The Public Perception of Personal Knife Usage......A Cautionary Tale

[James Y]

Hi, Steely_Gunz,

Well, I personally do NOT have an “us vs them” mentality when it comes to non-knife carriers/users. Heck, there have been ”knife people” who have been smirky about some of my other non-knife-related interests, and I don’t feel that way about them, either.

I just thought I’d mention my story above to point out that there exists SOME people can get bent out of shape over even something as innocuous as a tiny SAK Classic. That doesn’t mean that I allow such people to dictate what I do in my life, since I’m not breaking any laws.

Jim

 

[Lee D]

Well, I personally do NOT have an “us vs them” mentality when it comes to non-knife carriers/users.

Me neither, some folks don’t carry or are scared of knives for their own safety. I have a buddy that cringes when he sees a knife because he can’t touch one without dinging himself. I handed him my PM2 to cut some fishing line last summer and he managed to split his thumb pretty bad.

 

[A.L.]

Me neither, some folks don’t carry or are scared of knives for their own safety. I have a buddy that cringes when he sees a knife because he can’t touch one without dinging himself. I handed him my PM2 to cut some fishing line last summer and he managed to split his thumb pretty bad.

Also can't forget that "be careful, it's sharp!" notice and then second later hearing "aaaaah!".

 

[hsherzfeld]

Me neither, some folks don’t carry or are scared of knives for their own safety. I have a buddy that cringes when he sees a knife because he can’t touch one without dinging himself. I handed him my PM2 to cut some fishing line last summer and he managed to split his thumb pretty bad.

It's good that he knows his limitations and recognizes which tools he can and can't use safely. I respect that.

 

[hsherzfeld]

I guess I've been fortunate in where I live (Texas) and where I went to school (University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK). I've never really been hassled for carrying a knife or multitool, except for on my high school robotics team. It was frowned upon when I pulled out my Leatherman Sidekick to cut something at a robotics competition. However, I came of age in the post-9/11 world, so the idea of knife restrictions at school functions was nothing new and I was normally fairly discrete about using the blade in particular. I wore a Wave on my belt every day in college, justifying it (to myself, and to anyone who asked) that I used it for bike maintenance. Nobody that I met at OU thought it was weird or dangerous for an engineering student to be carrying a multitool. I wore it openly on my belt, but I also didn't wave (ha ha, puns!) it around during class or anything like that.

At my first engineering position, I routinely kept an Opinel No. 8 on my desk for slicing baguettes for sandwiches at lunch time. The first time my boss saw it, he thought turn-lock mechanism was pretty neat (he was an engineer, after all!). When I was waiting on the maintenance guy to come and drill holes in my wall to mount my whiteboard, I took care of it myself with my Pioneer's awl. Another colleague asked to borrow my SAK when they were assembling a new desk. In fact, the main reason that I got a SAK Explorer was so that I can use the magnifying glass on engineering diagrams at work (once I get hired again).

 

[rhino]

I guess I've been fortunate in where I live (Texas) and where I went to school (University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK). I've never really been hassled for carrying a knife or multitool, except for on my high school robotics team. It was frowned upon when I pulled out my Leatherman Sidekick to cut something at a robotics competition. However, I came of age in the post-9/11 world, so the idea of knife restrictions at school functions was nothing new and I was normally fairly discrete about using the blade in particular. I wore a Wave on my belt every day in college, justifying it (to myself, and to anyone who asked) that I used it for bike maintenance. Nobody that I met at OU thought it was weird or dangerous for an engineering student to be carrying a multitool. I wore it openly on my belt, but I also didn't wave (ha ha, puns!) it around during class or anything like that.

At my first engineering position, I routinely kept an Opinel No. 8 on my desk for slicing baguettes for sandwiches at lunch time. The first time my boss saw it, he thought turn-lock mechanism was pretty neat (he was an engineer, after all!). When I was waiting on the maintenance guy to come and drill holw sin my wall to mount my whiteboard, I took care of it myself with my Pioneer's awl. Another colleague asked to borrow my SAK when they were assembling a new desk. In fact, the main reason that I got a SAK Explorer was so that I can use the magnifying glass on engineering diagrams at work (once I get hired again).

Back in 1990 when the federal agency that employed me moved into a new office building in San Francisco, I had the temerity to have an SAK available to turn screws on furniture and cubicle sections, pry things apart, poke holes in stuff, open boxes, etc. The next day, everyone else in my section had their SAKs and wanted me to sharpen them. I suspect that the same events in that very office would result in my rapid ejection from the building and termination of employment (and perhaps criminal charges).

