I was embarrassed to use my knife

A lot of my acquaintances were aware that I carried a pistol for the longest time(carried illegally in college too). It never bothered them. But when I discovered the forums and "modern style" knives, I started hearing joking comments about being "scary" and "bloodthirsty" guy.
 
Hahaha , I get that all the time from people , you should see there facial expression when I reply" Do you know how many lives I've help save with this knife ! Best way to make someone understand is to get them one as a gift .. (family,good friends )
 
Yo Sunog,

I think that if you saved yourself ridicule and possibly some legal issues (I'm unfamiliar with California law), you did the RIGHT thing. You also do the right thing by carrying a knife. There's no reason to put yourself in a bad position, socially, legally, or otherwise if there's no dire need. I always have a few blades on me, except when I have to fly, and most people don't even know. I see knives as tools first, weapons second. And like any tool, you should know when to 'whip it out' and when not to do so.
I give you BIG props for having the presence of mind to know that it wasn't the time to show them all your tool. :)
 
I consider such moments a learning moment for all. I use my knife the way it was meant to be used and say "Wasn't that easier than using my keys or teeth? I'm an engineer. When I got my first job, my manager asked me during my job interview, 'What kind of knife do you carry?' He asked the same question during every interview. He didn't consider anybody who didn't carry a knife a real engineer. Pretty much goes for me too."
 
I am a knife user that carry a knife as a tool. If I could I would CCW (can´t due to laws over here). I never show my knife to people in my workplace or in public. I am scared as hell for getting a warning at work, or go through court to get my knife back if a police sees it (not against the law to carry a knife here - but most people believe it is). So I risk my paycheck (a nice one) and/or I risk loosing precious time in court. Time I could spend with my family or earning money (to buy more nice knives :) ).

There is also the, I don´t know if I am using the term correct, "social stigma" that may arise if people around me know I am interested in knives. I guess that is also what the original poster avoided by not taking out a knife in need.

RW, you do come of as a bit "abrasive" but I do agree with the geist of your arguments.

Ridge Walker wrote:
In my mind any knife user who hides the fact that he has a knife for fear of judgement is the worse kind of sheep person and a total hypocrite as well.
Click to expand...

As you can see, I am a whore. Selling my believes not only for money but for fear of being ostrisized (sp?).

I still think the original poster did the right thing. And I have done it more than a few times.

But, still, it hurts. But I suck it up and move on. No need to whine about it.

/C.
 
cpurcell said:
Yo Sunog,

I think that if you saved yourself ridicule and possibly some legal issues (I'm unfamiliar with California law), you did the RIGHT thing. You also do the right thing by carrying a knife. There's no reason to put yourself in a bad position, socially, legally, or otherwise if there's no dire need. I always have a few blades on me, except when I have to fly, and most people don't even know. I see knives as tools first, weapons second. And like any tool, you should know when to 'whip it out' and when not to do so.
I give you BIG props for having the presence of mind to know that it wasn't the time to show them all your tool. :)
Click to expand...

Probably the best response in the whole thread. Clearly focused on the specific circumstances instead of ranting about shudda-wudda-cudda. :)
 
Just a warning to all of you out there. I'll share had happened to me with you. While driving my wife around on erands the other day, she asked if I had a knife on me to cut something. Well I didn't! Her sarcastic comment to me was, "with all the knives you own you dont have one on you". It's gonna be hard to justify any new knife purchases. And darn it, Blade is just a few days away!
 
I would gift her a small knife (maybe one of those less expensive key chain Spyderco's)... just cause. I'm sure THAT would bring up an interesting conversation. Time for rebuttal?
 
I will never hesitate to whip mine out (my knife that is, and with respect to my surroundings). I recently handed my knife (SOG Trident) to somebody to use and an older fellow emphatically cried "That's a weapon!" :D

I broke into my calm explanation that my knife is a tool to make tasks easier (echoed simultaneously by several others around the table). I explain that only at two times does a knife become a weapon: to attack (notably not in my nature), and to defend if it comes to requiring escalated, or even lethal force to perserve my life, or that of another. This gentleman was politely schooled by several others for his naivete and acknowledged my point. While probably not a converted knife lover, he will certainly consider these aspects before passing judgement in the future.
 
I've had people ask me why I carry a knife when someone else asks to use it. my response is always "that seems like a silly question now doesn't it?".

only time I was ever embarrassed by my knives was one time when I had to cut something flimsy and my knife wasn't sharp enough to cut it without a struggle. the non knife guy who I was working with that day just shook his head as if to say "yeah, real useful thing to have on you buddy" point in this case being that I feel there's no need to be sheepish about your knives, usually their usefulness speaks for itself, but if for whatever reason your blade isn't up to a task you can look like a real tool
 
Just give her a "what the hell's wrong with you" look, and laugh.
If I you need a follow-up, tell her you've had a knife in your pocket ever since you were a Boy Scout.
It's impossible to take the moral high ground against a Boy Scout. :)
 
Hahahaha, good point!

Hell, I'm usually the one you'll see showing off his knife to non-knife people. I'm pretty tough to embarrass these days.
 
I dont understand people like that. People who think tools arent necessary. Or that being prepared makes you crazy. My girlfriend is one of those people. I get to hear from her at least once a week, Why do you need to carry a knife? Why do you need to carry a gun? Why do you need to own more than one of those things? What are you afraid of? People like that are the people who get stranded during a natural disaster or stuck on the side of the road when their car breaks down with no tools because they arent prepared. I bet if you were to help someone out that was stuck in some situation and couldnt have gotten themselves out of it without you and you asked if they had a knife on them, that their answer would be no. When people ask why i carry a knife or why i carry the one i do (boker pipsqueak) i give them the real reason. Because its a tool that i use every day and the knife of choice was a good balance between what jobs i need it for as well as a self defense tool. I never feel bad explaining why i carry a knife. If anything i feel bad because i know theyre going to be s.o.l. at somepoint in their life.
 
NOt to be ashamed of pulling out a sanrenmu; they are great inexpensive knives! on the other hand, if she had a mantis or dork ops... :D
 
There's nothing to be embarressed about, however being over cautious to be safe never hurt anyone.
Showing too liitle caution at the wrong time can get one into trouble or cause a lot of embaressment.

As far as knives and shocked people are concerned it goes with the territory. :D

What can help is what I call knife courtesy
1) unless your other hand is being used always use 2 hands to open a knife if you dont intend for it to be a weapon.
Makes it look more like a tool
2) If you know there are people close by who have never seen you with a knife, advise them that you are opening a knife as a tool only and assure them its not a weapon for you

I managed to open a ZT0200 (to cut cables) in an office full of female secretaries without alarming them, doing what I advised above
 
Why do you need more than one pair of shoes? (At a cost that's comparable or more than many knives, no doubt ;))

Why do you need more than one purse?

Why do you need so many shades of makeup?

Why do you need to drive a (self-indulgent brand of car)?

Answer: "Because I NEED them!"

:D
 
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