When Did Truck Drivers Quit Carrying Pocket Knives ?

[Wowbagger]

That's not the Wild, Wild West that I grew up in but this seems to be the norm now.

Seems like every container load we get comes with a driver that wants to borrow my knife to cut the straps and wrap off his load.

This last one I messed with a little. He asked to borrow my knife (brand new Case Stag Trapper). I said “nah, you’re going to have to buy your own”. A couple of minutes latter I lent him my Nappa all stainless lockback that I keep in the belt pouch for cutting cruddy stuff. He handed it back and said "Hang onto that I will need to borrow it again”.

Ohhhhhhhh K. :grumpy:

Is it just me or does it chap you to be expected to lend out your carefully sharpened and prized knife to a person who can’t be bothered to suit up before they leave for work ?

 

[Sonnydaze]

Some folks carry a junker to lend out. I don't; I won't. I might volunteer to cut something for a guy.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I see a lot of truck drivers at work, and none of them carry knives. They really don't ever need to cut stuff, they just unload the items and it's up to me to do the cutting.

I don't really lend out my knives to anyone unless it's one of my CRK's, mainly because they probably won't use it harder than I do lol. I handed an electrician my Sebenza a few months ago, and he push cut through some copper wires against concrete Oh well...I've done that too

 

[Wowbagger]

Sebenza . . . he push cut through some copper wires against concrete . . .
Oh

Hey Blues,

Give a little warning before you say stuff like that . . .
Some sort of preparatory "here comes some ugly stuff; those with delicate dispositions may want to change the channel" or some such.

I'm still lying here on my fainting couch gasping with the vapors . . .
Lord, lord, lord . . . have mercy . . .

 

[vanslem6]

I don't buy expensive knives and I get satisfaction out of using them. I don't mind loaning knives at all. Ironically, the guy that delivers stuff for my families business never has a knife. Ha.

 

[highestpoint]

For me it seems like everything now days can be done without a knife. I see people opening boxes and cutting tape with scissors or by hand or teeth.

I simply use my knife to make it easier and because I like to but whenever anyone wants one I'll say "Oh, I can do that for ya".

I don't care to let people be dumb and dull my knives but I just hate to waste time resharpening them if the get chipped or such

 

[Indiana Joe]

My brother-in-law is a trucker and he carries a Kershaw folder with him, and uses/abuses it.

Regarding truckers & blades -- the laws vary from state to state, and city to city. So, once a trucker crosses the state line (or, city limits) s/he becomes responsible for all applicable knife laws. Good to know in case you get stopped.

 

[jazub]

Seems weird that a tradesman wouldn't have a knife. On a side note, I don't participate in loaning knives. If somebody thinks it is useful to have one, he should carry one. Plus people don't take care of stuff that isn't theirs. A guy I know got the clue after I denied him at work a bunch of times and now he is the proud owner of multiple folders. Even picked himself up a William Henry showpiece this year.

 

[Wowbagger]

laws vary from state to state, and city to city. So, once a trucker crosses the state line (or, city limits) s/he becomes responsible for all applicable knife law

I'm mostly a short blade kind of guy. There . . . I said it . . . now I suppose no one will ever talk to me again . . .


But I am a little unclear about the whole blade length v.s. law thing.

Can't you have a six inch blade in your glove compartment or in your suit case and not be breaking a law ?
It just pertains to what you have in your pockets or on your belt isn't it ?

Barring daggers and such . . . really I would think you could even transport a dagger in your suit case without breaking a law but then I don't have any a' those so what do I know right ?

So like Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep a trucker needs a drop down panel under the dash with clips for all the legal carry pocket knives; labeled for each state.

PS: still though . . . my point is . . . all I expect the blighter to carry is a nine dollar box knife like one of these and unless a cop looks REAL close, when these are closed (and clipped to a fold of money) it just looks like a money clip.

