This should be interesting. Ways to dress, while wearing your knife. Dressed up/down?

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bored2deth

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Feb 27, 2011
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Heya Peoples,

I'm recovering from yet another injury...slipped on the ice...now I'm bored..to..death. Anyways, I started to wonder, what do you guys who EDC a knife,
wether Fixed or folding, large or small, dress for the occassion. I've noticed that people tend to look at you differently, depending on your choice of clothing,
when you wear a knife. I've seen men whom were wearing camo pants, rubber boots, and wore a knife--I figure they were probably into hunting or fishing.
I've seen people in hoodies with plain ol' jeans and a band shirt with a folding knife in their backpockets. I think, at times, choice of clothing tends to put people at ease or alert. -_- I don't know. Lol. I'm guessing that the sight of a knife on a guy who looks like he hunts or fishes, seems to fit the picture--it seems to be in place, natural. However, I'm guessing to alot of people, the sight of that same hunting knife on the hip of a guy wearing a hoody and jeans, looks very much out of place, unnatural--"Why do you have that knife? Why do you need a knife? What do you use that knife for?" However, with the hunter, the place of the knife, it's purpose is readily absorbed--he's a hunter, they tend to wear a favored knife.

Anytime I've seen a man wearing wood-boots (water-proof or camoflauged, etc) and camo-pants, I tend to presume he's into hunting or fishing. To me, it's a natural presumption. If he has a knife on him, wether fixed or folding, I figure it's part of the outfit. He's a hunter or fisherman. But, in the same sense, anytime I have seen a person in regular clothing--i.e. jeans and a hoody (or what have you) with a knife on the belt or within view, I have wondered....why do you have a knife, what's it for?? When I see a police officer's belt and all the doo-dads and gadgets on it, I don't know what some of them are, but I know he has them because he's a Cop--they are tools of his trade.

I don't judge anyone by any means, but everyone presumes and wonders why someone has this or that :-D. Also, keep in mind I'm very bored at the moment, lol.
 
Well I have class now.....but I agree with what you said and I think whe do assume things depending on what people have on..I'll try and post more! Later!
 
I don't fish or hunt. I'm not a cop, fireman or an EMT. My out of the office attire usually includes jeans, a t-shirt and hoody and a pair of Converse or Vans. I have a knife clipped to my pocket every day with no ill-effects. I've never had a single person act differently around me or make any negative comments.

Why do I need a knife? Search "EDC" for more information.
 
I wear whatever I find to be comfortable and appropriate for my activity. As long as what I'm carrying is legal, I really don't care what people think. It can range from sweaty cargo pants and bloody boots after a hike or hunt to scrubs to a shirt and tie all at the same place in just a couple of days.
 
I work in a "professional" environment, and wear a knife everyday. I'm lucky though, society has deemed that jeans and a polo type shirt are OK to work in for my chosen profession.

I wear mostly fixed blades, I have a few folders, I really don't care what people think about it when I break out a knife... Usually when people ask (while at work) why do you carry a knife, I tell them to cut stuff, kinda like what I'm doing now...
 
what is your injury if you don't mind me asking? I'm in the same boat, at home with a broken knee. Well, technically it's a fracture of the plateau of my tibia, as well as torn ACL, meniscus damage, etc...

anyways I often wear jeans and a hoody, and never leave home without a knife. Granted, the jeans and hoody I usually wear are fitted and look only one step below "dressed up", so not baggy, gangster type clothing.

But I'll also go out in a suit and still have my Military on me. granted, it's clipped to my waistband and less noticeable than in my pocket.
 
