Regional patterns in north America?

[oldmanrunning]

Yep. Im 26, and i dont know anyone in my age group who carries a knife. Let alone "grampa knives" as my coworker calls slipjoints. Meanwhile, that same cowoeker constantly asks to borrow a knife, yet never takes me up on my offers of giving him one that i dont use

A word of advice from a "grampa", I work on the premise that if some one does not carry a knife they very likely do not know how to use one, i dont let them learn on mine, i would say to your co-worker "Take this knife and dont ever ask to borrow one again".

 

[NativeCraft]

Yep. Im 26, and i dont know anyone in my age group who carries a knife. Let alone "grampa knives" as my coworker calls slipjoints. Meanwhile, that same cowoeker constantly asks to borrow a knife, yet never takes me up on my offers of giving him one that i dont use

One important thing I learned from my father was to never let anyone "borrow" your knife, as they have a way of ending up in the other person's pocket, or damaged, or dulled beyond reasonable repair. He taught me that when someone asks to borrow a knife to simply say "No, but if you'll show me what you need to cut I'll be happy to do it for you. Else, get your own knife". He still carries the Buck large stockman that he bought over 45 yrs ago when I was a little boy.

 

[mitch4ging]

Grew up in New Mexico in the '70s, mostly Buck and Old Timer Stockman's and Trappers, at least that's what everyone around me had. My first was a small Old Timer Stockman.

 

[fishcakes]

A word of advice from a "grampa", I work on the premise that if some one does not carry a knife they very likely do not know how to use one, i dont let them learn on mine, i would say to your co-worker "Take this knife and dont ever ask to borrow one again".

One important thing I learned from my father was to never let anyone "borrow" your knife, as they have a way of ending up in the other person's pocket, or damaged, or dulled beyond reasonable repair. He taught me that when someone asks to borrow a knife to simply say "No, but if you'll show me what you need to cut I'll be happy to do it for you. Else, get your own knife". He still carries the Buck large stockman that he bought over 45 yrs ago when I was a little boy.

The issue is that we work construction and if he needs a knife, its to get the job done. Often times i cant stop to cut whatever it is for him. That or hes in a position where he needs to cut it NOW while holding something with his other hand. Ive already decided to gift him a sak for christmas. After that he wont be borrowing my knife no matter the situation because i can juat counter with "wheres yours?"

 

[hungry hunter]

Here in the middle of Texas, I see a little bit of everything. A lot of times folks wearing a cowboy hat will also have a traditional knife in a belt sheath. Mostly a stockman or trapper from what I can tell. Moore Maker knives seem quite common - or at least I can tell those apart by seeing one bolster or sheath. The older gentlemen I work with all carry (or have been carrying) large trappers. I also see quite a few small fixed blades as well.

There are also quite a few pocket clips seen, but from my unscientific observations - the older men and those that make their living off of the land still carry mostly traditionals of some sort.


I'd agree with earlier posts about the stockman being favored in the Ozarks. That's all I remember seeing as a kid besides a Buck 110 or sharpfinger during hunting season. I've seen my step-dad skin a process a whole lot of deer with his medium stockman.

 

[boy&hisdogs]

Yep. Im 26, and i dont know anyone in my age group who carries a knife. Let alone "grampa knives" as my coworker calls slipjoints. Meanwhile, that same cowoeker constantly asks to borrow a knife, yet never takes me up on my offers of giving him one that i dont use

Yep, sadly this is the case with me as well. I'm 23, and I live in a very militantly liberal part of California to boot. There's a small but tight knit and brotherly community of small-time family farmers, hunters, and other such folk around here, but the majority of dudes in our age range are wimpy hipster nu-males. The central valley is like a little slice of West Texas though, and most of California north of Sacramento might as well just be an extension of Oregon. Don't think we're ALL a bunch of hippies! Most of inland California is just as normal as any other middle American state, but we get a bad reputation because somehow San Francisco gets to make all the decisions... :thumbdn:

The people who are the most adverse to pocket knives are always the ones who need to borrow them most often as well.

 

[fishcakes]

Yep, sadly this is the case with me as well. I'm 23, and I live in a very militantly liberal part of California to boot. There's a small but tight knit and brotherly community of small-time family farmers, hunters, and other such folk around here, but the majority of dudes in our age range are wimpy hipster nu-males. The central valley is like a little slice of West Texas though, and most of California north of Sacramento might as well just be an extension of Oregon. Don't think we're ALL a bunch of hippies! Most of inland California is just as normal as any other middle American state, but we get a bad reputation because somehow San Francisco gets to make all the decisions... :thumbdn:

The people who are the most adverse to pocket knives are always the ones who need to borrow them most often as well.

Hipsters and numales. Perfect discription. Good to know theres still some people our age around that favor practicality over current societal trends.

And i saw your toothpick man, good job!

 

[btb01]

The issue is that we work construction and if he needs a knife, its to get the job done. Often times i cant stop to cut whatever it is for him. That or hes in a position where he needs to cut it NOW while holding something with his other hand. Ive already decided to gift him a sak for christmas. After that he wont be borrowing my knife no matter the situation because i can juat counter with "wheres yours?"

