what to do when people freak out about your knife

7k7k99 said:
I had almost the same experience being turned in to h.r. for having a swiss tool in a pouch on my belt, not even having the tool out!
Just having it on my person got me accused of being a 'threatening' person.
I made the same arguments as you, didn't get me anywhere, had to promise not to bring the "weapon" back and got off with a warning. Obviously sheeple don't even need to see the item to be afraid of it! It is best to be very covert if you wish to carry a knife in the white collar world. Let them struggle with scissors and plastic knives.
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Man, I am glad I work where I do.

I have carried a Buck 119 and a Buck Nighthawk to work (not at the same time), and while I got some "Hey Brandon, is that knife big enough to cut that plastic wrap? I think you need a bowie." comments, I wouldn't get me in trouble.

If I got a "warning" for bringing a multitool to work, I'd definitly quit.
 
naggalowmo said:
when i do use my knife in public i only open the knife half way and hold the blade and make my cuts. it works fine and is more discreet then whipping the thing out and flicking it open.
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agreed, it's that nice 'thwackkk' when it flicks open that is the same to a wimp as racking a 12 gauge;)
 
I don't worry about it. I'm not going to try to make discreet something that is legal and OK for me to use. I'm not going to "baby their ignorance". I am always cordial and kind but I simply tell them it's a knife and I use it to cut things. If I wanted to hurt someone I certainly wouldn't use a knife.

I've gotten some silly looks just using my 550 Griptilian. I also carry a Victorinox SAK most of the time but I don't use the "sheeple" to decide what I am pulling out of my pocket. I pull out what will work best. Too bad if they don't likey. :D
 
Luckily my company is very knife and gun friendly (we actually buy #8 Opinels in bulk for the newbies who come to work knifeless). It's a travel agency that specializes in outdoors activities, hiking, hunting, etc. so it makes sense that they aren't scared of blades.

I witnessed a very funny situation at my dad's office (he was a DA at the time). He loves regular wooden pencils and will choose them over the fanciest pen, being the knife guy that he is, he has an extensive collection of the nicest little pen knives to sharpen his pencil. One afternoon, he was sitting down at his desk, sharpening his pencil with a blade as big as the one on his Victorinox Classic and his secretary totally freaked out. The funny thing, is that my dad had his .45 on his desk.

I used to worry about sheeple a bit more, specially at the university. Now I don't waste my breath on them.
 
Copper Crayon said:
I don't worry about it. I'm not going to try to make discreet something that is legal and OK for me to use. I'm not going to "baby their ignorance".

Too bad if they don't likey. :D
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Unfortunately, they make the company policy, even if it is ignorant, and the job market the way it is, if I want to stay working, I will be covert with my edc -- they can't burn me for what they can't see:eek:
 
I prefer something like, "Well, it sure beats using my teeth," or "You know, man developed tools so we wouldn't have to use our teeth or nails to cut things." So far I've only had to say that to one person. Most don't care, and I've had a few compliments.

If you want someone to appreciate a knife, let them spend 10 minutes trying to open a sealed blister pack before offering to slice and dice it for them. :)

Chris
 
Hmmm... I really like the blood theme.

"Weapon?! I paid $$$$$ for this knife! You think I want to get blood on it?!"

Sure beats, "A knife is NOT a weapon, and I'll cut you open if you dare say that again!" :)

Chris
 
I've used that line about not wanting to get some punk's filthy blood on my nice clean knives, but it's more in line with self-defense. :)

I was lucky on the job, since the post office is somewhat knife-friendly -- we need them to cut open bundles and plastic wrapping. We supplied a sort of small paring knife as well as ring knives. Any reasonable personal knife was fine.

We also have a lot of mechanical and electrical/electronic equipment, so there are always techs and tools around. And SAKs.

Of course, since I was the manager, anyone who wanted to complain about so-and-so has this horrible frightening WEAPON! ... had to come to me to complain. :D

---

I think it's great that we know how to divert their inappropriate reactions, and how to avoid stirring up problems we don't need. But it is a shame we can't enjoy our knives and do more good work with them. And I hate to feel I have to hide what is legal and useful, just because someone else has no damn sense.

