Traditional knives and public perception.

Blues said:
The Buck 110 is a large and imposing knife. Despite its popularity and acceptance (worldwide), as a retired LEO it would certainly get my attention if it was open and in the hand of someone whose demeanor caused my internal radar to alert.

As most all of us have agreed, it's all about how one presents oneself in public and the manner in which the knife is employed. The less done to attract undue attention the much less likely it is that using a knife in a given situation will raise eyebrows or heartbeats.

(As to the whole tactical operator schtick, it's mostly ludicrous on its face and hardly worthy of comment. In knowledgeable hands most anything can become a weapon in a hurry...from a pencil to a rolled up magazine ad infinitum)
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Blues, I agree with you man, didn't really think that about a 110. Email inbound, I don't wanna derail this thread.
 
Pipeman said:
Hi Carl
I'm in Canada where there seems to be less negative hype about knives. I buy and sell old slippies and new Rough Rider slip joints and lockbacks. I have never had anyone look at me in a strange way when I pull out a pocket knife and in fact sell more knives to Women than men on average. By friend on the other hand carries assisted openers that look like tacticals and he gets lots of negative comments compared to me and he's 78 years old. In my showcase I have a little sign that says "pocket knives like your grand dad used to carry" and many people respond to that with a sentimental comment or two.
I have to say I really hate the look of "tactcal" knives and the mall ninja head space and honestly feel that they have a very negative affect on the knife industry and potentially it's future as a whole. Great thread.

Best regards

Robin
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I agree the whole "tactical" thing is going to kill our right to have a knife here the same way a psycho killed off the Brits' ability to buy a gun. If you want a "tacticaL' knife join the CF.
 
Nightshifter said:
Great post. I am in agreement with "Obsessedwith edges", that your demeanor and manners go a long way in being a knife-ambassador. Being in Law Enforcement myself,we are trained to watch the hands and scan anyone we deal with for weapons on their person. Bulges, pocket clips,etc. I've dealt with citizens that were carrying knives or handguns and never had a problem. When I travel though I always carry a couple slipjoints, and if I do carry a tactical folder I do not clip it on, just put in a pocket.
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It's good to hear from your perspective as an LEO. I assumed, at the time, that the trooper I dealt with was fully aware of my clipped knife (I'd have been somewhat shocked if he'd overlooked it). But I've always wondered a little bit how they view & deal with such things, from one situation to the next.
 
Blues said:
The Buck 110 is a large and imposing knife. Despite its popularity and acceptance (worldwide), as a retired LEO it would certainly get my attention if it was open and in the hand of someone whose demeanor caused my internal radar to alert.
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The Buck 110 is the perfect example of contrasting perceptions. Viewed by some as a 'traditional' knife, the city of San Antonio, Texas, years ago, famously banned ALL locking knives within the city limits. This came about as a means to rein in gangs & other people who were known to frequently carry 'Buck knives' (et al) and use them for 'other than traditional' purposes.

Perception and behavior are everything.
 
embeth said:
I agree the whole "tactical" thing is going to kill our right to have a knife here the same way a psycho killed off the Brits' ability to buy a gun. If you want a "tacticaL' knife join the CF.
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I have traditional knives and I have tactical knives. Most days I carry two knives -- one of each. If my having a tactical knife and carrying it offends you then that's too bad.

If we start taking sides -- traditionalists against modernist (is that a word?) then we will weaken our stance against unjust knife laws. All types of knife owners need to band together to make sure our knife rights are upheld.

Oh, what does CF stand for?
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
...This came about as a means to rein in gangs & other people who were known to frequently carry 'Buck knives' (et al) and use them for 'other than traditional' purposes.

Perception and behavior are everything.
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One might argue that using knives for the purposes you allude to is quite traditional from a historical perspective. ;)
(Not that I endorse it. I've been cut and don't recommend it. :eek:)
 
Blues said:
One might argue that using knives for the purposes you allude to is quite traditional from a historical perspective. ;)
(Not that I endorse it. I've been cut and don't recommend it. :eek:)
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Sure, just ask Julius Caeser about it!:eek:

I'm sure he got the point!:)
 
Blues said:
One might argue that using knives for the purposes you allude to is quite traditional from a historical perspective. ;)
(Not that I endorse it. I've been cut and don't recommend it. :eek:)
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Yikes. Now there's a whole new can-o-worms!! :eek:

Next topic up for discussion(?):

"What exactly does 'traditional knife' mean?"

