"Thats illegal!!!"

About 1983 I had a cop in a pizza place come up to me at the salad bar and tell me I had to take my knife off and put it in my car. I told him I walked to the pizza parlor. He said I needed to take it off, it was illegal. I told him it was a single edge blade, less than six inches in length, it was not concealed in any way, and I could carry it anywhere I wanted to. He asked me how I knew that, I told him that I had called downtown and checked the law, maybe he should. He looked pissed, and told me I should take it off anyway, as it made people nervous. I told him that maybe they should just stay home then, went back to my booth, and ate my dinner, without further commentary, but plenty of nasty looks from the cop booth in the corner.

In the days before I got my CC permit, and shortly after 9-11, I had pulled over in a rural area near town, just to unwind a little. No artificial sweeteners, just some quiet time. Hadn't been there too long when a Sheriff's car pulls up, parks behind me, and an older deputy got out and asked me what I was doing. I explained, and mentioned that normally I'd be over by the airport watching planes come in, but with air travel severely restricted at that time, and armed security patrols everywhere, someone just sitting in a car anywhere near the airport really wasn't a very intelligent option. He laughed and agreed that probably wasn't the best idea. He looked in the front window of my car, saw the handle of a HIGHLY-illegal-within-reach-of-the-driver Ontario/Bagwell bowie stuck down between the seat and console, and asked "What in the hell are you doing with that big-ass knife?" I looked him in the eye, and said "I carry a knife everywhere these days." He said "Fair enough,' and then went on to tell me I would have to leave the area, security at a nearby quarry thought I was scoping out the place for something. We both kind of laughed at that, got in our respective cars, and went our separate ways. He could just as easily have arrested me, and I'd not have blamed him, we both knew the law was on his side. But, no harm, no foul.

Two different law enforcement professionals, two vastly different social climates, two completely different reactions to a blade. I've always found that intriguing...
 
shinyedges said:
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.
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It is possible that others have experiences different from your own.

And no need to put words in my mouth to self satisfy your own opinion. I can express myself fine without help. I never said I "think that's the cause of the fear of knives" and that is NOT my opinion.

Robert
 
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Fear of the unknown can be so subtle that people don't realize it's happening. Most of this stems from the unfamiliarity of knives, both by the general public, and some lawmakers. First impressions based on the appearance of the knife tend to be the sole ingredient in their opinion, which quickly solidifies to the point at which it could be measured on the Rockwell scale. A "tactical" style knife can be as dull as a butter knife, and it will seem more dangerous than a razor sharp gentleman's folder (or even a chisel) of equal size. Knives are often thought of as weapons instead of tools by those who never use any. And many are quick to judge you (to an extent) as a person, as they cannot see why you would need to carry a "weapon". And then, of course, you have those that simply cannot keep their opinions to themselves.

I'm trying to think back and I'm not sure if this has ever happened to me. I don't think I've spent enough time in states with strict knife laws. If nothing else, the vast majority of people around me at any given point would think the knife is cool and either strike up a conversation or pull out their knife as well. The biggest problem for me is watching people test sharpness. I tend to hold my breath when they touch the blade, lol. It's surprising how few people can safely see how sharp a knife is.
 
midnight flyer said:
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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I see where you're coming from now.
I took you the wrong way at first.
 
My father in law saw my flipper and said, "thats a switchblade". I said "no, its not an automatic."
He then said, "that's a loophole of getting around the law". I then just said, "I guess so".
I smiled and walked away.
Later I explained to him what each knife is. Now he has a much better understanding.
Education is key.
 
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. T
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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
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Unfortunately, showboat behavior is a temptation. I know that I have made a point of showing how cool I am by having a knife for tasks. I should be more mature but sometimes I am not.
 
Faiaoga said:
Unfortunately, showboat behavior is a temptation. I know that I have made a point of showing how cool I am by having a knife for tasks. I should be more mature but sometimes I am not.
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I am still laughing about that. No kidding!

When I am with a group I don't know and someone asks for a knife, I either keep quiet or look around to the people around me. I don't want to put a sharp instrument in someone's hand if I don't know them and may have the same reaction if I do.

If I am out with my guys on the construction site and I have a new knife, they enjoy seeing my new knives as much as I do having them. When they get a new one, they will do anything to get me to notice their new blades. We laugh a lot about acting like a bunch of little boys (most of us are well past the 1/2 century mark) when we get a new knife and tease each other a lot about "getting the new blade dirty, or borrowing the new blade to cut a piece of wire because you don't want to screw up your own".

No reason not to have some fun with your knives!

Robert
 
My attitude is that your knife is like your genitalia. If you go around showing it to people, you will end up in trouble. 95% of the time, if I have a knife out in front of people, it a keychain knife like a Ladybug or a Victorinox.
 
anthony cheeseboro said:
My attitude is that your knife is like your genitalia. If you go around showing it to people, you will end up in trouble. 95% of the time, if I have a knife out in front of people, it a keychain knife like a Ladybug or a Victorinox.
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I'm with you. Even though I carry two knives, there are a great deal of people that don't know I carry any.

