Some thoughts about carrying a pocket knife...

I would agree that a lot of blue collar hard working people carry knives, and that from what I have seen those who carry knives are more likely the DIY type than those who dont.
Of course a lot of idiot's carry knives for dirtbag purposes , but with regards to smaller multi bladed slipjoint I would say the opinion of the writer does ring true.

I believe that in today's world a knife is just as important as it was 50 years ago. There are far more packages to open , tougher types of retail packaging to deal with, and " tear here " packaging that likes to tear down the side spilling it's contents onto the floor when it does even want to tear.
Society simply looks down on knife carry enough that many people would rather just use their teeth, their car key, or open a pair of scissors.

There are probably a lot more knife carriers who happen to be good people than there are good people who happen to carry knives and it's a real shame.
 
stabman said:
I carry a knife, and I'm awesome, therefore... :D

However, when doing a charitable outreach thing in Ottawa, some sketchy douchebag came up to the girl in our group and started flicking his crappy assisted opener open and closed, open and closed; he was not cool. He also was not a great conversationalist.

She though it was a switchblade and was debating calling the cops after he left, but I explained that the knife was legal, and that he was simply a complete waste of a human being.

The rest of the day went well, but that idiot with his stupid knife did not impress anyone favourably. :thumbsdown:

So don't attribute positive attributes to someone simply because they own a similar object to what you like.
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that kid sure had no game huh? Lol
 
My dad taught me most of what he knew, carpentry, electrical, landscaping, mechanical, concrete work and my pops (86 yo) never carried a knife, once in a while he'd carry a barlow brand money clip with our family store logo (advertising piece) that had a pen blade and a file but he could do most anything and everything without carrying a pocketknife. If he needed a knife for the job at hand he'd carry a Stanley utility knife in a pouch or have one nearby.

My Grandma is the person who influenced me in regards to knives. My Grandpa passed years before I was born and he managed a couple of grain elevators here in ND, and my Grandma had several jack knives in the drawer of her roll top desk with the elevator logo that my Grandpa managed. She'd let me take one and play with it when I'd visit her:thumbsup:
 
Hickory n steel said:
I would agree that a lot of blue collar hard working people carry knives, and that from what I have seen those who carry knives are more likely the DIY type than those who dont.
Of course a lot of idiot's carry knives for dirtbag purposes , but with regards to smaller multi bladed slipjoint I would say the opinion of the writer does ring true.

I believe that in today's world a knife is just as important as it was 50 years ago. There are far more packages to open , tougher types of retail packaging to deal with, and " tear here " packaging that likes to tear down the side spilling it's contents onto the floor when it does even want to tear.
Society simply looks down on knife carry enough that many people would rather just use their teeth, their car key, or open a pair of scissors.

There are probably a lot more knife carriers who happen to be good people than there are good people who happen to carry knives and it's a real shame.
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I'm 6
Hickory n steel said:
I would agree that a lot of blue collar hard working people carry knives, and that from what I have seen those who carry knives are more likely the DIY type than those who dont.
Of course a lot of idiot's carry knives for dirtbag purposes , but with regards to smaller multi bladed slipjoint I would say the opinion of the writer does ring true.

I believe that in today's world a knife is just as important as it was 50 years ago. There are far more packages to open , tougher types of retail packaging to deal with, and " tear here " packaging that likes to tear down the side spilling it's contents onto the floor when it does even want to tear.
Society simply looks down on knife carry enough that many people would rather just use their teeth, their car key, or open a pair of scissors.

There are probably a lot more knife carriers who happen to be good people than there are good people who happen to carry knives and it's a real shame.
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I'm 66 years old and grew up at a time when boys and men carried knives, traditional 2-3 blade knives. I carried a knife everywhere even to school. My dad was a WW2, Korea & Viet Nam vet and was never without on. The only Modern folder I have cxarried was a Benchmade AFCK simply because a clip came in handy when carrying in uniform. As a detective I carried a Case 6318 daily for years, still do along with a Buck 112 on my belt and a SAK close by.

I too judge people by their knife or lack of one.I have found that most dirt bags, ( and multiple other names I won't say) tend to carry truck stop knives, flippers, balisongs and other knives that are on the cheapside and they like to play with them. Men who actually use their knives take them out when they need it, don't play with 'em and buy a quality knife.
 
NMpops said:
I too judge people by their knife or lack of one.I have found that most dirt bags, ( and multiple other names I won't say) tend to carry truck stop knives, flippers, balisongs and other knives that are on the cheapside and they like to play with them. Men who actually use their knives take them out when they need it, don't play with 'em and buy a quality knife
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I know some decent hardworking people who only carry cheap gas station linerlocks and such, but they do it because moderns are often seen as mandatory these days and because they just don't know or care about quality.

I obviously don't have the people experience you do, but all those years of watching cops on TV and I never saw them pull any kind of small slipjoint out of a drug dealer / addicts pocket.
It was always a cheap modern type or balisong...ect.
I have seen people flick out their flea market linerlock and play with it or show it off, but when I see someone pull the Buck 110 from their belt or slipjoint from their pocket they generally just use it then put it right away.

I don't want to judge someone based on the type of knife they carry, but I do believe that those I see with smaller traditional folders are never unsavory types while too many people of all types can be seen with cheap one handed folders.
 
