Why do u like carrying a knife.

I like to carry knives because of my personal synergy with bladed tools and weapons. I've been around blades my entire life, at least since my earliest memories which was at 3-4 years of age. It is a part of my culture and heritage. The rumors about Filipinos and thier knives is more or less true. Practically all the members of my family; male, female, young and old, carry some type of knife. The kalis I've practiced for most of my life is blade oriented. For me, to be without a knife, even when asleep, is uncommon. I'm more likely to leave home naked than without a knife.

Dayuhan
 
'Cause I feel nekkid without one. :) Seriously, if I leave the house without a knife (I know, shame on me) I feel unfinished and unprepared. I've liked knives for as long as I can remember and have carried a knife of one kind or another for years.
They're also a creative tool to me. You can grab a plain block of wood or tagua nut and turn it into something nice to look at.
I'm also one of those who doesn't understand how so many people walk around this world without a knife. I can't wrap my brain around that one even though I was raised in a family of people who don't give two hoots either way about knives. I'm just glad they're not a-scared of 'em. :D
 
I got my first knife at about the age of 8 after bugging my dad. I'm now 43 and still have that knife. It's nothing special, three blade stockman ..... on the blade it says Sabre and made in Japan. They were on sale at House of Value (now Fredmeyer) for $2.00 or something like that.

I always feel un-prepared without a knife. Like many of you, I'm the "go to" guy when it comes to tools, knives, flashlights, need a jump start, chainsaw, etc. The one guy who friends and family can always count on to have whatever is required, right there, right when you need it.

But the reason for carrying one is not for them, though they reap the benefits on occasion. It's for me, to know that I am self-reliant and don't have to depend on anyone else. Brings me peace of mind, knowing that I can meet the challenges life may throw at me.

Gets kind of philosophical and deap ... some tangibles, many intangibles. To some it would seem kind of corny. But to me, a knife is just as much a part of me as my arms are. And I never leave home without them (so far).

To those who have to ask "Why?", they wouldn't understand anyway. To you folks here on these forums, you do understand ..... and that's why I like it here.

Mike
 
I don't think of it at all.

I have been carrying some type of tool since the age of 8. However, there are sometimes three or four days where I have not had a reason to cut anything. At my more 'upscale assignments,' I might leave a knife in my jacket rather than clip it to my Dockers or a suit.

I usually toss the contents of my pockets on one of our end-tables. If I switch pants, I might overlook the knife. It happens. I don't race home and retrieve it. I carry a knife in my truck glove box if needed, and I do not consider a knife a weapon.

I think I would be more uneasy if I did not have a spare tire or a cell phone. But having said that, I sure do like having a nice jackknife, and it does enhance my life.
 
Aside from the fact that they are handy, being in the profession I am in,(Mechanic,Machinist,Millwright,Fabricator,ElectroMechanical Technician) I use a knife 20 to 50 times a day if not more, I think a better question would be one that's been asked before, Why do I carry the knives I carry?
 
It's really simple...Real men just like to have a feeling of being able to take care of ourselves without depending on anyone else. We like tools, we like knives, we like watches that don't break down, we like torchlights, etc...

Real men prefer filson or drizabone or barbour or whatever compared to dolce & gabbana.
We prefer Omega watches compared to gucci.

Why don't men like to ask for directions? Because we don't need to....we can take care of ourselves....

I'm way off topic...hahaha...

I carry knives maybe because it brings back memories of being in the scouts and surviving on my own. Or maybe just because it feels so satisfying cutting something cleanly rather than tearing it. We are creatures of efficiency and simplicity.
 
But evidenly its not- as Moondrop appears to love her knives as much as anyone else in this post-probably better to say people that like to be prepared,artisans and fixers of things yeah, yeah thats it. Do we have to explain- cant we just do it :p
 
Originally posted by artsig1
What St. James said!
Click to expand...

What artsig1 said :)

In all seriousness, I think it's the tool aspect that appeals to me. I've collected mechanical wristwatches for some time now and after buying what appealed to me aesthetically for a while (and what I could afford) I found a pattern developing. First, I owned only mechanical watches and eventually settled on automatics. I liked the handmade aspect of something mechanical. All those little pieces working in concert to accomplish a task.

Furthermore, I tended toward 'tool' watches; pilot's watches, chronographs and diver's watches. What they had in common was that they served a purpose other than telling time and looking nice. They were purpose built, durable and to me, they looked nice too. Note that I do not fly a plane, scuba dive or have the need to measure time in 5ths of seconds, however, I'll have the tools for those tasks if needed :)

Knives have the same appeal. They too, are purpose built, durable and they are aesthetically pleasing as well. I find the mechanical nature of the tool appealing. And again, like my watches, I don't have *much* need for a knife that can cut through beer cans or 8" manila rope in one swipe but in the event that I find myself needing to accomplish one of thost tasks...I'll be prepared. And I could time the task as well...even underwater :)
 
Every day when we rise from our beds and get ready to face the day we choose sides.

On one side are the people who say, "I am not an incompetent klutz. I am trustworthy. I can and will take care of myself. I will handle things that need to be handled, which includes cutting things that need to be cut."

On the other side are those who say, "I am not able or don't trust myself to make good decisions and to take wise steps. I will rely on the authorities to watch out for me. I will swim in the school and if I am lucky I won't get picked off by a predator because there are so many of us. I will rely on others to provide the tools that I might need to cope."

