James Mattis

L

Little claw

Joined
Mar 4, 1999
Messages
581
When I started coming here a few years ago, one of the people who had the biggest impact on me was James Mattis.

Articulate, knowledgable and patient, his posts were always worth a look.

I had the pleasure of dealing with him on occasion, and I remember that his website, Chai Cutlery, had numerous articles, letters and comments, often about the usefulness, importance or defensibility of the kind of knives which are often seen as weapons, and the kind of people who possess them. I still see references to mushroom farming and matter separators, so I know he is still with some of us.

Unfortunately, I didn't save any of these pieces, and since he passed away a while back, the site has been down. Does anybody have them available, or know who I might ask?

I would very much like to look over these again in order to try to consolidate my own arguments, as I intend to do something about the ridiculous situation here in the UK.

I haven't tried a search, because I don't think that I could narrow it down much, given that he posted so prolifically.

Any help would be greatly apprieciated.

Other sources of opinion would be welcomed, too. I have given James as an example of the kind of tone and reasoning that I am looking for.

Thank you.

Dominic
 
Probably the most quoted one of his.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=128979

"Good reason" to carry a knife
There are jurisdictions out there, i.e. the UK, and individual authority figures who may ask you for what reason you carry a knife. ("For protection" is the wrong answer!) As if you needed a reason ...

"Good reason?"

My good reason to carry a knife is that God gave me rather weak teeth and rudimentary claws in an evolutionary trade-off. The hairy-armed person who figured out how to put an edge on a suitable rock made it possible for us to be recognizably human in the first place. I wear a wristwatch whether or not I have an appointment to keep, and I carry a pen and/or pencil because I am a literate person whether or not I have a specific writing task ahead of me, and I carry a knife because I am a human and not an ape.

A knife comes in handy for all sorts of random tasks that involve separating matter. Like cutting a string, or making a sandwich, or opening a package. It can also come in handy in an emergency, which need not involve a human assailant, and emergencies are by their nature unforseen, so one should carry a knife all the time.

And in a perfect world where nobody needed a weapon, I'd probaby carry a slightly larger knife, because it wouldn't scare people.

(For some longer thoughts in this direction, visit Daithi's essay at www.knives.com )

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06-18-2000 12:06 AM
 
Good to see him mentioned here again. Truly one of the bright lights here on BF. He is missed.
 
It is great to see him mentioned here again. He was a man of great knowledge, great conversation and great fun. May he rest in peace.

Joyce @ Spyderco
 
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