Our world is not improving.
 
On the rare occasion that someone says something, I usually just go about my business. I carry and use legally and responsibly, so there are no problems. Let the sheep think what they want.

But last weekend we were having dinner at a fairly upscale restaurant. Early in the meal, it became painfully obvious that whoever's in charge at the silverware armory had forgotten to issue me a steak knife. So, out comes my Native and I slice through my steak cleanly while the others tear at theirs with the restaurant issue steak knife.

The waitress, who was a bitch to begin with, said something to the effect of it's the restaurant's policy and city ordinace that no weapons are allowed. I replied "this is a knife. There are many larger knives all around this table. Your staff failed to give me the proper eating utinsils, so I've had to use my own. If you're still concerned, then please remove all these weapons." At this point I made a motion to give her the knife, and took the knife out of the hand of the person beside me. Then said "you do realize though, that many of your patrons won't take too kindly to the idea of eating their steak with their hands." I told her it was fine to take the knife, I have a sharpened spoon in my back pocket. She walked away.

She didn't get a tip.
 
intheusa said:
ever take out a knife to cut something, and have someone say, "thats a weapon!" or "what are you doing??!!" doesn't it tick you off? How do you react in such a situation?
really, people see a knife and get their undies all in a twist like you're a murderer or something
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I show them my concealed weapons permit, and assure them that the knife is nothing in comparison to the Kimber .45 on my hip, the S&W .357 in my front right pocket, or the Seecamp .32 in my back left pocket.

David
 
my favorite sheeple moment happened when i was showing my buddy my large buck strider and his girlfriend goes "oh my god, what do you need that for" i looked at her and said "stabbin" she made a face and says "why do you need a knife that big?" i pulled out my left handed folder and said "in case this one isnt big enough". that shut her up.

i didnt even get to the multitool or the other 3 blades on me at the time.
 
I don't understand why I should feel the need to explain anything about my behavior to a person rude enough and ignorant enough to assume that I owe them an explaination. Just give them a stare, the same as you should do in reply to any other boorish behavior. Since when does a person engaged in a perfectly legal activity have to explain himself to idiots?

Of course, I live in a place where most people still have a little common sense, and if they have been paying attention have seen plenty of people using knives.
 
Sometimes I think some knife knuts parade their knives around just to get off on sheeple reaction and start an argument.
 
this is the handiest tool I own, and then name all the things I've cut with a knife. Packing tape, cardboard boxes, apples, bagels, cheese, radiator hose, fuel line, art pencils, blister packs, string...the list goes on. That usually shuts them up.

Frank
 
stevekt said:
Sometimes I think some knife knuts parade their knives around just to get off on sheeple reaction and start an argument.
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but I'd like to think most of us are reasonable and responsible.
 
Shmackey said:
"What do you use to cut things then?"

(Usual answer) "Scissors."

"You use scissors to cut a [whatever] ?"

"Yes."

"OK, can I borrow your scissors?"

"Uhh...."
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I like that. Imagine cutting a banana for your toddler ... with scissors.

Hans
 
Since they feel free to accuse us of brandishing weaponry, why shouldn't we feel just as free to wave our tools around?



:D



(I didn't say that. :foot: )
 
I totally agree they should mind their own business or be sensible and ask to see our knives and admire them (fat chance huh?:rolleyes: ). I just don't want to have knives taken away here like so many other places in the world. If you scare sheeple they can get you in the stampede getting new anti knife laws.:grumpy:
 
intheusa said:
ever take out a knife to cut something, and have someone say, "thats a weapon!" or "what are you doing??!!" doesn't it tick you off? How do you react in such a situation?
really, people see a knife and get their undies all in a twist like you're a murderer or something
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What do you do for a living or who are you hanging around with that will get offended or scared when you pull a blade??

I carry either my large Ka-Bar tanto or Buck 119 and Camillus Heat in the pocket, the worst comments I ever get are "why do you need such a big knife?" I answer with "Keep up the smart ass comments and you'll find out".

If they keep it up I retaliate with the insinuation that they are a pussy and every man should carry a knife.
 
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