I'm afraid to hear where that might go. Perish the thought... :(

Dave
 
Modoc ED said:
I think this thread shows the inclinition of many in the traditional form to carry not only a traditional knife but a tactical type knife too...
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I would argue (caution) against referring to modern, one-hand opening knives (liner locks, etc.) as tactical. They are no more tactical imho than a hammer or wrench which doesn't even need to be opened or locked.

I think that by referring to such knives as tactical we inadvertently support the arguments used by those unenlightened enough to want to ban the carry and use of such tools.
 
Blues said:
I think that by referring to such knives as tactical we inadvertently support the arguments used by those unenlightened enough to want to ban the carry and use of such tools.
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Many times, it is the manufacturer who starts out referring to them as such.

I too, carry a traditional and modern one handed folder every day. Right now, it is a SAK and lockback. Victorinox black alox hunter, and a Spyderco Native IV.
 
I believe we need to be careful not to fall into the "traditional bolt-action rifle vs. 'black rifle' " argument here within our forum. And we should be especially careful of assigning 'character' to an inanimate object (such as a 'taftical knife'...whatever that is). A Benchmade or an Emerson folder is no more "evil" than a table knife...but we do need to be careful where we utilize these types of knives...and that is a sad commentary on our 'civilization.'

My $0.02 worth,
Ron
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Many times, it is the manufacturer who starts out referring to them as such.
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In their zeal to get fat off the Walter Mitty's of the world, in the final analysis they may turn out to be their own worst enemy if the faucet is shut off due to their contributing to their own demise.
 
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embeth said:
I agree the whole "tactical" thing is going to kill our right to have a knife here the same way a psycho killed off the Brits' ability to buy a gun. If you want a "tacticaL' knife join the CF.
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I think it's more a certain selection of "elites" are what will kill it for us. Just like original Switchblade Bans only coming around because of a popular movie showcasing gangsters liking to use Switchblades. Whatever bigshots at the time saw this as an opportunity to start chipping away at knife carrying. Sally Homemaker wasn't going to disagree with a ban on GANGSTER weapons, after all! Her husband only carries a Buck anyway.

The negative media just gets their foot in the door to do what they want anyways, make us even more reliant on their authority. And I really don't think tactical knife marketing really is on anyone's radar.
 
Blues said:
I would argue (caution) against referring to modern, one-hand opening knives (liner locks, etc.) as tactical. They are no more tactical imho than a hammer or wrench which doesn't even need to be opened or locked.

I think that by referring to such knives as tactical we inadvertently support the arguments used by those unenlightened enough to want to ban the carry and use of such tools.
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Well, are you going to allow such knives into the Traditional Forum? Of course you're not and I'm not trying to start an argument here.

Look at the Spyderco knives and others like them in the thread I posted the link to. No, not all of them are tactical knives but rather tactical like knives. We can't bury our heads in the sand and hope the perceived negativity about knives that are serrated, with opening holes and studs will go away if we don't post and talk about them.

Personally, I see no movement to ban tactical knives. Most jurisdictions are opening up their knife regulations to our favor.

Anyway, just my .02¢ Not trying to be contrary or argumentative.
 
mnblade said:
Dish, man! What happened?

-- Mark
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I don't want to sidetrack Carl's thread any more than necessary Mark. We can tell war stories in Carl's Lounge. (And if I remember correctly it may have been discussed in another thread.) Or you can always shoot me a PM or email.
 
Modoc ED said:
Well, are you going to allow such knives into the Traditional Forum?
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No, you're correct, we're not. However, I think you missed the point of my post.
(But that's okay, no need to rehash this whole thing either. Let's just move on or you can take it to email or PM if need be.)

I will say, however that now is not time to get complacent about knife rights.

It was only a very few years back when I had to try to talk federal prosecutors in South FL out of pursuing knife related cases on a variety of levels. It was a big deal at the time.

And, on a personal level, I was the subject of an internal affairs investigation because of my friendship with a knifemaker who happened to enter the U.S. with one (1) balisong knife (which he had declared). I kid you not. It took months to get the matter cleared up.

So, take from it what you will.
 
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