I'm with oldmanrunning and NativeCraft on this one. I don't hand my knife over to anyone unless I know how they'll treat it and trust them. A while back my boss said, "Hey, give me your knife." I looked over and he was trying to pry a nail out of the wall and couldn't get it with his fingernail. Um… no.

As far as your co-worker goes, if a knife is regularly required to "get the job done," and he doesn't have (or refuses to carry) one, sounds to me like he isn't prepared for the job.

 

[fishcakes]

I'm with oldmanrunning and NativeCraft on this one. I don't hand my knife over to anyone unless I know how they'll treat it and trust them. A while back my boss said, "Hey, give me your knife." I looked over and he was trying to pry a nail out of the wall and couldn't get it with his fingernail. Um… no.

As far as your co-worker goes, if a knife is regularly required to "get the job done," and he doesn't have (or refuses to carry) one, sounds to me like he isn't prepared for the job.

Hes always respectful. Even asks me what tool/blade of the sak to use for a particular job. Which screwdriver to use, what to use for scraping paint, which blade to use for cutting said object. So i know he cares and would treat a knife with respect. Ive already decided hell be receiving a sak hiker sometime around the holidays. Then there will be no excuses, and i wont have to stop working to hand him my knife:thumbup:

 

[neal70]

Don't know what kinda construction you do, but I always had a box cutter/Stanley type knife in my belt. More in my pockets, but I'd just as soon cut shingles or drywall or insulation batting, whatever with a knife that's razor sharp all the time, and if it's not flip or replace the blade. Plus they take hook blades for shingles and carpet. If he's yer buddy well and good, otherwise just get him a retractable working knife for $5-10 bucks, and let him buy the 50 or 100 pack blades. Really. There's a ton of different types, folding etc., lot of them have utility notches so you don't have to expose the whole blade and are great for stripping wire, cuttin' cord , whatever. Do him and your self a favor, get him a tool he'll use the hell out of and doesn't have to sharpen. 'Cause if he ain't got a knife now,working in the trades, he's gonna have problems taking care of one in the future. Sorry if that's a rant, but I never could stand loaning my tools out , because someone couldn't make a trip to the truck or the hardware store. That stuff just don't fly. Wow, fastest I've typed in awhile. $.02
Thanks, Neal

 

[Paul Davidson]

I think the regional knives change by generation as well. My dad was a WWII vet and favored a medium stockman for daily use. Most of his friends also carried stockman knives, with the occasional two blade jack. Sometimes a pen knife for church or other dress up occasions. Dad had Case, Boker, and Primble knives most of the time. Later he liked Uncle Henry/Old Timer because of their carbon steel blades.

When he was a kid in Depression era Appalachia, a Russell Barlow was the nicest knives around. His father had a store and sold them, 25¢ for a single blade and 50¢ for two blades. They were considered too expensive for a boy, and Dad told me that you were considered pretty well off if you carried the two blade Barlow. I doubt many people in his area could afford Case, Remington, or the like.

In the late 70s, the Buck 110 was popular with younger generations. Buck slipjoints were very popular in Kentucky as well.

I think the brands sold locally had the biggest impact on popularity up until the last 20 years or so.

Paul

 

[fishcakes]

Don't know what kinda construction you do, but I always had a box cutter/Stanley type knife in my belt. More in my pockets, but I'd just as soon cut shingles or drywall or insulation batting, whatever with a knife that's razor sharp all the time, and if it's not flip or replace the blade. Plus they take hook blades for shingles and carpet. If he's yer buddy well and good, otherwise just get him a retractable working knife for $5-10 bucks, and let him buy the 50 or 100 pack blades. Really. There's a ton of different types, folding etc., lot of them have utility notches so you don't have to expose the whole blade and are great for stripping wire, cuttin' cord , whatever. Do him and your self a favor, get him a tool he'll use the hell out of and doesn't have to sharpen. 'Cause if he ain't got a knife now,working in the trades, he's gonna have problems taking care of one in the future. Sorry if that's a rant, but I never could stand loaning my tools out , because someone couldn't make a trip to the truck or the hardware store. That stuff just don't fly. Wow, fastest I've typed in awhile. $.02
Thanks, Neal

He asks to borrow the sak because it has all the light duty tools we need in a small package. I install fire sprinkler systems. Lots of sawing through sheetrock/ wood, scraping paint off pipes, screws, tweezers for splinters, and the obvious cutting tasks. Yes, he and i have become friends outside of work as well. Which is one of the reasons id like to see the guy carry a knife. Ive already gotten him to carry a small flashlight by showing him how convenient it is

And i apologize silenthunterstudios, i didnt mean to turn this into a "my coworker should have a knife thread"

 

[neal70]

