How much is too much?

I think we keep flipping between frame size and blade length. In general a medium traditional (3.5") has a bout a 2.5" blade. One must generally go to about a 4" frame to get to a full 3" blade. The only reactions I've ever had from pulling out my GEC #23 (4.5" frame) were 'nice knife', 'can I see it?'. My medium frames go unnoticed.
 
I always carry a Schrade Old Timer 1940T. Michigan has a 3" limit on concealed knives. Gets most small jobs done fine, and easy to keep sharp as long as you never heat it up.
 
I don't think it's a topic that you can simplify as just a matter of blade length.
First, alot depends on where you are. The same knife can cause adverse reactions or funny looks or no look at all, depending on where your post office or supermarket is.
Then, the way you pull the knife out of your pocket and open it has a huge effect on non knife people.
Finally, there's the knife itself; traditional knives usually tend to scare non knife people way less if compared to similarly sized modern folders.
Personally, the knives I carry have never scared anyone. Surprised maybe, but never scared. My usual pocket knife goes up to 3,5" closed length (3" blade length - more or less), but I don't think it would change much if I carried a knife of 4" closed.
Obviously, following the rules and laws is always important. But attitude is the key.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Depends... I had a Kershaw Chive that would cause panic and rioting while opening a package, while a Leatherman could have a broadsword and shotgun tucked in next to the can opener and not raise anyone's eyebrow. The more it looks like a tool rather than a tough-guy totem, the less anyone cares how big it is.

Clip-point lockbacks of any size will have the local constabulary busting out the ruler to check that it's a legal 3", and no breaks given. An Opinel garden knife or a sheepsfoot slipjoint with a 3.5" blade won't have anyone look twice, apart from noting who has a knife to borrow the next time they need to open a box.
 
Doug C said:
Follow applicable state/local laws.
Act responsibly.
A lot depends on the LEO/authority.

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

Doug
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This, and I add try to be discrete using a pocket knife.

Beyond that I try to keep it around the same size as an SAK, so about 3in max and thats pushing it if I am using it in front of people.

Also depends on your enviroment your in and what you look like. If you look like a grandfather who will sit back in a rocking chair and tell people about the good ol days you can probably get away with any traditional you want, and a simple "Back in my day we all carried knives..." is all you need to get people to relax with your carrying a knife probably. Where as if you are a 15 year old kid with baggy pants, your still be seen as a hoodlum with a SAK. If you look like an on duty construction worker, Fire, EMS, Police, etc you can probably get away with a fixed blade in plain view and no one give it a second thought.
 
The same rules of being polite to each other in Traditional also apply to references to the general non-knife population. Let's have no more negative words, please.
 
I had a long discussion with my friends girlfriend about the fact that I had a Victorinox cadet on me. Her consensus seemed to be that it was unnecessary to carry, therefore had to be a weapon, and therefore was Illegal.

My other friends girlfriend has already swung from anti-knife, to being almost pro-knife. My friend and her drove 15-minutes up to the top of a local hill/mountain to have a picnic of biscuits and cheese, and realised with dread that neither had anything to cut the cheese with! Hopefully I can convince him to at least keep his knife in his car, and to be more prepared in general (to carry handkerchief, band-aids, paracord ect.). At least I have already convinced my other friend to carry a Barlow.

It seems like the opinions about knives down here are due to (mis)education, as most knives they encounter are in the media, involved in stabbings. After being informed about knives, most people are ok with them, and sometimes show interest. The problem is, out in public with strangers, I can't really strike up a conversation about knives.

*It might be worth noting that I live in Australia, and as such general opinion is much more anti-knife.


(Also, sorry for going a bit off topic, I tend to do that. :rolleyes:)
 
mudguard said:
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!
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Truth be told, I seldom think about it. The traditional knife size limitation for me is what is comfortable in my pocket. I find that a 4" stockman is about as large a knife as I want to carry in my pocket, and I don't figure anybody will run for the hills if I have a need to cut something with it.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Location, present company and whether you are using it or just trying to wow people ;).
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That yes that sizes it up!

The wow factor had to do with the size of the users ego, not the lenght of the knife
"I'll show the sheeple" attitude puts a peanut as an offensive weapon
And a discrete modest use of a 4" stockman will go un-noticed

My answer is exersize your discretion according to what Dan explains
 
If I have to for example peel fruits or cut something else while on picnic on a public place I try not show the blade, as little as possible. I do cutting "inside my hands" so to speak.
 
The longest blade I typically carry with me is a Case Slimline Trapper which is 4 1/8" closed, 3 1/4" blade. The blade profile is slim and non-threatening, and my only use for it is to cut apples or other fruit or the occasional sandwich. No one ever seems to notice or question the use of a knife for food preparation.

That knife stays in my bag (same bag I carry my lunch in, so it makes sense to leave it there). On my person I usually have a smaller knife, typically 3 1/2" to 3 5/8" closed with longest blade lengths of about 2 5/8". These are quite capable of taking care of all of my other daily cutting needs

Never get any negative reactions to them, but then people rarely see them because they are in my pocket except for the brief periods when I have them out using them for something, then they go right back in.
 
If you sense that a knife could be a problem in your office, I would choose the kind of knife, blade shape, blade length and so forth based on what other people do there as well as applying a bit of common sense. It also depends on how you use the knife in the office relative to its appropriateness. I carry a large Vic SAK, but have been carrying GEC slip joints of late as well. Most people view slip joints as "harmless" knives and the kind of knife they were likely exposed to as a kid and one that most don't normally consider to be a "weapon". I think any knife that you can comfortably carry inside your pocket under 4.5" closed length is just fine; smaller the better however....
 
I'm in an odd situation. I live 70 miles north of NYC , most people are used to being around knives and firearms. So when I'm at home I carry whatever I want including large traditional folders.

But I work in an office in NYC and while no one I work with cares what I carry, I'm mindful of the anti - knife culture in the city. I carry only the smallest patterns, lately it's been a small 3 blade whittler or one of the smaller ones pictured here. Whatever I carry, I make sure they're cheap in case I lose one or have to ditch it.



Sometimes I carry a very small lock-back . like this one

 
JPD1998 said:
I'm in an odd situation. I live 70 miles north of NYC , most people are used to being around knives and firearms. So when I'm at home I carry whatever I want including large traditional folders.

But I work in an office in NYC and while no one I work with cares what I carry, I'm mindful of the anti - knife culture in the city. I carry only the smallest patterns, lately it's been a small 3 blade whittler or one of the smaller ones pictured here. Whatever I carry, I make sure they're cheap in case I lose one or have to ditch it.



Sometimes I carry a very small lock-back . like this one

Click to expand...

what knife is the yellow one?
 
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