I just found a needle in a haystack

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TheEdge01

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Apr 3, 2015
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Out of all of the info I have absorbed from the more knowledgeable and experienced members on this forum, I have also learned that knife aficionados are rare. Most discussions I have concerning knife brands, blade steel, handle material, etc are with folks that I have never met in person.
Today at work, a new hire comes walking in the break room, and I notice a clip with the tip of the knife handle sticking out of his pocket. Of course I had to ask, is that a Griptilian? He replied, yes it is and immediately handed the knife over to me. It was the D2 large Griptilian with green handles.
We ended up talking about sharpeners, blade steel, knife brands, etc.
It was actually nice meeting someone in person that was just as passionate about knives as I am. Have you guys ever had an experience like this?
 
I met a building inspector that was into knives. He carried an Endura, I had a Sebenza. He lectured me about carrying an expensive knife:rolleyes:

One of the SOs at the range I frequent was heavily into the custom knife scene a bit ago. He knows about many hot makers, has been to BLADE, has owned many customs, etc..

He's more involved in the gun scene and just carries a Manix now, but he know his stuff. We always chat knives and he's typically jealous of what I carry:D

I might lend him my Hoback next time I see him. He was drooling over it last time.
 
My daughter's pediatrician surprised me. I went to her appointment in an affluent area, and left my knife at home so I wouldn't get any odd looks. I go in, they ask about guns at home (asking if they're locked up) and say they like them and actually did a concealed carry class at the office for the employees. The dr then comes in carrying a Benchmade. I asked him about it but he didn't wanna bust it out, so I couldn't see what it was. Now I prepare my outfit with a nice knife to her appointments.
 
I've met some over the years. I meet new folks all the time in my job, and I've had some co-workeds and customers who turned out to be into quality knives, to varying degrees.

Sometimes you run into them in weird places, but I'm always happy when I do. I was at a highway oasis in Illinois on I-88 on my way out to a place near the Wisconsin/Iowa border one morning, wearing dress pants and a shirt and tie, carrying an original style green Benchmade 940. A state trooper got in line behind me at a fast food place in the little food court, and pretty much immediately asked me about my knife. He said "nice knife", and I was a little worried that I was about to get messed with; I'd previously seen a state trooper in Wisconsin confiscate someone's knife after flailing around until they were finally able to wrist flick it open and then immediately declaring it a "deadly gravity knife" or somesuch--and Illinois lines up just left of Venezuela, politics-wise. The Illinois state trooper in line at the fast food place reached down to his side for side for something, and I was a bit concerned until he produced a scuffed up matching green original style Benchmade 940 with a smile. We complimented each other on having excellent taste in pocket knives and chit chatted a bit, he was very cool.
 
evilgreg said:
I've met some over the years. I meet new folks all the time in my job, and I've had some co-workeds and customers who turned out to be into quality knives, to varying degrees.

Sometimes you run into them in weird places, but I'm always happy when I do. I was at a highway oasis in Illinois on I-88 on my way out to a place near the Wisconsin/Iowa border one morning, wearing dress pants and a shirt and tie, carrying an original style green Benchmade 940. A state trooper got in line behind me at a fast food place in the little food court, and pretty much immediately asked me about my knife. He said "nice knife", and I was a little worried that I was about to get messed with; I'd previously seen a state trooper in Wisconsin confiscate someone's knife after flailing around until they were finally able to wrist flick it open and then immediately declaring it a "deadly gravity knife" or somesuch--and Illinois lines up just left of Venezuela, politics-wise. The Illinois state trooper in line at the fast food place reached down to his side for side for something, and I was a bit concerned until he produced a scuffed up matching green original style Benchmade 940 with a smile. We complimented each other on having excellent taste in pocket knives and chit chatted a bit, he was very cool.
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Dekalb Oasis, eh?

Few years ago I got arrested in Iowa (long story, I'm not a criminal, but someone else was) and when I was being searched I had a Manix in my pocket. The cop pulled it out and was like "cool! I have one too". He then showed me his camo PM2.

I work next to a cop shop in Chicago and the project I'm on is visible from the sidewalk. Cops walk by all the time. I was spotted using my Endura by one of them (2" blade law) and he didn't even say anything. Just looked at the knife and kept on with his business. There's bigger fish to catch out there.
 
Blues Bender said:
Dekalb Oasis, eh?
Click to expand...

Yessir. Heading out to I-39 north, then hanging a left towards Freeport before zig-zagging up towards Dubuque. It's a pretty drive, if you don't mind a few back roads. One day driving that way I had to double back ten miles to detour around a herd of cattle in the road.

Blues Bender said:
Few years ago I got arrested in Iowa (long story, I'm not a criminal, but someone else was) and when I was being searched I had a Manix in my pocket. The cop pulled it out and was like "cool! I have one too". He then showed me his camo PM2.

I work next to a cop shop in Chicago and the project I'm on is visible from the sidewalk. Cops walk by all the time. I was spotted using my Endura by one of them (2" blade law) and he didn't even say anything. Just looked at the knife and kept on with his business. There's bigger fish to catch out there.
Click to expand...

