Knife - More weapon or tool?

Unless you're in law enforcement, soldiering, or organised crime, most people who carry a knife 'as a weapon' are not using their best judgement. I would argue that organised criminals are not using their best judgement on a day to day basis as well but that's another story.

I know it makes a lot of people feel important or manly to carry a knife as a weapon and if that's the case you should really just get some therapy for that. The most effective weapon is a deterrent... like an exposed gun or knife, or one brandished after a situation has already gone south; one that makes the aggressor turn around and leave.

I'd guess that there's only a handful of people that could effectively use a knife for personal defense on this forum, and I'd bet all of them are knowledgeable enough to know that you're better off using some kind of ranged weapon or running away instead.

If you're truly worried about your personal safety when out in public you should probably carry pepper spray, a tazer (don't know if they're legal or not) or a gun or just move to a different neighbourhood. Once a confrontation has moved to a hand to hand combat situation, a knife in an untrained hand is possibly going to do you more harm than good.

I'd guess there's not even a police officer among us who's been in a situation and thought "I'm going to draw my knife to defend myself". I could be wrong, but a knife is just not a good self defense option. I've seen plenty of knife victims at work and some of them were hurt by their own knives. If you think you're truly going to use a knife for self defense, please rethink your position. :)
 
Club is a weapon.Knife is tool for me.I have one with me every day for last 27 years,never pulled it as a weapon.
 
If you carry a "tool" knife in a "weapons" capable configuration you might be more tempted to use it as a weapon if it goes south. If you are in a fight and the cops take you for questioning and they find a "swish swosh" knife you are probably worse off than if they find a SAK in your pocket in its sheath.
If someone hits you, you might hit back but it is still at the same level of force. If you take out a knife, the other guy might take out a gun and you are toast.

I do not know about the legislation in US and Canada but I KNOW they have decent policemen who see the difference on a decent person carrying a decent tool in a proper manor and someone who is not. I doubt they send the SWAT on someone cutting an orange on a train station with a SAK even if it might be verboten.

The only reason for carrying a bigger knife in horisontal on your back, in your armpit or on your left shoulder handle down is either for easy access (climbing, canoeing, rope working etc) but totally "overkill" if you need to open up the box with your new printer at work. I guess the cops see things like that too.
 
IMHO, laws should be aimed more at acts and less toward objects. This goes along with the point that almost anything can be used as a weapon. Do you outlaw marshmallows because a person could stuff them another persons mouth and stop them from breathing? Maybe you could get a permit from the government to buy and carry marshmallows.
 
I've carried for 40+ years, and it's never been used as a weapon. I've been in the position where it could have been used that way many times, but something my dad always said stuck with me........."be careful if you pull a knife, somebody might take it away & stick it up your......!!" I've been lucky, I've never been in a situation in civilian life where it was kill or be killed, and that is the ONLY time I would use a knife for defense..........so, I vote "tool" absolutely.
 
I was shadowed by a guy in gang garb in a just opened discount store earlier this fall. I found what I wanted - and noticed he had me cornered at the back wall - out of surveilance camera range - and clerk's view. My wife, two aisles over, hollered a question - to get my attention. Another similarly dressed fellow was shadowing me down the adjacent aisle - they were cornering me. I looked the older one in the eye - he pulled his jacket open - I put my hand in my right front pocket - the older one nodded, and they split. I don't think they wanted to witness to me - or offer me a 'Watchtower'.

I carry interesting knives - a Buck 301 or 110, Kershaw Scallion or Blur, Puma's, Spydie Native - all for opening that pizza box, mail, etc. Sunday evening found my brand new Buck 419 Folding Kalinga Pro (S30V) in my LF pocket when I needed to trim some fat off of a piece of ham in a styrofoam plate in my lap while attending an in-law's Christmas party. It worked flawlessly, of course, and brought interesting comments - and comments of my 'redneck roots' from the hostess (Did I mention it was a very nice trailer?).

