How public are you with your knives?

[Jesse B.]

...urbanization and the increasing pervasiveness of media (entertainment and news) are two critical factors that shape the general public's attitude, perception, and understanding of knives.
That's the path we're on, and have been on for generations now. I don't blame people whose only exposure to knives outside the kitchen is hearing about someone getting stabbed or seeing it depicted onscreen for their aversion. It sucks; but I get how these attitudes are often formed.

 

[sabre cat]

And because you say the alternative of a folder is not good enough for you, that carries more weight? What he says is basic common sense. It isn't the 1830s wild west in most urban places anymore... For the overwhelming majority, there is absolutely no rational justification for an openly carried fixed blade in an urban setting... The reason the law asks you to carry a fixed blade openly is because the law wants it to be uncomfortable for you to do so... The law makers just never figured that some are so oblivious to social standing and public perception that they would still go through with it...

Gaston

The reason the law asks you to carry a fixed blade openly is because the law wants it to be uncomfortable for you to do so?

Really? I doubt it. Chances are the law was set up this way so that everyone could be alerted that you have a knife. To even the playing field so to speak.

I don't have a problem with the law except that only law abiding citizens will follow it. If a guy wants to carry a saber at his side, I say let him. At least I know what I am up against. What is it that they say? An armed society is a polite society?

I too, live in an urban area that limits me to carry a fixed blade exposed and at my side. I exercise that right from time to time but, not often. I find that a folder works better for my needs most of the time. With all the heavy duty folders out now, I could probably use a folder for the rest of my life and never need a fixed blade ever again. Am I willing to give up my right to carry a fixed blade? Don't bet your life on it.

 

[22-rimfire]

Outside of machetes or leukus and cooking/butchers/fishmongers knives, I'm hard pressed to think of large knives (>8" blade) that aren't designed primarily as weapons.

Fans of the Kabar Becker BK-9 might disagree with you. Folks that process fish, meat and so forth use large knives as part of their work. I personally don't have a whole lot of practical use for >8" blades, but I do know my Condor Moonshiner is awfully cool. I use small machete type knives or blades a fair amount. The Condor Kumunga (10" blade) is one of them that I find useful. Yes, both or all of these could be used as a weapon. It's all context and how you handle yourself using the knife.

Jesse B, the media really doesn't talk about knives except when they are used as weapons. Urbanization is a big part of the knife thing or the dislike of knife carry by some because they associate the knife with crime or would be criminal. TV shows like NCIS routinely show and use knives as part of their work. After all, it is one of Gibb's rules.

 

[cricketdave]

I haven't used a knife in years to open a bag of potato chips or similar salty snack. Interesting what people do. I would like to see the knife-less people break down boxes or cut zip ties. Scissors? But then, THEY think the employer should provide those things.

A lot of people do view knives as weapons, especially large knives or what we call tactical looking knives.



Interesting that a lot of the students showed up with knives after they saw the utility. Converts for life, perhaps?

I'd bet a bunch will be, she said most of them showed up with various Benchmade models, thats what she carries and they all got a chance to see how well it held up. Doesn't hurt that clothing sales on base carries them at a nice discount.

 

[22-rimfire]

I was curious what they chose. Benchmade.... would have expected SAKs.

I wonder if Hillary carries a SAK?

 

[cricketdave]

Lol probably, maybe not a knife though.

 

[sabre cat]

I was curious what they chose. Benchmade.... would have expected SAKs.

I wonder if Hillary carries a SAK?

Nope. She would have bodyguards or the Secret Service do it for her. Then she would tell everybody that she does not carry and claim that no one needs a SAK so they should all be banned.

BTW,What Benchmade? Do you know?

 

[trevitrace]

Cork the political, eh?

 

[Jesse B.]

Cork the political, eh?

Seriously. Pernicious, insidious, venomous, counterproductive.

 

[chopchop]

Fans of the Kabar Becker BK-9 might disagree with you. Folks that process fish, meat and so forth use large knives as part of their work. I personally don't have a whole lot of practical use for >8" blades, but I do know my Condor Moonshiner is awfully cool. I use small machete type knives or blades a fair amount. The Condor Kumunga (10" blade) is one of them that I find useful. Yes, both or all of these could be used as a weapon. It's all context and how you handle yourself using the knife.

You're right. I wasn't thinking of the larger camp knives.

Khukris (and all of the various related flavors ang kholas, sirupatis, etc) for example are very useful tools, but they are primarily thought of as fighting knives at least in the US. This is probably true even of the larger Kabar Becker's bk2, 5, 9, etc. and bowie knives -- even though they are clearly useful for many things, they are often associated with fighting knives.

Context and attitude are key for sure. If I were openly carrying a fixed blade, which I have done, I can't really think of a situation where I would carry a big knife like that unless I was going out in the field. When I do carry a fixed blade in town, it's usually a JK scandi that I have... maybe a 3.5" blade. It's smaller than a spydie military, for example.

 

[cricketdave]

Nope. She would have bodyguards or the Secret Service do it for her. Then she would tell everybody that she does not carry and claim that no one needs a SAK so they should all be banned.

BTW,What Benchmade? Do you know?

Daughter carries a mini presidio, she picked it up at the clothing sales at Ft Wainwright last year. She said there were a few of those, a Adamas not sure on the name there, the big d2 one, and some full size presidios.

 

[Ken44]

Great, a little politics is all this thread needs
You guys know better.







Don't have to really worry about it around here unless you're acting crazy with the thing. Most everyone has a knife, and the ones that don't are more likely to catch slack about that than the ones that do. It's not all that uncommon to see someone open carrying a handgun. I don't do it, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone, so someone using a knife in public sure won't.

