Open Fixed Blade Belt Carry in the "City"????

S

Safety Guy

Joined
Mar 9, 2001
Messages
1,794
In another thread ("Fear itself"), KWM, who lives in Canada, was thinking about going to open fixed blade carry in his city.

I've been thinking about this now for a few months myself.

In Ohio, open carry of "deadly weapons" is technically legal, although firearms would have to be unloaded and put away in a separate compartment for motor vehicle travel. But not a blade.

Yes, it would probably get some strange looks, but I get those already, due to my Streamlight Scorpion light in its pouch, a 2 oz. can of Punch II OC spray on my belt just to the right of my belt buckle, and many times a cane in my hand. :) When I was also carrying my cellphone in a camera belt pouch, I was asked several times if "I worked at" the store I was shopping in!

I've become very incensed with the stupidity of the new restrictions (as if I wasn't mad enough about all the old ones) we are seeing, and although I agree that oftentimes we should be calm and patient and try not to "rock the boat" when addressing certain "concerns" (ie. don't go around wearing camo fatigues or radical T-shirts to Senate hearings, etc.), I am indeed beginning to wonder if we should just start "pushing back" in the other direction...

One of my ideas is an upside down American flag T-shirt, with a favorite "freedom slogan" along with it ("Those who would exchange freedom for security deserve neither" etc.) to indicate the trouble we are encountering from our own side.

But maybe the "sheeple public" also needs to "acclimate itself" to their unreasonable fears and prejudices (ie. hoplophobia).

I'm thinking I should carry about a 4" fixed blade knife on my belt, although I might begin looking like a travelling hardware exhibit.

Single edge, drop point, nothing particularly "military" or "commando" looking. Just a nice, utility knife which could handle larger cutting tasks. I'd still use my Spydie Native or other smaller folder for general purpose cutting, especially in front of others.

I'm serious about this folks. I have an excellent law-abiding background and I do extensive crime prevention work, so if someone pushes this and arrests me, I will be a "model citizen poster boy." I have also been referring to myself as a "self-defense activist" and I am a Desert Storm MP vet. I would get really riled up if anyone called me a "right wing conservative" and I have a nice "liberal college education" to back up my wrath.

Critique this idea. Should more of us begin doing this in areas where we could conceivably "get away with it?" Pros and cons?

Thanks,
Karl
 
Karl,

Now that the idea is there I think you'd kick yourself if you didn't follow through with it. If that's how you can do your part, then go for it.

-Al-
 
I'd love to wear a fixed blade on my belt. but I must say that I think it would be very alienating and might even make you or me look suspicious and sinister. thus attracting undo attention.

the general public isn't in "WAR" mode. I feel like we are being attacked we could at least have a decent edged tool on us.

I am not saying what you should do but I have opted for low profile small folders.
 
Safety Guy,

I have started the transition myself. I got a CRKT Companion in a trade last week and I have carried it openly twice now. I'll probably be wearing it mostly on a week-end, but I LOVE using a fixed blade over my folders. I also have an Allen Blade MEUK that will be a little more sheeple friendly too. Plus it is a knife/sheath of higher quality so I'm looking forward to carrying it on occasion too.

By the way, I'm a Canadian too. THough the knife laws here are quite a bit less restrictive as compared to the US, the sheeple pressures are just as high. People using keys to open boxes/mail is the norm. Before 9/11 I thought we could slowly educate the sheeple and get knives more accepted. After 9/11 I have decided not to take such a passive role. I'll carry small fixed blades on occasion now and also I don't care who sees me reading tactical knives on the bus.
 
Good for you, Crayola!

I'm waiting on my Livesay US Marshall to arrive. I might start carrying that around. Or I might get a belt sheath for my Sifu and kind of begin "halfway."

I'm planning on crossdraw carry, with the knife angled for right hand fencing grip or left hand reverse grip draws. Probably wear it to the left of my belt buckle.

