People Explain Why They Are Afraid of Pocket Knives

[Korean Hog]

I carry an Umnumzaan for when I have something thick to cut, and for my own personal enjoyment. Rarely does anyone get a chance to see it outside of my family and the people I work with. For everything else I use my small sebenza and I doubt anyone notices me using it.

I agree with what has been said already. If you go around acting like "Bubba Bad Ass" your posture and movement has already drawn extra attention. If you then proceed to sling a knife out, and that knife looks more like a weapon than a tool (Tanto vs. sheepsfoot/ Umnum vs. small seb) you absolutely look like a threat. And as a big a knife nut as I am, I don't feel comfortable either when someone with aggressive movement uses a combat oriented knife in an aggressive manner. It just looks wrong. That same person usually is the same person that gets mad easily and is more likely to use physical violence.

And for those of you that hold fast to the special operations worship/ SEAL worship/ I'm 'Murican I do what I want attitude with everything (including knives) , remember that the Special Operations community takes pride in being "Quiet Professionals" and whipping out a folding tanto with a 4" or so blade to open a box or cut an apple in the middle of public would go against the idea of keeping things quiet and professional.

 

[colin.p]

My latest trend in knife buying and carrying is orange. I truly believe when the sheeple see that orange handle they are given some peace of mind that I'm carrying a "safe" tool. I don't do it strictly keep them from freaking out as I like orange knives, they are certainly easier to find if dropped or placed on the ground.

A lot of people (myself included) questioned why Benchmade used blue scales on their Bugout knife. Some felt that orange, yellow or even red would have been a better colour for a "bugout/outdoorsy" style knife. However, as an EDC knife, blue actually makes sense as the colour blue is the least alarming and more comforting colour there is so maybe Benchmade actually didn't make a poor choice of colour for the Bugout.

 

[GB940Rookie]

I must live in a knife friendly world. I can't remember someone being afraid whenever I have used a knife in public.
And, I don't remember ever seeing people running around flicking their knives in front of everyone either.

As someone mentioned, try to educate those who don't understand. If they still don't get it, forget about them. There's weirdos everywhere

 

[SharpieB]

A lot of people (myself included) questioned why Benchmade used blue scales on their Bugout knife. Some felt that orange, yellow or even red would have been a better colour for a "bugout/outdoorsy" style knife. However, as an EDC knife, blue actually makes sense as the colour blue is the least alarming and more comforting colour there is so maybe Benchmade actually didn't make a poor choice of colour for the Bugout.

Plus it looks cool too. I love that blue.

I have 90%+ black knives personally. Not my preference, just how it happened. Not too many sprints or weird/rare colours up here when I started buying knives, I guess.

If it was available in black, the Bugout I ordered would likely not be coming in blue.

 

[GB940Rookie]

A lot of people (myself included) questioned why Benchmade used blue scales on their Bugout knife. Some felt that orange, yellow or even red would have been a better colour for a "bugout/outdoorsy" style knife. However, as an EDC knife, blue actually makes sense as the colour blue is the least alarming and more comforting colour there is so maybe Benchmade actually didn't make a poor choice of colour for the Bugout.

You may be right but........barf!

Hell why not use glitter with pictures of unicorns on the scales

 

[colin.p]

Plus it looks cool too. I love that blue.

I have 90%+ black knives personally. Not my preference, just how it happened. Not too many sprints or weird/rare colours up here when I started buying knives, I guess.

If it was available in black, the Bugout I ordered would likely not be coming in blue.

I got the second last one in a knife shop in Ottawa. They had it listed on their web page for a couple days (?) and quickly sold out. I am not exaggerating when I say it may very well be one of the best EDC knives there is. I like it better than my 940 -2. Oh, and I'm warming up to the blue scales as well.

 

[Sosa]

All this talk of combat knives being aggressively brandished in public. I’ve never seen it. And if a coworker or friend
Shows me their piece or blade i give a rats ass

 

[SharpieB]

You may be right but........barf!

Hell why not use glitter with pictures of unicorns on the scales

Ooohhhh... when is that gonna be available?

I personally don’t think the blue is too over the top, but it isn’t for everyone. Just a break from black for me.

As far as what anyone thinks what my knives look like, I don’t care. But I don’t whip out a bigass tactical knife to butter my pancakes at IHOP either.

 

[gadgetgeek]

Blue is also a much more distinct color through more of the year in the woods. An orange object in the fall against orange/brown leaves is harder to see, especially when dirty.

I don't think that its knives as such. Think back to when cellphones were first becoming common. People noticed when someone was using a phone in public. Then blackberries or palms, it drew notice. I get a reaction when people find out I have a flashlight or a first aid kit. Generally its a good surprise, but they can quickly see the utility. When I do the same with a knife, even if its a SAK and all I offer is the scissors, the novelty factor is tempered by the fact that most people have ingrained in their head that knife=weapon. But I don't think they even realize that.

