Knives and Amusement Parks

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Moosez45

Moosez45

Custom Antlers, Factory Knives...
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With the changing of peoples mindset from "knives are tools" to "knives are evil steel demons that kill", I find myself trying to blend in, but still having some steel on my side.

My family and I are huge roller coaster riders. We love'em. Alot. So, about 21 days out of the year, we spend at large scale amusement parks, riding rides, and spending money on overpriced food and drinks. Lets not mention the OMG LOOK AT THAT PRICE!?!?! swag they sell. I generally like having a knife of some kind on my side.

When we spent 9 days at Disney, I bought a Spyderco Dragonfly to carry. I call it my sheeple friendly knife. Its small, and even when I got spotted by a Disney Detective with it, I was allowed to keep it. Rock on Disney.

Today, I found myself at Dollywood. Not that great of a Coaster park, but its close. No metal detectors, nobody cares when you whip out a knife, and cut a thread, straw, bracelet, clean your nails, or whittle a dead branch you picked up. +1 for Dollywood. I attribute it to being in the mountains. Hillbillies, gotta love'em.

I tried to take my BK14 in to King's Island Ohio, yeah, had to check that guy at the door, "We dont' allow weapons in here, and that is a combat knife" the "security guard told me. M'kay.:rolleyes:, fine Barney, here's my blade. Took my Dragonfly too. I was left without any cutting tool. Go figure.

Today, I counted how many times I used my knife in a "tool" function (its always a tool, but, I digress). 12 times. No one freaked out, or made a comment about my BK14 at all. One guy who sat across from me while I was whittling some shaving off a drop branch, just smiled. We were both waiting for our ladies to get done in the restrooms. I had time to whittle, trust me. I cut a 12" long straw down, that came with my 5yr olds drink, at a BBQ shack. No one even noticed, much less cared.

So, for the guys that are thinking that they will be able to take a tool into an amusement park, check their rules and policies, BEFORE you get to the gate, or you might lose your knife for the stay, or longer, if Barney "misplaces" the item that matches your ticket number. Universal Studios Island of Adventure, CS Recon 1 Clip point. He was smiling when I handed it over, I knew he was going to steal it. I talked to the Chief of Security about it, his only advice was "Shouldn't have brought a weapon anyway".

Moose
 
Few observations -

First off, I am old enough to know the proper name for Dollywood is Silver Dollar City.

Second, you have to go very deep for sporting events and theme parks.

Third, you have to pick your venue - some areas you can't carry jack. Six Flags in NJ would be a great example of a park where they bring in literally bus loads of inner city gangsters. So if security gets a little nervous about knives, I don't agree, but I understand.
 
You should also keep in mind that stuff that can fall outta ya pockets on a roller-coaster
can be..UBER bad.. Just imagine..if on one of those big ol' honkin' coasters, something were to clog up the rail in someway, thereby causing a slight shift..uh oh... *Loud high-pitched screams of horror & death & pain & destruction!!* Splat.. Plus, theme-parks means LOTS of kiddies..things like knives can get misplaced or fall from pockets, & kiddies tend up pick up just about anything! Sucks the security guy stole your knife though, that's a load of b.s.--ah, who knows, it'll catch up to em'. :D

Bored-2-Deth (B2D)
 
Ive had the same generous treatment at Disney. I went for about a week for two straight summers and carried a full size benchmade griptilian with absolutely no hassle, not even a stray glance. I was ven able to carry it into the hospital a few months back when our daughter was born. But a few weeks later for a checkup we go thru a different door and they held it till we were done. I understand the logic I suppose, but I've never had to use a knife for anything other than utility.
 
It's a sign of the times big fella. The good old days are long gone when a man was expected to have a knife in his pocket. If he didn't carry a knife, he was strange, weird and somehow deficient. Ask a man to hand over his pocket knife and he'd have looked at you like you'd lost your mind.

Nowdays, you get "why do you need to have a knife with you anyway?" "Are you weird, strange or somehow deficient?"
 
I always leave them in the car to avoid the hassle of checking them and possibly losing them.

Although I once carried a somewhat large knife into the FBI building in Washington,D.C.
I was in 5th grade and I had this walmart fishing knife that looked like a butterfly knife.I had the knife in a waistpack(they were fashionable then) that I had to put through an x-ray machine. Well it was a school sponsored trip so I was sure to get expelled or something awful. I was sweating bullets as I came to the realization that I was in deep trouble with a capital T. I guess they didn't see it, or didn't care, but I was thanking my lucky stars. I guess this is why I just leave'em in the car now.
 
I carry a "stunt knife". It is a cheap little Spyderco Delica. I keep it clipped to my pocket. Security will key in on it, I'll begrudgingly hand it over and get a receipt for it. My Eskabar is in my pocket or my IZULA is in there. Guess they don't figure on anyone carrying two.

Problem solved. Has worked for years.
 
