Kershaw "Needs Work" a "weapon"?

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KennyB

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Jan 19, 2010
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I'm assuming most of you know what the Kershaw Needs Work looks like, it's pretty common... If not here is an 18 sec video showing it and the opening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIyTeT4nLso&feature=related

Now, does that look like a "weapon" to you? "Scary"? I kind of wonder what most people think when they see this knife. I really like it for the function and utility of it, but even to me it looks like a weapon.

what do you guys think about the cops and their take on it would be? I haven't carried this knife 'cause of the AO, but I took that out recently and it's a really great manual-opener too, but I'm not really sure that it's enough to take care of my, "Well, I don't want someone to think it's a weapon," worry.
 
well if you do any whittling or woodwork the needs work makes a good knife for that purpose, ive carried it in SoCal and if i havent gotten any complaints about it, you should be fine (unless in NY then i have no idea) though i did make a sheath for it so IMO i think people saw it as a "small fixed blade" vs a "scary lookin' folder" but that could just be me
 
Well, its as usual, in the eye of beholder...
It does not look like a wepon to me. My feeling is that the handle is too small and does not provide enough purchase for a weapon.
I have got this knife. But I do not carry it too often. So my opinion about the handle may not be quite fair.
 
Since I am a cop I'll take a stab a this...

I don't know why you're worried about the weapon aspect of it. Lots of things can be considered weapons...even butter knives...doesn't mean you're going to get in trouble for having it.

As a needs work owner I can say that it's a nice knife and if I found one on a suspect i wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you were about to go on a murder spree. As long as you are carrying it as a tool and communicate that you shouldn't have any issues.
 
The Needs Work is a heavy use knife with the edge of a box cutter.

Its handle is remarkably grippy, and you're not likely to lose it if you're trying at all to hang onto it.

It would suck as a stabby weapon, although the point is an honest and strong point.

It would excel as a slashing weapon, in much the same way a large box cutter would.

I have a couple. I don't carry them a lot, as their appearance to the uninitiated is somewhat intimidating, which I found out by, uh, intimidating certain folks of tender sensibilities. The other reason I don't carry it much is that the handle is hard on slacks fabric.

It's a tool, frankly, but it would certainly serve as a "box cutter style" weapon of opportunity.

 
I use the needs work at work to shred boxes..my co-workers do not see it as threatening. My boss even asked me to pick one up for his tackle box. I think the assisted opening can be a bit intimidating to some however so i disabled it.
 
Something I learned a long time ago is that if you are going to posess something that can be used as a weapon, have a legitimate reason for having it. I used to carry a baseball bat between the seats in my car and always had a baseball rolling around too. I hate the sport, but I was a bouncer and bar tender at the time and had crazy stuff happen. When the police ask where I got the bat I said I was out hitting fly balls for my dog that day. No reason for them to suspect anything more. Now I don't know about the laws where you are, but it is your duty to know and follow your local laws.


-Xander
 
To some people any knife that came out of your pocket and not the kitchen is a weapon.
If this is what you're worried about....either educate, learn to live with it, or do it discreetly.
 
Depends entirely upon the location. In any of the 5 boroughs of NYC you'd be cuffed and given a free ride to Rikers Island if a beat cop saw you with one. The blade of all "penknifes must be under 3", and have nothing even resembling an assisted opening feature like the Needs Work does. The police have an unlimited amount of latitude in determining what a "weapon" is, as are those in Chicago and lots of other liberal enclaves throughout the country.

In Florida, an officer of the law is more likely to run his thumb over the edge, try out the SpeedSafe mechanism, and jaw for a while about his favorite knife.

When in Rome.
 
Zanuha said:
You're asking US that?
Click to expand...

Well, I figured some of the users here might have some anecdotes about people's reactions to theirs I could go by.

In my home in Washington most people don't really bat an eye at most knives, but there's just something about the handle on this one that makes it look like it's going for some kind of "violent" appeal at first glance. Heh, I actually thought it looked like something they would have on a Star Trek episode, but saw past that and saw how cool a knife it would be.

On top of that I was looking at some reviews on it a while ago before purchasing and saw a lot of people talking about it making a good weapon, but I guess that goes with every knife.

I wish people were as unintimidated by folders like this as they are with slip-joints.
 
devilpig said:
Since I am a cop I'll take a stab a this...

I don't know why you're worried about the weapon aspect of it. Lots of things can be considered weapons...even butter knives...doesn't mean you're going to get in trouble for having it.

As a needs work owner I can say that it's a nice knife and if I found one on a suspect i wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you were about to go on a murder spree. As long as you are carrying it as a tool and communicate that you shouldn't have any issues.
Click to expand...


...now that's the most sensible response to a trivial question i have read here in a long time...
 
Anything can be a weapon. Why should a knife be considered more or less of one than anything else? I think being concerned about it is a personal decision and only you can determine the best answer. In my area, nobody cares a bit about somebody having a knife. Most of us have guns, too.
 
Listen to what devilpig said there.
A half-full jar of mayonaise can be classified asa weapon if it's carried/used with that intent.
Keep it in your pocket unrtil needed for use. When you use it, be subtle and discreet. Carry it and Treat it as a tool and others will most likely look at it as a tool also
 
Gunny Bob said:
Depends entirely upon the location. In any of the 5 boroughs of NYC you'd be cuffed and given a free ride to Rikers Island if a beat cop saw you with one. The blade of all "penknifes must be under 3", and have nothing even resembling an assisted opening feature like the Needs Work does. The police have an unlimited amount of latitude in determining what a "weapon" is, as are those in Chicago and lots of other liberal enclaves throughout the country.

In Florida, an officer of the law is more likely to run his thumb over the edge, try out the SpeedSafe mechanism, and jaw for a while about his favorite knife.

When in Rome.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly :thumbup:

I think the knife is much too utilitarian looking. It's a great EDC folder.
 
If an officer noticed it in my pocket, he'd likely notice the Glock 19 sitting right above it and be less concerned about the Kershaw.
 
It looks pretty darn non-threatening. Blade shape isn't all that pointy, it isn't some kind of serrated black tanto or dagger, and it's not all that big.

It seems like quite a modest looking knife to me.
 
KennyB said:
what do you guys think about the cops and their take on it would be? I haven't carried this knife 'cause of the AO, but I took that out recently and it's a really great manual-opener too, but I'm not really sure that it's enough to take care of my, "Well, I don't want someone to think it's a weapon," worry.
Click to expand...

I think it depends on where you are and what you are doing when the officer notices it. I've had knives obviously clipped to my pocket while talking to police. They ignored the knife. If I'd been acting rowdy or giving them a hard time, maybe not. It would also likely be different if I'd been in a municipality that had strong regulations about knives. Most areas of California don't.
 
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