Well look at it this way, work knives can be regional too. Don't expect a fisherman to carry the same thing a rancher or a farmer would. Same goes for different trades. Electricians, union ones anyhow, used to have to carry TL-29s and carpet/linoleum guys usually had a large fixed hawkbill. Regional may not be quite the right phrase, but certain knives were specific to certain trades. We carpenters just make sure they're sharp Like I said though,if he's yer buddy go for it, it is a guy bonding thing. Just don't forget the coin, like I seem to habitually do.
Neal

 

[fishcakes]

Well look at it this way, work knives can be regional too. Don't expect a fisherman to carry the same thing a rancher or a farmer would. Same goes for different trades. Electricians, union ones anyhow, used to have to carry TL-29s and carpet/linoleum guys usually had a large fixed hawkbill. Regional may not be quite the right phrase, but certain knives were specific to certain trades. We carpenters just make sure they're sharp Like I said though,if he's yer buddy go for it, it is a guy bonding thing. Just don't forget the coin, like I seem to habitually do.
Neal

I guess youre right about the different jobs being in a similar vein as the regions. I just remembered too, at least one guy in every crew of sheetrock guys seems to uae what looks like a modified kitchen knife.

And what do you mean about a coin?

 

[Sirryacus]

Yep, sadly this is the case with me as well. I'm 23, and I live in a very militantly liberal part of California to boot. There's a small but tight knit and brotherly community of small-time family farmers, hunters, and other such folk around here, but the majority of dudes in our age range are wimpy hipster nu-males. The central valley is like a little slice of West Texas though, and most of California north of Sacramento might as well just be an extension of Oregon. Don't think we're ALL a bunch of hippies! Most of inland California is just as normal as any other middle American state, but we get a bad reputation because somehow San Francisco gets to make all the decisions... :thumbdn:

The people who are the most adverse to pocket knives are always the ones who need to borrow them most often as well.

What city do you live in if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Sirryacus]

Don't know what kinda construction you do, but I always had a box cutter/Stanley type knife in my belt. More in my pockets, but I'd just as soon cut shingles or drywall or insulation batting, whatever with a knife that's razor sharp all the time, and if it's not flip or replace the blade. Plus they take hook blades for shingles and carpet. If he's yer buddy well and good, otherwise just get him a retractable working knife for $5-10 bucks, and let him buy the 50 or 100 pack blades. Really. There's a ton of different types, folding etc., lot of them have utility notches so you don't have to expose the whole blade and are great for stripping wire, cuttin' cord , whatever. Do him and your self a favor, get him a tool he'll use the hell out of and doesn't have to sharpen. 'Cause if he ain't got a knife now,working in the trades, he's gonna have problems taking care of one in the future. Sorry if that's a rant, but I never could stand loaning my tools out , because someone couldn't make a trip to the truck or the hardware store. That stuff just don't fly. Wow, fastest I've typed in awhile. $.02
Thanks, Neal

I hate to further derail the thread but any clue what this tool is? I've had it among my knife collection for a long time.

 

[deltaboy]

Hes always respectful. Even asks me what tool/blade of the sak to use for a particular job. Which screwdriver to use, what to use for scraping paint, which blade to use for cutting said object. So i know he cares and would treat a knife with respect. Ive already decided hell be receiving a sak hiker sometime around the holidays. Then there will be no excuses, and i wont have to stop working to hand him my knife:thumbup:

Just get the person a Stanley lock back razor blade knife .

http://scene7.targetimg1.com/is/image/Target/13796403?wid=480&hei=480

 

[neal70]

Sirryacus-looks like a linoleum cutter, that takes replaceable single edge razor blades. Or something in that vein. Hate to be quoted on that tho'. Fishcakes-traditionally you gave a penny, or what have you, when giving a knife to a friend. I don't recall off the top what the history is(why) behind that. Pretty sure someone will chime in on why, if we ask nicely...so, pretty please! . I have a question for you though: if you give your friend a knife, will he remember to bring it with, or will it be a case of oh forgot it on my night stand, etc. Not trying to make assumptions, truly curious.
Thanks, Neal

 

[boy&hisdogs]

What city do you live in if you don't mind me asking?

Santa Cruz! I'm originally from Fresno though.

 

[fishcakes]

Sirryacus-looks like a linoleum cutter, that takes replaceable single edge razor blades. Or something in that vein. Hate to be quoted on that tho'. Fishcakes-traditionally you gave a penny, or what have you, when giving a knife to a friend. I don't recall off the top what the history is(why) behind that. Pretty sure someone will chime in on why, if we ask nicely...so, pretty please! . I have a question for you though: if you give your friend a knife, will he remember to bring it with, or will it be a case of oh forgot it on my night stand, etc. Not trying to make assumptions, truly curious.
Thanks, Neal

I honestly think hed remember. The dude is 23, works a full time construction job and is going to college full time to be a cop. He and i switch around foreman duties depending on the job. Capable in every way youd expect a wannbe cop and construction worker to be, except apparently his dad never taught him that a man should have a knife in his pocket if his pants are on.

And for everyone saying i should just pick him up a utility blade, only half the duties i use my knife for at work are actual cutting tasks. For the rest, its usually a screwdriver, saw, awl or tweezers