The vanishing knife.

I also have carried different types of knives with me since last 25 years. And never say a single word to anyone around me about my stuffs.In indian weapon philosophy,
secrecy increase strength of your weapon.So I used to carry it silently.When diployment is needed then flash it.And also never discuss it with some one who dont love sharp blades.I never face any problem to carry it and it also give me strength in many occured situations.Often i carried 9" khukuri in my backpack in hill area tour.Love to all sharp blade lovers....:p
 
I've been collecting knives since I was 12 or 13 (I'm 24 now). But I've probably only been carrying a knife daily since after I graduated high school. I carry a knife everyday now. It's not an old-school Case or Buck knife, but I think the essence of carrying a utility knife is the same whether it's a slipjoint or a modern framelock. I also wear a watch; everyday. I keep a small flashlight on my keys. I have a no-nonsense Saddleback leather wallet that will last 100 years. I do have a android smartphone, but I hate it. I don't bother with fackbook or any other social media. You want to talk to me, call me or drop by. I play guitar and listen to real music, 70s-80s rock n roll ACDC type stuff. Half of all my friends listen to techno and dubstep, that shit is just noise to me. So far as I'm concerned, if you're making music with a computer instead of an instrument, it's not music. And I drive a manual transmission car.

That "pussification" is a real problem in modern times. I'm doing my best to avoid.

[video=youtube;sSrzwB1DVFs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSrzwB1DVFs[/video]
 
As people migrated to the cities and suburbs (from agricultural to industrial societies), they had less need for knives as a primary tool. Honestly, I don't NEED to carry a knife, but I want to. Primal instinct, I guess. Call me an ape man :)

I love knives but I don't have a daily need for one, but I carry sometimes.
I'm moving from a community to the woods, and farm land. My knives will definitely see more use. Very true
 
Perhaps all the knives have vanished because we, the knife enthusiasts, have become very good at being discreet.
 
Maybe you're just looking in the wrong place ;) I'm 22 (senior in college) and in my engineering classes it's almost weird to see someone without a knife clipped to their pocket. I distinctly remember one class when a professor asked if anyone had a knife, and a dozen knives came out before he finished his sentence.
 
Perhaps all the knives have vanished because we, the knife enthusiasts, have become very good at being discreet.
While I think knives are indeed becoming less common in the general public, I also suspect the pocket clip has gone a long way towards the disappearance of belt sheaths and holsters. Pretty much the only Buck-style belt cases I see nowadays here in west Texas is among ranchers and the like. But I still see a lot of knives clipped to pockets. And in today's politically-correct hoplophobic society, who knows what people are simply keeping concealed in their pockets? I know when I enter a concert hall at a local university to watch an orchestra or play I generally drop my Dragonfly to the bottom of my pocket to avoid offending the more genteel patrons.

I also live in a town with America's largest Army base and almost every soldier I see has a knife. I work as a bailiff and see literally dozens of police officers daily; ALL of them - male, female, uniformed, plainclothes - carry knives.
 
I also live in a town with America's largest Army base and almost every soldier I see has a knife. I work as a bailiff and see literally dozens of police officers daily; ALL of them - male, female, uniformed, plainclothes - carry knives.

All of those people would be "expected" to carry a knife as part of the job. Many young people associate knives and carrying a knife with the criminal element or budding criminals. There are better tools for self defense that are legal, but a knife is always a good fall back as they have many practical uses.

I have always had an affinity for knives from my youngest days. I expect I will continue to do so as I am my father's son. I mostly carry traditionals now after going through the one handed knife craze. I still like them, but I appreciate a good slip joint a lot more and they do everything I expect a pocket knife to do very well without the fan fare.
 
I have always had an affinity for knives from my youngest days. I expect I will continue to do so as I am my father's son. I mostly carry traditionals now after going through the one handed knife craze. I still like them, but I appreciate a good slip joint a lot more and they do everything I expect a pocket knife to do very well without the fan fare.

