"Thats illegal!!!"

bladeboss said:
Howdy!

Got a story for ya.
With a surprisingly happy ending.

So here I am.
In the break-room at work.
Currently using my PM2 to cut up a cheese block.
Table next to me has 4 of my coworker friends at it.
Its no secret that I like knives as a hobby, so one of em speaks up trying to pick on me.

Person A: "Is that one of your $500 knives?"
Person B: "$500 knife!?"
Me: "Nope. More in the $200-ish range, give or take."
Person B: "Thats nuts. Why?"

I then explain about the knife, and that knives are a hobby bigger than they realize, and to my shock they listen.

Person A: "lemme see it"

Its a user, all scratched and such. I'm not scared so I close it with a flick and hand it to him

Person C: "THATS ILLEGAL TOO!!!"
Me: "Why? I can assure you it isnt. Not to mention I bought it like 20 miles from here."
Person C: "You just flicked it closed. Thats a gravity knife! And it doesn't matter where you bought it, you can buy Crack 20 miles from here too and thats illegal. I just read the other day that people are getting arrested and such for stuff like that."

I decided to stay calm, and let him freak out and make himself look like a fool

Me: "You're partially right. But this doesn't fall into that category."

The guy I handed it to disengages the lock and it doesn't fall on its own.

Person A (with my knife): "Gravity has no effect on the blade as you see. Why are you getting so worked up? "

The "knife cop" was getting flustered and raising his voice more and more.

Person B: "Im tellin ya. That will get ya in trouble. I just read it the other day in a letter sent to me by my gun-club"

Long story short, I explained it a bit more and he learned, and actually believed me.
Not very often a situation like that turns out good, but it did.

FWIW, I live in UPSTATE NY. Farm country. Everybody carries a knife of varying size and shape and 95% of the time no one bats an eye.

Any of y'all got anything similar to share?
Click to expand...
Interesting story, thank God it turned out good. Most people that are not passionate about knives have no idea about the laws and usually get scared.
 
marcinek said:
They are not "stupid." They believe that because so many knife users act stupid with their knives, waving their oversized knives around like overcompensating adolescent boys with some tacti-ninja fantasy.

You are blaming the wrong people.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I agree. This is just another variant on the "Can you believe the sheeple in this world?" threads. Then it goes on to tell how much patience was used to explain to an intimidated and uneducated audience about "life with knives". His audience is just a little in awe of the teacher as he "educates" them while putting them in their place.

I never have those problems, and in over 50 years of carrying knives of all sizes I have only had a few comments, mostly in fun. Why is that one might wonder... probably because when I in a situation where I might make people uncomfortable I keep my knife in my pocket or use it when no one is around to see it. I am not giving government/law lessons, and don't really care at all about other people's opinions on my knives and their use. I would prefer NOT to hear any commentary.

OP's problem could have been averted easily. Instead of cutting up the cheese block, whittle off what he wanted to eat, put his knife in his pocket and go on his way. Rarely, I only have one knife with me as I like to carry one modern and one traditional. If I am caught with one of my moderns and have to use it in front of others that might be sensitive to it I will also cover part of the blade with my hand. Again, I don't like ANY static, especially when it can be easily avoided. I have too many other things to worry about. But what can you say about a guy that carries that much knife in an office environment?

For some smart ass that you know is trying to bait you, it is easy to handle.

"Is that one of your $500 knives?" "No."
"Really? How much was that one?" "Are you writing a book?"
"Can I see it?" "No."
"That knife is illegal!" "Nope".
"The gun club told me it was illegal!" "Thankfully, I don't belong to your gun club."
"I'm telling you, you can get arrested for a knife like that!" "Don't worry; if I get arrested I won't call you."

Usually, even the most dense moron will have lost interest by then.

Robert
 
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midnight flyer said:
Yeah... I agree. This is just another variant on the "Can you believe the sheeple in this world?" threads. Then it goes on to tell how much patience was used to explain to an intimidated and uneducated audience about "life with knives". His audience is just a little in awe of the teacher as he "educates" them while putting them in their place.

I never have those problems, and in over 50 years of carrying knives of all sizes I have only had a few comments, mostly in fun. Why is that one might wonder... probably because when I in a situation where I might make people uncomfortable I keep my knife in my pocket or use it when no one is around to see it. I am not giving government/law lessons, and don't really care at all about other people's opinions on my knives and their use. I would prefer NOT to hear any commentary.

OP's problem could have been averted easily. Instead of cutting up the cheese block, whittle off what he wanted to eat, put his knife in his pocket and go on his way. Rarely, I only have one knife with me as I like to carry one modern and one traditional. If I am caught with one of my moderns and have to use it in front of others that might be sensitive to it I will also cover part of the blade with my hand. Again, I don't like ANY static, especially when it can be easily avoided. I have too many other things to worry about. But what can you say about a guy that carries that much knife in an office environment?