It's an interesting question, and one that I've actually discussed a few times with friends (knife folks and not) quite a bit. I actually tend to carry larger size knives with me most of the time. I've been EDCing my large sebenza 21, and my 3 previous EDC blades were a junkyard dog, a kershaw one ton, and the benchmade large bone collector. I carry the same knife everyday regardless of whether I'm wearing a suit and tie (not all that often, but it happens) or I'm wearing my normal clothes, and really I've never had much of a negative or unusual reaction. I have several friends who carry even smaller knives who have had some pretty unusual and uncomfortable issues because of what they carry, and I can't help but think attire actually makes a difference. My normal every day clothes (this time of year at least) are jeans (usually levis or cinch, but always something simple and conservative), a button down shirt, classic sweater of some sort, sperrys or boots depending on the weather, and a northface fleece. I think looking especially non threatening goes a long way to put people at ease whether it's rational or not
 
I work in IT, and regularly need to dress for business, but always have a knife on me. For my job, I open a lot of boxes, plastic clamshell packages, cut zip ties, etc. Still, people often ask me why I need a knife. My favored response: to cut things. ;)
 
No fair, man! Lol. Well, I was wearing a nice t-shirt and jeans, and I had my multitool on my belt. A guyliterally followed me around the store trying to figure out what it was. It was weird, creepy, and more than a little annoying. I finally couldn't put up with it and said loudly, "Getting a good view of my ass there? Is it tight enough for ya? I'm sorry I must workout too often." Hehehehe...talk about shock value. Weirdo. He could've just ASKED! Cripes. Well....I'm HOPING the dude was looking at my sheath.. Anyway, I thought that it made a good example of how people judge others based on appearance, and especially those whom like to carry a multitool or knife.
 
goodeyesniper said:
what is your injury if you don't mind me asking? I'm in the same boat, at home with a broken knee. Well, technically it's a fracture of the plateau of my tibia, as well as torn ACL, meniscus damage, etc...

anyways I often wear jeans and a hoody, and never leave home without a knife. Granted, the jeans and hoody I usually wear are fitted and look only one step below "dressed up", so not baggy, gangster type clothing.

But I'll also go out in a suit and still have my Military on me. granted, it's clipped to my waistband and less noticeable than in my pocket.
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:-) Nothing better in the winter time than a good, warm hoody! My stairs were slick from freezing rain and I had to go out. Slid off the first step, rolled down the others..more than a dozen steps. Cuts, deep bruises, twisted my knee a bit....again. Lol...I imagine it was like the scene in Home Alone where the guy falls down the stairs. Hurt like hell too. I'm too old for that crap lol. I hope you are okay and get well soon. A torn ACL is serious!
 
During the work week I am dressed in dress pants and a button up mostly. When I am in those clothes, I have a large insingo in a pouch in my pocket. When I get home and put jeans on, I take it out of the pouch and clip it (or my XM-18) to my pocket. I have a well groomed beard and hair cut and my clothes are clean. I don't look "creepy" (to most):) I think that has more to do with it than anything. Sure, I have been asked why I carry a knife but not is such a way that people looked at me funny or were alarmed. Basically, I do choose the knife to go along with my attire. I never choose my attire to go along with my knife.
 
NjHart said:
It's an interesting question, and one that I've actually discussed a few times with friends (knife folks and not) quite a bit. I actually tend to carry larger size knives with me most of the time. I've been EDCing my large sebenza 21, and my 3 previous EDC blades were a junkyard dog, a kershaw one ton, and the benchmade large bone collector. I carry the same knife everyday regardless of whether I'm wearing a suit and tie (not all that often, but it happens) or I'm wearing my normal clothes, and really I've never had much of a negative or unusual reaction. I have several friends who carry even smaller knives who have had some pretty unusual and uncomfortable issues because of what they carry, and I can't help but think attire actually makes a difference. My normal every day clothes (this time of year at least) are jeans (usually levis or cinch, but always something simple and conservative), a button down shirt, classic sweater of some sort, sperrys or boots depending on the weather, and a northface fleece. I think looking especially non threatening goes a long way to put people at ease whether it's rational or not
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I think the same thing. People judge visually--all of us do, we cannot read minds. By nature, we tend to make assumptions both visually and mentally, and this can result in us being wary of someone, even if there is no call or reason. A cop friend told me something to the same measure, "I can't read a man's mind. If he has a weapon hidden on him, I can't know why he's hidden it. Maybe it's to hurt someone, or maybe it's not. I can't read minds." It's much the same as when I see a man wearing camoflage pants and hunting boots--if he has a knife on him, even a very large fixed-blade, I figure he's just a hunter and likes to have it on him, I don't feel threatened. Visually and mentally, I automatically accept the attire and the knife together as normal. People will often assume things based on appearance. I've even put it to the test. One evening I went out dressed in work clothes, torn up old boots--people tended to overlook or ignore me. Next evening I dressed nicely--black pants, better boots, nice shirt--people made eye-contact with me, smiled, nodded, some even said hello or good evening.

