small sebenza scares

J

joeyabs81

Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
36
Please bear with me for a moment. I live in a suburb just outside of Philadelphia, PA. After having been a part of this forum for several months, it seems as though there are not too many of you fellow forumites living within my vicinity. i.e. the Northeastern United States. Havin read a multitude of threads, it seems apparent that most of you carry and use your sebenzas liberally within the public realm. My gripe is the fact that whenever I use my knife for any chore in public, it seems as though I am viewed as some creep or social pariah. Even my small sebenza raises plenty of eyebrows. I just want some feedback as to what sort of reactions you all receive when using your sebenzas in public. For the few of you who do live in the Northeastern U.S., do you concur with my assessment? And for he remainder of you, what is you take on the sebenza and public use? I am rather frustrated, because I feel like a criminal carrying a $300 tool. I would greatly appreciate any insight.
 
If I use it in public I hold it so that the majority of it is out of sight, and maybe lonly an inch or so of blade is visible. Usually people are oblivious enough that's sufficeint.
 
I've only had mine exposed in public a couple times that I can think of. The reaction is always the same, "OMG you carry a knife!" "Who are you going to kill with that thing?" etc etc...

I can't say it really bugs me at all though. It's happened so often (even with people I know) that I must be immune to it.

I've only ever used it as a utility cutting tool so I don't care what other people think or say. Easier just to ignore it.
 
:D :D You dang yankees. :D :D Always having to be politically correct. Here in Texas the only comments we hear are, "You call that a Knife? This is a knife" Whereas the person speaking pulls out some 10 or 12 inch Bowie. :D

JUST KIDDING GUYS

I know exactly what you mean. I agree with BOK. Sometimes the best thing to do is just ignore them.

Brian
 
joeyabs81,

wow, you probably don't live far from me, I'm in Bucks County. I too carry a large knife everywhere. I use it when I need it but I don't usually let a stranger see it. Face it, we don't live in a real 'knife friendly' area and You know what I say to that...who gives a crap. I've been carrying a blade daily since I was in the cub scouts in the early 70's, I'll never stop carrying and thats that.

I think you should just enjoy your knives, stop worrying about what the uninformed public thinks and continue to reap all the joy that this simple pleasure brings every day.
 
And cannot really think of a single time its been used such that it could even be seen by others. That said, you might check your legalities on carry/blade length, and if you're legal, heck with them.

Professor.
 
No problems here. If anyone does say anything, they usually ask to look at it and say its nice.
 
As long as it's legal in your area and you don't flick it open in public don't worry about it. I once scared the heck out of some dumb lady who thought I was a serial killer for cutting paper with the little scissors on my miniature "Classic" Swiss Army keychain-size knife. She informed me with the knowingness of the ignorant that "you are carrying a deadly weapon! What do you need that for?" I was cutting paper with it. Duh.

So if a tiny little thing like that will scare some people, screw them. Be aware to not be too obvious in company you aren't sure of, but don't stop enjoying using your knife for what it was meant for.
Jim
 
I have used my small sebbie and similar EDC's at work from time to time and it doesn't seem to raise any eyebrows.
 
Go West, young man. I have been carrying and using in Oregon for some time. Lots of folks with clipped folders in their pockets here.

No problems when I lived in Cincinnati either.
 
I always carry a knife and sometimes I carry a surefire too.I know the one day I dont carry it Ill really need it.I seem like an oddball to many people in my circle and age group.I always get the question " why do you carry a knife/flashlight" "you dont need that" etc.But whats really funny is the same people who give me crap for carryin always ask "can I use your knife to open this new cd,cut off this shirt tag, open this box etc".I guess thats one of the reasons I bought a sebenza rather than an emerson or something else.Its more of a gentlemans knife thats actually functional.People are idiots.
 
I always carry a SAK for that purpose. I'll show the small Sebbie to friends, and I'm always surprised with their comments about how big it is! Imagine if it were a large :eek:

Guy
 
I used to live in Northern New Jersey (across the Hudson from Manhattan) and worked in New York City. It's been almost 10 years since I was last there, but I frequently carried a Victorinox Tinker and a Kershaw Coral Creek lockback. Never got any strange looks while using them in public, but then again these were small pocket knives. In fact, I bought them and a few others at a Hoffritz Cutlery store in the World Trade Center. I used to frequent that shop on my way to and from the Jersey PATH trains. I also knew a few guys who preferred 3 1/2 to 4 inch blades, but they carried and used them with discretion when travelling in the city.

It's a bit different down here in the south. People pretty much carry anything as far as folding knives go, big or small. It's whatever suits their needs. I carry my Sebenza clipped to my pocket often and never got any funny looks when using it for utilitarian purposes in public. It all depends on your setting and what you're doing with the knife. Now, I'd definately get a negative reaction if I whipped out my large Sebenza to clean my fingernails while riding in a crowded train, or while in an elevator with a complete unknown. It's all a matter of common sense and using your own discretion.
 
Stop feeling like a criminal, and start feeling like you're surrounded by stupid people, because that's the problem, not your 3" folder.

You'd never have that problem in the South.
That doesn't mean we want all you northerners to move here :p
 
woah! Man I hate this sitiation! I havent posted in a year, but I gotta talk about this one! I worked in a few offices over in TX. I always carried a sm seb. and co-workers called it my "switchblade." "Does anyone have a knife?" "OH! Archie's got a switchblade!" I always thought it was pretty weak. JUST THE OTHER DAY, I was giuding a river trip when a total sheep lady asked me what "that" was, pointing to my knife (LARGE Sebenza). Whilw pulling it out, she asked me "WHAT do you need THAT for?" I smiled a sh!t eating grin... "In case I have to kill you," I replied! Since then, this has been and will remain my response.... Just like my old man always says... There IS such thing as a stupid question! Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer!

I HATE the feeling that I HAVE to carry my small seb to make the SHEEP feel better. I LOVE my small seb, but the LARGE fits my hand SOOO nicely! I have to sacrafice my comfort for the sake of idiocy!

To those who ask WHY??? ...correct them in their poor train of thought! ask WHY NOT?!!!
 
I will have a SAK for time to time cutting in certain special situations, but I generally will pull out my big honkin' blades JUST BECAUSE people make remarks regardless - despite how small or large the blade is. So, I may as well enjoy my larger satisfying-to-use knives as people will say what they say no matter.
 
Geode said:
Go West, young man. I have been carrying and using in Oregon for some time. Lots of folks with clipped folders in their pockets here.

No problems when I lived in Cincinnati either.
Click to expand...

I just want to come to the defense of Pennsylvania. Yea, we have some stupid people here. Just like every other state. There are also a ton of people walking around here with every kind of folder clipped in their pockets too. They probably don't post here though...they just use their blade and give it no further thought.
 
G'day,
How about this? Same knife (Fallkniven U2), different comments.
1-While cutting my tomato at lunch-"You look dangerous!"
2-Gave it to a woman who was helping me cut ribbon to hang baloons-"Nice knife."
Moral-You can't please everybody. Just enjoy what you carry.
Greg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top