For some smart ass that you know is trying to bait you, it is easy to handle.

"Is that one of your $500 knives?" "No."
"Really? How much was that one?" "Are you writing a book?"
"Can I see it?" "No."
"That knife is illegal!" "Nope".
"The gun club told me it was illegal!" "Thankfully, I don't belong to your gun club."
"I'm telling you, you can get arrested for a knife like that!" "Don't worry; if I get arrested I won't call you."

Usually, even the most dense moron will have lost interest by then.

Robert
Click to expand...
There is some sense here.
I agree with what you're stating, but I was also trying to make sure he knew that it was OK before he inadvertently told someone else, and so on.
And I can assure you, none of them were intimidated. Earlier that day, I was using the same knife to share the cheese i was cutting, but the "illegal guy" wasnt there. Its easier to make it known than get flack at a later date from a "boss" at work thinking I'm carrying something at work I shouldn't.
And yes, knives are allowed at my work.
 
I can only remember one real negative reaction to using a knife, and it was just a look of horror when I took it out to open a blister-pack for a webcam for a colleague.

...It was a little Boker VoxKnives Gnome I chose specifically because I didn't want to frighten her (I think I was carrying an Emerson Super Karambit at the time...can you imagine if I whipped that out?).

She never said anything and never mentioned it again, but I can still see her horrified face.
 
bladeboss said:
Howdy!

Got a story for ya.
With a surprisingly happy ending.

So here I am.
In the break-room at work.
Currently using my PM2 to cut up a cheese block.
Table next to me has 4 of my coworker friends at it.
Its no secret that I like knives as a hobby, so one of em speaks up trying to pick on me.

Person A: "Is that one of your $500 knives?"
Person B: "$500 knife!?"
Me: "Nope. More in the $200-ish range, give or take."
Person B: "Thats nuts. Why?"

I then explain about the knife, and that knives are a hobby bigger than they realize, and to my shock they listen.

Person A: "lemme see it"

Its a user, all scratched and such. I'm not scared so I close it with a flick and hand it to him

Person C: "THATS ILLEGAL TOO!!!"
Me: "Why? I can assure you it isnt. Not to mention I bought it like 20 miles from here."
Person C: "You just flicked it closed. Thats a gravity knife! And it doesn't matter where you bought it, you can buy Crack 20 miles from here too and thats illegal. I just read the other day that people are getting arrested and such for stuff like that."

I decided to stay calm, and let him freak out and make himself look like a fool

Me: "You're partially right. But this doesn't fall into that category."

The guy I handed it to disengages the lock and it doesn't fall on its own.

Person A (with my knife): "Gravity has no effect on the blade as you see. Why are you getting so worked up? "

The "knife cop" was getting flustered and raising his voice more and more.

Person B: "Im tellin ya. That will get ya in trouble. I just read it the other day in a letter sent to me by my gun-club"

Long story short, I explained it a bit more and he learned, and actually believed me.
Not very often a situation like that turns out good, but it did.

FWIW, I live in UPSTATE NY. Farm country. Everybody carries a knife of varying size and shape and 95% of the time no one bats an eye.

Any of y'all got anything similar to share?
Click to expand...
I live in western NY by Buffalo. do you know about length is say a large Sebenza ok for length?
 
bladeboss said:
There is some sense here.
I agree with what you're stating, but I was also trying to make sure he knew that it was OK before he inadvertently told someone else, and so on.
And I can assure you, none of them were intimidated. Earlier that day, I was using the same knife to share the cheese i was cutting, but the "illegal guy" wasnt there. Its easier to make it known than get flack at a later date from a "boss" at work thinking I'm carrying something at work I shouldn't.
And yes, knives are allowed at my work.
Click to expand...

I hope I didn't come on too strong. But the story did seem a little familiar...

I just don't have much patience for some folks anymore. Thankfully, down here in South Texas about 1/3 of folks carry some kind of knife (even for the most manly Texan a SAK is perfectly acceptable), and that includes the ladies. The cigar shop I frequent is an authorized Benchmade dealer, and they can't keep the pink mini Griptillians in stock! So for most of me and mine, it is a given that you will have some kind of knife.

Around here there seems to be a poster that shows up fairly often with about 15 posts to his name and has been here for a couple of weeks that has to talk about waving his knife around, describes the clack of the lock engagment, the glint of the perfectly polished edge, and the gasp of horror as he cuts a thread off a shirt button with his Cold Steel Espada or some such big knife. Men get weak kneed... women faint... children cry... but for the poster, it's just another day in the world of knives. With the knowledge and experience he has (plus having his vehicle learner's permit), he assures those around him there is nothing to worry about when you are a pro.

NOT saying that's you, BTW. Just seems these stories pop up pretty frequently around here. Not so much on other knife venues.

