Why do most people like pocket knives?

Andy Rooney also considered the Ball Point pen to be one of the 5 worst inventions in human history.


Andy Rooney made a joke out of life for a living, he like George Carlin did the same thing. But Carlin humor was funnier, and dirtier.

My personal attraction to pocket knives, or as we called them as kids "JACK KNIVES", was ever since age 4 or 5 I have alway during walking hour had one in my pocket.

As a small child we made toy with our knives, like a bow & arrow from branches. Even too our jack knive to school, and no one cared.
 
Andy Rooney made a joke out of life for a living, he like George Carlin did the same thing. But Carlin humor was funnier, and dirtier.

My personal attraction to pocket knives, or as we called them as kids "JACK KNIVES", was ever since age 4 or 5 I have alway during walking hour had one in my pocket.

As a small child we made toy with our knives, like a bow & arrow from branches. Even too our jack knive to school, and no one cared.
Yeah, I remember making/carving crude bows and arrows out of sticks and twine, with duct tape fletchings. Also making blow darts out of cigarette butts, and sewing needles. And little darts out of sewing needles, pencil erasers, and scotch tape.

Kids are not as engineering nowadays. They expect everything to be bought for them.


Then again, I remember that we used to play mumbletypeg as well. That seems insane in today's world.
 
Very good points Killgar.

To which I would add that not only are knives much lighter (and less expensive) than guns, but also that this weight is not a compact mass but a long thin and slim mass, which takes them in a completely different territory of ease of carry... If I had to deal with the mass of a gun, I'd rather move elsewhere than carry this heavy lump on a routine basis...

Gaston
A snub nosed airweight worn inside the wasteband, is not only comfortable, but nonrestrictive in movement in the slightest. And what if you live in a nice area, but while walking your dog, your pup is attacked by coyotes? What if you have little kids? You down to try to fight off a group of coyotes with a pocket knife? What about a Mountain Lion?

Do you think that the people who were killed in France, thought they lived in an area that they did not need a gun to protect themselves?
 
Whatchu aim to do with that lawn mower blade Billybob? UHM, i aim to make a scabbard far it.
Just kidding. i love fixed blades, the feel and stab ility, they can be pleasing to the eye & just plain cool but i'll have a subcompact and a folder for fun. my days of machetes & bowie knives RIP with childhood (Scouting).
 
He can't carry any of them.

Ah yes, foolish of me as he is apparently in France. Should have thought more before I posted but he seemed to be arguing a knife as a superior and more convenient Carry for SD as if he had a choice. I take it now he is just trying to irritate people.
 
Yeah, I remember making/carving crude bows and arrows out of sticks and twine, with duct tape fletchings. Also making blow darts out of cigarette butts, and sewing needles. And little darts out of sewing needles, pencil erasers, and scotch tape.

Kids are not as engineering nowadays. They expect everything to be bought for them.


Then again, I remember that we used to play mumbletypeg as well. That seems insane in today's world.

I am not that old but I remember making bows and arrows in the back yard with the SAK my Dad gave me. Little did I know that I should have thrown that damn SAK in the garbage because it was no good at whittling or finer tasks :rolleyes: And as for kids these days, they are only as good as their parents. My daughter has a SAK, Native 5, and an Esee 3. She had me teach her how to make a spear.

And Gaston, if or when the time comes I will protect her with the gun I carry every day, despite its debilitating weight :p
 
Ah yes, foolish of me as he is apparently in France. Should have thought more before I posted but he seemed to be arguing a knife as a superior and more convenient Carry for SD as if he had a choice. I take it now he is just trying to irritate people.

He is arguing that and he is trying to irritate people. Far from the first time.
 
There are so many inaccuracies in this statement it boggles the mind. We get it, you don't like the USA. Why keep posting this slander on a US dominated forum?

Remember, Gaston figures that big fixed blades freak people out...so he carries a huge fixed blade knife for EDC tasks, and keeps it shoved in his pants...
And no manufacturer knows how to sharpen knives properly...then he shows his "properly sharpened" knives, and everyone cringes.

It may be an act. ;)
 
Yes, but now you're talking about TRAINED individuals, not a everyday civilian who decided to go buy a knife and carry it thinking that it'll save him in the event of being attacked.
I wasn't specifically talking about "trained" individuals (I don't know if that 50 year old man was trained in the use of a knife), but you touch upon a very important point.

