Wal-Mart Knife Story

My stock reply is:" Because a sharpened edge and the use fire is what seperates us from the apes".

I love to see someone struggling with a package, especially one with nylon strapping around it. I step up and say let me take care of that and in a fluid motion come up with the small Sebenza open by the time they notice it and cut the strapping with a snap and then close it and put it back in my right front pocket in a smooth one handed movement. This frequently causes people to ask how I did that, and what was that? It gives me a chance to show them what a quality knife is capable of and why a person might keep one around. Sometimes they actually develop a curiosity about the things and start asking real questions. I've turned a couple sheeple this way.

jmx
 
When people ask why I carry a knife I almost always say, "In case I need to cut something." That usually prompts them to ask what kinds of things I cut and I usually recite the list of things I have cut, string, rope, letters, papers, my seatbelt to free myself from a car wreck, etc.

One time, two Christmases ago, we were opening presents. My nephew, about 12 at the time, couldn't get into his package. He asked for my knife and I gave him the most harmless knife I had on me, a Spyderco Dragonfly (plain edge). He took it and my mother-in-law promtly said, to him, "Don't cut anything." Now I'm usually patient and polite to non-knife people in an effort to educate them and promote knife-carrying. But that was absurd. I know she meant to say, don't cut "YOURSELF", or "SOMETHING ELSE BY ACCIDENT." I asked her, "Why do you think he asked me for the knife? I think it's because he wants to cut the tape on his package. Do you want me to tell you not to cut anything next time you're in the kitchen preparing a meal?" She understood, and I later apologized for being a bit rude. I just don't understand those types of statements.

I think when people ask why we carry knives, we are better off to be honest and polite about it. Some people just don't understand because they have never given it any thought. Other people will never agree and will see us as evil-doers simply because we carry a knife around all day. If we just respond by saying our reasons, whatever the reason is, they will usually understand. They probably won't agree though. At least that's what I usually see.

I have a harder time explaining why I carry two or three knives at once though. How do you deal with that? I usually say, "How many pairs of shoes do you have?" Then say, "Each pair serves a different need doesn't it?" I then explain the advantages of carrying a plain edge plus a serrated one, or whatever. Some people understand, but not many.
 
"Oh, this? It's my wife's present for Christmas. It's a one-of-a-kind. Nice, eh? Very useful for eating pizza and opening boxes and letters too. Here, have a look".
Usually everybody answers "Nice, how's the blade made with those strange colors?" (damask blade).
For some reason your wife's present for christmas is not something you are gonna use for doing nasty things :)

Once some friend of mine asked me "What do you do with that weapon" when I show him one fo my swords.
"A weapon? That? That's just a sporting tool and decorative piece. THIS is a weapon" producing a nasty .357 Magnum revolver :)
They instantly understand the difference :D
 
A girl's mother asked me what I had in my pocket and I answered (honestly) "A knife." She asked why, and I told her, once again honestly, "For defense." She told me all aobut how I would only escalate the situation and how carrying a knife was dangerous.

See, it was a 5" Gunsite folder, and nobody is going to buy "For cutting strings." Besides, I did carry it for defense. My friend's Vaquero Grande prevented what would ahve been at least and assault, if not attempted murder.

Most people don't like the idea of bloodshed under any circumstances and don't understand the idea that you must be responsible for oyur own defense. Carry what youw ant, be honest with why you ahve it, but be discrete, too.
 
...the better to cut with my dear.....*evil grin, showing teeth* (followed by a wicked laugh - a ha ha ha haaaaaaaaa!)
 
I always answer "to cut things." If I get any "guff." I tell people if I want a weapon I use a 14" phillips screwdriver sharpened to a point...
 
Because I'm not old enough to carry a gun. I can understand the sheeple getting startled at my big M16 Law, It's big.:)

Steve C.
 
Originally posted by Frag
Other people will never agree and will see us as evil-doers simply because we carry a knife around all day.
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I doubt it is a question of "evil", more like "dangerous." They are like zebras, we are like lions. We can drink at the same water hole one day, the next...? They don't hate us; hate is too strong a word. They resent us. They resent us for being strong, because they cannot hate themselves for being weak.

The good news is not everyone without a daily carry knife is like that!
 
I usually explain what I do with the blade, not excluding self-defense.
On a sidenote, how thick is the handle for the 730? is it thicker than 710?
 
I let my concealed pistol license expire... so recently had to go through the whole fingerprinting.. waiting process again... but this thread kind of makes me think... While I was at the county Sheriff's office redoing the process, a deputy saw the pocket clip on my Sebbie. It is purple anodized... he wanted to see it... Mine is a small, with masatdon overlay... well, In about five minutes, there were four deputy sherrif's and me.. all passing our blades around to examine... It was fun.


After fifteen minutes of waiting to get fingerprinted, A kid of all about 14 or 15 comes in handcuffed, with another deputy berating him for lying about his name when they caught him after blowing up mailboxes with m-80's. So..this kid sits down, and asks me what I'm filling out... I tell him... and he proceeds to get this disgusted look on his face, and asks me "what the hell I need to carry a gun for.." So I politely respond "so when you get big and brave enough to commit a real crime, I can shoot you if needed." That pretty much shut him up.


I hope it never ever comes to that, but... Sheeple just kill me.


-Dave
 
>"... and he proceeds to get this disgusted look on his face, and asks me 'what the hell I need to carry a gun for..' So I politely respond 'so when you get big and brave enough to commit a real crime, I can shoot you if needed.'"

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That's classic! :D
 
<i>and he proceeds to get this disgusted look on his face, and asks me "what the hell I need to carry a gun for.." So I politely respond "so when you get big and brave enough to commit a real crime, I can shoot you if needed." That pretty much shut him up. </i>

Holy cow, that's priceless.


:cool:
 
Iverson: that should be on a plaque somewhere.... btw did the cops crack up.
 
So I politely respond "so when you get big and brave enough to commit a real crime, I can shoot you if needed." That pretty much shut him up.
Click to expand...

You may have just done more than any judge could to set that kid straight.
 
I agree! That's classic. Gave that kid something to think about. Consequences for his actions. ;)
 
Yep.. It shut him up tighter than an oyster... I figure the look on my face had something to do with it... And, yes.. the deputies got a kick out of it,,, and the lady who took my fingerprints couldn't stop chuckling, we had to do my second finger three times to get it right....
 
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