putting our best foot forward

T

ThirdTooth

Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Messages
299
as serious members of a knife community I feel like we have a duty to give people the right idea about knife enthusiasts, especially since the media doesn't do us any favors.

I usually steer clear of the self defense aspect, for starters because I don't carry a tac blade and also because it clearly makes people (even some knife people) uncomfortable to so much as think about. besides, anyone who knows me doesn't see a fighter anyways. I always say "I carry it to open packages and prepare fruit" its an accessible statement because everyone loves fruit and hates clam packs ^_^ once they show any interest or understanding I like to show them some pics of gorgeous custom knives or offer to customize a production knife for them if ever they get one, usually an effective finishing move.

But recently just as a friend of mine was expressing interest in getting himself a folder, his attitude towards knife carriers was soured. he has a construction job and works with a lot of those guys that are hired through a subcontractor to help out just for a day and don't really work for the contractor itself, If you don't know what I'm talking about the long and short is that these guys are addicts, degenerates, fuckups, etc. anyways, he's bumped into the worst instances of knife owners working with these guys and is back to thinking knife owners are either criminals or pseudo tough-guys. groan

Anyways, what does everyone else think about our duty in knife community PR? Do we have a role to play? do you have any stories about changing peoples attitudes about it? how do you like to "sell" the idea to non-knifers? or do you just keep the magic of pointy things to yourself (they wouldn't get it)
 
This is precisely why I carry two knives. I usually have a larger folder when it is needed and my buck 501 when I don't want to scare people. A knife is a last ditch weapon in a self defense situation. I conceal carry a firearm and I would depend in that if my life was in danger. One should avoid any confrontation or violence if possible.

Not to be a grammar nazi, but reading your post was painful with your choice of punctuation.
 
Your friend is a construction worker and doesn't carry a knife? How does he get by? He must always be asking others to borrow their knife. To answer your question about knife PR, I gave up on that a long time ago. Some people you can convert, others are just out of touch with reality, and still others are conflicted. Point in case, I work with a guy who carries a knife part time, and clips it on the outside of his belt. (it's a 4" bladed Gerber) This guy didn't have his knife the other day and asks me if I had my weapon on me. I told him no and started walking a little then told him no weapons, but a tool. I handed him my Rukus as I told him the weapon is in the truck. He even keeps a gun in his truck. Talk about conflicted.
 
You start your discussion by stating that you are a serious member of the knife community. This is good and admirable. However later in your discssion you include an "F bomb". From my perpsective this takes away from being a "serious" professional member of any community.
 
People of all sorts own and carry knives. Your friend is not thinking to clearly to make such assumptions based on the "degenerates" he works with.
If he chooses to not carry a knife that is his business.
It is very hard and nearly impossible to change someones "mind set". They have a belief and that is that. If you do not share that belief you are often in for a hard time of it and you are not going to change that persons belief regardless of method. I do not waste my time in such things but will take the time to tell someone I don't care what their belief is as long as they leave me to my beliefs and pursuits without harassment.

If your friend thinks that only degenerates, etc. carry knives that is his belief...leave him alone...you are not going to change him so why bother.

And yes good grammar and correct punctuation is a good thing. I don't care about the "F" bomb.
 
I think anytime you lump an entire workforce into a category of degenerates, addicts, and f ups that's not exactly putting your best foot forward. In fact it's extremely closed minded, judgmental, and arrogant.

Up until that paragraph I dug what you were saying, but passing that kind of judgment really pi*#@d me off.

Frankly the title of your thread is ironic as all get out and the content couldn't be more counterproductive to your point.

Enjoy being up on that high horse and have yourself a good day:thumbup:
 
I used to carry a small 1.5 inch blade neck knife to use in public and I still got the horror look from it. I just gave up trying to appease timid people and only carry my large folder. I still don't go snapping it open in line at the movies or anything but I use it in public and it's no different from a Sak in their eyes.
 
I just act like the somewhat normal human I am.
If I was weird, I'd act weird.
My wife doesn't feel she needs to be the representative for black people, and I don't feel I need to be the representative of knife owners (or white people, for that matter:)).
 
One day workers can be degenerates and such, but sometimes they are average joes, looking for work. I don't blame you, one notices bad people more than the good. I try to tell people that it is a tool, but try to carry a traditional for using around sheeple, and a big, nice, overbuilt knife for when its just you.
 
I agree, just as that guy lumped all knife people together and made a generalization. You did the same thing when discussing sub-contractors working in constructions. I'm sure there are many hard working people desperate for work that are willing to do what ever it takes to feed their families. Their not all drug addicts, just as all people who like knives are not all criminals. Nor, are we all upstanding members of society. I think if we have learned anything from this thread is not to make generalizations. I also agree about the F bomb, there’s no need to use that kind of language around here.
 
As a "Construction Worker" I hate that term by the way, I see that same point a discrimination alot. The fact of the matter is that I'm a Carpenter by trade I have 4 years of classroom training and at the same time I worked 40 to 50 hours a week on the job. Alot of "Construction Workers" put in more time than your advrage collage student while working full time at a demanding job. Its the "Construction Workers" that are the ones that build the safe and comfortable offices, raodways, and homes we all use and live in every day with out much thought. Now that said there are bad apples found in all lines of work, it just happens that construction is one place due to the nature of the work that gives opportunity to people that might not have the cleanest records or amount of education a job where hard labor and a strong back is needed.

