Some thoughts about carrying a pocket knife...

[Henry Beige]

I carry knives because I like them and find them frequently useful in my daily life, not because I see myself as a vestige of some bygone era’s image of what the “American Working Man” should be.

I prefer red knives, specifically, because they match my MAGA hat

If that hat were blue, it would mean something.

 

[Boxer .45]

A pocketknife is still more indespinsible than a cellphone. Most people use their cellphone for entertainment and not because they need to. People don't think they can, but you can still get by with leaving your phone at home. Not saying you should necessarily.

People in the trades, agriculture, manufacturing, packing, shipping, food, industrial, maintenance, etc and so on use knives all day every day. They may have knives provided to them by/on the job instead of being allowed to bring their own in several instances, but that doesn't mean the knife is any less necessary, and often should be allowed if it weren't for PC culture.

 

[willard0341]

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.

I don’t trust baggage handlers. I also put a zip tie through the zippers of my check in, I will immediately know if someone has been in my bag when I pick it up at the carousel.
At one time I had a small lock on the zippers... when I got home I unlocked and there was a piece of paper on top stating they had searched my bag (and to use a tsa approved lock)
I pushed anhydrous ammonia barges for several years and those sniffer things would red flag my luggage, shoes etc.

 

[SW-EDC]

I don’t trust baggage handlers. I also put a zip tie through the zippers of my check in, I will immediately know if someone has been in my bag when I pick it up at the carousel.
At one time I had a small lock on the zippers... when I got home I unlocked and there was a piece of paper on top stating they had searched my bag (and to use a tsa approved lock)
I pushed anhydrous ammonia barges for several years and those sniffer things would red flag my luggage, shoes etc.

I'm a baggage handler and I don't trust baggage handlers.
BTW, that was the TSA that opened your bag, not a baggage handler...and I don't trust them at all.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

A pocketknife is still more indespinsible than a cellphone. Most people use their cellphone for entertainment and not because they need to. People don't think they can, but you can still get by with leaving your phone at home. Not saying you should necessarily.

People in the trades, agriculture, manufacturing, packing, shipping, food, industrial, maintenance, etc and so on use knives all day every day. They may have knives provided to them by/on the job instead of being allowed to bring their own in several instances, but that doesn't mean the knife is any less necessary, and often should be allowed if it weren't for PC culture.

Apologies, but I think this is simply not true. My cellphone is an infinitely more powerful and versatile tool than any hand tool and far more indispensable for the majority of the population. People that claim that a device that comes very close to giving you access to the sum total of recorded human knowledge in moments and that you can carry in a pocket is only for entertainment betrays much more about the way they think than anyone else.

 

[Boxer .45]

Apologies, but I think this is simply not true. My cellphone is an infinitely more powerful and versatile tool than any hand tool and far more indispensable for the majority of the population. People that claim that a device that comes very close to giving you access to the sum total of recorded human knowledge in moments and that you can carry in a pocket is only for entertainment betrays much more about the way they think than anyone else.

We did fine before we started carrying cellphones in our pocket.
Next time you get ready to clean your game for dinner, or cut a seatbelt to free a trapped motorist, or cut a rope to use to tie something up, a carpenter needs to build something, change a tire with no tool, etc, etc, maybe you can look it up on YouTube to see how they did it? They used a tool.

If you show up for the majority of things that need WORK, and you don't have your tools, you might as well go home. I use knives every day, just as most people do, especially people that work outside of an office which is a very large part of the population. Knives are pretty indespinsible in lots of situations every day. And used way more than a cellphone unless someone is checking Facebook or a forum.

 

[000Robert]

Apologies, but I think this is simply not true. My cellphone is an infinitely more powerful and versatile tool than any hand tool and far more indispensable for the majority of the population. People that claim that a device that comes very close to giving you access to the sum total of recorded human knowledge in moments and that you can carry in a pocket is only for entertainment betrays much more about the way they think than anyone else.

Yep, with a cell phone you have the world at your fingertips! But a knife is a necessary tool that I never leave home without at least three of. Which one is the most important depends on what you need to do at any given moment. So, I carry both!
Personally, if I could only take one thing with me when I leave home it would be my Glock 21sf. But that's just me...

 

[Knives&Lint]

I grew up being taught that a man should always have a pocket knife on him. My dad would often even test me by asking for my knife (even though he obviously had his) whenever a cutting task came up, just to ingrain the point. In fact, to this day he will knife check me when I visit him and even test for sharpness. If for some reason my edge was the slightest bit sub-par he'd be quick to call me on it and say something like, "Boy, you need to take a file to that thang" . I only made that mistake once BTW, and now I'm sure to have a keen edge when I visit.

