what to do when people freak out about your knife

Normally, I just try to be discreet with knives, but every now and then I run accross somebody that just has to say something. Unbelievably enough, I had a co-worker challenge whether or not it was OK for me to carry my Spyderco Jester at the office. I couldn't help it .. I just laughed and in my best Australian said,"you call this a knife"..

It's not his fault that he grew up without knives or guns in his family. People like my buddy are just genuinely not used to seeing personal knives or firearms and it makes them nervous. Kinda sad ... :confused:

Razz
 
A few months back, when I was bringing my son back to his mom, my ex was about to open a box in which were rollerscates packed for my son.

My son asked me if his mother could borrow my Delica/SE.

Before my son could finish his sentence his mother shouted: "No it has to be done with some keys":eek: :eek:

If she only knew about the little collection of knives my son has at my place :D :D
 
madcap_magician said:
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.
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I guess the reason why so many women are scared of knives is all those teenager slasher movies thanks to Hollywood. Total fear of knives is ingrained in them by the time they reach adulthood. I have no explanation for the girlie-men who are afraid of sharp edges.
 
They fumble away at packages, scratching and clawing futilely at the hard plastic cover...

It's like someone said in a previous thread, "only savages bite and tear packages open. Civilized men use tools."

<rubbing hands together> Just waiting to try that one out on some anti-knife extremist.:p
 
barrabas74 said:
"a knife is not a weapon its a tool like a harpoon or an alligator you just need more education on the thing"(homer simpson)
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good one, do you know the episode?

as for the question, well I avoid carrying a combat folder to open a letter at the office... witht the beauties I carry, and handle cautiously, I've never had a problem.
best,
t.
 
When someone makes a comment about the Paramilitary I usually carry being a weapon, I simply lift my shirt a little and show them the G36 sitting in it's holster. ;)

(Obviously I'm kidding for those of you who might have just though of an insanely sarcastic/rude/know-it-all response.)
 
ZAXDAD66 said:
With my best "Renfield" laugh I just say "he he he he he he". Most sheeple turn and go away. Quickly!

Brian
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:D LMAO

"MASTER! You promised ME eternal life. Instead you give it to the pretty woman!"

That's classic. I gotta try that with sheeple next time. They'll run away scared AND confused rather than just scared.
 
This discussion amazes me because in the 55 years I have been carrying one knife or another, only once did anyone comment on it in a negative way. That was a cop in Los Angeles during a pat down (I was mistaken for a suspect, in 10 minutes on my way again). The dangerous dirk in question was a 4 bladed Boy Scout knife.:eek:

My EDC often includes a Spyderco Delica, sometimes an Endura, usually a Leatherman and always a SAK. I use them when and wherever needed, and never noticed anyone with their shorts in a knot about it, although I know it happens.

Once I watched a guy helpfully offer his Benchmade 3 inch blade to a woman looking for a knife at a buffet and she refused to touch it. The homicidal maniac with the knife was an elderly retired college professor who got around with two canes. She was in more danger from undercooked beef.

Why I never got the reaction can only be a guess, but maybe I look harmless. Or maybe I have been too thick to notice those around me trembling in fear.:rolleyes:
 
I've been relatively lucky. I haven't elicited that many negative reactions from those around me. Like everyone else, I've had people ask if carrying a knife was legal, but it was never in an accusatory tone. I didn't experience any problems even while I was in law school. Even when I used my Endura I hardly heard any comments. I think perception has a large part to do with it. I try not to bring any unnecessary attention to myself, and when I do use a knife I use it quickly and deliberately, and act like I'm using it for a reason.
 
I too have only very rarely gotten negative reactions from carrying a knife. I've actually converted a few people who used to think they were 'scary' to carrying one around themselves ;)

I think there are some people who have personal issues, and that's why they don't like things like, say, knives, or lighters (fire), and it could be because of something that happened to them when they were younger. I don't think knifeknuts should disrespect or try to "scare" people because they might have legitimate issues.

I also think a few people on this thread are giving this blanket indictment of "Liberals who hate my knives!" Many of my friends consider themselves 'liberal' or even 'very liberal', and they all accept my knife habit ... and I have never met anyone, liberal, Democrat or otherwise (and I live in Philadelphia) who considered a SAK 'a weapon' like some people on this thread said ..... that's just weird. :confused:
 
ThreeWorlds said:
I also think a few people on this thread are giving this blanket indictment of "Liberals who hate my knives!" Many of my friends consider themselves 'liberal' or even 'very liberal', and they all accept my knife habit ... and I have never met anyone, liberal, Democrat or otherwise (and I live in Philadelphia) who considered a SAK 'a weapon' like some people on this thread said ..... that's just weird. :confused:
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I've also noticed that trend in this and other threads, but if that's their experience, then that's the deal.