Robert
 
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SharpieB said:
...I told him that he would be in bigger crap if the cops saw the huge bong he uses in his garage every night....
Click to expand...

About 40 years ago, I was working in refugee camp in Thailand that had perhaps 15,000 Hmong refugees from Laos at the time. At a blacksmith/knifemaker's shed, I saw an old guy smoking a hand-rolled cigarette (probably wrapped with banana leaf) with the aid of a long bamboo water pipe. I asked my interpreter what the Hmong called the device. "Bong" was the old man's reply.
 
midnight flyer said:
Yeah... I agree. This is just another variant on the "Can you believe the sheeple in this world?" threads. Then it goes on to tell how much patience was used to explain to an intimidated and uneducated audience about "life with knives". His audience is just a little in awe of the teacher as he "educates" them while putting them in their place.

I never have those problems, and in over 50 years of carrying knives of all sizes I have only had a few comments, mostly in fun. Why is that one might wonder... probably because when I in a situation where I might make people uncomfortable I keep my knife in my pocket or use it when no one is around to see it. I am not giving government/law lessons, and don't really care at all about other people's opinions on my knives and their use. I would prefer NOT to hear any commentary.

OP's problem could have been averted easily. Instead of cutting up the cheese block, whittle off what he wanted to eat, put his knife in his pocket and go on his way. Rarely, I only have one knife with me as I like to carry one modern and one traditional. If I am caught with one of my moderns and have to use it in front of others that might be sensitive to it I will also cover part of the blade with my hand. Again, I don't like ANY static, especially when it can be easily avoided. I have too many other things to worry about. But what can you say about a guy that carries that much knife in an office environment?

For some smart ass that you know is trying to bait you, it is easy to handle.

"Is that one of your $500 knives?" "No."
"Really? How much was that one?" "Are you writing a book?"
"Can I see it?" "No."
"That knife is illegal!" "Nope".
"The gun club told me it was illegal!" "Thankfully, I don't belong to your gun club."
"I'm telling you, you can get arrested for a knife like that!" "Don't worry; if I get arrested I won't call you."

Usually, even the most dense moron will have lost interest by then.

Robert
Click to expand...
Just out of curiosity have you or M marcinek ever actually seen what you are describing being done by someone?

I haven't seen anyone waving a knife around. But I do know that not everyone or even most people are fearful of knives because they saw someone waving a knife around.. lol it sounds silly just typing it.

Believe it or not there are people out there that have irrational fear of all kinds of thing. Without ever having a bad experience with said thing.
 
shinyedges said:
Just out of curiosity have you or M marcinek ever actually seen what you are describing being done by someone?
Click to expand...

I certainly see the folks who come here after they have done it, complaining about the looks they get from "sheeple" all the time.

And Scagel help us the YouTube vids.

But do I hang out with folks who deliberately make outrageous bad-ass or stab happy "flipping on the couch" shows with their comedically oversized knives? No.
 
marcinek said:
I certainly see the folks who come here after they have done it, complaining about the looks they get from "sheeple" all the time.

And Scagel help us the YouTube vids.

But do I hang out with folks who deliberately make outrageous bad-ass or stab happy "flipping on the couch" shows with their comedically oversized knives? No.
Click to expand...

Even counting the fools and I do agree they are fools that come here and say they wave their knife around, that probably makes up a VERY small percentage of the reason people fear knives.

Blaming them for the fear of knives seems to misplace the vast majority of blame onto a very very small minority that I or most of us (I imagine) don't even see in our daily lives.

Are they helping the perception of knives in a positive way? No. They aren't. I agree.

Are they responsible for why people in general are fearful of knives? I don't think so.
 
Faiaoga said:
I am probably a victim of culture shock. As a Peace Corps volunteer, I lived and worked where everyday carry was an 18 inch machete. Even young children would carry these to cut grass around the house.
But there was no tradition of carrying pocket knives or sheathed belt knives and there were social constraints against walking around with a knife in your hand. When travelling on a bus, knives were wrapped in a newspaper or piece of cloth (never any sheaths). Knives were necessary tools.
I am afraid that our modern society has confused everyday tools with weapons.
Click to expand...

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand 1977-78 and stayed on for a year working with refugees. Worked with a great old blacksmith, collected many fine knives. Got challenged during a night bus trip by the Thai police/military (martial law at the time) for having about a 10-12" knife in my suitcase. I had quasi-government ID as I worked with the US Embassy at the time, so I talked my way out of it. "It's just a knife". (They didn't say anything about the ladies underwear in the suitcase my wife and i shared - might have been a point in my favor.) I saw a 4th grader in school play with an 8" or so kid's machete, no one blinked an eye. On another later visit, I bought another 12" pointy knife which was wrapped in newspaper. A cop on the market street challenged me. How do you buy a knife and get it home without carrying it?

