Strange knife attributes make a knife "sheeple" friendly!

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
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I got a new job. My old job was SO knife/gun friendly that people could bring custom guns to work to show off. New place is pretty corporate with a "weapon's" policy. (I'm better-off, by far, as a whole.)

My small Sebenza has drawn looks when I've whipped it out and flicked it open.

I've carried larger customs with pretty colors and woods, slowly opened and used them with one hand and nobody even made a face.

It's strange, isn't it?

Seems like prettyness and the way you deploy makes a big difference.

Unfortunately, I have some "gentleman"-looking autos that I don't think I can bring to work.:rolleyes:

Strange thing, is the new job is a nice office building that popped up in an, otherwise, rough neighborhood. So, now, I kinda want something "sheeple" friendly that can be used to save my butt in a pinch. Gotta figure that part out, still. I guess any custom with a 3" blade will do as long as I can deploy it quickly. Maybe a necker. I wear "business" clothes with either a polo or button-down shirt, khaki pants and nice shoes.

In the employee manual there's 2 lists of things you can do wrong and get in trouble for. One is things you will get warned about. One is things you can get fired for on the first offense. The "weapons" thing is on the second list. I asked the Human Relations person if a "pocket knife" is considered a weapon. She didn't know and never got back to me. I don't want to press the issue but I like to walk that line; ya know.

Not REALLY a question; just making conversation about something I've been thinking about lately. I'll figure it out. It's just strange what draws peoples' eye.

.
 
I'll be going through a similar situation. I start a new job next week. I used to wear shorts and a T-shirt to work but now I'll have to wear dress shirts and dress slacks. I don't know about their knife policy but I won't carry anything with me until I can assess the environment. It's a government building with metal detectors and armed guards so I won't be trying to sneak anything in.
 
stevekt said:
I'll be going through a similar situation. I start a new job next week. I used to wear shorts and a T-shirt to work but now I'll have to wear dress shirts and dress slacks. I don't know about their knife policy...
Click to expand...

Bingo!

Similar situation, here. Except no metal detectors.
We have certain "security" areas, but it's mostly
about company secrets.

I had to buy a whole new wardrobe, too. Bummer!:(

.
 
One of the advantages of dressing up for my last job was the dagger I wore IWB SOB ... under my suit jacket.

OK, OK, I was the boss, so no one was going to fire me anyway ...
 
My old Schrade in its little leather belt sheath barely gets a stare --- but when I take out my Spyderco Dodo (which has a smaller blade, albeit serrated) the sheeple all stare like I had a stick of dynamite in my hand. I couldn't believe it! All that fuss over a little Dodo? No wonder they went extinct!
People are strange.
YMMV,
Tony
 
fulloflead said:
I asked the Human Relations person if a "pocket knife" is considered a weapon. She didn't know and never got back to me. I don't want to press the issue.
Click to expand...

Mr. Paranoia says "Press it."

Get something on paper and abide by it.

If the job's that good, don't lose it by stepping over a line in the sand that you didn't see.

maximus otter
 
congrats on the new job!

F* em if they cant take a joke Jim!:D
 
I LOVE all this *weapons* sh_t! Anybody who has watched an old cowboy movie knows the most important weapon is the chair you bash over the other person's back. Are chairs banned in the new workplace?
We had an article in our newspaper last week about a woman who picked up her child and used it as a weapon against her partner. Are children banned in the new workplace?
At the same time, despite the ?sanity? of the weapons policy I would be following maximus otter's advice.
Greg
 
My theory has always been the more expensive it LOOKs, the better off you are.

While a Sebbie is expensive, to the common sheeple, it dont look expensive.

Also size is an issue. NOTHING over 3" Smaller is better.

I say something with a Damascus blade, Giraffe bone scales, etc. You get the point. Something like this http://www.medawebs.com/knives/persian.htm

Another way to go with it is to have a knife that their dad might have carried, or that they themselves would have seen or used as a child.
Something like this http://www.agrussell.com/knives/new_knives/schatt_morgan_series_xvi_large_coke_bottle.html
 
No one ever seems to blink an eye, if you carry a Buck knife(110), probably due to the fact that it's a really familliar design. So I'd say for an office type place get a nice stag 112 or something.
 
