what to do when people freak out about your knife

I worked at a job where I was chastised by a few for the fact I always had a Knife (or two) on me.

One co-worker even went as far as reporting me to HR. A meeting persued and I was asked to leave for the day. Cool. 1/2 day off, fishing, beer...etc. The next day I returned to work...naked of course with out a blade on me.

I proceeded to walk around the office and factory... I explained to HR that I felt threatened by every nail file, letter opener, scissors, etc, not to mention the odd box cutter or utility knife laying around. They saw my point, Paid me for my 1/2 day fishing trip, and formally appologized for their knee jerk reaction to the panty-weight liberal that complained! (maybe they were afraid I was going to sue them?)
 
"That's a weapon" or "OMG! Why do you carry such a BIG knife???"

ME: "Yep, and I'm a former Marine and know 500 different ways I could use it to skin your cat!" (With a smirk on my face of course):D

I had a guy with some snaggly lookin front teeth ask me a similar question once, and I said something like "Yea, see how nice my teeth are?" (Insinuating because I dont use my TEETH to open things)
 
The only time I've ever been chastised openly on the job about my knife was back when I was younger working on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

I was working with a guy who had worked offshore a lot longer than I had at the time, and we were changing out a rope that workboats used to tie up to the rig. This about a 4" dia. rope. We had to pull the thing up on the deck and cut it at the end where the hardware was, and toss the old rope & put on a new piece.

So I whip out my little schrade lockback - which was about the size of a spyderco delica, and the guy I'm working with says, "$&*%& man, you ain't gonna cut that #$*%& rope with that $*!%# knife - you gotta get a bigger $*&#! knife! Roustabouts need a big old #$&%^ knife. You might as well hrow that $&%^$* thing away!"

So I cut the rope in about two slices and he says, "$&*#&!, man I guess that'll #$&%'in work!"
 
I tell em:
"Dont worry about what I do.. worry about what you do. If you dont like it, look the other way."

I get pretty pissed when someone thats really weak and squirrely looks around and starts infringing on my, or other peoples personal rights and liberties, because they may 'feel' threatened... It's a free country (thanks to me, not your sorry a$$) and this is a public place. I can do what I dam well please thank you. Now move out smartly. I mean really.. Theres sooo many other pressing issues at hand, like all the little inner city kids moving AK47s thru the neighborhoods and selling crack and getting only a year in jail, or our government willingly letting in hoardes of mexicans, that come here and do NOTHING but bring in drugs or take jobs illegally, or getting our young men and women killed in iraq for nothing, than me pulling out a blur, or victorinox trailmaster, or endura and cutting some tape, or a string. These people kill me.
Or, sometimes I'll say:

" I fought the war for your sort.. I suppose I have some rights..."

(the 2nd quote was from 'a hard days night". a beatles movie)
 
If people feel safe giving you a hard time about your knife it is to small.
I wore a katana at work for an entire day and no one said anything about it.
I did work at a surplus store though.
 
I work as a corrections officer so no blades go through that door, no exceptions.
I have only had 1 situation I can think of, a girl I had just started seeing was over and she saw an old mora wood handle on a window sill.
She was a bit surprised and asked "whats that for?"
I was even more surprised then her, and I said, "I dunno, I collect knives"
She laughed, embarrassed, and said she thought I was a serial killer or something. I suppose she barely knew me and she was used to seeing knives in the kitchen, but a mora? fairly sheeple friendly.
 
I had an antique razor strop clipped to the headboard of my brass bed and she got a very wrong impresion from the leather strap with the handle.
 
As I peel an orange in my office lunch room with my FBM....... (ok, maybe not... However my old Benchmade Pinnacle still gets the occasional negative / speculative comment or disapproving glance.)

That's the thing about a knife ; You can use it to cut your bread, or cut your neighbour. I suppose I would try to explain to the concerned person that the intent of an individual should be of far greater concern than said individual's equipment.

Or, I might be better off saving my breath for cooling my poridge.
 
When they freak over my folder, I reach into my pants and pull out the monster (MOASH) and exclaim "Now that's a knoife". The reaction is usually one of mass hysteria. ;)
 
I don't have any autos, but I'm sure they have some emotional baggage too. I could just see popping out a 4" auto black tanto serrated blade--- SPROING!!!! [co-worker faints]

I had an antique razor strop clipped to the headboard of my brass bed and she got a very wrong impresion from the leather strap with the handle.

LOL
 
MooseBazza said:
My girlfriend used to not like the fact that I have a couple on me at any given point, but she is used to it now. The deal now is basically that I don't whip them out and she doesn't freak out when I do need to use one.

We are at the point now where she realizes that a sharp knife in the hands of a responsible person is far, far safer than a dull knife in the hands of an idiot.

She is basically all right with it now.
Click to expand...

My Girlfriend, who "Doesn't like weapons of any kind" was about the same when I started buying knives. Now she's A-ok with me keeping three or so on the bedside table.

But I mentioned buying a small hatchet for camping trips, and she wasn't having it.

It also helps that she loves to cook--I'm sure my 2" and 3" folders and fixed blades look a lot less 'threatening' compared to the 6" and 8" plain-edge block-set knives in the kitchen.

Tonight, however, I had one of the knives out of the block-set, and was tapping it on my fingernail to test its' sharpness.

"What are you doing?" she says, with this horrified look.

"Seeing how sharp it is... The safe way. Instead of feeling the edge, or cutting hair with it," I say.

"See, I just cut with them until they feel dull. Then I use the steel," she says.

I still can't figure out who 'won' that one :rolleyes:
 
Unsub said:
I had an antique razor strop clipped to the headboard of my brass bed and she got a very wrong impresion from the leather strap with the handle.
Click to expand...

Aahahaha. :)

Once in a while someone will ask:

Do you have a screwdriver/knife/pliers/etc?

and I'll run to my car to grab my beater Leatherman. The person who asked in the first place always seems perplexed and slightly confused to why someone would keep such a thing in the glove compartment of their vehicle. :confused: Am I the stupid one to give the tiniest bit of critical thinking in regards to being prepared for day-to-day tool needs that come up? Or would you rather use your fingernail to tighten that screw or open that FedEx box?

Why do you have this? What do you use this for? :rolleyes:
 
"Know thy Sheeple" and try not to frighten them. Or you could threaten to cut them if they dare tell anyone you carry a big sharp knife.:D I must admit I always go with trying not to frighten them often leaving my Milli in my pocket and doing 3 times as much work with a little SAK. Such is life in the big stinking city.
 
The only time I don't carry my CRKT m16 13sf or Spyderco Raven (which sharpens surprisingly well for 19$) is a job interview. But you best believe on my first day I'll be packin.

jack
 
These are some great responses - I gotta remember them.
I always say, "since I started cutting my fingernails, I need this."
 
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