I believe that you an I agree on the following points- Merely carrying a weapon (any weapon) won't make a person safe. And believing that it will keep them safe, or believing that they have the ability to use it effectively when in reality they don't, could very well get them killed. And there are a lot of people in this world who have deluded themselves into believe both of those misconceptions.

However, I would not assume that people on this forum, or anywhere else, have NOT received training. And I would not make blanket statements by referring to people who carry knives specifically for self-defense as "delusional" (post #87), nor would I say that carrying a knife specifically for self-defense is "absurd and not realistic". That is the primary cause of my disagreement with you.

For a normal person without any training to think they're going to be ready when a mugger with a machete decides you're his next victim just bc your packing a "combat" knife from bass pro is absolutely absurd and unrealistic.
Again, I completely agree with you on this.

Of course, the same can be said about carrying a handgun for self-defense. I don't believe that anyone in this thread has suggested that a knife, any knife, is the perfect choice for self-defense or that it offers any guarantees. Every weapon has it's limitations. And people who refuse to obtain qualified instruction in the use of their weapon, whatever it may be, are putting themselves at even greater risk.

Here's my personal philosophy on other people carrying weapons for self-defense-

As long as people seek qualified instruction in the use of their weapon, and as long as they learn and practice safe and responsible handling of their weapon, and as long as they educate themselves on exactly how and when they are legally permitted to use their weapon, and as long as they are aware of, and willing to accept the consequences of using their weapon, then I say more power to them, whatever weapon they choose. And I would neither judge nor criticize them for their choice of weapon.

Furthermore, if a person says "I carry XYZ for self-defense", I wouldn't assume that they haven't received qualified training in it's use. When I have nothing to lose, and when I have no evidence to the contrary, I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe that they have sought qualified instruction, whether it be a gun or a knife. Just like when I see people on this forum say that they carry a gun, I don't accuse them of being a "cowboy", or make similar negative judgments. Instead, I assume that they have been trained in the defensive use of a firearm. At least I hope they have been.
 
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I wasn't specifically talking about "trained" individuals (I don't know if that 50 year old man was trained in the use of a knife), but you touch upon a very important point.

I believe that you an I agree on the following points- Merely carrying a weapon (any weapon) won't make a person safe. And believing that it will keep them safe, or believing that one has the ability to use it effectively when in reality they don't, could very well get them killed. And there are a lot of people in this world who have deluded themselves into believe both of those misconceptions.

However, I would not assume that people on this forum, or anywhere else, have NOT received training. And I would not make blanket statements by referring to people who carry knives specifically for self-defense as "delusional" (post #87), nor would I say that carrying a knife specifically for self-defense is "absurd and not realistic". That is the primary cause of my disagreement with you.

Again, I completely agree with you on this.

Of course, the same can be said about carrying a handgun for self-defense. I don't believe that anyone in this thread has suggested that a knife, any knife, is the perfect choice for self-defense or that it offers any guarantees. Every weapon has it's limitations. And people who refuse to obtain qualified instruction in the use of their weapon, whatever it may be, are putting themselves at even greater risk.

Here's my personal philosophy on other people carrying weapons for self-defense-

As long as people seek qualified instruction in the use of their weapon, and as long as they learn and practice safe and responsible handling of their weapon, and as long as they educate themselves on exactly how and when they are legally permitted to use their weapon, and as long as they are aware of, and willing to accept the consequences of using their weapon, then I say more power to them, whatever weapon they choose. And I would neither judge nor criticize them for their choice of weapon.

Furthermore, if a person says "I carry XYZ for self-defense", I wouldn't assume that they haven't received qualified training in it's use. When I have nothing to lose, and when I have no evidence to the contrary, I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe that they have sought qualified instruction, whether it be a gun or a knife. Just like when I see people on this forum say that they carry a gun, I don't accuse them of being a "cowboy", instead I assume that they have been trained in the defensive use of a firearm.

I was basically referring to op in regards to the lack of training. He has a youtube channel he started spamming here with, which led me to watch a couple just for kicks. Op is absolutely clueless on the subject, and worst yet he's making these videos and recommending for people to do stuff that's flat out dumb, and will get em killed or arrested.


