knives that broke from 'tradition'?

midnight flyer said:
I have read that the Romans are credited with the earliest examples of folding knives. That doesn't mean they invented them, but that the oldest examples they have originated from them. Personlly, I have no doubt that they would be having the same conversations that we are having today.

"You know Mercutio, since going to the work at the Office of Tribute, I just don't need to carry a dagger or my favorite hunter anymore. They are just too big for my daily chores of breaking the wax seals on communications, cutting parchment and cutting up my lunch. A smaller knife works a lot better for me these days. Have you seen some of those new folding knives floating around in the market these days? They look pretty portable to me, and some seem pretty useful. I am finding that as I get older I need less knife."

"That may work for you, but I need a bigger knife. I have looked at those folders, and they look handy. But I never know what I will be using my knife for these days and I would rather have more knife than I need rather than not enough for the task. Besides, I saw a couple of those, and they were all forged, handle and blade. I think of myself as a traditionalist, and I like to haft my fixed blade with the antler from my biggest buck of the year. I can't stand all metal handles."

"I'm just saying that I feel silly carrying around a fixed blade at the office these days. No one else does and they seem out of place on my robe belt. They even alarm some of the gentry when they see them at work."

"Well, to heck with those guys. I was raised out in the country, and do my chores and work my sheep all day with every task imaginable coming up. As skittish as the sheep are with all the new road building going on by my farm, when I whip out my knife to cut something it doesn't even scare my sheep. Surely the people can't be more nervous that my nervous sheep..."

"They don't scare as easy with a plain folding knife, and it actually doesn't upset that many people. You know, down here in the southern regions lots of folks still carry all kinds of knives. But lately I have picked up a folding knife with a locking device on it. It seems more safe, but if the lock fails I might cut off a finger if I am not careful. I think if I use it like my regular folder I will be OK, though. But the click of the knife locking seems to frighten some of the folks as they think it has converted the knife to some kind of tactical weapon."

"What? Why would they think that? If anyone was silly enough to use a knife that folded in two in the first place, why wouldn't they want some kind of safety device on it?"

"Some seem to say that by locking the blade in place it converts a folding knife into a fixed blade, so they view it as more of a large tool or even a weapon."

"Yeah, right. What knothead would think that? I was in the Legion for almost 20 years and never saw a knife that folded in two on purpose. How is a knife that has a blade that folds over a weapon? Or even a tool? If you want a knife, get a knife. Real men use fixed blades."

"You are too old fashioned. I can fold this little gem up, stick it in my robes, and with a little discretion, no one even knows I have it with me. Besides, did you see the little inlays on the metal sides?. Sweet inlays, right? I think the inlays are some kind of dyed bone or some such. Hubert The Hafter told me that this may be some kind of limited edition of this knife, but I didn't pay extra for it. And I had Romulus The Engraver put my initials right there on the pivot next to the number."

"I dunno, it looks like a nice knife, and seems fairly sturdy. But I bet that set you back some serious denarius. I would hate to have a knife like that get all scratched up or even broken."

"Not a problem for me, my friend. All my knives are users."

"What??? Baloney. You have had that knife for two years and it is still prettier than my wife's best jewelry!"

"OK, well, I didn't say what I used it for, did I? Sure is pretty, though. Sometimes I just sit and look at it."

"Whatever floats your trireme, buddy."

I can hear it, even back then. :D

Robert
Click to expand...

Ok, Robert wins
i dont know what he won, but he most definitely wins

too funny!
 
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