what to do when people freak out about your knife

My wife once asked why I have a "weapon" with me when she saw this cute little neck knife. I showed her the Panther I was carrying as well - she never made THAT mistake again....

Since, she has learned the difference between one knife and another, to my pleasure and horror.

I agree that using a non-sheep knife in public is a pretty dumb thing to do in a corporate or sheep setting. On the other hand, if we are NOT in the boardroom and we are on my time, if you are bothered by the fixed blade in my belt, then don't look at it.

Keeping a fixed blade hidden in plain sight is pretty easy to do, most people, if they even look at the handle, they don't see it.

On the other hand, anyone cranked up about a freaking pocket knife is an idiot anyway and I do tell them "if I wanted to stab you this would be in your ribs already." It's all in the presentation - no autos, discreet opening, use it and put it away already.
 

Attachments

  • panther.jpg
    panther.jpg
    17.3 KB · Views: 104
My ex always knew that knives were weapons, and really appreciated my getting her a new boot knife or dagger or other appropriately deadly edged object. Knows how to use them, too.

Strangely enough, our daughter, who would punch your lights out if she had to, was never comfortable around knives, outside of the kitchen. Ya try to raise them right, ya try to set a good example!

:)
 
Here, in France it's worst. If you show a SAK you are a handyman, if you show a Laguiole you are a gentleman, if you show any other knife (even a sub 3") you are a serial killer. I never use a knife in public.

dantzk.
 
And if you live in "Sylva Arduinna", you're an ancient Roman, who probably walks around with a gladius and a pugio! :D
 
I'm not so old Esav! The Roman didn't survive in this area. Too cold! Julius caesar just crossed our forest and was so impressed he gave this name to the area. The barbarians are almost civilized here and gladius or pugio are not absolutely necessary to hike in the woods, although, from time to time i meet somes "forest ninjas". In winter they are quiet. Cause they are frozen.

dantzk.
 
dantzk8 said:
The barbarians are almost civilized here and gladius or pugio are not absolutely necessary to hike in the woods, although, from time to time i meet somes "forest ninjas". In winter they are quiet. Cause they are frozen.

dantzk.
Click to expand...

Oh man, can I use this in my sig with your permission. ROTF.
 
Silenthunterstudios,

Sure, you can.
Just a question, what's a sig?

dantzk.
 
__________________
Monkeys steal my underwear at night.

The note, comment, quote etc, I think that only basic and above members can have them.
 
Coming in on the tail of this, but I'll throw my .01 in.

I usally carry 2 daily, if I'm around folks that wouldn't be freaked out - I'll use the large Seb.

If I am around someone who has the potential to be uncomfortable, I'll use the Strider PT.

If they still flipped on me, I'd have to react based on the situation.

I might either apologize and put it up, or finish whatever I was working on, and then let them know it was not my intent to make them freak, but let them know I needed the knife to do the task, and then I'd try to remember who it was that flipped for future reference, so I can not put them or myself in that situation again :cool: .

seth
 
Joe Dirt said:
I guess I would just say "uh, I use it to cut things. Why don't you have a knife?"
Click to expand...
Good responses in this thread. I've never had someone FREAK OUT abouy a WEAPON(!) but have just had raised eyebrows and sarcastic "Nice knife" comments. At least with a direct challenge or accusation, you can respond "it's not a weapon, it's a tool". Responding that way to only a raised eyebrow comes off as defensive.

dantzk8 said:
The barbarians are almost civilized here and gladius or pugio are not absolutely necessary to hike in the woods, although, from time to time i meet somes "forest ninjas". In winter they are quiet. Cause they are frozen.
Click to expand...
When I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, I encountered a French youth out for just a few weeks. Most long-distance hikers, like myself, are necessarily fanatic about low packweight and carry something simple like a Vicky Classic or a LM Micra. (Realistically, long-distance hikers modest knife tasks are to trim thread, open resupply boxes, and cut our fingernails. We're hiking 25-30 mi/day, not building log cabins :D .)

The French guy and I were at a campsite that night with one other weekend hiker. We were all cooking dinner, and after ceremoniously unloading frozen jeans, a dozen busted eggs, smushed butter, and other noob items from his huge backpack, my new French campmate pulls out a brand new, full-size KaBar to stir the bacon he had cooking in a frypan, then proceeded to awkwardly eat his entire meal of bacon and rice using only his KaBar! (Spoon technique with the rice)

The other hiker in our campsite snorted in disapproval and made some somewhat condescending comments. (With 1200 miles down and 900 to go, I was just quietly eyeing the bacon like a starving animal.) Certainly, a fork would have been a great, lightweight choice for cooking and eating. But if knives are so frowned upon in France as you say, I understand the kid's eagerness to live out his Great American "Wilderness" fantasies to the hilt, including a huge knife. And really, if the kid chooses to carry and use a KaBar for his highly-anticipated two weeks on the Appalachian Trail, what's the problem?