Fortunately, rhino will never return to California and he also avoids Federal facilities.

 

[GIRLYmann]

we need to continue with edcing
within the confines of the limitations.
it may seem like a lost cause
to wish for past ways to return.
however nothing man decides is forever.
i have a dream that someday
a national holiday be proclaimed
and on that day , 24th of august
the knife might without prejudice
ultimately return to its rightful place
in every man's pocket at his side
free for 1 day at least,
from persecution and hatered.
9/11 is proof that attitudes can change overnight. someday things will come full circle.

​

 

[hsherzfeld]

Back in 1990 when the federal agency that employed me moved into a new office building in San Francisco, I had the temerity to have an SAK available to turn screws on furniture and cubicle sections, pry things apart, poke holes in stuff, open boxes, etc. The next day, everyone else in my section had their SAKs and wanted me to sharpen them. I suspect that the same events in that very office would result in my rapid ejection from the building and termination of employment (and perhaps criminal charges).

Fortunately, rhino will never return to California and he also avoids Federal facilities.

Yeah, Federal facilities + California + knives is not a recipe for good outcomes.

 

[the-accumulator]

Nobody in my daily work/home life gives me grief (here in rural midwest) about my LM Surge/Skinth kit hanging on my belt over my right hip. I used to own my own business but sold to a long-time employee a year ago, and now I work half time for her. I also get no grief over the other LM Surge that's clipped inside my left front jeans pocket (If one Surge is good, two is obviously better, right?). And no one harasses me about my heavily armored (Otterbox) cellphone attached to my belt in front of my left hip. They don't even seem to mind my 380 auto (I have a CC permit) in an IWB holster in front of my hight hip. I love living where I live! T-A

 

[Thomas Linton]

In a small college town near where I live that is home to 3 different educational institutions there is the expect diversity of opinion on all matters of course. There was quite a public to do when a woman professor from the flagship state university located there was complaining in the local newspaper about the town having the American flag flying on various light poles to commemorate national holidays such as Memorial Day. Her strident point of view was that she thought the Flag itself was symbolic of oppression and all manner of evil actions by this country over the course of its history and its flying in public bothered her tremendously.

Her newspaper article was published on September 10, 2001.

After September 11,2001 I don't recall hearing any more at least in a public forum from this particular professor.

Harry

2015:

Students at the University of California Irvine have voted for a more "inclusive space", by voting to ban the American Flag on part of the campus.

The Associated Students of University of California, Irvine (ASUCI) voted to remove all flags, including Old Glory from a government work room on campus.
This falls under resolution R50-70, which was passed Thrusday. Part of the resolution, Authored by Matthew Guevara read:

Designing a culturally inclusive space aims to remove barriers that create undue effort and separation by planning and designing spaces that enable everyone to participate equally and confidentially

The American flag has been flown in instances of colonialism and imperialism. Flags not only serve as symbols of patriotism or weapons for nationalism, but also construct cultural mythologies and narratives that in turn charge nationalistic sentiments.

Read More: University of California Bans the American Flag as ‘Offensive’ | https://wpdh.com/university-of-cali...nsive/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

 

[BJE]

Hi, Steely_Gunz,

Well, I personally do NOT have an “us vs them” mentality when it comes to non-knife carriers/users. Heck, there have been ”knife people” who have been smirky about some of my other non-knife-related interests, and I don’t feel that way about them, either.

I just thought I’d mention my story above to point out that there exists SOME people can get bent out of shape over even something as innocuous as a tiny SAK Classic. That doesn’t mean that I allow such people to dictate what I do in my life, since I’m not breaking any laws.

Jim

Hi, Steely_Gunz,

Well, I personally do NOT have an “us vs them” mentality when it comes to non-knife carriers/users. Heck, there have been ”knife people” who have been smirky about some of my other non-knife-related interests, and I don’t feel that way about them, either.

I just thought I’d mention my story above to point out that there exists SOME people can get bent out of shape over even something as innocuous as a tiny SAK Classic. That doesn’t mean that I allow such people to dictate what I do in my life, since I’m not breaking any laws.

Jim

The problem is that the very same people and their outlooks are influencing others and in time, those same people will change laws to meet what they find appropriate.

