Reaction to use of your knife in a murder?

M

mikeS

Joined
Apr 7, 1999
Messages
1,015
I have not had this happen to me, but have read of makers that have. Looking for your thoughts.
 
Excellent topic. You can not control the actions of others. You are providing a fine tool that can be used for good or evil. Should a car dealer feel responsible for his vehical being used to kill someone? Of course not.

A well done fighting knife would by design be an excellent killing weapon. Killing is of course different than murder when done in self defense or war.

However, if I were approached by someone that requested I make a dagger for him to kill his wife with - I would probably be an accomplis to murder if I did not report it.
 
I can't think of a single style of knife currently produced, to include the "fighter", that doesn't have a legitimate use in the hands of a law abiding citizen. Likewise, I'm not aware of any maker who specializes in the production of knives intended to be used as instruments of murder. For these reasons I don't believe any maker should feel the least bit of remorse upon learning that one of his/her creations was used for a purpose for which it wasn't intended.

At the risk of turning this into a discussion that is destined for banishment to the Community Forum, let me just say that one of the most troubling trends I see at work today in the U.S., is our increasing reticence and reluctance to hold individuals accountable for their actions. This weakness manifests itself in innumerable ways in this nation daily. And at some level, I believe it's responsible for the fact that a question like this would even be posed (absolutely no offense intended here towards you, mikeS
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). Bottom line- It's my belief that a legitimate knifemaker should feel no more guilt or remorse upon learning that one his creations was used in the commission of a murder, than an automaker should feel upon learning that a car he helped produce was used in a felony DWI. We can all say that we don't want our freedoms infringed upon, but let us not forget that true freedom demands accountability. Okay, I'm done preaching to the choir now.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
I don't think the maker should feel responsible, but I do think s/he would be unable to have no feelings along the line of 'oh, if only I had noticed some little detail that would tip me off to this person's intent.' We are, after all, human. The automaker is a slightly different situation, because they don't have an interaction directly with the buyer (just like (most) production knife companies don't meet a specific buyer in the process of a sale).

I do agree about the personal responsibility thing. Too much, people do all sorts of things and blame it on someone else. My reaction is: I'm real sorry you were abused as a child or whatever, but you still had to make a choice; you aren't less responsible, but maybe there is some additional responsibility to pass around, as in the case of abuse. Of course, when someone is not convicted of a murder because he had just eaten a lot of Twinkies and was on a sugar high, that's just stupid (and this did happen).

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
I keep a knife in my drawer that I retrieved from the police impound after being used as evidence in the trial of a 19 year old punk. He was arrested outside of a local theater chasing another kid with my knife. Not exactly a murderous looking blade, it was a fairly big-bellied skinning blade with buffalo horn handle, but still it was sharp.

Luckily for the other kid, the one with my knife never caught him.

The knife was one of four that were stolen from my vehicle a few weeks prior.

I would have "killed" the kid for stealing the knives, but of course he just found it and didn't have any idea where the other 3 were.

Back to the subject, I didn't feel bad about it, I was mad. I think even if the situation had been worse, I would still be more mad than anything.

The level of disrespect for others and their property is sickening.

And I'm only 22, I don't look forward to where it's headed.

Nick
 
I agree with e_utopia. I know if I made a knife and sold it to someone who either themselves used it for murder or had it stolen and the thief used it for murder, I couldn't help but feel
horrible about it, but I wouldn't feel responsible. It would bother me that someone used something I made and took a life with it. That would even be so if I made baseball bats. I've thought about this before. I know that if I was involved in an accident where someone was killed, even if it wasn't my fault, it would be a long time for me to be able to get behind the wheel again.

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
Is this for real...this is the shop talk forum...we dont put up with off topic subjects around here....Tim, can you lock this thread?????????
 
Great topic. Tom Maringer quit knifemaking because someone was killed with one of his knives. His web site does not mention if it was in self defense or if the knife was used offensively. Just from watching news stories, I think more people are murdered with kitchen knives.

Is it the fault of the tool or the maker of the tool? Hell no.

Are some knives designed as fighters with the purpose of making death. We would be ignorant to argue otherwise. I didn't take my "skinning" knife to Somalia. My friends who ran SOG missions in Viet Nam didn't take hunting knives to the bush. There is no doubt that some knives are designed for one purpose.

I would be proud if someone used one of my knives to defend themselves or someone close to them from danger.

I would only be responsible if an individual came to me and said they needed a knife to do a dirty deed. That would be my responsibility to turn that individual down an take action to prevent a serious crime.

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
 
Bobh, the reason this is being dicussed is. This is a discussion forum about knifes. What I wondered is how other makers felt about it. My take is simialar to most here, I make knifes, "objects" that are not inherently evil, as the anti-knife, anti-gun, anti-baseball bat, lobbyist would have the world believe. I think I would be "affected" by the use of one of my knives, because the making of them is kinda involved. But i would not feel responsible.

If you check the post I didn't say, Should we feel resposible for the act. I just wanted your reaction to it.

Thankyou for your response.
 
my philosophy has always been, dont ever take a knife to a gun fight, and Im stickin with it...after going to the police action in 67/68 I am convinced that there are no winners in war.....only survivors....if you want to survive, never let your enemy see you, if he does you screwed up and you dont get many chances to do that in the jungle. best bet-call in the jets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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http://www.mayoknives.com


 
When I needed a permit to collect knifes I talked to the police about this, and they had to admit that nobody had ever been killed with a custommade knife around here. As dogman noticed they always used kitchenknifes - especially breadknifes with serrated blades.
 
Approximately 58,000 people are killed every year in North America in accidents (by any means) in vehicles of all types and decriptions. You can tell how the auto makers are all busted up about this, can't you? Air bags that kill children, cars that explode on contact with the back bumpers...all kinds of fun and games!

People have tried to 'warm and fuzzy' the world around us by making this part of the planet as safe as they possibly can. God Bless'um!! But (BIG BUT) this is not the case with the rest of this little blue ball and the rest of the folks know it.

As Bronco is quoted in part in his signature " but for a few rough men prepared to do what ever it takes..." George Orwell

I think that it's past the bed time of most of the kids that lurk on this forum so I'm going to take a wild chance here and risk offending someone...PLEASE GIVE MANKIND THE COMMON SENSE ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT WHEN SOMETHING LEAVES YOUR DIRECT AND IMMEDIATE CONTROL, IT'S GONE. You know longer have an option as to it's use or application. If (BIG IF) you had any forknowledge of evil intent then you are just as guilty as the perp and should swing beside them; otherwise let it go.

We all have enough negative Karma (I can't believe I'm actually writing this down!) to look for more.

Crap!! I need another beer...
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hic!
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All the Best

Dileas Gu Brath
 
It is relevant.The answer is that inanimate objects do not possess will.
 
Well I darn sure am never gonna make a serrated edged bread knife!!!
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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
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