Was it necessary for him to have? Well, you gotta have a knife.
Was it heavy? You betcha. But, his back, not mine.
Was it safe? Maybe not eating rice with it. ;)
 
I carry a large fixed blade (usually a Kabar or Nighthawk) when I walk the dog in the woods. My neighbors are all used to seeing me walking around in my
surplus store cammys and big knife hanging down. They all pretty much think I'm crazy and have given up with the comments. I ususally just explain how many times I have seen pitbulls in the woods and then ask them matter of fact if they think carrying a pistol would be more effective, that usually gets them thinking even more.

The most interesting comment was from a neighbor who is a former snake eater. He asked me if I knew what I was doing with it. Not from a criticism point of view, but, encouraging me to realize the folly of "knife fighting".

I carry if for protection from Dogs. It's surprising how many other dogs you will see when you are walking one, many not on a leash that should be.
 
Necroshine said:
It's not much differnt than the dumb-ass that finds out I have a hunting firearm and says "you got a permit for that" because they watch to much damn t.v. I'm always a smart ass with them. As for the knife dumb knife comments, like most of you, I've used everything from ignore to educate to act like a smart ass. The world is just full of week, dumb-ass zombies, or sheepe as you call them (never heard that till I came here). They all act like there shit don't stink, but its all they can do to wipe there own ass without needing help with that to.
Click to expand...
You and I MUST be related :thumbup:
 
bugmenot said:
Dantzk8, what if you are using an Opinel?
Click to expand...


It depends of the size. Here an Opinel N°8 is a big folder. It's a popular knife, but knives are not popular. Somes months ago a catholic priest has been seen in a train peeling a fruit with his knife. The priest has been caught by the police at the first station.He had to be judged for this offence. This story has been reported by the french knife magazine "Excalibur". I don't know what has been the sentence. That's the way things run here.

dantzk.
 
tradja said:
Good responses in this thread. I've never had someone FREAK OUT abouy a WEAPON(!) but have just had raised eyebrows and sarcastic "Nice knife" comments. At least with a direct challenge or accusation, you can respond "it's not a weapon, it's a tool". Responding that way to only a raised eyebrow comes off as defensive.

When I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, I encountered a French youth out for just a few weeks. Most long-distance hikers, like myself, are necessarily fanatic about low packweight and carry something simple like a Vicky Classic or a LM Micra. (Realistically, long-distance hikers modest knife tasks are to trim thread, open resupply boxes, and cut our fingernails. We're hiking 25-30 mi/day, not building log cabins :D .)

The French guy and I were at a campsite that night with one other weekend hiker. We were all cooking dinner, and after ceremoniously unloading frozen jeans, a dozen busted eggs, smushed butter, and other noob items from his huge backpack, my new French campmate pulls out a brand new, full-size KaBar to stir the bacon he had cooking in a frypan, then proceeded to awkwardly eat his entire meal of bacon and rice using only his KaBar! (Spoon technique with the rice)

The other hiker in our campsite snorted in disapproval and made some somewhat condescending comments. (With 1200 miles down and 900 to go, I was just quietly eyeing the bacon like a starving animal.) Certainly, a fork would have been a great, lightweight choice for cooking and eating. But if knives are so frowned upon in France as you say, I understand the kid's eagerness to live out his Great American "Wilderness" fantasies to the hilt, including a huge knife. And really, if the kid chooses to carry and use a KaBar for his highly-anticipated two weeks on the Appalachian Trail, what's the problem?

Was it necessary for him to have? Well, you gotta have a knife.
Was it heavy? You betcha. But, his back, not mine.
Was it safe? Maybe not eating rice with it. ;)
Click to expand...
If i hiked in USA i would like me too test one of those 7" blade. I've read so much good things about in this forum! I'm not certain i would walk such distances with it at my belt. I'm certain i wouldn't eat rice with it. Nobody likes to see a bloody smile!

dantzk.
 
You know what bugs the crap out of me? People who are all too willing to borrow your knife while they're scrabbling at a duct-taped parcel with their fingernails or keys or safety scissors, but who scream and run to the other corner of the room if it's just clipped to your pocket.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top