One of my wilder ideas is to carry an Assegai! It would fit nicely in the large strap-storage pocket of my Jansport backpack which I wear on campus. If I got a sheath to fit and stay in place, the handle would angle up to my right (or left) for a "from the back draw." Concealed? Well, only about half of it would be--the wood handle would be visible, and I would burn or carve "Assegai" and "Shaka Zulu" on it. I could also wear a "spear on board" sign to make things legal. Since the spearhead wouldn't be visible, I don't think anyone would really be scared. Would they?

Or am I on drugs now? :)

PUSHIN, PUSHIN, PUSHIN THAT ENVELOPE....:D

Karl
 
Any of Bob Doziers small fix blades will do you just fine. Excellent line of utility knives (fighters in disguise)that you can wear in a near horizontal position on your belt. His kydex sheaths are easy off/ on mounting. Great handmades at a reasonable users price.

www.dozierknives.com

Charles Gallo, please cite the source of your info concerning "handle exposed" carry.

Nakano
 
I think it is a great idea. I have been openly carrying a small fixed blade around the San Jose and San Francisco area for about a year. The knife has only been noticed once in all that time, and it was after 9/11. A parking valet mentioned it to me once on my way out of a local shopping mall. He said, "Hey, that's a weapon. Didn't they kick you out?". I said, "No, it is a tool". I suppose mall security would have asked me to leave if they had noticed it, but they didn't. It was a 3.5 inch Simonich Cetan in a black kydex belt sheath. Other knives I regularly carry are the Darrel Ralph Arc Lite Big (ALB), and Mad Dog Pack Rat. I am looking for something dressier that is still tactical, but have not run across the right knife so far.
 
Well last night I picked my daughter up from religion class with my La griffe worn over my shirt.:) I'm a clean cut middle aged in shape good guy,plus wearing my fire dept.sweatshirt along with 2 knives really confuses the sheeple.:D "how can he be a good guy AND carry knives"?? (its a good thing they can't see under the shirt);)

Go for it.
 
Steve,
Dressier but still tactical. I like the small or medium tacticals by Neil Blackwood. With Ironwood. Wish I could afford one. :(
 
I think the important thing is to stay positive.

That is the lesson that James Mattis gave us.

Don't get frustrated, get active, get positive.
 
Consider a 3" blade instead just to keep the whole thing pretty small. I carry a knife in a vertical belt sheath with me all the time in RURAL California and in small towns, but when I go to the city I trade it for a folder. I'm not absolutely sure what local codes (like the NYC rule) exist.
 
Gotta love rural :) went to the grocery store with a Busse BME on my hip and no on batted an eye. Of course lots of of other customers were in there with smaller fixed blades.
 
I would not push the envelope. It might be legal, but the way they will get you is charge you with disorderly conduct if it creates a disturbance. Use common sense. Blades got a bad rap due to the terrorists. Not that they had a steller one beforehand. Now you want to prance through the crowds with one. You think this will break them of their fear? Rather if they find out its legal they will be on the phone to their elected officials seeking to make it illegal. This is especially true as you have not described any real need of this knife to do some job or task at hand. Also if you get busted for some trumped up reason this could cost you some money and time to get out of. The same behaviour in a rural area might be acceptable. Dont rock the boat for no good reason would be my advice.
 
Yes, I'm aware of the "inducing panic" and "disturbing the peace" end runs around the law which could be used against me.

The way I will have to go about it (if I do) is to insist the knife is a tool. A fixed blade is safer than a folder for certain things, and there is really no difference in results on the object cut.

This avoids problems with "concealment" when sitting in my car or when wearing a coat or jacket (concealed deadly weapons are illegal in Ohio).

And my reasons for "rocking the boat?" I'm what Ayoob would call a "certified good guy," who has done more to fight crime "on the street level" than most politicians (especially comparing their $$$$ with my measly wages), and who has been entrusted with much more "serious" stuff than a silly knife (in the Army). Not to mention SIX YEARS of trying to get a fair and equitable concealed carry law passed in Ohio, with absolutely no results.

