It's a tool, not a weapon!!!

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kirch

Joined
Dec 19, 1999
Messages
260
The other day a co-worker and I were eating lunch. I wanted to cut my large sandwich in half and realized I'd neglected to pick up silverware when I ordered. So I used my Spyderco Delica to do the job.

His exact words: "Wow, look at that weapon!"

I literally looked behind me to see what he was looking at. He said, "No, I mean your knife."

I gave him my standard retort, "It's a tool, not a weapon."

He says (I swear I'm not making this up), "What would you use a knife for other than stabbing someone?"

So I listed for him the uses (other than stabbing someone) to which I had put my knife in the last couple of days. They included: Opening my mail, cutting spare threads off my coat, shaving down a stick for roasting marshmallows, cleaning my nails, cutting rope, picking a rock out of my shoe, pruning a plant in my office, scratching off a lottery ticket and CUTTING UP MY G-D SANDWICH!!!

I normally have a lot of tolerance for those who aren't as interested in knives as I am. But this got my goat. I mean, does this guy walk around cutting steak with scissors?

Sorry, I guess I just needed to vent.
 
There in a nutshell is how a lot of people think of knives. I have had this kind of comment from people when I take my slipjoint out of my pocket to cut something. I just look at them and think to myself, "were your parents brother and sister?". Sure makes you wonder where this world is going to.
 
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said....

my gun and knife are tools,
"I" am the weapon!

Makes sense to me. :)
 
they should've add "try and ban me!" in that bumper sticker ;)
I wonder where that guy got that bumper sticker?
 
The attitude of intolerance towards knives is IMO caused
by a simple lack of understanding and exposure to the very
basics required for human existance on this planet.

Remove the ability to cut all manner of things from your life
and you soon fall from the top to the bottom of the food
chain.

In the "civilized" world ( especially the more developed
countires) the need for a knife has largely been replaced by an
over abundance of cheap energy that is used to replaced many
of the tasks and things those in less devloped countries still must
do for themselves. Just try and imagine all the conviences that you
take for granted that somewhere else in the world the people living there
have never heard of. I can tell you this......

If the chips are down and the world is in the dumper those skilled in taking
care of the day to day needs won't notice any difference at all. The brain dead
co-worker you encountered and many like him will have been removed from
the gene pool.
 
Its very normal over here, I always try to maintain low-key unless very necessary. LEOs aren't too helpful either. If there's a chance of improving someone's perception, give it a go, if not, don't waste your time. Many over here consider any knive outside of a kitchen as no longer a tool but a weapon. Its sad but there's no knife culture here, so most knifeys pursue their hobby/passion less publicly and transport their "tools" at the risk of getting into serious **** with the law. You guys are luckier.

Regards Bernard
 
Geez, where do you people find these nuts? I don't hide my hobby and I've only met two people with issues. Neither of those two had the reactions I've heard described here.

Chris
 
Bernard: I understand your complaint after reading where you're from... Where i was from (I immmigrated to Canada), Hong Kong, probably won't be any better.
Tightwad: you got that nailed on. I always wondered what will happen to humans when we ban all knives. We'd probably hunt with stones and try to tear things apart with our canines, instead of giving it a clean cut with your trusty EDC
 
I wonder what he would have said had you pulled out something larger than a Delica :rolleyes:
 
You need to move to TX , never had any problems with anyone.Also the legal length of a knife is 5 1/2 in.
 
Originally posted by kirch

His exact words: "Wow, look at that weapon!"
I literally looked behind me to see what he was looking at. He said, "No, I mean your knife."
I gave him my standard retort, "It's a tool, not a weapon."
He says (I swear I'm not making this up), "What would you use a knife for other than stabbing someone?"
Click to expand...

My favorite line for a situation like that is, "Look, if I use this to open the Mail it's a Tool. If I use it to open A Male then it's a weapon. Ya got it?" ;)
 
I had a associate from TX, and I asked him about the "knife culture" in TX and his reply was "dude,..there ain't no knife culture over here, only GUN CULTURE!". Apparently crime rates fell drastically once Concealed carry liscences were made more readily available. So whats a knife in TX, where almost everyone carries a gun?. I'm only griping out loud,.....over here its very safe.

Regards Bernard
 
My son was working in a grocery store as a checker, but was frequently asked to break down boxes and what not. His boss wouldn't give him a box cutter, but freaked out when he took his Gerber EZ-Out out of his pocket. Said something to the affect that you can't carry that big a knife here!

That said, Pennsylvania is pretty knife friendly, even here in the Philly suburbs. I usually have a Buck 110 in a belt sheath, and 2-3 other knives of one sort or another in my pockets. Only time the 110 was questioned was once at a blood bank. Someone (not an employee) needed something from a box, and I used the 110 to open it for her. Her response was "Why do you need such a big knife?" I just told her it was to slice hoagies... :)
 
Had the same problem in my old office in NYC.
Reply (after run-ins w/ "management"):
"To me, it's a tool. To you, it's a weapon. Perhaps YOU'RE the one with the "Weapons Fixation" problem here."
 
Some people just don't understand...

I heard (or read) a saying once,"It's better to have a knife and not need it, than to need a knife and not have it." ;)

P.S.-DB1, for your info., an Endura is larger than a Delica. :D
 
I wonder what would happen if those types had to give up there kitchen Knife blocks on there counters
you no what i mean :rolleyes:
 
In such cases it may be helpful to have a MUCH larger and nastier knife on one's person so it can be pulled ou to show what a "weapon" actually is. Maybe a Ryan Biohazard or something. :D
 
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