There is also the factor of "why are you doing that?" Why is your daily habit different than mine? Like carrying a lighter if you don't smoke. Why? Even when its been part of my job, or its obvious (to me) why I have a knife/Multitool/crescent wrench/headlamp/whatever, it still got that reaction because its out of the ordinary. So I always put it back the other way. I don't justify why I do, I ask why they don't.

 

[22-rimfire]

People seem to be afraid of many things these days. Knives are one of them. It's a symbol of aggression or aggressive behavior. The article is about right from my experience. What frightens people with certain knives is the sudden appearance and deployment coupled with the smack sound. It is reminiscent of switch blades in movies. Remove sudden and smack and you're probably okay.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I think it's all about the location. I don't go out of my way to use my knives in public for educational purposes, but I do use them when need be.

However, I think it has more to do with the person. To some, I'm the "knife guy", to most, I'm the "guy who fixes/opens stuff". When something needs to be done, I'm their guy.

Now, depending on the need, most folks probably don't notice the 4" blade for heavy cutting clipped to my pocket. To be more tactful and less tactical, I usually use my Beer Scout for my social chores. Nice non pointy blade with a screw driver/bottle opener in a friendly profile. 90% of the time, it's all I need. Pair it with a good pliers based multitool, and I'm a rock star when it comes to a social emergency

If I need to really cut something, the larger folder clipped to my pocket is more than capable. If I need it, I use it, but I don't go flipping out a tactical knife if it's not warranted.

That said, most folks will never even notice the 6-8" bladed fixed blade lashed high and tight on my belt

 

[BK14]

And some girls see a guy whip a big knife out of his pants to open a beer and then start laughing.

I'm just suggesting that the reactions people are getting to their knives may not be fear. All I'm doing.

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen a few people be noticeably uncomfortable. But a very few, most are just curious. Like everyone is when they see something new.

 

[USMCPOP]

Circa 1978, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. Was invited to teach an English class one time to maybe 5th grade elementary school kids. A kid near the back of the room had a little farmer type machete/knife with about an 8" blade and a long handle and he was playing with it. No one paid any attention to him. He probably brought the family water buffalo to school so it could eat grass along the way. Or he needed a ride to and from.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Do slipjoints not exist ?

The fact that he didn't even mention traditional " pocket knives " didn't sit right with me for some reason.

It's like only tactical looking knives will get you dirty looks, any fast opening modern folder that flicks can get you dirty looks, really any knife can but a smaller traditional folder is the least likely.
I'm not say anything thing against any types of knives, but he totally looked over a big part of the knife community as if he doesn't know this side is still common.

 

[Velitrius]

You may be right but........barf!

Hell why not use glitter with pictures of unicorns on the scales

Indeed, because "glitter with pictures of unicorns" = "blue" as far as scale color is concerned.

I read the linked article. I'd describe it as poorly written and poorly researched. But what the hell.

I chalk it up to the times we live in. Back in the day, a pocket knife was an indispensable tool that people carried every day. Today, they are weapons to be feared and removed from folks entering a school zone, court house, or public transportation. This change in attitude is completely irrational in my book, but it is what it is.

I remember my dad as a kid, he left the house with a Schrade folder, wristwatch, handkerchief, hat, Zippo lighter and wallet. Today, this stuff is considered as an "EDC Loadout" or such. He used the knife all the time, and at no time did anyone ever describe him as "whipping it out" or "deploying" it... It was merely used for a cutting chore. Nobody recoiled in horror as a deadly weapon was brandished in their presence.

When was the tipping point? What generation decided they didn't want sharp objects on the streets with innocent bystanders? I don't know. I do know that back in my day, we carried pocket knives to school, and had rifles in rifle racks in the back windows of our pickups that were unlocked and parked in the school parking lot. We got into scraps all the time, but never would one of us even consider pulling our knife or going out to the truck to fetch our rifle in order to settle said altercation.

When did people decide to fear knives? Why is it that the little missus will shrink at the sight of a pocket knife being removed from the pocket of a well meaning store clerk, but go home and wield a razor sharp 8 inch chef's knife every night? I mean, statistics will tell you that the chef's knife is used in far more knife assaults than the Stockman ever will, but whatever... the guy "pulled a knife" at the feed store.

Short answer to my long post... I don't think people are capable of explaining why they fear pocket knives. The fear is irrational.

My mom used to scream and jump out of her skin when she saw a garter snake in the yard. The snake is completely harmless, has never injured anyone, and wasn't attacking her. She couldn't explain why she reacted so, her fear was irrational.

