Looking back on it all.

cbrstar said:
To me there obviously was a major knife phobia back in the 50's, otherwise they would have never passed the Federal Switchblade Act in 1958 and other major BS laws.
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The main reason for that were the movies ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ (1955), ‘Blackboard Jungle’ (1955), and ‘12 Angry Men’ (1957). Prior to that, there had been switchblades in movies since at least the 1930s, but these movies in particular really pushed the notion that switchblades were a big part of a “growing problem of juvenile delinquency and youth gangs.”

There was no phobia around ordinary pocketknives, which back then were slipjoint folders that almost everyone carried. Even into the 1970s when I got into knives, almost every other boy I knew at school carried some type of pocketknife.

Similar to switchblades, butterfly knives were outlawed in the 1980s due to their being featured in several movies looking “scary” being flipped around, and someone thinking they were part of a growing problem (or a potential problem).

Jim
 
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James Y said:
but these movies in particular really pushed the notion that switchblades were a big part of a “growing problem of juvenile delinquency and youth gangs.”
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And West Side Story... I recall quite vividly the fascination I had as a kid for the "badass" switchblade. Even had one, with aluminium scales. Never flicked correctly, though, sort of "hit or miss", and I for sure never got it satisfactorily sharp (my fault). Gave up on it because I was sure to be convicted of "conceal carrying a weapon" if I ever ran into a control and search police operation.
 
I still carry a switchblade. They've been legal in my area for about three years. Then again, with or without a spring it's just another knife.
 
I would honestly like to give it a try and sharpen a switchblade, just to see if it can be a real knife. By design, it's a folding dagger. Not really made for cutting. But I'm currently carrying a small dagger and it sure is a great cutter. Go figure...
 
So, regarding the knives I can legally carry concealed fixed blade or folder.
Every assisted opening knife is illegal.
Every double edge blade is illegal.
Every knife with knuckles on it's handle is also illegal.
Double edged knives are considered as a weapon, single edge knives are considered as a tool, but every tool can be used as a weapon. So, regardless of which knife you EDC there are some things to keep in mind. You can't go to mass gatherings, concerts and bars carrying your knife, the same way goes for other tools like a hammer or screwdriver for example. And your behaviour plays bigger role than the type of knife you're carrying.

As a construction worker I carried Recon Tanto on my tool belt next to wire cutter, small hammer, few screwdrivers and pilers. I even walked like that in front of police officers on occasions, and I was never bothered by anyone, same like my coworkers, despite the fact few of us carried fairly large blades. But, I only carried it at work. I never carried that knife anywhere else except the forrest.

My current choice for EDC is very simple - a reasonably sized (small) fixed blade knife. I don't show it off or do anything stupid with it, and I don't carry it on my days off when I'm just going to spend my time with GF or friends in the city.
I did use my EDC knife at work or during other situations in the past, and I never had anyone frown upon it or make comments about it since it's a plain looking normal sized blade.

Norms are different these days, so the best advice is to use what is legal and considered appropriate, and also to use it for appropriate things. Just be reasonable, using a Kukri as your EDC while working in the office will turn some heads even if it's legal, and it'll also possibly make your superiors talk to you about it. I get it that there's way too much overy sensitive snowflakes out there today, but unfortunatley the system will be on their sides in most cases.
It's not worth losing your job, paying fines or spending time locked up because you carried a knife.
Sorry for long post.
 
Smiling said:
so the best advice is to use what is legal and considered appropriate, and also to use it for appropriate things
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Long post but from the gist I take of it, it is very adequate. I get pains in my head when people seem to be just enable to understand that little tidbit of reality.
 
Smiling said:
.... Just be reasonable.... <snip> I get it that there's way too much overly sensitive snowflakes out there today, but unfortunately the system will be on their sides in most cases.
It's not worth losing your job, paying fines or spending time locked up because you carried a knife.
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Unless you're Jane Fonda of course and can get a lot of publicity and the money doesn't matter..... No, it is not worth doing something to get tossed in jail for if you can help it. It impacts your entire life. By the same token, everyone doesn't need to be the same when it comes to knives. There are a lot of practical choices available.
 
Didn't get a laugh in a long time... Yeah, Jane Fonda. Giddyap !
But really, reading your environment, the situation, the premises, the consequences... and whatever belongs to, is not a thing anymore ? People will be peopling...
 
herisson said:
Didn't get a laugh in a long time... Yeah, Jane Fonda. Giddyap !
But really, reading your environment, the situation, the premises, the consequences... and whatever belongs to, is not a thing anymore ? People will be peopling...
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:D She's more of a symbol now. Getting a bit up there in years.
 
Age gets me into disliking symbols generally. Overall food for stupids. But, Jane Fonda... I could get on that train.
Just this in because I'm high :
 
herisson said:
And West Side Story... I recall quite vividly the fascination I had as a kid for the "badass" switchblade. Even had one, with aluminium scales. Never flicked correctly, though, sort of "hit or miss", and I for sure never got it satisfactorily sharp (my fault). Gave up on it because I was sure to be convicted of "conceal carrying a weapon" if I ever ran into a control and search police operation.
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True, ‘West Side Story’, as well as ‘The Young Savages’, but those films came out in 1961, three years after the Federal Switchblade Act was passed in 1958.