Many of my views could be considered "liberal" or "very liberal", but I love knives! (and the Constitution). Most of the people who react with surprise or negativity to the fact of me carrying a knife are right-wingers. With them, it seems sometimes to be related to an exaggerated fear of badguys/terrorism (a box-cutter thing, perhaps?) :confused: My liberal colleagues are, like, totally cool with it. ;) :thumbup:
 
I have my fun just about daily in school... First off, I was damn lucky to get the instructors I did(doesn't hurt going into a tech field though)... only the drafting teacher(that I don't get anyways) doesn't carry at least a vnox, and they all share my sense of humor.

about a week into class, I was using a 2" to strip wire
guy beside me: "thats a large knife"
me(smiling): "nope"
gbm: "what do you mean?"
me: "the one twice this big is still clipped to my pocket"
last time he ever commented about my knives

another time I had a guy comment that my spydie kiwi was a "dangerous weapon", I just pulled the pen from my pocket, flicked off the cap, and pointed out that the pen would make more of a mess than my 2" if I was a violent person. The program head had a hard time not laughing when he heard about it.

Many a class was wasted chatting with the instructors about knives and flashlights. Nothing like having instructors who share your love of toys.
 
Rant on:

Try working in a newspaper newsroom. Pinheads loose by the dozens.

But I have noticed for every one or two that pees when they see a 2-inch folder, there's 10 more who come to me every time they want something cut, a flashlight, a screwdriver ... yada, yada.

And when they ask, "Is there anything you don't have in your desk," I say, "Yeah, but what's not in the desk is in the truck."

And don't rag me about where I work. I'm not in the mood after dealing with colleagues AND the public. Keeeerist .. you think natural selection would have weeded some of these people out. I guess they're living proof Darwin was wrong.

I'm a knife knut, hunter, fisherman, skeet shooter, NRA member ... and if I could find any "conservatives" that were actually fiscally conservative, I'd vote for 'em.

End rant.

Thank you for letting me share.
 
I dont get it....I had a friggen gerber out the other day and someone freaked out on me....It was just an old harsey air ranger that I bought at lowes 4 years ago. Bright blue aluminum handles and all...I just told them its not a weapon until someone gives me a reason to make it one and grinned at him menacingly. I might have understood had I pulled out one of my big fixed blades, but it was just a bright blue little folder.
 
These days I don't seem to have too much of a problem. The Rolling Stones were right. "What a drag it is growing old." But there are benefits. People look at the knife in my hand, then look at my white beard, then shrug. Probably think I'm too feeble to be a problem. Hey, there may be snow on the roof... But they don't know that.
 
I try to ignore them and continue cutting what needs cutting, as the safe completion of the task is my favorite argument in favor of knife carry. The one that really confuses the piss out of me, is the negative response I got to my Atwood Prybaby. :confused: I was at my High School's first annual art show and offered to open some bottles of cider, as the closest bottle opener was in a teacher's car. Out comes the 'Baby and off come the caps, an action which somehow deserved the comment, "I don't even want to know what else you use that for!" I was debating between explaining that it was a small pry bar, and telling her that I use it to kill babies for my satanic rituals. I decided that neither would help the situation.
 
Everywhere you go you will find people dedicated to finding some reason to be offended. If the Prybaby had been cheap plastic, she'd have made the same ignorant comment.

On the other hand, she would make an excellent subject for your next satanic ritual. :D
 
I had a sheeple encounter the other day.One of my many bosses asked for a knife to open a small package so I handed him a small stainless folding razor that I use for opening pallets."That's illeagal!" he said.I was standing there with another knife nut(another of my bosses) and we both started laughing.I could tell he felt like a total dumb-ass.I took my knife back and my other boss proceded to list the traits of an illeagal knife in canada.He hasn't made that mistake since.
 
A guy at work asked me to help him with something. I ended up pulling out my Kershaw Storm II (don't own it anymore, it broke, had to throw it away, unrelated incident) to cut something. He said, "Oh, my God, that is a crazy knife!". I was very supprised. Then, one of the security ninjas tried to take it from me. I told him he could try to take it, but I wasn't going to just hand it over. I don't work there anymore. It seems most employers don't allow employees to carry knives anymore.
 
I guess I should consider myself lucky. I have a summer internship with a large department of defense contractor, and have never had a problem carrying a leatherman on my belt and a benchmade folder clipped to my pocket. Only thing I have had to deal with is the odd employee who will claim that my 3.5" folder is illegal.

Also, when I go into a secure lab, I will occasionally get told in a harsh tone that I need to leave my cell phone outside the entrance. As it turns out, I don't even own a cell phone, and they are just seeing the Leatherman Charge XTi and Surefire E2E riding on my belt. They all seem to learn pretty quick though.
 
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