Another poster mentioned something about having 4 people at a workplace knowledgeable about knives. I don't know about knives, but my son is a machinist and it's all about firearms. From people who can make them and repair them. So I can see having a number of enthusiasts.

Here in VA, I can open carry a firearm (handgun) and have a CC permit. Not exactly clear about knife laws. I know they don't like daggers, machetes and similar items, but that may just be concealed. Like the Thai machete that is laying on the floor of my truck covered in other detritus. Stupid, reactionary laws. Maybe I should just carry my Japanese-type pruning saws, or one of my 60 or so hammers.
 
shinyedges said:
Just out of curiosity have you or M marcinek ever actually seen what you are describing being done by someone?

I haven't seen anyone waving a knife around. But I do know that not everyone or even most people are fearful of knives because they saw someone waving a knife around.. lol it sounds silly just typing it.

Believe it or not there are people out there that have irrational fear of all kinds of thing. Without ever having a bad experience with said thing.
Click to expand...

Won't speak for marcinek, he is his own man.

But for me, absolutely. Not often I admit, but I have seen people with knives that made me want to take them away from them. Likewise, although I don't comment or respond, there have been instances of showboat behavior.

I have been in a restaurant a few times and seen some rube whip out (yes, make a production of it) his knife, clack it open, and cut his steak with it in the restaurant (Buck 110). In one instance the guy loved the attention and made a special flourish when cutting. The waitress came by and asked him if he wanted a steak knife and he was obviously pleased. No thanks, he said. Your knives are never sharp.

Was in an office at a meeting with all white collar guys (mine goes blue to white, depending). Personally, I carry work knives with blades from 3.5 to 4 inches since I use them on site. But no one knows because I also carry a small traditional for times when that is the appropriate knife. The meeting is at break, and one of the white collar guys stops another and says "hang on a minute, you have a thread" and whacks open a knife of some sort with about a 4" blade. The guy with the thread is really uncomfortable. The knife guy cuts the thread, closes the knife, and looks at me and winks. He thought I would appreciate his crass ways because I am the construction rep. idiot.

Gone to lunch with guys from the construction sites several times and have seen them pull out fixed blade knives (maybe 5-6" blades) to cut up a burger in a MacDonald's full of kids. They LOVE the attention from the kids, and make a show out of cleaning off hamburger crap off the blades. Little boys in particular were hypnotized.

I can go on a on. That's just the tip.

Robert
 
I get the uninformed commentary on my legal knives all the time and just state that is in fact legal for me to own and use.
Any more gripes and I just give them a "shut the hell up" and go on with the minding of my own business.
Usually does the trick seeing as I'm the guy in the room with the knife.
 
midnight flyer said:
Won't speak for marcinek, he is his own man.

But for me, absolutely. Not often I admit, but I have seen people with knives that made me want to take them away from them. Likewise, although I don't comment or respond, there have been instances of showboat behavior.

I have been in a restaurant a few times and seen some rube whip out (yes, make a production of it) his knife, clack it open, and cut his steak with it in the restaurant (Buck 110). In one instance the guy loved the attention and made a special flourish when cutting. The waitress came by and asked him if he wanted a steak knife and he was obviously pleased. No thanks, he said. Your knives are never sharp.

Was in an office at a meeting with all white collar guys (mine goes blue to white, depending). Personally, I carry work knives with blades from 3.5 to 4 inches since I use them on site. But no one knows because I also carry a small traditional for times when that is the appropriate knife. The meeting is at break, and one of the white collar guys stops another and says "hang on a minute, you have a thread" and whacks open a knife of some sort with about a 4" blade. The guy with the thread is really uncomfortable. The knife guy cuts the thread, closes the knife, and looks at me and winks. He thought I would appreciate his crass ways because I am the construction rep. idiot.

Gone to lunch with guys from the construction sites several times and have seen them pull out fixed blade knives (maybe 5-6" blades) to cut up a burger in a MacDonald's full of kids. They LOVE the attention from the kids, and make a show out of cleaning off hamburger crap off the blades. Little boys in particular were hypnotized.

I can go on a on. That's just the tip.

Robert
Click to expand...
Wow you sure see it more than I do, by a country mile. Some how I don't believe that is the norm. But if you think that's the cause of the fear of knives, hey that's your opinion and you're entitled to it.
 
b2edhmep said:
What bothers me is the number of law enforcement officers that don't know state or local knife or gun laws. The laws that are written in such a way, that they are left up to interpretation or intent, are also a problem.
Click to expand...

I think Virginia is one of those States where that is the case. We're a "Commonwealth', whatever that really means. But there seems to be cases where the "good guy" comes out OK. I wouldn't press my luck up in northern Virginia, but here around Richmond, the Capitol of the Confederacy, we may have some leniency.
 
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