And so society goes I guess.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I don't understand the fear...as kids, we grew up with pocket-knives and loved 'em.
Now-days, it seems that everyone is scared of anything that doesn't have a screen and cursor.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Indeed, because "glitter with pictures of unicorns" = "blue" as far as scale color is concerned.

I read the linked article. I'd describe it as poorly written and poorly researched. But what the hell.

I chalk it up to the times we live in. Back in the day, a pocket knife was an indispensable tool that people carried every day. Today, they are weapons to be feared and removed from folks entering a school zone, court house, or public transportation. This change in attitude is completely irrational in my book, but it is what it is.

I remember my dad as a kid, he left the house with a Schrade folder, wristwatch, handkerchief, hat, Zippo lighter and wallet. Today, this stuff is considered as an "EDC Loadout" or such. He used the knife all the time, and at no time did anyone ever describe him as "whipping it out" or "deploying" it... It was merely used for a cutting chore. Nobody recoiled in horror as a deadly weapon was brandished in their presence.

When was the tipping point? What generation decided they didn't want sharp objects on the streets with innocent bystanders? I don't know. I do know that back in my day, we carried pocket knives to school, and had rifles in rifle racks in the back windows of our pickups that were unlocked and parked in the school parking lot. We got into scraps all the time, but never would one of us even consider pulling our knife or going out to the truck to fetch our rifle in order to settle said altercation.

When did people decide to fear knives? Why is it that the little missus will shrink at the sight of a pocket knife being removed from the pocket of a well meaning store clerk, but go home and wield a razor sharp 8 inch chef's knife every night? I mean, statistics will tell you that the chef's knife is used in far more knife assaults than the Stockman ever will, but whatever... the guy "pulled a knife" at the feed store.

Short answer to my long post... I don't think people are capable of explaining why they fear pocket knives. The fear is irrational.

My mom used to scream and jump out of her skin when she saw a garter snake in the yard. The snake is completely harmless, has never injured anyone, and wasn't attacking her. She couldn't explain why she reacted so, her fear was irrational.

And so society goes I guess.

I wasn't referencing the color blue.
Dig deeper.

 

[gadgetgeek]

This might be a part of the cause.
Have you heard of the concept of Dunbar's number? Its basically the number of people who can be part of your "tribe" its from 100-200 people, and its the max you can have direct empathy for. So you get into a fight with a guy in highschool, you've known him most of your life, or maybe you know his little brother, or your dad's work together, whatever it is, there is a connection that going and getting a rifle would cross. But lets say its 20 years later, those same kids dumbar number is half full of instagram celebs, and they have not known each other that long, they don't know that their dad's work for the same multi-national, and their siblings are on the same soccer team. So suddenly that line of "my tribe" isn't there and you can depersonalize and make the other person an "other" thus killing them becomes less taboo in the heat of rage.

How does that affect us? I trust those in my tribe to have my best interests at heart, because my best interests are also theirs. Someone from outside my tribe has to decide what my motivations are when I have a knife in my hand, and that is a stressor. Constantly being in threat analysis mode means that we are more keyed up, and our brain is wired to bias towards false positive than false negative. You pull a knife, I have to decide if you are a threat, ties go to threat. At least for the first few hundred milliseconds. But the stress takes longer to dissipate.

 

[Korean Hog]

I carry an Umnumzaan for when I have something thick to cut, and for my own personal enjoyment. Rarely does anyone get a chance to see it outside of my family and the people I work with. For everything else I use my small sebenza and I doubt anyone notices me using it.

I agree with what has been said already. If you go around acting like "Bubba Bad Ass" your posture and movement has already drawn extra attention. If you then proceed to sling a knife out, and that knife looks more like a weapon than a tool (Tanto vs. sheepsfoot/ Umnum vs. small seb) you absolutely look like a threat. And as a big a knife nut as I am, I don't feel comfortable either when someone with aggressive movement uses a combat oriented knife in an aggressive manner. It just looks wrong. That same person usually is the same person that gets mad easily and is more likely to use physical violence.

And for those of you that hold fast to the special operations worship/ SEAL worship/ I'm 'Murican I do what I want attitude with everything (including knives) , remember that the Special Operations community takes pride in being "Quiet Professionals" and whipping out a folding tanto with a 4" or so blade to open a box or cut an apple in the middle of public would go against the idea of keeping things quiet and professional.

Granted, I work a trade in a small coastal town/ rural area in the deep south so not many people are going to freak about most pocket knives anyway. I don't want to get political, I'm just saying my opinions come from experiences in a more or less "knife friendly" area anyway. I've never lived in a big city or area with strict knife laws either.

 

[Shappy]

I believe the pussification of America began in the 90's and has been in full swing for some time! If a guy ever shuddered when I pulled out a 4" bladed knife, I think I'd start laughing and tell him to stop being such a little beeotch!