NKP factor and knife carry

D

D3/SE

Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
163
Greetings you all:)

I made a similar thread on the Spyderco forums, but I would like to know some other's opinions as well.

As much as I would like to carry my SS Police/SE and use it for all my cutting chores, I don't because I think it won't be appreciated by my environment if I use that knife in public.

In the Netherlands the Police is till legal to carry because it's total length doesn't exceed 28 cm.

So instead of carrying and using my Police, I carry a smaller blade instead.

So my question is to you all is: How much do you let the NKP factor dictate you knife carry?

I would very much like to know;)
 
While I usually carry whatever I feel like (or own at the time), I am leary of pulling out a "scarey" knive in public.

For instance, when I carry my Cuda Maxx 5.5 in my front right pocket it doesn't get pulled if I need to open a box (unless I'm alone), the Spyderco Delica in my front left pocket gets that call.

While having two knives may seem a little out there (not around this croud but the general public), it saves a lot of hassel and allows me to justify more knives in my collection :) Having people freak out is just not worth it in the public/work sector.

PS, I usually carry three knives: A large folder, a small folder and a tiny folder (jester, benchmite, etc in my jean watch pocket). A knife for every occation and enviroment.
 
I do not concern myself with what people think about my use of a tool. I do not flash my knives around for no reason, but I do not hesitate to use them.
 
This is why I carry two knives. I EDC a Manix (with a zip tie wave) and use that when I'm alone. But I also always carry a slipjoint to use in public. I just don't want to intimidate or frighten anyone unnecessarily. I leave the Manix clipped in the pocket and pull out the Case or Buck instead. I've had several people comment on how nice my knife was and ask to see it when using a slipjoint in public. That's never happened with a "tactical folder" when that's all I carried. It always seemed to make people nervous and look at me differently. I'm a sweet guy, not dangerous at all, I just happen to be into knives.

When you are around people who you think might not be cool around a big blade, I find it kind of crass to whip out a huge folder. It doesn't give a good impression to people who don't understand. While I think it's perfectly okay to carry anything you want (up to and including a gun) I realize that other people don't. It's not polite or professional to barge around whipping out a knife that other people see as scary just to get a reaction out of them. A slipjoint gives you all of the functionality a big folder does in polite company, and avoids ruffling feathers that don't need to be ruffled. If I need the big blade I still have it, but 99.99% of the time I don't use it around anyone else except my wife.

The additional benefit of carrying two knives is that I have two knives to fiddle with and look at while I'm alone in my office. I like flipping my slipjoint in the air and trying to do dexterity tricks with it when I am bored. A Case trapper flips and spins beautifully in the air. I know better than to try that with a Manix or other big one-hand opener.
 
I tend to follow moonwilson's method. I usually carry two folders, one large, one small. Today my small "public use" knife is my Caly Jr. ZDP, the burgundy handle and small size have yet to cause any bad reactions, for that I whip out my Para, Styker (non-spydie:rolleyes: ), or waved D4/E4
 
The letter of the law around here seems to indicate that one may carry a fixed blade so long as it is not concealed. I would love to carry a fixed blade but I know that, although it is technically legal, it would not be well-recieved (and if it were to be, I would totally spring for a Kumo). Things being what they are, I carry folders. As far as they go, I generally don't worry about what people think of the knives I carry but I am discrete about it. Around here, though, a lot of people carry folders so my endura doesn't raise any eyebrows.

- Chris
 
Carry it if it is legal. The people who will freak over the Police will probably freak over a Jester or SAK. Their phobia is not your responsibility. As long as you use it in a responsible manor, they have no right to gripe, even if they think they do. In fact, I think it is good for the ninnies to see a big knife used as a tool instead of a weapon. If we let the NKPs prevent us from carrying what we want, we have surrendered our right to carry our tools.
 
Appearances matter a lot.

I have found that colorful scales make a big difference. As does resemblance to a regular tool. A Yojimbo with its blue handle doesn't seem to look threatening. I have a Griptilian in light blue that is similarly "cute" looking.
 
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