I understand that many today don't find it necessary to carry a knife, and to each his own as far as I'm concerned. What I don't understand is when people judge us harshly or consider us uncivilized for carrying knives. Do they not understand how shortsighted these judgments are? Taken from an objective point of view, their's is an opinion that would have seemed completely ridiculous throughout the entirety of known history up until the past generation or so. The edged tool, aside perhaps from the harnessing of the flame, was arguably the most important development in human history; to the extent that it is believed to have shaped our evolution as a species. Therefore, without knives there would likely be no civilization for us knife carriers to be uncivilized in.

 

[000Robert]

I grew up being taught that a man should always have a pocket knife on him. My dad would often even test me by asking for my knife (even though he obviously had his) whenever a cutting task came up, just to ingrain the point. In fact, to this day he will knife check me when I visit him and even test for sharpness. If for some reason my edge was the slightest bit sub-par he'd be quick to call me on it and say something like, "Boy, you need to take a file to that thang" . I only made that mistake once BTW, and now I'm sure to have a keen edge when I visit.

I understand that many today don't find it necessary to carry a knife, and to each his own as far as I'm concerned. What I don't understand is when people judge us harshly or consider us uncivilized for carrying knives. Do they not understand how shortsighted these judgments are? Taken from an objective point of view, their's is an opinion that would have seemed completely ridiculous throughout the entirety of known history up until the past generation or so. The edged tool, aside perhaps from the harnessing of the flame, was arguably the most important development in human history; to the extent that it is believed to have shaped our evolution as a species. Therefore, without knives there would likely be no civilization for us knife carriers to be uncivilized in.

LMAO! My dad was the same way! My Gerber Gator 650 made him whistle a little bit. LOL I mostly keep everything concealed so I rarely have a problem with other people.
I always wondered why my dad would ask to use my knife when we both knew that his was sharper... My dad's knives was so sharp that just looking at the edge would cut you.

 

[stabman]

If you show up for the majority of things that need WORK, and you don't have your tools, you might as well go home. I use knives every day, just as most people do, especially people that work outside of an office which is a very large part of the population.

No.

Many people who do "real work" in factories never touch a knife at all.
Many people eat food without ever using a knife. Packaging has become "knifeless" in many cases, and more and more food comes portioned off.

I like knives more than is healthy according to much of the population.
I go out into the woods despite being allergic to mosquito bites mainly to be able to use more of my knives more...this does not stop me from seeing reality.

And the reality is that many people go through many days just fine without use of a knife.
It's a good idea to carry one anyway as it is very handy for certain applications, but those application are not very frequent for a great many millions upon millions of people.

Of course, I also find days that go by where my cellphone does not leave my pocket to be used...except to take a picture of a knife that also saw no use that day.

When working as a machinist I had a knife in my tool box, but it was the least used of my tools, other than the dial indicator used to get the Bridgeport milling machine table perfectly level. That got used about the same amount. Both were handy tools when needed, but weren't needed all that frequently.

When working in a lab I got to use my knife more, and that was cool. Others made due with scissors held open and used as a knife, or the old, dull as hell box cutter in the drawer. Every so often a sharp knife was needed and then I was "Hero of the Lab!!!"

Now in the quarantine days, sometimes I used a knife to assist in the kitchen, but really I'm just getting ion the way of my wife.

 

[stabman]

A lighter is another good thing to carry.
It's also another thing that goes many days without being used by me.
Really handy when you need to light something on fire, but that's not an everyday occurrence for me.
But fire and the sharp edge are two of the oldest, coolest things humans got the hang of, so I'm a fan.

 

[Boxer .45]

No.

Many people who do "real work" in factories never touch a knife at all.
Many people eat food without ever using a knife. Packaging has become "knifeless" in many cases, and more and more food comes portioned off.

I like knives more than is healthy according to much of the population.
I go out into the woods despite being allergic to mosquito bites mainly to be able to use more of my knives more...this does not stop me from seeing reality.

And the reality is that many people go through many days just fine without use of a knife.
It's a good idea to carry one anyway as it is very handy for certain applications, but those application are not very frequent for a great many millions upon millions of people.

Of course, I also find days that go by where my cellphone does not leave my pocket to be used...except to take a picture of a knife that also saw no use that day.

When working as a machinist I had a knife in my tool box, but it was the least used of my tools, other than the dial indicator used to get the Bridgeport milling machine table perfectly level. That got used about the same amount. Both were handy tools when needed, but weren't needed all that frequently.

When working in a lab I got to use my knife more, and that was cool. Others made due with scissors held open and used as a knife, or the old, dull as hell box cutter in the drawer. Every so often a sharp knife was needed and then I was "Hero of the Lab!!!"

Now in the quarantine days, sometimes I used a knife to assist in the kitchen, but really I'm just getting ion the way of my wife.

A lot of people have been babified by laws and employers to think they don't need a knife, but that doesn't mean they don't need one, or use one. Safety box cutters have been issued and restrictions put in place to make people find alternate methods in a lot of cases, but lots of places people still use knives. Especially in the trades and agriculture and about every other outdoor type work. Sure, you can use scissors like a knife, thats safe and handy. It doesn't mean a knife isn't better suited, its just what people have been "allowed". If you are 'going through your days fine without a knife' then you are probably working a desk or are working somewhere where there are overly strict restrictions in place.

