckba Of The Cult.
 
I slip this Butterbean in my watch pocket as well. It's 2-3/4" closed making it a perfect fit. You can pick up a white delrin model for less than 35 bucks
 
My Opinel 9 has raised a few eyebrows. It's my preferred size for nearly all tasks.

My shorter Schrade 5OT never has caused a comment but is too small for dealing with food or heavy wood cutting, really.

My Opinel 8 is a tick over 3" and is about the right balance (although I carry my 9 more often).

Note, I think blade profile and grind and general shape also have a bearing. My Buck 112 scares people more than my Opinel 8 and the 8 has a longer a blade.


Buck 112 & Opinel #8 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
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