Two things I seems to always get through on a regular basis; SAK Classic and a UtiliKey. Now please keep in mind that I am not talking about planes or even a court house, well the Key passed that one, but places where knives are looked at as weapons and not tools. I am a high school teacher and have carried many different tools to work but have switched to exclusively slip joints and my skeletool. I am actually getting ready to modify that blade. Changing it to a sheepsfoot. Much shorter and I like the easy of sharpening a straight edge. SAKs are regularly accepted so on travels I stick to them. Pretty sure I would get more crap for the amount of paracord in my back pocket before getting too much for a SAK.
 
TAGannon said:
I carry a "stunt knife". It is a cheap little Spyderco Delica. I keep it clipped to my pocket. Security will key in on it, I'll begrudgingly hand it over and get a receipt for it. My Eskabar is in my pocket or my IZULA is in there. Guess they don't figure on anyone carrying two.

Problem solved. Has worked for years.
Click to expand...

That's right!! One for them to find, one for me to keep. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Honestly, most of the time I don't worry about explaining why I carry a knife. The blade is the cover for the handgun.

I think a man should always have certain things: a watch, a belt, a knife and enough money to pay for their own lunch.
 
most amusement parts don't want you to bring tools, esp multitools, or anything you could use to tamper with rides. has been this way for decades now as far as i know.

i remember being able to fly with a spydero back in the day. now, don't even thank about it.
 
I usually take something inexpensive that I can afford to lose/have confiscated. That's funny though - my parents were at Dollywood today too but I doubt either of them had knives on them. :p


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Beckerhead #42
 
GingivitisKahn said:
I usually take something inexpensive that I can afford to lose/have confiscated. That's funny though - my parents were at Dollywood today too but I doubt either of them had knives on them. :p


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Beckerhead #42
Click to expand...

I had enough to cover them if they needed. SAK Rucksack, CS Lawman, and BK14. My 3 EDC.

:D

Moose
 
Me and the fam go to Disneyland all the time (going Sunday in fact). No metal detectors. When going through security where they simply look in your bag I just unclip the knife and put it deep in my pocket. I've gone with a BM Griptilian, Al Mar SERE 2000, a little Spyderco Walker, Case Canoe. Never had a problem. If security did have a hard time with it, I would go back to my car and leave my knife there or go home.

Fixed blades are illegal to carry in CA (if not just LA and Orange County) if your not out hiking, hunting, etc., so the thought of carrying a BK11 just never crossed my mind as it isn't an option at all for me. I still think it is amazing how some of you guys carry fixed blade as EDC's, but it just goes to show how different states are. I've seen people come to CA and FREAK OUT when they see motorcyclists lane splitting regularly. Here it is legal and not a problem at all. Other places it is a big deal.

When I'm at a park like Disneyland, I keep my knife to myself. I take it out if I need to cut something, but I probably would never have it out to whittle. I hate the term sheeple as I don't think ill or wrong of people who are uncomfortable around knives. I'd honestly be a bit creeped out if I saw someone carrying a gun (again, something you WON'T see in CA) and they took it out to clean it, put in bulletts, etc. just for the hell of it in a place that wasn't appropriate. I don't try and make anyone uncomfortable, and seeing as how I don't feel the need to take my knife out just to pass time, this doesn't seem to be a problem for me.
 
Moose ole' buddy, if you are one of them there roller coaster "addicts", you need to come up some week-end and go to Kings Island. They have about 5 or 6 that will literally curl your hair, plus a bunch of other rides for the little "moose's".
And of course, if you do, the JUST1MOR household would be honored if you wanted to stop by for a brew, some wings, & some great conversation with someone who does not get out very much (you know who, huh ???) . . . :)
Be safe.
p.s.: . . . and of course, I would be more than willing to watch your knives for you while you were at the park . . . .
 
Just wondering, when were you at Kings Island? They installed Metal detectors in 2003, I believe, but they have recently (as in 2-3 years ago, I think), cut their security budget, so they don't turn the metal detectors on. Don't ask don't tell is my philosophy.

I worked at Kings Island for 4 years, and I live 5 minutes away, so I know a bit about the place. If you are going back anytime soon, don't let the clip be visable at the entrance, and walk on through.
 
tel0004 said:
Just wondering, when were you at Kings Island? They installed Metal detectors in 2003, I believe, but they have recently (as in 2-3 years ago, I think), cut their security budget, so they don't turn the metal detectors on. Don't ask don't tell is my philosophy. I worked at Kings Island for 4 years, and I live 5 minutes away, so I know a bit about the place. If you are going back anytime soon, don't let the clip be visable at the entrance, and walk on through.
Click to expand...

tel0004, it's funny you ask. I was transferred down to the Cincinnati-Dayton area back in 1983. I have to be the only person within a 45 mile radius whose has NEVER ever been to Kings Island . . . :)
That was why I offered to "watch" the godfather's knives while he went, and after a few brews & wings, hopefully he would be somewhere around Lexington or parts further south before he realized he had forgotten them . . . :thumbup:
Good to know there are other Buckeyes on here.
Be safe.
 
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