A great many millions upon millions of people frequently use a knife.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

We did fine before we started carrying cellphones in our pocket.
Next time you get ready to clean your game for dinner, or cut a seatbelt to free a trapped motorist, or cut a rope to use to tie something up, a carpenter needs to build something, change a tire with no tool, etc, etc, maybe you can look it up on YouTube to see how they did it? They used a tool.

If you show up for the majority of things that need WORK, and you don't have your tools, you might as well go home. I use knives every day, just as most people do, especially people that work outside of an office which is a very large part of the population. Knives are pretty indespinsible in lots of situations every day. And used way more than a cellphone unless someone is checking Facebook or a forum.

Are you saying you change a tire using your knife? I think you're pretty bad at it, then.

Saying that we got along without cellphones is a nonsensical argument. We got along without cars as well, does that make a horse more indispensable than your car? I bet not.

Knives are great! They're handy in all kinds of situations! But cellphones enable near instantaneous communication over most of the globe. They offer education, navigation, illumination among a thousand other uses. A cellphone is a thousand times more essential to my business than a knife is. I can run payroll, check my security system, tap into the cameras, review inventory, communicate with my entire team and with clients, advertise, and set appointments. The list is practically endless. Hell if I need a knife quickly, I can call someone to bring me one of mine, if it's a more casual need I can buy one with it!

 

[Boxer .45]

Are you saying you change a tire using your knife? I think you're pretty bad at it, then.

Saying that we got along without cellphones is a nonsensical argument. We got along without cars as well, does that make a horse more indispensable than your car? I bet not.

Knives are great! They're handy in all kinds of situations! But cellphones enable near instantaneous communication over most of the globe. They offer education, navigation, illumination among a thousand other uses. A cellphone is a thousand times more essential to my business than a knife is. I can run payroll, check my security system, tap into the cameras, review inventory, communicate with my entire team and with clients, advertise, and set appointments. The list is practically endless. Hell if I need a knife quickly, I can call someone to bring me one of mine, if it's a more casual need I can buy one with it!

No I don't use a knife to change a tire. You said, "My cellphone is an infinitely more powerful and versatile tool than any hand tool". Guess you could always call someone to do it for you, but when he gets there I'll bet he has a knife in his pocket.

 

[dalefuller]

Wow... three pages of discussion so far. Thanks to everyone for joining in with stories and opinions and thoughts. We'll see where it goes from here. Did you know... and I speak from having seen this in my own home town... did you know that people (OK, mostly men) actually used to sit around in hardware stores and feed stores and talk about things this way? That wasn't just "The Andy Griffith Show"... that was entertainment and networking and bonding when I was a young 'un.

Anyway... thanks to everyone for being a part of the discussion. I just thought the article was interesting when Don shared it with me. I don't know whether the original author is a BF member... I suspect not, or we'd have been mentioned in the article. But at least we know there are folks out there who may not be a member here, but they share our passion for sharp & pointy things.

Be safe... and remember to take care of each other.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

No I don't use a knife to change a tire. You said, "My cellphone is an infinitely more powerful and versatile tool than any hand tool". Guess you could always call someone to do it for you, but when he gets there I'll bet he has a knife in his pocket.

Wait, so you're saying that you COULD use a cellphone and end up getting your tire changed, but you COULDN'T do that with a knife? Because that's definitely what it sounds like you're saying there.

Again, knives and hand tools are tremendously useful and I wouldn't dream of doing without them. But smartphones are significantly more powerful than the technology that took us to the moon. I agree that most people choose not to use them to their potential, nor do they need to, but if I decided to live my life without pocket knives I would be occasionally frustrated and inconvenienced, whereas I could live my life without a smartphone, but I would have to make some fundamental changes in order to do so.

 

[stabman]

If you are 'going through your days fine without a knife' then you are probably working a desk or are working somewhere where there are overly strict restrictions in place.

No.
But argue away...it's what the internet is for.

Hell, I carried 2 knives on my walk to the drugstore today.
Perhaps it made me "manlier" despite no being used?

I say carry them regardless, but I do not need to imagine a greater utility day-to-day than exists.
I also carry pepper spray for dogs, and although I've only ever had to spray one attacking dog in the face, not getting chewed on by a huge dog made carrying it all the other days worthwhile.

Is the best work knife a Smatchet?

A ZT?

Spyderco Tuff?

My machining knife was on old Bowie knife I ground into a Tanto...despite it's manliness, it didn't get used all that often. Neither did any other knife there, or box cutter.

 

[stabman]

I guess it did make science work better...

 

[Boxer .45]

Okay. I don't care.

 

[000Robert]

That Smatchet is nice! I like it!