I’m all for living my own life and not worrying about the outliers, however, these outliers seem to have a more popular voice these days and influence the powers that be to make more regulations with that voice, and that directly impacts me whether I care or not.

 

[upnorth]

Grabbed some of mine and took a pic because I thought this section was about SAKs and multitools

Can you please tell me what model that black bottom piece is. Thanks.

 

[Lee D]

Can you please tell me what model that black bottom piece is. Thanks.

Swiza D04 Swiss Pocket Knife Black (3" Satin) - Blade HQ

This Swiza D04 pocket knife offers a revolutionary redesign of the traditional Swiss pocket knife. It features a soft touch polymer handle with a rubberized texture for a sure grip in difficult conditions. The blade is made from 440 stainless steel with a polished satin finish. It locks in place...

www.bladehq.com

 

[upnorth]

Swiza D04 Swiss Pocket Knife Black (3" Satin) - Blade HQ

This Swiza D04 pocket knife offers a revolutionary redesign of the traditional Swiss pocket knife. It features a soft touch polymer handle with a rubberized texture for a sure grip in difficult conditions. The blade is made from 440 stainless steel with a polished satin finish. It locks in place...

www.bladehq.com

Thank you sir.

 

[C.B.D.]

I guess I must have gotten old because I can clearly remember when no self respecting man or boy over 10 years old would think about getting dressed in the morning without dropping a pocket knife in his pocket. As a kid in school on more than one occasion I had teachers ask to use my knife. It sometimes amazes me how much things have changed in a generation or two. Kinda sad. Oh well that's my old boomer rant.

 

[Lee D]

I guess I must have gotten old because I can clearly remember when no self respecting man or boy over 10 years old would think about getting dressed in the morning without dropping a pocket knife in his pocket.

I’m only 46 but it was that way when I was growing up. My oldest daughter was born in ‘96 and it had definitely changed by the time she was old enough to use a knife. She’s always carried a small Spyderco dropped in her pocket because a pocket clip screams “kid with a knife”

 

[C.B.D.]

I’m only 46 but it was that way when I was growing up. My oldest daughter was born in ‘96 and it had definitely changed by the time she was old enough to use a knife. She’s always carried a small Spyderco dropped in her pocket because a pocket clip screams “kid with a knife”

My son is 16 (had him when I was 40) and has collected knives since he was 9 but hardly ever carries one because they are not allowed at school so he isn't in the habit of pocketing one everyday. Kind of a shame but that's the way of it these days.

 

[hsherzfeld]

My views on knives were shaped by spending time with my grandfather, who carried a 108 Old Timer as long as I knew him. He grew up in small-town Oklahoma during the Depression. He carved toy trucks and ships out of fruit crates for his brothers, and built a toy steam shovel with tracks made from inner tube rubber. He had a ball of cotton string (which I still have) that his father had made from parcel strings in an age when you didn't throw away good string. A retired Shell Oil engineer, he loved gardening and researching the Civil War. Damn, I miss him.

Before I was old enough for school (like four or five years old), my mother would drop me off at Grandpa Jim's house so she could run errands. Before his eyesight got bad, he would take me with him on errands (he called it "toolin' around") in the '55 Rocket 88 Oldsmobile that he had restored. I helped him in the garden and we made crafts; he even helped me build a "flying machine" out of cardboard boxes, with an umbrella for lift (I had just seen Mary Poppins and my young mind thought that umbrella = flight). Whenever I needed a piece of string cut, I would ask Grandpa Jim to cut it with his pocket knife.

I carry a knife because my grandfather did.

 

[Grant Haller]

I remember my brother in law’s brother leaving the Boise airport after a hunting trip. They checked his carry-on and OKed his rather large hunting knife, but he had to check his bone saw because it was too long! I remember thinking how ridiculous it was and I think the TSA agent felt the same, but rules are rules I guess. Obviously this was a good many years ago.
Not long after I was about to get on a bullet train in Japan and was very politely and apologetically told I could not take my SAK climber on board. They took down my address and mailed it to me at no charge.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

People are often cliquish and their like minded friends reinforce specific behaviors. Ocassionally, the dummer ones will try to apply those values to the general population. I have seen it with weapon, knives, food choices, bottled water, plastic straws, paper, religion, vehicles, leathers and furs and just about anything. We use to think of such borish behavior as someone who was poorly socialized. These days some try to wear it as a badge of honor. Just ignore them until they exhaust themselves.

n2s

*dumber