Seems Texas has changed a bit since the mid 70s. When I was a teenager out there, I think the only real no-no knife wise was double edges, and they were a very serious no-no. Luckily Tennessee has gotten a little more reasonable with their knife laws. Trying to defeat negative stereotypes has gotten me to give out several lessons on wilderness and survival skills on various patios and sidewalks here over the years. I tend to gravitate to the same establishments in the evenings after work. I suppose at first seeing me get out of a 4x4 wearing knee high snake boots and cargos, and sporting whatever knife I am testing at the time, walking in and unpacking camera equipment and a computer on my table, and working on photos while I wait on my order created (s) a different-than-usual image for a lot of folks. Then seeing me use said knife with my meal always leads to questions...if they haven't already started at that point. One thing leads to another and the next thing I know, I am out on the patio or sidewalk demonstrating how to: fashion a fire bow out of yucca stalks, how to process cedar bark to take a spark, how to use pitchwood and a ferro rod to make fire in the rain, how to turn a bamboo stalk into an improvised water filter, a cooking pot, a canteen, or a gig. Over time, though I still make some people nervous, I'm sure, over time the powers that be at those establishments and most regulars have come to realize there is much more to knives than they realized. One such lesson happened at a Waffle House with me surrounded by two city officers, one county sheriff, the cook, two waitresses, and a handful of customers. It sometimes take up time I really don't have to spare, but it helps the knife community at large I think, and it helps drum up business for me, so always worth taking the time to do.