I agree, if you're not acting like an idiot the majority of law enforcement professionals are very cool about knives and for the most part guns for that matter. The problem is that if one of them is feeling like giving you a hard time, they can turn a pocket knife into a major problem. Chicago is ridiculous, but FWIW the limit is actually 2.5" for adults, a bit better but still short enough to make even a Leatherman illegal. If you ever feel like carrying something that meets the letter of the law there, you have a few more options at 2.5"--I recommend the Spyderco Cat, it's my favorite Chicago-legal carry.
 
nope not really. most folks i know use their knife like a multi tool. they break them and replace them so they stick to very low end product brands that are cheap and throwawayable (<new word).

did meet a buck collector once locally. hell of a nice fellow with some really nice bucks he showed me. ran into him on this site so not really the same thing.
 
evilgreg said:
Yessir. Heading out to I-39 north, then hanging a left towards Freeport before zig-zagging up towards Dubuque. It's a pretty drive, if you don't mind a few back roads. One day driving that way I had to double back ten miles to detour around a herd of cattle in the road.
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Yep, I know Dubuque well, same for the quad cities. I traveled all over Iowa and Nebraska for work a while ago. The thing with Nebraska is, if you've been to one town you've been to them all. It is the most ho-hum state I've ever visited.

evilgreg said:
I agree, if you're not acting like an idiot the majority of law enforcement professionals are very cool about knives and for the most part guns for that matter. The problem is that if one of them is feeling like giving you a hard time, they can turn a pocket knife into a major problem. Chicago is ridiculous, but FWIW the limit is actually 2.5" for adults, a bit better but still short enough to make even a Leatherman illegal. If you ever feel like carrying something that meets the letter of the law there, you have a few more options at 2.5"--I recommend the Spyderco Cat, it's my favorite Chicago-legal carry.
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Yes, that's right: 2.5"... I actually bought a Spyderco Chicago years ago but never really carried it. I gave it to my mom:D

I actually like the city, despite what many people say about it. The cops aren't that bad IMO. The suburbs I grew up in had cops who liked to stick their nose up your poop-chute every waking moment. I often talk to quite a few CPD guys at my local shooting range, all great guys!
 
LOL, had a State Trooper, also in Illinois, trying to flick one of my Sebenzas open at a gas station one day about 10 years ago.. He was used to BMs he said.. Nice guy. About a week later, the 1 time I forgot to put my seatbelt on, had cherrys behind me. Yep, same guy. He recognized me and asked me why I didn't just put it on when he was behind me but hadn't turned his lights on. Told him I figured he'd pull me over for sure then and I was 1 block from my house. Dick gave me a ticket for no seatbelt..
 
My original line of work put me in touch with many folks who collect and use knives. I know a few custom makers and badesmiths that I run into at shows, rendezvous and in public. I've been lucky to have met and conversed with Bud Nealy, Pat Crawford, AG Russell, Sal Glesser, Les de Asis and many others. It's hard to be in the community for over 20 years and not developed friendships with people in the industry. I'm not even counting the part time smiths and grinder jockeys ;).

I've found over the years that if you approach this affliction with a degree of professionalism and show a little respect for the makers and shakers you will generally have good experiences with other aficionados. I also have noticed like in many other hobbies there are different levels of involvement and you'll always have a good experience if you interact with people havin' similar levels of interest.

I'd have to say that my experiences have been more positive than negative over those 20+ years.
 
OilMan said:
LOL, had a State Trooper, also in Illinois, trying to flick one of my Sebenzas open at a gas station one day about 10 years ago.. He was used to BMs he said.. Nice guy. About a week later, the 1 time I forgot to put my seatbelt on, had cherrys behind me. Yep, same guy. He recognized me and asked me why I didn't just put it on when he was behind me but hadn't turned his lights on. Told him I figured he'd pull me over for sure then and I was 1 block from my house. Dick gave me a ticket for no seatbelt..
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Hah! Was it Officer Gliniewicz?

:D
 
of course the person I met at Smoky Mountain Knifeworks was a knife person, but I found out that he was a member on blade forums too,
 
JBradley500 said:
they ask about guns at home (asking if they're locked up)
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If it was conversation related I might understand but, if this was a standard line of questioning I'd like to know why they asked this and what they think gives them the right to.

No offense but, unless this was small talk related this doesn't seem like any of their business imo.
 
I work in retail (lame)..... If I see a guy with a knife I'll ask him about it. I have met several knife people. I carry a Worksharp field sharpener in my edc bag. I have sharpened, oiled and cleaned up many a strangers knives. No offense to the Benchmade guys here..... But I'd say 7/10 benchmades I see are not maintained.
 
Never met a knife guy. I'm usually just ridiculed for owning, carrying and liking knives. :rolleyes:

Sold a LMF II to a guy on CL once, he was carrying something in A2 and was all stoked to talk knives but with our Jeeps runnin and lights on at 9 pm in a tiny rural town's parking lot I just wanted to get out of there instead of explain a 10 1/2" fixed blade on the hood of a Jeep to the LEOs.
 
Nebraska is, if you've been to one town you've been to them all. It is the most ho-hum state I've ever visited.
I disagree, but I can see why you say that.
 
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