*Note:My workboots are dirty, shredded, and look awful btw. Lol.

Oh, anytime someone has asked me why I've carried a knife, multitool (or whatever), my constant reply has always been, "Part of my outfit. It's a tool. I use it in my work, I use it to cut strings, open packages. Tried to open a clam-pack lately? Good luck without one."
 
Where I went to college, we had a pretty diverse group of students coming from all over, but my fraternity was mostly Southern guys. It was far from universally true, but a couple of us used to joke that was one of the easiest tells the first few days around campus. The freshmen who showed up with knives clipped in their pockets were usually a pretty good tell for potential rushees. It could just be appearances or maybe just luck, but I've had plenty of people notice and ask for assistance cutting something over the years than even vague negative responses.
 
Love that story about how you were treated based on how you dressed. Says a whole lot about perceptions.

I will base the knife on what I'm wearing especially when comparing weekend jeans vs. Sunday slacks. Sometimes I'll base my clothing on what knife I want to carry that day: Cargo or carpenter pants with more pockets for when I want to carry my Cuda Maxx, or tighter jeans vs. loose, when I want to carry my slip sheath in a front pocket with 1 of 3-4 different larger slip joints, to keep it from laying horizontal.

As for outer appearance, I usually look the same, with a button-up shirt over a T-shirt for work, which covers whatever is in my pockets or on my belt. Untucked T-shirt covering up during summer or weekends. I'm 40-ish and look it, with a "Dad goatee" and lightly gelled hair with slim glasses. I look like what I am. A professional / dad. Most folks would be suprised to know I often carry a Protech Godfather, Kershaw Tyrade, Camillus Cuda Maxx 5.5, or Microtech Scarab in my rotation.
 
I generally wear jeans and a black tshirt and a flannel. Black leather jacket when it's cold enough. I often have a knife clipped in my front pocket. No one has ever asked me about it. I'm in WV though, and most guys here have at least a pocket knife.

Lately I've been carrying an Izula on my belt. I don't think anyone has even noticed it. I laid it in my desk at work the other day, and no one even batted an eye.

I think dress isn't as big a deal as the knife culture where you happen to live. No one even bats an eye at pistols here, except the occasional "hey man, nice gun."
 
Knives aren't that big of a deal around here. I'm a contractor, but I also make sales calls to people's homes. I almost always have a multi-tool on my belt that has saved my bacon more times that I can remember. I also either keep a folder clipped to my jeans or a very utility looking fixed blade to my belt.

I generally wear a company polo and jeans and work boots or a flannel shirt tucked in. Between my smart phone, multi-tool, small maglite, and tape measure, the sub 4" bladed Mora in it's forest green sheath doesn't stick out like a sore thumb on my belt.

I've always found demeanor to be a bigger factor in how people react to your gear. I'm a working professional who looks you in the eye when we speak. I shake hands firmly and I'm generally more jovial than not. Folks don't even notice my knives:)
 
I had never really thought about it before. I base the knife somewhat on what I wear but mostly its what Im doing. I know my ZT 0560 is to long for me to comfortably carry in shorts so I only carry when Im wearing jeans. And I always have a fixed blade when Im in the woods but only in the woods. I carry my Sage 2 to church because Its a little nicer. And I wear jeans and a tshirt with a fleece jacket most days.
 
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