Yeah, I'm ready to rock the boat. But don't worry, I'm not rushing into anything. This might take a few months to plan out. I don't have a lot of money to "fight the establishment," but at some point I'll be fighting them, don't you think? I've already been a "good little peon" for long enough.

I'm establishing contacts with some educators and reporter-types. I must continue to establish my "credibility," if you will. When CCW comes up again in the Ohio media's radar screens, then maybe I'll have more to work with and better points to make.

Keep criticizing, though. It doesn't hurt, and might help keep me out of trouble...

Thanks,

Karl
 
Go for it. Excersize your rights. I've got a 7.5" drop point thats ready for heat treat. When I finish it and get the sheath made I'll be carrying it. I'm thinking it will mainly be my winter carry, but you never know. The people around you all the time will probably not even notice, or get over it and go on like its nothing very quickly. Most other people won't have a problem with it either as long as you seem like a fine upstanding guy and aren't telling them the knife won't be used as a weapon because you can kill them 10 times faster with your bare hands ;)
 
If you look at my Avatar you will see a green handled knife that I made. Oh, thanks Phil for the pic Magic! This knife could hijack the largest plane in the air, as it is sharper and larger than a box cutter for sure. But it doesn't look "weapony" and looks rather beautiful. Well, I think anyway. Green G-10 with a green cord wrap on part of the handle with a mosaic pin doesn't look all that scary. Combione that with, say, a sheath like G2 makes and you'd be good to go.

Safety Guy, get G2 to make you one of his fantastic belt sheaths for your folder. That is an awesome idea. You get used to carrying on your hip and if people notice, well hey it is just a folder :)
 
g2sheath.jpg


I wear my G2 sheath openly and have never had any problems. Granted, I'm a pretty discreet guy (believe it or not).
 
I have been wearing a fixed blade everyday for over ten years and I don't live in the woods.Florida has no size restrictions and as long as it is not concealed your cool,just tuck your jacket behind it to show it off.I even have fancier knives and sheaths for after work when going out to dinner and such.My normal EDC is a 3" utility but I have carried 6"-8" blades.Now with the way things are,you might not want to carry in airports or theme parks,but if you don't carry somebody may think it is ok to take that right from you.IMHO,Dave:)
 
Hey Guys...

Karl..

I think right now wearing a US flag upside down,,may be just a wee bit of a bad idea..You may find yourself with the crap kicked out of you...:)
Nothing personal,,but I think the general US public is just a little too pissed off and on edge right now to put up with Any of that...

I'm not even American,,and would find that offensive right now,,no matter what the case...

As far as concealed vs. Open carry....

Depending on what I'm doing,,it can vary..Some days I just don't want to be bothered with the looks,,or possible questions by Anyone,,so I'll wear concealed,completely,,no clips,no folders showing,,hardly ever do I go anywhere without at least two knives..One stays concealed,,the other gets pulled out for mundane tasks...

When I'm in the mood for open carry I 99% of the time wear in the BBC position (Belt Buckle Carry) This offers me the best carry option for this size of knife...

When I'm going to Scouts,,or Scouting event,, it can vary between a Busse Natural Outlaw,Badger or Satin Jack.. When in uniform I Always carry open..Only because I can probably get away with a larger knife under the conditions....

Talked to lots of cops at different events,,and Never had a problem,no matter what I was wearing...Within Reason that is...

Since the 911 attacks I've felt that concealed carry is a better way for me to go these days..For one reason,,carrying open,,,can take away the element of surprise if needed for life or death...Something that we all should think about!! I've become an Honest law breaker...

Some serious choices we have to make these days...!!
Drawing attention to ones self,,even to promote yourself as a good knife guy,,may be not such a good idea these days....

Something to think about..:)

ttyle

Eric....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top