Utterly mundane question about knife use in a shop

Today, 6th day at new job, a stock girl comes out back needing flat cardboard to stop excess items falling out of a box. I say, sure thing, pop the UTX-70 out, nope, too small for thick board, so I replace it and pull out the AD20.5 (purple/blue dyed, black blade/hardware) and start cutting it to shape. She sees it all and is happy to receive the cardboard. It was like nothing happened cause I made it that way.

Normal as day. Was happy to see a few pocket clips (pens and tools but also a knife) prominent on my new manager's pocket.
 
As someone who regularly pulls out a knife to open packaging in front of customers in my showroom, it's not a big deal unless you make it one. If I'm just cutting the tape holding a box cut, I'll use a pinch grip on the knife blade if I'm dealing with someone who looks more delicate than usual, but that's about it. I keep a Spyderco Cat, Kizer Mini Sheepdog, and Condor Urban Puukko in the showroom for packaging (need to keep a backup handy in a drawer in case I wander off with one of them after using it and put it down on my office desk or supply room).

That said, there are a couple of places you probably shouldn't be whipping out a knife. Gas Station tills and tills at small convenience stores get robbed so many times by people with sharp and pointy things that those poor bastards just don't need the extra stress. At that point, unless you know the person on the other side of the counter, maybe just offer to cut something for them to avoid things getting out of hand.
 
Last edited:
The Grendels said:
As someone who regularly pulls out a knife to open packaging in front of customers in my showroom, it's not a big deal unless you make it one.
Click to expand...
Well, that's really a long and short of it isn't it? There are still those, including a few here, and give all of us that carry a bad name when they "whip out their knife" when called to duties such as cutting an errant thread on a button, cutting up a lime to have a wedge to put in your margarita, open a FedEx box (they cannot figure out the pull tab) and of course dispatching that nasty packing tape. I have seen those people.

A task is spotted; he steps up.... no one else would... how could they? He is surrounded by the unprepared.

He looks left, then right, making sure all eyes are on him. With the hand speed and surety of one who has played in front of the mirror for hours on end, he deploys his knife with a satisfying "thwack!"

Men cower. Women swoon. Children run for their lives. He dispatches 16 inches of packing tape in one sure stroke. And then with one hand, and a speedy flash he closes the knife while waving it over his head before putting it in his pocket. His duty is done. With a quiet smirk, he goes on his way. And life slowly gets back to normal in his aftermath.

Yes sir, I've known plenty of those guys over the years and they have done nothing but make it hard for all of us that see most knives have nothing more than handy tools.. Thankfully in my hometown of a few million people almost everyone carries a knife of some sort, including our females.

So I agree. It can be a big deal if you want to make it one. Otherwise it's a non-event that happens during your day.
 
I always pull out my knife and two hand open it. I sometimes announce “oh, I’ll use my pocket knife”. That way it lessons the surprise. I act like it’s no big deal and I really haven’t met any resistance.
 
Monofletch said:
I always pull out my knife and two hand open it. I sometimes announce “oh, I’ll use my pocket knife”. That way it lessons the surprise. I act like it’s no big deal and I really haven’t met any resistance.
Click to expand...
I do t see any reason to try to lessen the surprise when you are using a knife appropriately. I cut 50 things a day at my shop. No one is surprised and no one is freaked out. If someone does get upset, they have the problem.
 
I agree: no announcement...
But I've also had folks ask to see the knife after I'm done cutting.
If time and circumstances permit: I'm usually more than happy to show it to them... along with a little bit of safe knife handling advice.
 
DMG said:
I do t see any reason to try to lessen the surprise when you are using a knife appropriately. I cut 50 things a day at my shop. No one is surprised and no one is freaked out. If someone does get upset, they have the problem.
Click to expand...
It does depend on the situation. I work at the post office, I have to be careful.
 
Monofletch said:
It does depend on the situation. I work at the post office, I have to be careful.
Click to expand...
Many years ago, on October 31st, I see this guy in a USPS uniform nonchalantly walking through the lobby at work. Forgetting what day it was, as I slip through the security turnstile and being as ever so observant as I am first thing in the morning before coffee, I’m wondering what the mail man is doing in the building, because they had a whole separate area very far away from the lobby for receiving mail and other stuff, and to my knowledge delivery people weren’t allowed to venture very far from that dock area. Then I also realized he was sporting a couple of sidearms, ammo belts slung on his shoulders, and several grenades hanging from his belt. As this was all sinking in, I finally remembered it was Halloween. To this day I haven’t seen a better get-up - it was all just beautifully done, between the very realistic looking uniform and weapons. I still laugh about it when I think of it, and for some stupid reason this post made me think of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top