I got my first knife at 6 when I joined the Cub Scouts. Seemed like EVERYBODY, young and old carried a knife back in the very early 60s. Mostly some form of CASE or Boker folder.

Got my Scout knife. If my Dad saw it out of my pocket for anything but a real use, he told me to put it in my pocket with threat of confiscation. My old Scoutmaster was the same way, so I thought that was how it was. As far as knives went it was the same as the old saw about children that my grandmother always said: "Children are made to be seen, not heard". (Think how out of step that is today!)

Robert
 
midnight flyer said:
It is possible that others have experiences different from your own.

And no need to put words in my mouth to self satisfy your own opinion. I can express myself fine without help. I never said I "think that's the cause of the fear of knives" and that is NOT my opinion.

Robert
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Robert, you quoted my words and conveniently left out the word IF before the start of it. Here I'll show you; IF you think that's the cause of the fear of knives, that's you're opinion.

Maybe you just missed the IF. I never put any words in your mouth, IF it's your opinion I put words in your mouth that would be incorrect.

Further more, there is a difference between show boat behavior such as being a little more flamboyant when using ones knife for a task and waving a knife around causing fear.

You say you "see people who make you want to take their knife away" and then start listing "show boating". You seem more nosey than anything.

Perhaps it's where I've lived in florida, south Carolina, north Carolina, texas, Michigan, Missouri, Rhode Island that I don't typically see all the "show boating" I don't know. I barely see a pocket clip now a days lol

Yet you seem to live in knifeville. Anyway, coming full circle, you're entitled to your opinion. I'll reiterate the number of people who are fearful of knives because they saw someone "show boating" is likely insignificant.

At the college I attended, a professor of a class I was in was beyond fearful of knives, guns, anything basically. She said she didn't even like sharp kitchen knives :eek:, was this woman fearful because she saw someone "show boating" a buck 110?
 
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It seems some people are complaining of show boating, understand this; it has happened and will continue to happen. You're solving absolutely nothing, but complaining how often you "see" it.

Since M midnight flyer you seem to be at the epicenter of knife show boating you should educate those you "see" being flamboyant as to the error of their ways. Or keep complaining and do nothing, that works too.
 
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.
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I think the larger commentary is that it's not the knife it's the person. I've use my very illegal knives in public places in Europe and the States and no one bats an eye because I'm just some married 40 something with a kid. I'll grant that some people are scared of just about anything but they're a very small minority.
 
GermanyChris said:
I think the larger commentary is that it's not the knife it's the person. I've use my very illegal knives in public places in Europe and the States and no one bats an eye because I'm just some married 40 something with a kid. I'll grant that some people are scared of just about anything but they're a very small minority.
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I don't disagree, but the bad behavior is a small minority as well.
 
To me at least, I try to conform myself to my surroundings. It's hard not to cringe at that statement, however I find awareness to the circumstances of a particular situation goes miles in terms of avoiding the one dude or dudette that wants to make a stink over a knife. Funny because it's usually that person that asks for a knife... but anyway. I don't carry a blade longer than 3" for edc almost as a rule however sometimes I bend that one for certain knives (Urban Trapper for one.)

As an example... It's super awesome that x or y knife can deploy super fast, however I find if I unfold a knife slowly as if it were a slippy it's not as likely to draw comments from the peanut gallery. Even though it's most often a situation where somebody calls for a knife and 3-4-5 guys don't have them. Sometimes I'm more inclined to keep them to myself. Hey, figure it out on your own you idiots.
 
shinyedges said:
It seems some people are complaining of show boating, understand this; it has happened and will continue to happen. You're solving absolutely nothing, but complaining how often you "see" it.

Since M midnight flyer you seem to be at the epicenter of knife show boating you should educate those you "see" being flamboyant as to the error of their ways. Or keep complaining and do nothing, that works too.
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Comparing notes isn't necessarily complaining. But this case, I could see that from me. I have mentioned that I am tired (and inferred annoyed) at show boating. I can see I am not alone. I do get annoyed when someone that creates a stir when it (to me) is unnecessary.

Actually, I am at the center of nothing! You give me waaayyyy too much credit. I am guessing by your quote points that you don't agree with my perception or don't understand it. Regardless, I am not my brother's keeper in these instances and something I have been clear on throughout (even clarified my thoughts to bladeboss to make sure I didn't come on too strong towards him) is that I am tired of what I consider poor behavior.

As far as your suggestion that I others the error in their ways, can't do it. Teaching full grown men how to act the way I think they should not only isn't my responsibility, but not my business. I don't condone drunken behavior, but haven't taken it on myself to lecture a drunk when I see one. I don't approve of people that lie to their spouses, but I don't lecture or try to educate those that do on the evils of bad behavior. I think you are probably much more concerned about your fellow man than I am. Those that act counter to my ideas of good behavior regardless of the subject aren't my problem to solve. I leave that to more caring people that love their fellow man a lot more than I do.

Full grown men aren't likely to change, and most likely an educational mini class trying to sway them to think like me won't be successful.

Robert
 
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