One thing I know for sure is that every time I have seen someone with a modern folder clipped to their belt as apposed to their pocket it's always been the " no longer care what people think " type, the kind who has no problem leaving the house wearing socks and sandals.
I've seen my dad do this a number of times :D
 
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K.O.D. said:
Interesting topic. While I am not as wizened as some of y'all, (just turned 41 last week) I grew up carrying a knife. My great uncle gave me a Wenger Nomad for my 7th birthday. Had it for nigh 30 years.

Carried a Sog Pentagon Elite (liner lock) my last two years of high school. No ever looked funny at me or said anything. It was assumed most men and boys carried a knife. After Columbine, Atlanta, OKC, and finally 9/11, one had to be much more discreet.

I hide a knife under the insole of a shoe in my checked bag. I never fly carry on only. I wear a size 14 so carry bags don't work too well.
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Why would you hide a knife in checked baggage? I fly pretty frequently and put my 2 EDC knives in a small pouch and then into a pocket inside my checked bag. Never had an issue with them being not being hidden.
 
Great link! Thanx for sharing! Lots of memories arose thru the read!! Thanx again!
James
 
Great reading! Brought back some really good memories! Pocket knives in general have a huge sentimental value for me. My grandfather gave me my first folding knife and first wristwatch and taught how to use and appreciate them. Up to this day, I do not leave my house without a watch and a knife.
 
Having been involved in the primary sector of the economy my entire life, I carry a full size Griptilian and a Leatherman Wave daily.
 
JohnWE said:
Why would you hide a knife in checked baggage? I fly pretty frequently and put my 2 EDC knives in a small pouch and then into a pocket inside my checked bag. Never had an issue with them being not being hidden.
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I've had a Leatherman wave, Case mini-copperhead, and a Kershaw blur confiscated fro checked bags, three different occasions.
 
SixtyLion said:
Great reading! Brought back some really good memories! Pocket knives in general have a huge sentimental value for me. My grandfather gave me my first folding knife and first wristwatch and taught how to use and appreciate them. Up to this day, I do not leave my house without a watch and a knife.
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My dad gave me my first watch, knife, hat, handkerchief, and leather bifold.
To this day if I leave the house I've got a watch on my wrist, hat on my head, knife in my front pocket, and handkerchief in my rear pocket. I forget my wallet here and there but absolutely never the knife watch and hat.

Rights of passage like this from our childhood really do stick with us throughout our lives and play a big part In how we turn out.
 
People judge others on the types of, or lack of steel that they don't have? What? Lol! So if I spend my free money on bow hunting,, and not so much on cr knives, customs, etc.. then decisions are primarily made on my character and myself as a person.. right from the jump? What!? Lol!
 
Let's put this straight, we are all weirdos here (in the eyes of the general public). Asking our opinion about whether or not is required to have a knife on you here in Bladeforums is akin to asking about the neccesity carrying no less than XXXlumens pocket laser beam at all times in Candlepower forum.

We like knives, we will always justify the need for a knife no matter what. Amazon package? Slash the thing! Anyone else will just opt for the rip cord or grab the nearest scissors or utility knife.

Carrying a knife or not is a matter of will, real need and law abidance. In my particular situation (in Spain, living in a city, working in an office) there is no need at all to carry a knife, besides, it is basically ilegal unless you are doing something that justifies the use of a knife (trades, hunting, fishing, hiking, climbing, going-to / comming-from those activities, etc.). I carry anyways because I like them, and I always find the excuse to use my knife (I sometimes have to look for the excuse VERY hard).

I have a 6 year old daugther and when I go to her school to pick her up I often chat with the parents of other kids in my girls classrom. Some of them do carry some sort of knife, mostly single bladed ones (no one hand openers) to food prep for their kids. Some carry a small fixed (think kitchen paring knife). Moms and Dads do it. A friend of mine always carries something nice (from our standards) because he is another knife nut (not to worried about getting asked about the knives by law enforcement because he is a cop himself).

If I lived in a rural environment, farming, etc., well, then it becomes a daily use tool... and we are talking about a different thing altogether.

Mikel
 
Spending all of my free time on my great-grandparent's dairy farm, I was told that having a knife at all times was important. Like many, carried a 2-3 blade knife all the time including school, church - wherever. Working as a police officer, I went to carrying a pen knife and a larger, one hand opener\folder for emergency needs. Still carry a pen knife and large folder daily every where I can get away with it.
 
My dad gave me a Case Stockman when I joined the Cub Scouts at 8YO. Everyone, even many of the girls, carried a pocket knife.

Most folks that I knew also drove pickup trucks rather than sedans. There was always a model 94 Winchester, .30-30 in the rear window.

A man's handshake was as good as any written contract.

Clergy, teachers, Lawmen and soldiers were always shown respect.

And you stood tall, removed your hat and put your hand over your heart when the Colors passed in review.

I'm 76 YO, and had the privilege of living, learning, and teaching during the Golden Age of America. I hope our grandchildren will create a new Golden Age.
 
my dad was a policeman in downtown LA. for like 35 years where he removed knifes from crooks /thugs and I remember him saving about three large boxes full of switchblades and folders witch I would play with as a kid! only when he was at work though!!! must have learned something about knifes because as a adult I lerned the importance of always having one in my pocket, always useful to me, id say better to have one then not:).
 
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