knife size for office use

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bdmicarta

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Feb 16, 2012
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I read a lot about people not wanting to carry a large knife to their office because they are afraid of scaring people. I don't worry about that as much these days as I used to but I've also noticed that hardly anybody ever sees or notices my knife anyway. I started a new office job about 6 months ago, in a building with about 40 people. The smallest knife that I've carried during that time is a Blur, and today for instance I'm carrying a ZT 0561. During this past 6 months I don't think anyone in the office has even seen my knife. I've used it to open some packages and I've used it for slicing fruit at lunch. I have not gone out of my way to hide my knife and I even have it laying on my desk during lunch most of the time. Are some people just too cautious about what they carry?
 
bdmicarta said:
Are some people just too cautious about what they carry?
Click to expand...

I think you are absolutely right... I was always nervous about carrying anything over 3". Because of that, i have an extensive amount of 2" to 3" knives in my collection. Now i really prefer around 3.5" to 3.75" it just has a better feel for me.

I feel that it has taken me a few years of every day carry to get to this point... For the person who carries occasionally they may not be at that point yet...
 
I stick to < 3 inches for office, if I even bring one at all. Gentleman's folder.

There's no need for me to have anything else, and I'd rather avoid office politics. A ZT 0561 just seems a bit much and people would either poke fun or raise a stink. I mean, I work at a little non-profit office, not Cabela's head office. Most of the people here probably don't even own a pocket knife.
 
bdmicarta said:
Are some people just too cautious about what they carry?
Click to expand...

I think the problem is the people who feel the need to "deploy" all the time around the office.

I carry a SAK everyday. I open it when I need to use a knife...or when somebody else clearly needs help opening a box or something...and nobody cares. No doubt the same would be true with a reasonably sized one handed folder.
 
Boy am I glad I work in a place where we all carry pistols, M-4's, shotguns, tazers and all kinds of other big boy toys. :thumbup: So it is strange when someone doesn't carry at least ONE good sized folder. Most guys carry at least two knives and I usually carry four knives. Though I do tone it down when on Admin duty and just carry two folders :D
 
Office worker here, most people don't mind but I prefer to be low key which helps. Small Sebbie, Benchmade Shoki, or case peanut are my go tos. I do have a BRKT Little creek in my bag that stays here unless I am taking my computer home.

I drop any of the above straight in the poket so would not want/need a larger folder anyway.
When I come in on the weekends I do carry larger(but I wear jeans on those weekends when I come in), but little to no one is usally around then anyhow (PM2 or southard usually)
 
I think most of the US has gone soft in recent years anyways, which is why people get caught up in this whole "what is socially acceptable" for knife carry in the first place. I would say to just carry what fits your hand the most comfortably because a knife is merely a tool. Unfortunately, too many people can't seem to get past perceiving it as a "weapon" first and a "tool" second, when in reality, it's always been the other way around.

For me, I personally think that anything 3" and under don't have quite a big enough handle to really fit my hand. I personally prefer to carry something in the 3.5" to 4" range.
 
For years I carried my SOG mini X-RAY Vision with me in my slacks to work. I've kinda retired it simply because its really old, been sharpened so many times, and is a heavy knife for its size. Benchmade 530 replaced it. I have my own private office at work so its not a big deal that I carry a knife. If the United Socialist State of Illinois ever makes a decision on the CCW law, I'll be carrying a well concealed gun to work as well.
 
My experience has been in the general public (suburbia) no matter the blade size or shape, even using a "low exposure" method of deployment my knife gets noticed by others. The only exception is a SAK that most could care less about.
 
I work in an office too and my edc is something with a 3.25-3.5 inch blade and a 4.5-4.75 handle.

I've never had anyone make any comments but I also live in a very knife friendly state and I think that has a lot to do with it.

If there are minimal to no knife laws, people get used to seeing them more often and of course the opposite of that for very restrictive states. Just my opinion, I've never had anyone say something in NH but they do over the border in MA.
 
bdmicarta said:
I read a lot about people not wanting to carry a large knife to their office because they are afraid of scaring people. I don't worry about that as much these days as I used to but I've also noticed that hardly anybody ever sees or notices my knife anyway. I started a new office job about 6 months ago, in a building with about 40 people. The smallest knife that I've carried during that time is a Blur, and today for instance I'm carrying a ZT 0561. During this past 6 months I don't think anyone in the office has even seen my knife. I've used it to open some packages and I've used it for slicing fruit at lunch. I have not gone out of my way to hide my knife and I even have it laying on my desk during lunch most of the time. Are some people just too cautious about what they carry?
Click to expand...


I use an Opinel #12 in our office all the time for food prep/general use and have had no issues... In fact, the ladies here don't mind at all when I whip out the bigger blades (in my pocket today is a ZT 0561, go figure). So, maybe an Opinel #13 might be the perfect little lunchtime slicer?.... It is JUST a pocket knife after all. :D;)

There's also a BM 530, Case Soddie Jr., Opi #8 and Boker Blues Ti that pretty much live on my desktop for when I need to go out to meetings and need something lightweight to carry in dress pants. :barf::thumbdn:

Good luck with your quandry!
 
Increasingly, I'm drawn to smaller 3" and under for daily use, and that's not just at the office. However, as was pointed out, the knife still has to fit me and be comfortable to use, or I won't buy it. I've been leaving my 'tac' style knife (or what may be viewd AS-such, LOL) in the car, and rely on a nice little BM jackknife, along with a long-dc'd Calypso Jr. , and one other lightweight 3", like a KB Dozier, or Browning light.
 
Nothing like whipping out a kukri in the office.

jk.

usually office folk arent knife friendly so a sak works fine. Unless the inner mall ninja is telling you printer paper is hostile today.
 
Usually carrying traditionals is a great way for me to avoid negative reactions. I almost never get any gasps or comments.


...but, i'm getting a black on black Benchmade Adamas soon.

Everything will change.
:D
 
For 25 of my 30 years active duty, I carried a Buck 110 both at sea and in the office ashore. That is considerably more than 3 inches.

OT
 
kershaw CB Leek perfect for my office use. Still carrying ZT 0780, BM Subroza, or BM 710 in M390 hidden on me or in my bag. But Kershaw covers 99% of all my tasks
 
My office is wherever somebody needs something done on any given day. I personally draw the line when size hinders mobility.
 
I have no office carry experience, but I worked in a grocery store in central CA. I used my knives quite a bit. I had pretty much every deployment option except auto and balisong. Nobody batted an eye. Of course I didn't flash it around, but with what I hear others saying, I'd always expect someone to say something, especially in California. Now I'm in Wyoming and a whole lot more people are carrying (at least multitools. I don't stare at guys' pockets. It's weird).
 
I am mostly indifferent to whether or not I am in an office environment. The only folder I won't carry to one is my Cold Steel Spartan. Everything smaller is fair game to me.
 
Our office is pretty laid back, and its Texas. A few of us in the building have similar interests so I get to see some different knives. So far its mostly low end stuff. Firearms is where they spend. I like 3.5 or bigger blades. Millie in the back pocket. :thumbup:
 
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