Why do YOU care what OTHER PEOPLE think of your knife?

[tinfoil hat timmy]

Well, first off, I don't like other people knowing what I carry, so no one ever sees my knife unless I use it. Thus your question's answer is no I do not care since I do not want them to know what I have. Now if I encounter a knife nut, then we talk. But unless I know that, no one knows what I have.

I carried a rather large (for edc) 5" long, 1.75" wide blade with oal around 10" to work for about 9 months. No one knew, because I was discreet.

It will stay that way.

 

[strategy9]

Seriously, I'm in the boat of, "you can't please all the people, all the time"...

Some folks don't like when others carry guns... That won't stop me from carrying a gun provided its legal... Living in PA, it is... So ergo, I don't care if someone else doesn't like it... Same with my Knives, I don't " intentionally" go out of my way to shock and awe people, (I can carry an AR down the street, I don't, I typically opt for a snub .38 special). I don't carry a machete or katana, but I really don't care what anybody thinks about my folder... As someone else pointed out, more often then not people don't know what I'm carrying anyways, unless I'm using it, and also I typically have multiple blades on me and will use them appropriately, ergo, if I need to cut the loose thread off my sons jacket, or open a package, I typically won't pull out the 3.5" folder, but will rather use my SAK classic on my keychain more often then not... So while I don't "care" what other people think of my knife(s), I do opt to take into consideration the publics perception of blades in general when a use them for appropriate measures...

Catch 22 I guess...

It also helps I spent years in construction, and currently work in a steel foundry, where cool steel stuffs, Knives included, are appreciated not shunned...
*(I do opt to break the law whenever I'm in philly though, which is a few times a year. Despite their archaic law banning all blades, I still carry a knife or two or three, but always do so with said law in mind, and carry well concealed Knives (like a traditional in the pocket, or a small folder clipped behind my belt and inside my waist band)), so as to draw zero attention)...

 

[davek14]

Common sense tells us what will draw unwanted attention. If you have a larger knife safe, measured, and responsible use is good.

I have some rather small slipjoints which I will actually fiddle with and use as worry stones in many public situations.

Whatever floats your boat. It's all good.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I carry what I want and I carry a variety so I always have an appropriate knife for the task. Do I care what others think? No but I am considerate of other peoples fears and if i have a knife that'll do the job without scarin' the bejeebus out of regular folks than I'll use it.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Where I live, knives are almost always perceived as weapons when not in the context of a kitchen. I don't want someone getting freaked out and deciding to call the police because I wanted to cut some food or open a bag without spilling its contents.

 

[blade dude]

it matters less what knife and more how you open it. open a spring assisted tanto how you would a slip joint traditional folder and youll have much different reactions than when you whip it open as fast as you can. i only change what i carry based on laws or possible rules. if im goin to brothers football game i opt to carry a traditional more because its smaller less noticable in case we eat somewhere that my tanto is frowned upon. i like using tanto in public though, not only because its blade style i like but if people see you using a "tactical" "scary" knife in a normal way they may realize that its not just for violence. i being 16 legally can carry knives here but i realize its best to open mine without spring in public just not to scare

 

[Joe58]

Where I live, knives are almost always perceived as weapons when not in the context of a kitchen. I don't want someone getting freaked out and deciding to call the police because I wanted to cut some food or open a bag without spilling its contents.

I like to be aware of my location and social situation I find myself in. I understand people may have different perceptions about knives than myself and I respect that even though I may disagree. Just have good manners.

As Kwon mentioned, it's just a fact of life now, that in many areas of the country, a knife, even a small knife by our standard here on the forums, is viewed first as a weapon by some. Especially one that appears to them rather suddenly in your hand because it wasn't noticed clipped to your pocket till now. The other guys perceptions is their reality, whether or not you agree or no. And like as not, we knife and firearms enthusiasts are in the minority of people who are making our laws and city ordinances.

Just because you can do something, doesn't necessarily mean you should.

 

[Carboniferous]

"Whats wrong with growing a set and carrying what you like?"