I want to be counted among the first group.
 
I carry a knife for a very simple reason -- its a very useful tool that I find I need for a variety of things every day.

Think about it --- one of the very first tools made by ancient man was a primative knife. And today we still use knives on a daily basis. Very few other ancient tools are still used to the extent of the knife.
 
I always feel un-prepared without a knife. Like many of you, I'm the "go to" guy when it comes to tools, knives, flashlights, need a jump start, chainsaw, etc. The one guy who friends and family can always count on to have whatever is required, right there, right when you need it.
Click to expand...

It's really simple...Real men just like to have a feeling of being able to take care of ourselves without depending on anyone else. We like tools, we like knives, we like watches that don't break down, we like torchlights, etc...
Click to expand...

On one side are the people who say, "I am not an incompetent klutz. I am trustworthy. I can and will take care of myself. I will handle things that need to be handled, which includes cutting things that need to be cut."
Click to expand...
Ah-hah! We've finally arrived at it. I've never actually verbalized those sentiments, but I feel them every time I slip a knife into my pocket. Excellent posts! :cool: :D geegee
 
Good question.

I carry knives because they remind me of important people.

A year ago a shooting friend gave me a beautiful wood-scaled Laguiole. He is a knife guy and I wasn't. The blade had a slight scratch that bothered him but not me. I remember him when I "wear" it.

This Christmas my brother gave me my late Grandpa's "letter opener" knife. Nothing fancy, just a Schrade Old timer with a nice silver-black patina, but it reminds me of Grandpa because it was his EDC, and my brother, because he decided to pass it on to me.

I usually EDC a small Sebenza classic or carbon fiber BM 940, but the fact of having a knife on my person reminds me of these above three people.

I hope to get a gent's folder soon for dress-up days, probably a William Henry, and that will probably remind me of Grandpa, too. I'd love Russell's wooly mammoth scaled WH, but the cost is a bit high so I'll probably settle for a CF.
 
for me, it's a primal thing. better to have a knife and not need it then to need it and not have one.
 
multiple reasons:

- 'it's a guy's thing', in the same way i like mechanical watches, surefire-torches, tools,etc......, the manly tool/gadget-factor

- knives have a certain appeal to me, they look nice and have a certain 'charm' or something. probably some primal instinct-thing i guess

- childhood-trauma?: from as i was a kid i always had a fascination for knives. but as a kid i never BOUGHT one though and i also never GOT one from anyone. i always FOUND knives on the street or in the bushes or in the woods, lost by other people. my mother would always find them, confisquate them and hide them..........and i would steal them back again from my mom......and sofort.

- the main reason i wear knives though, is for self-defense, which lately has given me some food for serious thought. i have a bookshelf full of knife-fighting books, i know how to defend myself with them and knives also have a certain 'discouraging' factor for assailants. the simple truth is, i feel more safe and confident 'out there' when packing a tactical folder in my pocket. but i also know that being allowed to use a knife for SD is a very very narrow margin, which needs a lot of factors to be involved to when it's 'allowed' to use a blade for SD. being absolutely honest with myself, i can say that i don't really need a knife for cutting things, opening envelopes, and that sort of stuff, there are always other ways. this shows by the fact that i didn't wear knives all my life. i wore 'em between the age of 7 and 13 just because it was 'cool' and 'a guy's thing'. then years and years of no-knife during which i NEVER had even a single moment that i thought i really NEEDED a knife at the moment, never. i started wearing knives again 2 years ago, and i'm 28 now........

i have a seriously inflammable short temper with highspeed-fuse, i've always been a scaredy-cat on teh streets, have several psychiatric issues and so i am currently considering NOT wearing knives anymore because it could, or even WILL, get me into serious trouble one day (read: doing time and the likes)......., man i need help:rolleyes:
 
As a former Boy Scout,I still like to be prepared.

As an outdoorsman I know its a valuable tool,and when not in the woods,its a reminder to me of those times.

As a fireman I know its one tool I can carry off the job that may help me save a life.

I also seem to need to have something to play with during the day.:)
 
I remember as a 5 or 6 year old walking around with a blue metal lunch box filled with string, rubber bands, clothespins and a rubber folding knife. I felt like I could handle anything that came up. Luckily my parents didn't hesitate to buy me my first real knife (I had to learn how to whistle to get it). When we moved to Florida in the mid 60's they also bought me my first fishing knife. I haven't been without a knife since, although through the 60's and 70's it was usually a Buck 110. I really think it goes back to that rubber bladed folder and the feeling that it gave me that I'd always be prepared for whatever came up.
 
I carry a knife probably for the same reasons I wear a nice watch. I like to be prepared and I enjoy things that combine fine craftsmanship with utility. I also appreciate duality in things. For example, knives are probably man's oldest tool. But they are also historically weapons for hunting and self defense. The fact that mine folds and is made with great craftsmanship makes me appreciate it more and enjoy carrying it. By the same reasoning, I don't wear jewelry, yet I enjoy wearing nice Swiss and German watches. They certainly do dress up my wrist but more importantly I enjoy the history, craftsmanship, and mechanical excellence they represent. And I get to know the time, set an alarm, know the day/date/month/year/moon phases, time stuff with a chronograph, measure time in multiple times zones, etc.
 
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