why am I looked at like such a weirdo for having a pocketknife

[highestpoint]

My wife is the only one who hassles me about carrying more than one blade.. Well other than this one lady who stopped me at a Keith Urban concert. I had one in the front right, rear right and one in my boots. She called the sheriff over to notify him that I had 3 knives on me, all within the law so he looked at her like she was senseless. Being in the military I can always find a reason to "use" a blade or tool we should call it.

I'm actually not allowed to carry a knife at work, not because it's not legal but because it's not an authorized tool (to work on aircraft) because they're afraid we might loose it but I always reply with, "trust me I'm not going to loose this 100+ knife" not bragging but making it a simple statement that I'd never do so. My old supervisor used to give me so much crap because we weren't allowed to have them but he didn't care because he knew I was responsible but as long as he didn't know if I got caught lol. It was always a fun laugh when we would be doing wire repair and he needed it.

As for using a knife out in town, I would say that I haven't really gotten too many odd looks. Other than when we go to a nice steakhouse I'll bust out whatever blade I have to cut the steak with. Just a preference I have and plan to stick with it. I can sometimes tell the waiter/waitress aknowledge that its there but as long as you act responsible with your blade because most people who only see them as weapons but we know anything can be turned into a weapon if need be. Just ignore what others think

 

[Ankerson]

Well, one, you "took" out your knife instead of whipping it out or deploying it, and, two, that Sebenza is a classy, understated knife with no, ahem, overcompensation.

You know, I have never had people look at me funny when I use my knife. I live in a large city (one of the ones mentioned below), I work in an office, I've even used my knives in front of some of the "rainbow flag" folks people seem to be so bent outta shape about.

Nobody cared. So I'm not sure who these sheeple are. Must be rural, blue collar, straight folk.

Maybe I should have been standing outside a store in the mall or something showing off my latest killer knife fighting stance. LOL

You know dressed up in my new wannabe camo/operator fashions. ROFL

I have actually seen people doing that before.

And other assorted stupid crap over the years.

 

[Danke42]

Question; how shitty a restaurant do you need to go to when you want a steak that's so tough you have to flick open your 7" black TiNi insert super tactical name here?

 

[22-rimfire]

Some restaurant steak knives aren't so good. It is not the steak, it's the lack of a good cutting tool.

 

[Danke42]

If you can't cut it with a butter knife you've got problems.

 

[highestpoint]

If you can't cut it with a butter knife you've got problems.

Lets be honest, how many steaks have you had that you could cut with a butter knife? Myself.. only one

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Lets be honest, how many steaks have you had that you could cut with a butter knife? Myself.. only one

Every steak that I cook doesn't need a knife. A fork will do...

Find a good local butcher and learn how to cook your steak blue-rare:thumbup:

 

[Stays Sharp]

I am so damn sick of how we are sometimes treated or looked at

I am in touch with reality in that knives are used by some as weapons (menacingly at that) so I understand the layperson's ignorance but we get the bad end of the deal and it sucks. It is a tool and a damn usefull one.

 

[texasshipagent]

Personally I moved to always carrying two knives, I keep my larger more tactical style knives slipped or concealed in some settings then a traditional small folder for everyday stuff or minor tasks in mixed company. There is nothing scary about a 2-3 inch slip joint designed in the late 1800's but my Benchmade automatic AFOII on the other hand is rather intimidating .In that endeavor came to found a new love for collecting traditional folders.

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Seriously I dont take it out and play with it in public like maniac, I only use it properly to do things like cut boxes or whatever because the tools at work are ass. In todays case I just used it to push a dented soda open without even taking the blade out. And yet other people kinda look nervous or seem uncomfortable about it. Is it that weird to have one these days? :\

Sadly, you live amongst weak minded sheep. Freedom frightens them.

 

[sabre cat]

Its the sad, new America. And I believe the government and the media played a big role in it. ...... Guns and knives are out, rainbow flags are in.

It is not just the government and the media. We are to blame too.

Ever go out of the way to open a knife one handed when you could (and should) be a little more discrete? Did you re-adjusted a pivot screw so that you can fling the knife open when that's not what the designers had in mind? Do you have the attitude that you will carry any knife you want, regardless of your surroundings or situation? Use the term "weapon" for the knife and/or gun that you carry?

Out of all of those, using the term "weapon" may have done the most damage over the years. "Weapon" became the cool term to use among many gun owners about 35-40 years ago. It seemed innocent enough, at first. But the media loved the term and ran with it. Of course, the politicians just had to take the baton and get involved in the race. I remember a reporter from a local paper asking "and how many weapons do you own?" to many of us at a meeting with local government officials. My response was that I don't own any weapons but that I do own a rifle. Funny, only the comments from "weapon" owners were included in the paper that evening. As gun owners, back then, we dismissed the idea that the use of the word "weapon" could be used against us. Now the term is being used for our pocket knives.

As knife owners, are we dismissing the dangers we are facing from the media and our elected officials and other public servants? I would say yes. Remember, most people base their feelings and opinions about knives and guns on what they read and see. The media and our politicians both know this. They both know that most people will ignore the defensive side to the term weapon. They count on it. Now days, the media makes anything that can be used in an offensive manner into a weapon and the government assumes that your knife or gun WILL be used as such. Your innocent pocket knife is not exempt. Collectively, knife owners are quietly being scrutinized every time a blade is pulled.