 

[Cursum Perficio]

Few times a year I have a truck turn up with a few pallets of stuff to unload. Usually the driver has some type of box cutter, and will spend a minute or 2 trying to get the blade extended only to find it rusted and hopelessly blunt. Perhaps they don't realize they are designed to replace the blade as required?
I watch them go through this ritual and start trying to saw through strapping and cardboard before letting them use a sharp folder.
Usually I get 'wow that's sharp' or the like. And next time a delivery arrives it's the same all over again.

 

[Sagarji]

Can't you have a six inch blade in your glove compartment or in your suit case and not be breaking a law ?
It just pertains to what you have in your pockets or on your belt isn't it ?

In some municipalities you can't even keep a knife in your car.

As far as carrying something in a bag or suitcase. Good luck with the random bag checks in a metro subway.

These are mostly b.s. laws anyway. It's a way for the cops to add on charges when they pull you in for something else. They could care less otherwise.

 

[Wowbagger]

find it rusted and hopelessly blunt. Perhaps they don't realize they are designed to replace the blade as required?
I watch them go through this ritual and start trying to saw through strapping and cardboard

At this rate it won't be long before the average person will hire "an expert" to come to their home and slice bread for them.

That scares me more than people carrying guns or reasonable knives.

 

[Lieblad]

......

 

[Wowbagger]

When I was young I carried this in a cardboard sheath I stapled together. That sheath was way better and more useful than it sounds; had the layer to go against the edge and everything just like a real leather sheath.

I carried this for years, and years and years without a thought. Mostly I needed to prepare meals where ever I happened to be and I needed at least some half fast protection so I carried this.

The law here is three inch.

If I got caught I would have just said get real. I need this and I carry it in my back pack not in my pocket.
They would have put me away for sure.
Oh well that was how it was. A young guy, living alone in "the big city" trying to make it.

 

[jfk1110]

I drive a tractor trailer into the worst place (nyc) in the US and I carry what I want. Also show off my autos to the cops on the bridges(port authority police) that I've known for years n they love em. Doesn't hurt to have family in the field either especially one with a big hat.[SUB][/SUB]

 

[Wowbagger]

Cool ! Finally . . . a real truck driver. I knew you were out there som'whrs. Hey will you dope slap the ones coming up into carrying a pocket knife. Come to think of it though this last delivery guy today was fifties or sixty years old.

I don't understand. I couldn't go to work without a knife on me

PS: jfk1110,
When you are driving in nyc do you find your self singing : "Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig around . . . it's the easiest way that I've found" ?

 

[jfk1110]

Half my time is spent up in northern NY State, the Adirondacks mtns, Lake George area. The rest is in and out of the city hauling heavy equipment. That is only allowed between 10:00pm n 5:00am. I love my job, n the hrs I keep. Best time to travel in NYC. All the entertainment is out n about during those "witching" hours n next to no four wheelers.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Some folks carry a junker to lend out. I don't; I won't. I might volunteer to cut something for a guy.

This is what I do, as well. I will never, ever ever lend my knife to someone. I won't give good knives as gifts anymore, either; sheeple just don't appreciate them enough to treat them with care.

 

[jfk1110]

I also do tree work on the side and used to wear my grandfather's m3 knife (ww2)from boker laced to my wesco highliner climbing boots. That definitely draws some looks from the boys in blue. After the fourth or fifth time I had to use my get out of jail free.card I gave up carrying it
My regular edc' s are: Al Mar sere 2000 OD d/a, Syderco VALLOTIN sub hilt d/a, Lone Wolf cocobolo lobo d/a, Dpx hest t3 &Microtech halo v or makora II in the boot. Also a Fallkniven juni on a ball chain around my neck.

 

[Wowbagger]

I will never, ever ever lend my knife to someone.

Thanks . . . now I don't feel like such an unsociable.
I don't lend my tools to coworkers or, what has been a weird trend of late, tradesmen who show up to do work on the building / electrical and see my tools laying out. What they want to "borrow" inevitably is one of my SnapOn tools.

When I say "NO", by the look on their face, you would have thought I shot their favorite dog or something.

I like the story of the old machinist saying no to a young coworker who had asked to borrow one of his micrometers. When the young person expressed his frustration to a coworker they said "Yah . . . you got a better chance of borrowing his wife than borrowing one of his mikes".