My RF pocket had my S&W 296 5-shot .44 Special, although, when I remembered it, I excused myself to the bathroom (It was huge - even had a Jacuzzi!) to unload it. That day in the discount house, I had a similar lite weight in .38 Special, a 642. Those are weapons - and you bet I am legally armed most of the time. I also carry some interesting knives - as tools. When I went for my old 301 Stockman recently, I had to first get the car keys and speed loader for what was in my other pocket out of the way. I even carried my Damascus Leek for a while - real conversation starter. When I needed to cut hose at the house, it stayed in my pocket - and I got a 110!

Stainz
 
Knives are tools and I carry to use them for that purpose.

My fixed blade is primarily a tool, but since it is one of my own design it also serves as an aid to sell knives. When someone inquires about what my knives look like it is nice to show them first hand.:D
 
Bufford said:
Knives are tools and I carry to use them for that purpose.

My fixed blade is primarily a tool, but since it is one of my own design it also serves as an aid to sell knives. When someone inquires about what my knives look like it is nice to show them first hand.:D
Click to expand...

That's awesome... sales tool.

More weapon or tool or sales tool?

Great answer, Bufford.

Merry Christmas! :)
 
It was a tool. Until I was attacked by a large Dobbie on a bike trail, after using my bike as a shield I ended up getting mauled on my left arm before dispatching it with my EDC. This tool saved me from loosing any more dexterity then I already lost. My EDC is always on me ready to serve as a "weapon". Years later I still can't make a complete fist, but I'm glad to know it could have been far worse..
 
A knife is a tool, and so is a gun for that matter. It is the intent of the user, to attack or defend that makes anything a weapon. If I attack you with a stick it is just ass much a weapon as if I chase you with a sword. Simple minded people who cannot understand uses of guns, and knives outside of hurting others are the reason we who can see the difference get so much crap from the sheeple.
 
^^ hear hear!!

As an aside, picture your avatar guy running after someone with a sword... it will make you laugh. :)
 
I work in a warehouse and use real knives everyday. I never use the standard issue Olfa utility knives anymore. Too brittle, too dangerous.
I used a Kershaw Blackout for a few years, as well as an Opinel #8. I switched only recently to a RAT3 (D2). I'm happy with its performance. It stays sharp about 5X longer than either of the knives it replaced.
 
My knives are tools. Knife fighting is for the movies and certain martial arts disciplines. If you feel that you need a weapon, carry a legal gun and learn to use it.

The knives I carry are usually multitools, SAKs and traditional slipjoints - all poor choices as edged weapons even if I had any sort of knife fighting training or inclinations. A little observation and awareness of surroundings has always kept me out of unsafe situations.

Yes I could accomplish many tasks with a utility knife, but there is greater versatility in the tools I carry and there is also the pleasure of using a high quality, aesthetically pleasing implement.
 
I've used all my knives as tools, and none of them as weapons, and I can't imagine I'll ever have to. I'll admit, carrying a fast-open folder makes me "feel" safer when walking through campus at night, but I am sure that I would turn tail and run before I even consider opening the knife for defense. It should go without saying that I do not carry a knife as an offensive weapon ;)
 
Well, since the only knife I currently own is an S&W necker, it would have to be weapon.

I have a tool box full of screwdrivers, hammers, boxcutters, wrenches and pliers. Those are what I'd consider tools, and wouldn't subject a knife (especially a necker) to doing a second rate job at any of their tasks.

Just my $.02. ;)
 
A knife is a TOOL first and formost. Like just about anything it can also be used as a weapon, just like a screwdriver, broom stick, pen, the list goes on. People tend to forget about one of the most dangerous things we all use, cars! Lot more people killed as a result of dangerous driving than knives.
 
I would agree that its a tool first. However, there are many "tools" that may also be used as a weapon, if needed.
 
Tool. I carry a Gerber multitool and a Ka-Bar Mule on me every day. I really do cut a lot of tubing, wire ties, rope, etc at work, and I'm not going to go looking for the ever nomadic tools, when I can just use what's on my belt.

When I want a weapon, I'll use my Glock.
 
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