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Suggest EDC for College Student
- Thread starter DoctaD
- Start date
In addition to laws, you may want to get some feedback from some forumites from that region on how well knives are generally received.
I'm an engineering student at Ohio State, and my knife gets used in classes/labs frequently enough. The most common reactions I get from Profs/TAs/students is either absolutely nothing or "hey, that's a nice knife." Maybe it's just the fact I'm always around engineers, but even those that don't carry a knife appreciate its value as a tool. I've carried and used numerous knives, including "tacticals" (BM520, BM551SBK, SOG Flash II) without any odd reactions. As long as you use it as it's intended and not brandish it or treat it as a weapon, people (at least around here) don't think anything of it.
The only knife that got some odd glances was a full serrated stainless endura, and that's definitely the most un-sheeple-friendly piece of cutlery in my collection (machetes and the like aside).
For most of what I use my knife for, a SAK would do just fine. The other knives get carried and used because I like and collect knives. If legal issues or community reactions are of concern, a red-handled SAK is a safe bet. He could always take a nice tactical and a SAK, and if he runs into problems because of his "huge knife" or his "weapon," he can use the SAK.
There will always be people who freak out at the sight of a knife; it seems to me that the trick is figuring out if there's enough of them around to change your habits.
I'm an engineering student at Ohio State, and my knife gets used in classes/labs frequently enough. The most common reactions I get from Profs/TAs/students is either absolutely nothing or "hey, that's a nice knife." Maybe it's just the fact I'm always around engineers, but even those that don't carry a knife appreciate its value as a tool. I've carried and used numerous knives, including "tacticals" (BM520, BM551SBK, SOG Flash II) without any odd reactions. As long as you use it as it's intended and not brandish it or treat it as a weapon, people (at least around here) don't think anything of it.
The only knife that got some odd glances was a full serrated stainless endura, and that's definitely the most un-sheeple-friendly piece of cutlery in my collection (machetes and the like aside).
For most of what I use my knife for, a SAK would do just fine. The other knives get carried and used because I like and collect knives. If legal issues or community reactions are of concern, a red-handled SAK is a safe bet. He could always take a nice tactical and a SAK, and if he runs into problems because of his "huge knife" or his "weapon," he can use the SAK.
There will always be people who freak out at the sight of a knife; it seems to me that the trick is figuring out if there's enough of them around to change your habits.
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- Feb 27, 2005
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That depends on where he's going. Figure out what the policy is on campus, and adjust accordingly. Here I'm limited to blades under 3", unless they have a demonstrable use in class or work. But since I'm a soldier, I can get away with a lot of things by attaching them to my gear.
Emerson would not be my first choice for a college student's only knife. Maybe Benchmade or Spyderco... he can get a waved Delica or Endura that's not half as sheeple-unfriendly as a CQC-7.