Nice jab at anyone who disagrees with you.

Part of a working society is that people are considerate of the other people in that society. You don't have to be, but I prefer to be. Things seem to work out better that way. What's wrong with compromise? I carry a knife even though any knife is going to cause distress to some people, I refrain from carrying knives I know will cause distress in a large number of people. A 2"-3" blade accomplishes everything I need a knife to accomplish, there are more than enough knives I enjoy looking at, carrying, and using in that size range, and most people won't mind. A 5" blade isn't any more useful, I don't enjoy looking at, carrying, or using a 5" blade any more for general EDC tasks, and it will cause unnecessary distress to some people around me and will draw unnecessary attention to me. So I choose to carry a 2"-3" blade.

I could walk around in my underwear with an AR-15 slung around my shoulder if I wanted to, and I might even enjoy it, but does that mean it's something I should do? Why are the only choices you present either complete disregard for everyone around you or complete submission to everyone around you?

 

[22-rimfire]

Perhaps..... But it's equally important that one doesn't conform to idiocy to reinforce that negative behavior. I get the OP's position on this. A tool is a tool. Showing them it can be used in an appropriate manner is likely the lesson they may need as opposed to the perception you are being respectful by not displaying a scary tool. That actually strikes me as very counter productive. Just MHO

I get the OPs position too. It is rigid and narrow minded if it is accurate. That said, I don't know anyone that shows absolutely no consideration for others' perspectives. Now, I really don't care what other people think contrary to what I have posted earlier. I DO care what my clients think. (That is important.) I don't live my life based on what other people think. BUT I seldom make choices that are going to be alarming to other people in terms of knives, their carry, or use.
A Lady running down the grocery store isle screaming KNIFE would disturb me. She might even do the same thing with a SAK. I don't know. I'd have to look at the circumstances to make a judgement "whether or not I care".

 

[Wowbagger]

I have THEE most none offensive pocket knife for you all.
(see if you can top me)

The little pocket knife at the top of the photo one would think is pretty low key.
But
it looks like a giant killer compared to the little gold Omega.
The quarter and the Case Trapper are there for perspective.

One other thing to consider :
What does the knife sound like to those watching it being opened ?
A Cold Steel being opened tends to send a chill to the bones of a hardy soul (maybe I need to search for a thread discussing ominous sounding blade locks) . . . anybody remember one here ?

Then there is the sound of the Trapper : Click . . . WHACK

still a bit disconcerting

The little green knife sounds like what most non knife people would expect : click . . . Click.

but the sound of the Omeg being deployed is a whole different world : "________".

and yet . . . AND YET !
it can take out that loose thread AND open that all powerful plastic bag with ease.

I will still keep using the Case Trapper as my on the hip around town knife (isn't it pretty in it's black belt pouch) but I'm just saying . . .

 

[BASguy]

I get the OPs position too. It is rigid and narrow minded if it is accurate. That said, I don't know anyone that shows absolutely no consideration for others' perspectives. Now, I really don't care what other people think contrary to what I have posted earlier. I DO care what my clients think. (That is important.) I don't live my life based on what other people think. BUT I seldom make choices that are going to be alarming to other people in terms of knives, their carry, or use.
A Lady running down the grocery store isle screaming KNIFE would disturb me. She might even do the same thing with a SAK. I don't know. I'd have to look at the circumstances to make a judgement "whether or not I care".

I'm not trying to draw into the broader perspective of consideration to others in general sense. I'm merely stating that I don't think it's necessary to facilitate an unreasonable perspective on knives as a weapon when you have opportunities to show them as functional tools. Many times (not always) being considerate is really just an application of negative reinforcement. Now you have got to use some common sense here, walking around Wal Mart with a Bowie knife strapped to your leg just makes you look like a moron and it's reasonable for someone to be more worried about you than the knife..... but I still support tripping them if they run away screaming "knife"....because it's funny when people fall down

 

[shunsui]

As long as it's legal, I'm not going to worry about what other people think.