One example being if you're being threatened by a big meaty (his words) guy you should pull out your combat knife to scare the big meaty guy away and diffuse the situation.

When in reality it'll likely play out one these ways, first being the guy doesn't give a Damn about your knife and he's now more pissed off you pulled a knife on him. Secondly the guy sees you pulled a knife escalating the altercation, so now he feels threatened and pulls a gun and shoots you in self defense. (Remember you pulled the knife first) then lastly you pull the knife, the guy feels threatened for his life and runs away, but he calls the cops. He hadn't assaulted you or done you any harm prior to pulling the knIfe, so now cops arrive, eye witnesses say they seen you draw the knife on the guy. So now you're being arrested for brandishing a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm.
 
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I was basically referring to op in regards to the lack of training. He has a youtube channel he started spamming here with, which led me to watch a couple just for kicks. Op is absolutely clueless on the subject, and worst yet he's making these videos and recommending for people to do stuff that's flat out dumb, and will get em killed or arrested.
Thank you for the clarification.

I'm not aware of any of the OP's videos, but I'll take your word for it. Unfortunately there are a lot of unqualified people on the internet who know nothing about armed self-defense but give advice anyways. And usually their advice is very bad.

On the other hand, over the years I have encountered several people on this forum who carry knives specifically for self-defense, and who take the subject very seriously. They have received qualified training in the defensive use of a knife, and they train diligently for that purpose. Some were/are LEO's, and some aren't, but they all have my respect.
 
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Thank you for the clarification.

I'm not aware of any of the OP's videos, but I'll take your word for it. Unfortunately there are a lot of unqualified people on the internet who know nothing about armed self-defense but give advice anyways. And usually their advice is very bad.

On the other hand, over the years I have encountered several people on this forum who carry knives specifically for self-defense, and who take the subject very seriously. They have received qualified training in the defensive use of a knife, and they train diligently for that purpose. Some were/are LEO's, and some aren't.
If you look in the gbu it's the one about bass pro then someone linked his how to carry a combat knife in car video in the thread for laughs...

Yea I believe that in the hands of a trained individual that a knife for self defense is a viable option. Thou even then most would still view it as a last resort option.
 
If you look in the gbu it's the one about bass pro then someone linked his how to carry a combat knife in car video in the thread for laughs...

Yea I believe that in the hands of a trained individual that a knife for self defense is a viable option. Thou even then most would still view it as a last resort option.

The issue is that you can train someone to be proficient with a firearm for self-defense in a fairly short amount of time (after which, practice is on them). Learning effective knife-fighting techniques can take years. Even then, it's going to be ragged in real use. I used to study with a martial arts instructor who was VERY highly trained in various knife arts, who candidly answered when I asked what he carries for self defense: "a gun".

That told me all I needed to know.
 
The issue is that you can train someone to be proficient with a firearm for self-defense in a fairly short amount of time (after which, practice is on them). Learning effective knife-fighting techniques can take years.

Well...
I remember handing a training knife to girlfriends in the past with no training, and then attempting to grapple them into a bad position (as sexual assaults end up being an "up close" thing)...I would have been really dead.
Against striking attacks, they weren't so great...

So, after a hour of half-assed "training" (had to be fun; they had zero interest in training) I came in with the striking attacks; I would have had a really, really bad time.

The problem with weapons--any weapon--is how people freeze in real-life situations, fumble when getting them out, or completely forget they are there.
 
Myself though, I'm carrying for utility pretty much.
I get attacked by thorns more often than people. :D
And I have more occasion to open boxes than enemy sentries.
 
If I'm thinking defense I'll go gun all day. A knife is a last ditch weapon.

No desire to get in a knife fight, plenty of desire to have a useful tool rather an ostentatious show piece
 
Ah yes training

Never smile at a monkey in the jungle, they could take it as an act of aggression
 
If I'm thinking defense I'll go gun all day. A knife is a last ditch weapon.

No desire to get in a knife fight, plenty of desire to have a useful tool rather an ostentatious show piece

I'd refer you to take a ShivWorks course. Very eye opening.
 
Ah yes training

Never smile at a monkey in the jungle, they could take it as an act of aggression

But don't worry, you'll be fine...monkeys have no training, so the internet says they are defenseless. :)

Unless they have a gun... :D

[video=youtube;GhxqIITtTtU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxqIITtTtU[/video]
 
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