 

[The Zieg]

About as open as I am with my keys. Or a hoof pick. Or my wristwatch. Or my cell phone. Just another thing in my pocket.

Zieg

 

[zombieHD55]

I carry a Leatherman Micra on my keychain and a traditional slipjoint or SAK in my back right pocket for most daily cutting tasks. If I got to use my knife in public its one of the two. I don't want to wave my Emerson Karambit, Super CQC-7, Spyderco Police, Military or thwack! an auto open to draw attention. Amongst friends and family is a different story. My BM42A comes out with arials to remove a pesky itchy t-shirt care tag!

 

[sabre cat]

Daughter carries a mini presidio, she picked it up at the clothing sales at Ft Wainwright last year. She said there were a few of those, a Adamas not sure on the name there, the big d2 one, and some full size presidios.

Thanks, I was just curious.

 

[b yond]

Oddly enough, in my state its a felony to conceal a fixed blade knife, but a misdemeanor to conceal a loaded handgun.

You can get a permit to conceal a handgun legally, but to my knowledge no such permit exists for concealing a fixed blade.



Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[killgar]

The reason the law asks you to carry a fixed blade openly is because the law wants it to be uncomfortable for you to do so...

Gaston

Not trying to hammer on this point, but this^ has no basis in reality. There is no trickery involved in the legality of open-carry, and it's not some kind of attempt at reverse-psychology.

The simple fact is, if lawmakers wanted to prevent people from openly carrying fixed-blades all they have to do is pass a law that bans the open carrying of fixed-blades. It's not as if there would be a public outcry, or protests in the streets if such a law were proposed. It's not like the lawmakers are going to take heat from any pro-open-carry-of-fixed-blades lobby. The lawmakers are under no obligation to make it legal to openly carry fixed-blades, and they know it. They could pass such a law with the stroke of a pen.

But they don't, not even here in California. The reason open-carry of fixed-blades is legal is because lawmakers are not completely unreasonable, and they recognize that people often do have a legitimate reason for carrying a fixed-blade (work, hunting/fishing/camping/etc) and they don't want to infringe on what they view as a legitimate need or criminalize innocent people who engage in innocent behavior.

 

[ichor]

Seriously. Pernicious, insidious, venomous, counterproductive.

Absolutely!!!! Let's try to remember what we're here for....know what I mean?

 

[Herlock]

Hi! The more I read here, the better I appreciate the underlying principle of the legislations we have in many EU countries, the so called “justified reason to carry” . In Italy, under this principle, basically there are no restrictions or limitations whatsoever to buy and carry knives, besides those considered weapons (daggers, bayonets, OTF, etc.) for which one needs a gun permit and they are never allowed outside one’s premises.

For as fluffy and discretionary the “justified reason to carry” might be (basically it’s up to the Officers to evaluate and decide what’s proper and not proper), it ends up working - mostly - well . The principle basically says one is always allowed to carry a knife (and any other tool) when a “justifiable reason” is evident. It boils down to the simple question: “why are you carrying a knife/tool here and now?”. This translates in having both the context/scenarios and the users’ behaviors somehow regulated. So, while it’s perfectly fine to walk around in a mountain village with walking boots, checkered shirt and knickerbockers, having a huge billhook and a 30 cm long fixed blade hanging from the belt, it is questionable to sport the same in the financial district of downtown Milano . The “justified reason to carry” principle grants all professionals (like carpenters, electricians, cooks, plumbers, etc.) their needs/wants for carrying knives, so it is for hikers, campers, fishing enthusiasts and hobbyist horticulturists . What is not always granted is the individual right to carry whatsoever tool out of a context without a “justifiable reason”. Officers are, generally, reasonable and responsible people, so the German tourist with the family peeling an apple in Duomo square with a SAK will never be bothered, while a bunch of semi or fully drunk Feyenoord supporters can be arrested and charged only for the possession of a blunt screwdriver.

I need to point out that EDC is not, by default, considered among the “justifiable reasons” to carry, at least in Italy. Self-defense carry is a big no-no and here legislation it’s quite explicit about this so, even if defending from thugs, a citizen can get into serious trouble in case he/she gets a blade out of the pocket . Fair to say it’s very uncommon for regular, urban people to get into trouble for carrying a EDC folder or a small fixed blade and, when they do, it’s because either the context or their behaviors were "inappropriate".

Yes, I know on your side of the pond the “pursuit of individual happiness” it’s somehow sacred but, frankly speaking, I personally don’t consider my relative impossibility of making a show of carrying this or that, in a flaunted way, in an improper context, something that is impairing my happiness . Same goes for cars. Surely I am not the one campaigning for outlawing this or that trucks/SUVs, etc. but, in the same way, I don’t consider such vehicles a “proper” smart choice for a city dweller, especially in most Italian cities/town where we have ancient, narrow, cobble stones streets, centuries old monuments, lack of parking places, small shops and high density of pedestrians. Living in a mountain village? Have a farm in the countryside? Well, then a Toyota Prius is probably a very bad choice also. Latins had a say: “in medio stat virtus” and I buy this one. Take care.

 

[boy&hisdogs]

I need to point out that EDC is not, by default, considered among the “justifiable reasons” to carry, at least in Italy. Self-defense carry is a big no-no and here legislation it’s quite explicit about this so, even if defending from thugs, a citizen can get into serious trouble in case he/she gets a blade out of the pocket ..

So... what you are saying is that a violent criminal's life is worth more than an innocent victim's? I thought living in California was bad, but jeez. I mean I knew this idiocy existed in Europe, but what's sad is that regular people think that this is the proper way to live.

Also, in regards to the bold text, I think you misspelled "proletariat."

There is no more fundamental right of a person nor more basic and natural instinct of any living thing than to protect it's own life.