In the ‘70s while in junior high, I procured a switchblade with a 3” blade (making it illegal to carry) from a classmate and carried it for awhile in my RF pocket, along with a medium stockman in my left. The stockman was for real cutting, and the switchblade made me feel ‘cool.’ Until one day while sitting in class, I felt a slight prickling/poking sensation on the right side of my junk. I then realized that the switchblade had come partially open in my pocket, in spite of having been ‘locked’ closed. I stopped carrying it that day and tossed it into a drawer.

Jim
 
22-rimfire said:
Unless you're Jane Fonda of course and can get a lot of publicity and the money doesn't matter..... No, it is not worth doing something to get tossed in jail for if you can help it. It impacts your entire life. By the same token, everyone doesn't need to be the same when it comes to knives. There are a lot of practical choices available.
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Lol Jane Fonda part cracked me up :D
 
The LAWKS system by CRKT. It was a great gimmick for liner-lock knives and I hated to see the company cease developing knives equipped with it.

It's not surprising that Lynn Thompson took a "sudden interest" to slap a liner lock safety on a few Cold Steel models currently. Extrema Ratio and a few Sanrenmu models took the LAWKS path also. I have a feeling knife companies were sitting on their hands and patiently waiting for the LAWKS patent to expire.
 
Reasons I buy modern folders:
  • They draw less attention than fixed blades
  • I appreciate the engineering behind the various opening and closing mechanisms
  • I enjoy the variety
  • I enjoy fidgeting with them
  • I also have traditional knives in my rotation, I just don't restrict myself to them
  • This isn't about necessity. If it were, I'd just carry a fixed blade
  • Convenience
Using a single story of failure as a basis for rejecting the reliability of an entire category of products is just bad reasoning. I get it if your thing is about personal preference or nostalgia, but once you try to make a broad statement about the reliability and safety of modern folders, you're going to need more than a single story if you're going to make a strong case. It's not about personal style at that point. It's an empirical claim subject to evidence.
 
TheTourist said:
I still carry a switchblade. They've been legal in my area for about three years. Then again, with or without a spring it's just another knife.
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The more so, the true user audience for an auto tends to be those with a physical handicap and those who are otherwise unable to make use of both hands, like sailors or climbers.

n2s
 
Well, I still have a drawer full of automatics, and I figured I'd never get the money out of them. I've stored them "blade open" and most of them are still pretty snappy.

I used to think of these folders as some special, unique and forbidden devices. What was fantastic as a boy is now just another tool as a man.
 
By the sounds of it - we should stop advancements of all things and go back to living in the 50’s and 60’s during the good ole days.

... lol

Let’s be honest. If those people from many years ago had the technologies and innovations we had today - they would embrace them whole heartedly as the advancements would have made all of their lives way easier and in many ways safer.
Which’s goes way beyond just knives.

Regardless - I’ve tried carrying a slip joint like a case that I still have but couldn’t get behind it. Too slow to open and didn’t like how it’s two handed to open. Also didn’t like that I had to dig for it deep in my pocket. Call me spoiled - but I like being able to open my knife and close my knife with one hand, and I like it to have a clip so It’s readily available for use and easily accessible. As far as “hard use”, it comes back to the argument of better to have and not need then need and not have. Why get mad that a company is creating a better product? Because of the price increase? If so - then simply don’t purchase one, nobody is forcing you too.

The consumers dictate what is wanted from companies - the companies aren’t forcing these knives on anybody and if the company made something the people didn’t want they’d stop producing that type of thing as they want to make money. The people want these types of knives as they want a peace of mind knowing they have a tank of a knife on their person. Not everybody lives in a place where they can carry a fixed blade and others simply get more joy out of carrying a folder they think looks nice, which isn’t an issue either, if somebody spends money on something that gives them a certain level of satisfaction I see no wrong doing there - that’s why people go to work, to be able to afford things that will make their lives more enjoyable, no? - I’d rather spend $500 on a knife I can keep the rest of my life than at the bar on drinks. - but that’s just me.
If it’s a hard use knife that they finger flick while watching a movie or actually use it in their daily jobs what’s the difference - as long as their happy with it.

Sure people GOT BY in the old times with what they had but that’s because they DIDNT have a choice in the matter. New things aren’t going to be created and stick around if their isn’t a market or consumers that the new product will improve their lives with. By these types of knives not only sticking around but thriving in the knife world today - I’d say the consumer has spoken.

I’ll leave you with this. I had a job many years ago when I was younger and just starting out. It included cutting down boxes and rope and twine among other things. It wasn’t a great job or anything and it didn’t excite me like what I do now - however, everyday I looked forward to choosing a knife out of my collection to use that day- and every time I’d take it out to use it at work it’d grant me a level of satisfaction that I would never have gotten with using a utility knife or box cutter. Learning the ergonomics of what works and what I like, which steel holds its edge well, and what grind is better suited for the task. Hell, even what grit the knife was sharpened too would create a noticeable difference sometimes depending on material that was being cut. In today’s world for maybe 2-3 more ounces of weight I get to have a bombproof folder on my person that can survive what 100 other knives wouldn’t. That’s a peace of mind that I think is worth the price tag.

Just my .02!
Have a good one!
 
I trust cold steel triad lock almost 100%,and never had any of their knives close.Cant say the same thing about other brands.And yes,pple should know how to use knife and treat every folding knife with caution,that it might close any time.Good posts jackknife!
 
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