Just my two cents.

 

[marcinek]

I am so damn sick of how we are sometimes treated or looked at

I am in touch with reality in that knives are used by some as weapons (menacingly at that) so I understand the layperson's ignorance but we get the bad end of the deal and it sucks. It is a tool and a damn usefull one.

I do believe our Constitution guarantees us the right to not be looked at funny.

 

[DJC72]

Lots of times the masses perceptions have more to do with the person instead of the knife. If I am wearing a suit and pull out a Tispine, no one notices.

 

[marcinek]

Sadly, you live amongst weak minded sheep. Freedom frightens them.

And yet, they don't seem to be upset by the way we look at them.

 

[highestpoint]

Every steak that I cook doesn't need a knife. A fork will do...

Find a good local butcher and learn how to cook your steak blue-rare:thumbup:

Same here. I was only refering to what I thought he replied to my post about using it at a steakhouse.

 

[skyhorse]

Some folks just need to be educated. Build a man a fire and he will stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he will stay warm for the rest of his life.

 

[Twindog]

So someone calling himself the MangoFreak pulls a knife, bashes open a soda can and thinks people look at him like he's weird. Maybe they have a point.

 

[jonnyt16]

It is not just the government and the media. We are to blame too.

Ever go out of the way to open a knife one handed when you could (and should) be a little more discrete? Did you re-adjusted a pivot screw so that you can fling the knife open when that's not what the designers had in mind? Do you have the attitude that you will carry any knife you want, regardless of your surroundings or situation? Use the term "weapon" for the knife and/or gun that you carry?

I open my knives one handed because it is easier and faster. To open a knife with both hands would actually be going out of my way, the opposite of what you said. Most knives ARE designed to be opened one handed that is why they have thumbstuds.

To answer your second question, yes, I DO have the attitude that I will carry any knife I want wherever and whenever I want as long as it is legal to do so. I work hard, pay my taxes, follow the law, and I mind my own business. I will not change or alter my preferences in fear that someone who doesn't believe in carrying certain tools on them may find it "scary".

 

[Mecha]

Sick and tired of these alarmist sheeple 'bahhhing' every time I deploy and utilize my edc.

 

[afishhunter]

I open my knives one handed because it is easier and faster. To open a knife with both hands would actually be going out of my way, the opposite of what you said. Most knives ARE designed to be opened one handed that is why they have thumbstuds.

To answer your second question, yes, I DO have the attitude that I will carry any knife I want wherever and whenever I want as long as it is legal to do so. I work hard, pay my taxes, follow the law, and I mind my own business. I will not change or alter my preferences in fear that someone who doesn't believe in carrying certain tools on them may find it "scary".

Most modern knives are designed to be opened one handed, either by a flipper, assisted opening, thumb hole in the blade, or a thumb stud. There are still a lot of traditional knives sold that are designed to be opened using both hands.
I agree that as long as you are not acting in a threatening manner, you should be able to carry and use what ever pocket knife - or even fixed blade, that you want.
Unfortunately, in today's society, people confuse what is in the movies and on TV with reality. The media has villainized pretty much any and all inanimate objects that are all black, look like something the military has, and in the case of knives, can be opened by one hand, flicked open, or is a butterfly knife. Thereby ensuring that the uninformed are afraid of them, which in turn (they hope) will lead to such objects becoming illegal contraband.
Ever notice? In the movies and on TV the bad guys always have an "assault weapon", there is a ban on "assault weapons" (even though no one can tell you what an assault weapon is, other than it is all black and looks like a military gun.)
They did not depict the criminals using lever action or bolt action hunting rifles. People do not ... "fear" ... those as much as a M16 or AK47 type rifle, even though ballistically, the lowly .30-30 is more powerful than either the .223 or 7.62x39 cartridge.
I am permitted by my employer to EDC a knife. However, there are two restrictions: (1) It cannot have a blade length of 4 inches or more, and, (2) it cannot be confused for a "weapon".
I generally EDC a minimum of three knives. (they did not put a limit on the number we can carry). A Buck 110 or Uncle Henry LB7 on my belt, a Buck Stockman and Canoe in my pocket, along with aSAK or Army camp /utility knife on a belt hook. Some days I might switch out a large Rough Rider sunfish and 2 blade Barlow for the two Buck's.
Everything I carry is two hand open. No one gives me a second glance if I take one out of my pocket to cut something, no matter where I am (I'm an OTR truck driver, so where I am changes a lot). I've had both shippers and receivers that needed something cut, the saran wrap used to hold boxes on a pallet or plastic straps, and the envelopes holding the paperwork telling what is in the shipment. (at "no weapons allowed facilities", even, that only allow their employees to use a 'gotta hold it open' box knife - if they are lucky.
I've also used one of my knives in restaurants, again, no one gives me a second glance.
And for the record, I am not clean shaven, and I do not wear a tie (ok, I wear a Bolo tie sometimes) or a suit or uniform. The fact that I have a full scruffy beard is enough to scare some "people", but my knives do not.

So, to the OP, maybe it is not you, but your choice of knife that scares them.
Way I see it, you can ignore them, or if it really bothers you that much, add a traditional slip joint pocket knife to your daily carry, and use it when the fearful of their own shadow people are around.