At age 77 my dad still carries a small penknife. I've carried a knife since I was around 11 years old. Started with traditionals like Old Timer or Case, then got into the one handed thing, then big tacticals. I don't carry the tacticals anymore but I am experimenting with small fixed blades as EDC knives.
 
As a kid, Case knives were something I wanted because that is what Dad carried then. By age 10, I finally purchased my first case slip joint. (We were expected to buy our own knives with our meager allowance.) The blade on that knife was worn to a nub after years of use and became unsafe to carry. Did a lot of skinning then and you were often touching up the blade. On the fixed blade side of things, I have settled on a Dozier Personal with a kydex horizontal sheath. Works for me. Nobody even notices it.
 
To me "carrying a knife" means independance, ability to rely on oneself... The one that is permanently in my jacket has a full grown spear-point blade, a corkscrew and a caplifter. Priorities, that's what. But I also carry a discreet 3" to 4" one blade slipjoint and a small double-bladed slippie. Feels good to have so much utility in one's pockets at so minimal weight. So, I'm happy to join the apemen, no problem. I look at the world and I'm glad to be old...
 
I work in an office. There are very few things I need to cut most days. I favor traditional slipjoints but I also carry and use modern one hand opening knives. Every so often I see people carrying knives but they're almost always a cheap gas station type knife. A month ago I saw a guy in my apartment complex with a Ka-Bar USMC knife in its sheath on his belt. If I get to talking about knives with people I'll find out that many do carry a cheap half serrated piece of junk, but most people carry them discreetly and don't pull them out unless they feel comfortable doing so. I think that most people who do carry a knife every day tend to hide it.
 
Saw a guy with a Benchmade pocket clip the other day in a children's play area at the local mall, couldn't really ask him about it due to the location. It's funny, when I notice somebody carrying it's alway's the other dad's during activities for kids.
 
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I haven't read the entire thread, so sorry if I repeat anything. I think it's good to remember there is a lot of variance. I meet people regularly at my brothers gym who carry knives. I held a Randall for the first time there (wow!). I expect almost no one on my campus to carry, but am surprised at how many clips I see (now just imagine all the traditionals, likely more). I hope that these numbers grow, but who knows. I think there is actually a new widespread desire in my generation to do things with your hands and get back to the older/simpler/better ways in many groups. I am 19 and if someone in my family handed me a nice knife on march twentieth I would be ECSTATIC! My dad, grandpa, uncles, cousins, and brothers all carry a knife. Actually now that I think of it every male in my family. Society is determined by the habits of the family, so I think the best thing is for young people like me to instill an interest and appreciation early on once we have families of our own.
 
I always look at peoples pockets to try and see a pocket clip... Rare to ever actually see one in my experience. I always carry a knife unless I can't due to restrictions of the place where I am heading to... When I do happen to notice someone with a knife they have a belt sheath. I have always been the go to guy for cutting things at my job. Most of my coworkers do not carry knives though they should. I have even gifted knives to coworkers and they seem to just chose to leave it at home. It becomes frustrating after a while though I do enjoy using my knife at work. It just has become too much of my day as of late...
 
Agree with the OP. Kids in my generation wanted knives more than almost anything. I recall a little cheapie FB I traded for in the 6th grade. This generation goes for electronics. It's good to see some young folks here who'll pass the hobby and tradition down.
 
I find it sad when a guy is without a knife, the few times I did not have one just a year ago in high school was during gym class. Friends ask me what is my deal with knives and I just say that every guy should have one. I use mine daily and I am fairly modern as I am in the college generation.
 
I can't believe you all carry knives every day, I just can't think of single reason why one would carry a dangerous weapon everyday. There are plenty alternatives to use when opening boxes, packages, mail, etc... Like saftey scissors.

I personally carry a knife everyday sarcastically, just to make fun of all you guys :D
 
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