SAK in social situation

C

cptmike03

Joined
Aug 5, 2006
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18
Thought you guys would love this story. It shows how great having an SAK can be over the "Tacti-cool" stuff on the market in some situations. I just got back from a social event for young professionals. The event was board game themed (not really my cup of tea, but I went anyway). I was playing a pictonary type game when all of the pencil tips broke. We were all sitting in a U-shaped booth in very close proximity. As everyone was complaining that there where no sharpeners in the cafe, I pulled out my Super Tinker SAK's small blade and sharpened all the pencils. One young women to my right said "you have a knife?!" and another commented on it, but nobody really cared. People did not even move away while I sharpened. Game continued do to the SAK. People seemed glad I had the thing. Now would I have gotten some nasty looks if it had been a tactical folder? Probobly. Keep in mind most people sitting around me were women or extreme sheeple types.

P.S. the small blade went though the pencils like a hot knife through butter.
 
That's a neat story. I think it would have been cool though to get out a Benchmade 710 or a Rukus to sharpen 'em. :D
 
Nice story cptmike03! That's one of the many positive aspects of a SAK, I don't think there are many people who feel threatened by that familiar (usually) red multi purpose knife. I used my Spartan a few days ago to open boxes with new computer hardware at work. Nobody bothered at all. I also gave it to my neighbour who used the small blade to remove the plastic wrappings you find on CD-R's. She used the knife as if she was very familiar with it, closed the small blade and gave the knife back to me. Even most people who don't care for knives at all immediately recognize a SAK and see it as a common tool.
 
Its surprising even in this sheeple day and age, how a sak gets a friendly reseption. Theres even been a few times I've taken it out in public to open a package or something, and somebody will remark on it, then tell me how they have a sak, and produce one of thier own. Kind of like a kindred show and tell. I guess so many people have or had one, that they just don't feel threatened by the familiar red handles.
 
jackknife said:
Its surprising even in this sheeple day and age, how a sak gets a friendly reseption. Theres even been a few times I've taken it out in public to open a package or something, and somebody will remark on it, then tell me how they have a sak, and produce one of thier own. Kind of like a kindred show and tell. I guess so many people have or had one, that they just don't feel threatened by the familiar red handles.
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I would still exercise caution. All you need is one higher-up who does not want to see blades being used, to walk by and see you, and you will have HR come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Management's reason would be two of the most powerful words imaginable: "legal liability."

Should someone borrow your blade and cut themselves, the company could be held responsible. And that would also be the grounds for YOUR dismissal as well. May I say, "Creation of a hostile work environment."

Try not to laugh. Lawsuits have been filed on such grounds before and have been upheld in court.
 
Sad but true. Brings forth how silly the courts have become, too, because someone who is crazy enough and angry enough can use any number of things in a modern office as a "weapon" if they "go postal". Broom handles, letter openers, scissors...

- Tim
 
At the risk of sounding silly or idiotic,the Vic My First Vic,looks like it might be a good choice for office duties. You might be a limited in your capabilities knifewise,but it would show that you did try to exercise due concern.
 
tarmacky said:
You might be a limited in your capabilities knifewise,but it would show that you did try to exercise due concern.
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That's why I tend to stick with my Vic MiniChamp or Executive in office-type situations. Smaller yet capable. :)

I save my Spyderco Dragonfly and Endura for when I go fishing. :D
 
the only reaction i usually get on my SAK(Swisschamp) is how big it is for a SAK

i think someone thinks "MacGuyver" before they think "knife" when they see it though :D
 
Interesting. That makes sense, of course!

A really BIG SAK like the SwissChamp certainly makes most sheeple think "Swiss Army Knife" and "Camping" and "Boy Scouts" and "Tools" and "Benign".

A "smaller" SAK like a Climber or Soldier probably makes them more likely to think "knife - danger - watch out!" since it's not so chock-full-o-tools.

- Tim
 
tcolling said:
Interesting. That makes sense, of course!

A really BIG SAK like the SwissChamp certainly makes most sheeple think "Swiss Army Knife" and "Camping" and "Boy Scouts" and "Tools" and "Benign".

A "smaller" SAK like a Climber or Soldier probably makes them more likely to think "knife - danger - watch out!" since it's not so chock-full-o-tools.

- Tim
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That must be the only time when bigger is better when it come to scaring NKP less :p
 
Im so happy I work an enviroment thats outside 80 percent of the time and where tools and knives are a must with my work. And HR cant do anything about it even when im in the office. And to top it off I tend to make more than the guys who are stuck in the office having to wear suits. When they see me take out my Surge the new girls in the office are a little surprised and usually ask what the heck is that!
 
I believe that I have posted this story elsewhere, but I'll post it here again. A couple weeks ago, I was at a local agrivcultural fair. Lady, bought her son a toy from one of the vendors, had it paid for and was struggling to get it off the cardboard backer/ display item that it was zip tied to. So, I walked up to her, and said (somethign to the extent of) "Let me help you with that". She handed me her kid's new toy, and I used the small blade on my Spartan to fix the problem. The lady and her kid were both greatful.


Had this been my tacticool folder, which I wasn't carrying at the time, I bet I would have gotten some looks. But nobody minded or even questioned the small SAK. I know I shouldn't cater to sheeple, but, why make a situation more tense than it needs to be.
 
I just picked up a Tinker at work because they were on clearance for 13 bucks. I had forgotten how handy it is to have an SAK on me. I usually use my Spyderco Endura at work, but the small blade on my Tinker is very handy, even for cutting open large appliance boxes.

Of course, my line of business (big box home improvement store) is a little bit more knife friendly than other places. My direct boss likes to knifesterbate while we have staff meetings, LOL.
 
I work in a satellite office by myself and my boss is 1000 miles away. I carry a 4" folder to work every day (different ones all of the time) and nobody's the wiser.

But I have to go to meetings pretty regularly with interior designers and I always worry about somebody noticing what's clipped in my pocket. Interior designers are the kings and queens of the sheeple. The entire interior design population is comprised of women and men who are either very sensitive or straight up gay.

In my office I usually have at least one big knife up on the desk. But I have to be very careful when I go to meetings. I'm afraid I'll forget myself and whip out my 710 or my Military to open something in a meeting and cause a stampede. It's not a big deal to me, but some people are just stupid. I'm thinking about carrying a SAK when I go visiting clients and leaving my big knife in the car. Kinda sucks but I don't want to get in trouble.
 
This will never happen with a plier-type multitool. I've been in a few situations where I could have helped someone with my tool (but didn't) because it's not as familiar as a SAK. Unfolded, plier-type multitools look just like regular knives to those unfamiliar with them (and most are). Also in NSW Australia, carrying any blade is illegal unless you use it in your trades. Sad to say, I'm always wearing a suit, so I could never explain to a police officer why I should be carrying the blade in my Leatherman.
 
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