As for Knife P.R. for my line of work Construction I like a biger folder and a cheap Stanley utility knife on my at all times at work. Its either my SMF or ZT 560 I cant tell you how many times that bigger blade has made the difference is getting the task at hand done. Try cutting a heavy piece of rope or trimming back a piece of 3 inch foam insulation board that is in your way with a 1 1/4 long blade on a SAK or utility knife. P.R. of a knife to me does not matter when its a tool and that's all most folders are. And those " addicts, degenerates, f*ck#ps, etc." that have a knifes more than likely are using them as tools of the trade and not weapons who knows one day one of those degenerates might just save his life on the job site.
 
ohenkowski said:
You start your discussion by stating that you are a serious member of the knife community. This is good and admirable. However later in your discssion you include an "F bomb". From my perpsective this takes away from being a "serious" professional member of any community.
Click to expand...

I know my eyes are bleeding from having to endure that horrible word. Never can he be taken serious again. Shame on him. . . Not.


On topic, I gave up trying to convert anyone. Instead, I just continue to act responsibly with my knife as a tool. I have this co-worker who wanted my help recently for a camping knife. Odds are he won't listen to a thing I mention and instead get a serrated Cold Steel of some sort.
 
I EDC a folding knife pretty much everywhere I go. My normal rotation involves a Buck Medium Folding Bucklite Max, a Case Medium Stockman with Bonestag handles, or a Victorinox Spartan. Where I come from, its not uncommon for people to carry knives for common daily tasks. However, whenever I bust out my knife in front of someone who isn't expecting it they usually ask, "What do you have that for?" My favorite response is, "You don't know what a knife is for?" I don't remember where I first heard that, but I usually get a chuckle out of it. After breaking the ice with that, its pretty easy to explain in a sentence or two why carrying a knife pays off. Sometimes I even recommend knives that they can pickup for cheap and see if they like having it (usually a Victorinox).

I don't carry a knife for self defense. I've had just enough training in unarmed combat to know how that story ends. As soon as one person pulls a knife in your average street/thug fight, you might as well make reservations for everyone at the ER. On that note, I conceal carry a pistol and practice unarmed combatives.
 
P2P said:
I know my eyes are bleeding from having to endure that horrible word. Never can he be taken serious again. Shame on him. . . Not.


On topic, I gave up trying to convert anyone. Instead, I just continue to act responsibly with my knife as a tool. I have this co-worker who wanted my help recently for a camping knife. Odds are he won't listen to a thing I mention and instead get a serrated Cold Steel of some sort.
Click to expand...

no need to hate on Cold steel.
 
RiverRat84 said:
I think anytime you lump an entire workforce into a category of degenerates, addicts, and f ups that's not exactly putting your best foot forward. In fact it's extremely closed minded, judgmental, and arrogant.

Up until that paragraph I dug what you were saying, but passing that kind of judgment really pi*#@d me off.

Frankly the title of your thread is ironic as all get out and the content couldn't be more counterproductive to your point.

Enjoy being up on that high horse and have yourself a good day:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Sorry to offend. honest. Maybe I was misunderstood, I worked in construction myself for a while and I thought that most of my coworkers were stand up people, however the laborers we got from this particular organization were honestly more often than not individuals with serious issues, that's why they didn't work for contractors but for this organization that lent them out on a day-by-day basis. Not to say they were all like that but it was very honestly the majority, I can say that by experience. Its nothing against anyone in the trades or with a blue collar job

I suppose what I'm saying is that I'm more judgmental of this particular labor provider than a particular labor force, only because I have dealt with them myself and know what they're like. there's really no need to get so defensive and try and take a strip out of me like that, we're all friends here.
 
Last edited:
Interesting.

A lot of being a fan of knives and carrying them is you have to learn to use your freedom of speech and learn to tell someone to $%& off when they give you weird looks if you have a knife; self confidence is key.

There is no reason to care about what other's think of your knife carrying as long as you are within legal limitations. If you take out a 4 inch blade in a 4 inch blade legal area, and some moron screams... scream back for them to go %$&@ themselves, seriously. How sick is it that we even have to sit and wonder what people think of us for doing something legal? No, sorry I'm done justifying why I carry knives to people who are afraid of something such as a knife. Anyone can kill someone else with anything:

toothbrush
cane
stick
brick
rock
broken coffee mug
broken glass
not broken glass
bottle
smartphone
steel toe boot
pencil
pen
bat
horseshoe
lawn dart
bag of potatoes
piece of string


ALL OF THOSE things can be deadly weapons without training.

ALL OF THOSE things are legal, just like knives.

Sorry but there is nothing that us as the "knife community" can do to make knives more PR. The world does not know this community exists. Enjoy being able to open packages with your EDC while it's legal. Tell the nay sayers, to stfu,for once and stop justifying your legal actions.
 
The most I do is not make a big scene of using the knife. I use it, then put it away. If someone asks why I have it, they get the obvious answer: "To cut stuff." Plain and simple. That's all that needs to be done.
 
I get scolded by some of my family like I'm a child when I take out a pocket knife. I don't understand it. Maybe, because murderers in movies always carry a knife I must secretly be one as well? Honestly, I mostly ignore those who react badly when I use my pocket knife. I really only talk to people who don't overreact, If they ask about my knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top