Highly engraved bolsters, art grade wood handles and low key blade shape; how about one of the high end William Henrys?

More of an "ooooh, aaaah" factor and can still be made scary sharp.
 
fulloflead said:
I've carried larger customs with pretty colors and woods, slowly opened and used them with one hand and nobody even made a face.

It's strange, isn't it?

Seems like prettyness and the way you deploy makes a big difference.
Click to expand...

I've noticed the same thing often enough that it no longer seems strange. I recently said in another thread, that a knife for such an environment needs to be shiny, colorful, and have some form of mother-of-pearl handles- preferably white rather than black lip. You generally don't want a "dark" look to the thing. A bit of gold here and there will make the engraving jump out so it's obvious from a distance that this is "jewelry" rather than "weapon".

Here's another thing I've noticed- please chime in if you've noticed the same thing. Something about a symmetrically ground dagger blade seems to alarm folks less than slender pointed blades of other shapes. Dunno why, considering a true dagger would be more deadly.
 
In my experience...

What gets negative attention: serrations (especially fully-serrated), one-handed opening, anything that makes an audible noise like a *snick* or *thwak* when opened, recurve, tanto, & wharncliffe blade profiles, fixed blades (haven't used in public, but I'm assuming based on what I've read).

What gets positive attention: gold or polished nickle-sliver bolsters/handles, mother-of-pearl (especially white and gold lip), abalone, familiar patterns such as the Buck 110 and sometimes a slipjoint if it's engraved or has nice handle materials.

What gets absolutely no attention at all: multi-tools, light colored woods (maple burl, rosewood, oak, etc.), smaller mundane looking multi-blade slipjoints, SAK's, laguiole's.
 
No metal detectors no problem! Concealment for the knives that are nobodies business, and sheeple friendly knives for those moments when you need to use a knife infront of others.
 
Same problem - kinda. Went from auto parts sales in a button down shirt, carrying about anything I pleased, to operating a press brake wearing anything I pleased, but woohoo, big weapons policy. "Don't bring your huntin rifles even on the parking lot, you neanderthals."

Back to carrying a SAK, and looking for just this type of knife. It supports my view of tactical - it blends with the environment and remains low key. Doesn't much influence how it can be used at all.
 
symphonyincminor said:
In my experience...

What gets negative attention: serrations (especially fully-serrated), one-handed opening, anything that makes an audible noise like a *snick* or *thwak* when opened, recurve, tanto, & wharncliffe blade profiles, fixed blades (haven't used in public, but I'm assuming based on what I've read).
Click to expand...

I didn't think wharncliffs got negative attention. Is that true? Then again, I see a lot of variation with wharnies, from the elegant Centofante 4 to ... *thinks* I dunno, I can't think of another production model, but I definitely know I've seen a whole bunch of fugly wharncliffs. Well, I suppose the BM Gravitator is very tactical looking. I didn't think recurve blades were that scary either; I thought most people liked the curvy lines?

Hawkbills scare the crap out of people.
 
The problem is a simple one really. You are looking for a generalist tool.

Most knives that are by definition "sheeple friendly" are next to worthless in a self defense situation (Because sheep don't defend themselves). Don't get me wrong anything is better than fingernails.

You may need a second tool.

Get a multitool for actually using in the office. And a real defense impliment for real defense. The defense impliment should stay concealed (at all times) unless needed.
ONe can be you sheep tool.
The other for the wolves.
Select the desired tool for the situation. ;)
 
I bought an Endura for when i'm out on construction sites (i'm an engineer) and a leek for when i'm in the home office.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
One of the advantages of dressing up for my last job was the dagger I wore IWB SOB ... under my suit jacket.

OK, OK, I was the boss, so no one was going to fire me anyway ...
Click to expand...

Sticking it to the 'man'! Eh? LOL

My Lg Classic Sebbie gets looked at sorta hard even though it's been Mayonized with all the neat holes.

But, people will freak over the small Busse even though it is smaller than the opened Sebbie. Go figure!

I guess it's just that blade appearing all of a sudden in the hand. Due to my CCW, I have to keep it concealed.

The Sebbie is also concealed, but not on purpose. I also draw and open it very slowly. It rides in a belt pouch.

It's my sheeple knife, so I'm very careful about how I pull and open it.

Rob
 
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