"Lemme borrow yer knife"

In my local gun shop a fellow customer was trying to open one of those top security plastic packaging things that takes the jaws of life to open. He reached for his knife but apparently forgot it at home. Trying to be nice I offered him mine of which it's fresh edge sliced right through the packaging and the guy commented how sharp it was to which I smiled until he placed his thumb on the blade as some distorted sharpness test and it drew blood. My blood pressure shot up I'm sure thinking of all the personal injury attorneys that would have loved that but he was cool about it and gave it back.

Next time I either don't have a knife or I will offer to cut it for them.
 
Sep said:
People who are not mechanically inclined may have difficulty figuring out a liner lock, they expect a locking knife to have a button or lever somewhere. It's not immediately obvious that the liner needs pressing to disengage the lock. Knives with back lock or axis lock are easier to figure out.
Click to expand...


Almost every person I have ever shown or let use a liner/framelock has been confused by it.

Even if I point out where the mechanism is and tell them they need to push it they always try to push it straight down instead of moving it to the side.
 
I always say "what do you need it for?" and go from there... I have had someone break the tip of my Vantage Pro prying open a paint can! :(
 
I'm not worried about it if it's for one of my friends, they know my knives are sharp and expencive and treat them as such. If it's someone I dont know I offer to cut whatever it is for them.
 
No is a good answer for strangers. I'll cut it for you is a good answer for friends. I have one or two spares on hand if it's important to ME to have that thing cut. THEN I'll conceiveably loan a knife, but it's still unlikely. No is the DEFAULT answer.
 
DITCH said:
No.

How do you respond to that 'request'?
Click to expand...

Here ya go. Then they proceed to be confused and I show them how it opens/closes. I love the fact that I dont own knives over $100. No worries about losing or breaking them, I can just relax and have fun with em.
 
I'd say sure and hand him over my Vic Pioneer...everything that a sheeple needs in daily life is on it. If it's not on it, tough luck kid.
 
Joben said:
Almost every person I have ever shown or let use a liner/framelock has been confused by it.

Even if I point out where the mechanism is and tell them they need to push it they always try to push it straight down instead of moving it to the side.
Click to expand...

LOL. I still remember my dad trying to close my Strider SnG when I got it. He had never used a liner/frame lock before so it was somewhat painful to watch.

In response to the thread, I always respond "for what?". If it is someone I know and trust, and they are using it for something simple and logical (ie. Opening a package) I'll lend it out.

Otherwise I a) cut it for them or b) say no (usually done for strangers)
 
"Sure, you can use this one." I then hand them my 10 yr. old stag Case peanut, one of the two knives I usu. carry.
 
DITCH said:
No.

How do you respond to that 'request'?
Click to expand...

That "request" is why I always have a Victorinox of some kind on me.
(usually a farmer or cadet) for non knife people.
It has everything they need. Plus they get a hell of a slipjoint lesson if they're using it wrong cuz mine are SHARP!:eek:
 
Possible answer: "What do you want me to cut for you?"

Possible action: Let him/her have your opinel/sanrenmu for a while. Tell the loaner it is sharp as a sort of legal disclaimer. Then later sell or give them a cheap but good knife, depending on how well you like them.

"My name is Habbekuk and I try to breed exNKP's"
 
Last edited:
last time that i've left my knife on the desk, a colleague tried to use it as a screw driver...i stopped him on time , saying that i'll kill him with what has left of the knife :-). He never touched my knives again :P
 
I will ask what they need it for, and if it is just something that needs a quick cut I won't mind to lend them my Delica.
If it is something that requires more work I will offer to do it for them using my SNG.
However, if someone needs a screw tightened or some prying I will lend them my Atwood Prybaby.

:thumbup:
 
if your camping tell them that you will be makeing there food with it later.... that tends to make them think twice about uesing it for something stupid
 
For me, it really depends less on the WHAT they plan on using it for than WHO is using it. If its someone that i dont know, or barely know, the answer is simple "Sorry, I really dont loan out my knives". Usually i avoid that by just offering to do the task for them, as others here have said.

If the person is someone that i consider a friend, I loan or let use my knifes whenever asked, no questions asked.
 
I don't lend my knives to anyone I don't know, and to only a limited few of those I do know. If pressed by the ignoramus who asks to borrow my knife, I gently explain that most people don't know how to safely use a sharp knife; that invariably they will damage the edge by doing something stupid like cutting against a stone surface, or by throwing it. Then I'll offer to cut whatever they needed to cut. When they say, "Oh, I wanted to use it as a screwdriver" I begin cursing.
 
If someone wants to borrow my knife and is likely to damage it I'll ask what they want cut and either offer to cut for them or tell them "no way I'm letting you use my knife to do that!".

If someone is just likely to hurt themselves and not the knife then I'll say "yeah, sure". In this country there are no legal repercussions to someone hurting themselves with your knife. I have both video & still photo capability on my cellphone so I can get something up on the internet if they do something so stupid it's funny, and lets face it - what's not funny about someone injuring themselves!

I would generally lend my SAK - the blades don't have fragile tips and they are more than sharp enough to handle pretty much any task. If they need a serrated blade then I'd lend the LM Wave. But if the task they want the knife for doesn't really suit a knife then I'd suggest one of the other tools on the SAK or LM.
 
If that ever happened I would be like "Sure, whats it for though?"

"Enter reasonable use"

"Oh okay. Hey you should get your own knife, I work at a knife store I can get you one so you don't need to ask again."

Please guys, don't miss any opportunity to turn a regular guy into a knife guy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top