 

[22-rimfire]

Be careful who you trip. You might end up in court and spending the rest of your life paying for their doctor bills. You see, there would likely be video coverage of your behavior and the store would have reduced liability or perhaps no liability at all. There are reasons for all those cameras beyond shoplifting.

I fall enough without anyone's help as it is.

 

[Zemapeli]

Hell, I don't care what people think of ME even. You only go through life once. Make sure you go through life happy. Things are what they are. And socially acceptable is just that, and it is what it is. Get the gear that you want and like. Get what works for YOU. :thumbup: My two cents on that.

 

[akula83]

I don't.

 

[sparky2016]

this concern for other people's 'comfort' is completely alien to me

Why stop with knifes? There's nothing special about them, you could apply this thinking to all of society. What if everyone thought that way about everything? You're sure you'd be OK in that kind of world? I doubt it. And what about your parents, brothers, sisters, children?

.... Whats wrong with growing a set and carrying what you like?

You should keep trying to figure out what really makes someone a man. It sure isn't carrying a big knife.

 

[vonrichthofen54]

I choose my knife for the day based on what I'll need it for and where I'll be. Sometimes I can't carry one at all, for example when I go to Fenway Park. Honestly, I don't give a rats petootie what anyone thinks of me, but one has to be honest: I've always viewed my knives as tools, but we now live in a liberal pc world where they are viewed as weapons. I'm not willing to have one of my knives confiscated, so I carry discreetly. The only question I ask when selecting my blade for the day is," does this knife make my butt look big?"

 

[killgar]

Now you have got to use some common sense here, walking around Wal Mart with a Bowie knife strapped to your leg just makes you look like a moron and it's reasonable for someone to be more worried about you than the knife.....

Why do you assume that someone lacks common sense because they carry a bowie knife into Walmart?

And why does it make them a "moron"?

As long as the person isn't breaking the law, or threatening people, or twirling the knife between their fingers as they walk through the aisles, and as long as store employees and mangers don't have a problem with it, what is that person doing wrong?

It's bad enough when non-knife people pass judgement on us because we carry knives, or pass judgement on us based on our choice of knives, but I think it's even worse when knife people pass such critical judgement on other knife people based on those very same reasons.

I routinely carry a 10" fixed-blade in Walmart (picture posted earlier, post 41), and no one, not a single customer or employee, has ever freaked-out, told me to leave, or called the cops. And I've seen other people openly carrying similar sized fixed-blades in Walmart as well. Just recently I mentioned here on Bladedforums how there was a guy standing in line in front of me at a grocery Walmart with an openly carried fixed-blade on his hip, and no one even seemed to notice, neither his knife, or mine.

I believe that some knife people possess a sort of persecution complex. They believe that everyone is staring at them, or more specifically, their knife. And they assume that people will automatically freak-out and call the cops on them. But in over 35 years of openly carrying a knife in public, and after more than a decade of openly carrying a fixed-blade in public, that certainly hasn't been my experience

 

[BASguy]

Why do you assume that someone lacks common sense because they carry a bowie knife into Walmart?

And why does it make them a "moron"?

As long as the person isn't breaking the law, or threatening people, or twirling the knife between their fingers as they walk through the aisles, and as long as store employees and mangers don't have a problem with it, what is that person doing wrong?

It's bad enough when non-knife people pass judgement on us because we carry knives, or pass judgement on us based on our choice of knives, but I think it's even worse when knife people pass such critical judgement on other knife people based on those very same reasons.

I routinely carry a 10" fixed-blade in Walmart (picture posted earlier, post 41), and no one, not a single customer or employee, has ever freaked-out, told me to leave, or called the cops. And I've seen other people openly carrying similar sized fixed-blades in Walmart as well. Just recently I mentioned here on Bladedforums how there was a guy standing in line in front of me at a grocery Walmart with an openly carried fixed-blade on his hip, and no one even seemed to notice, neither his knife, or mine.

I believe that some knife people possess a sort of persecution complex. They believe that everyone is staring at them, or more specifically, their knife. And they assume that people will automatically freak-out and call the cops on them. But in over 35 years of openly carrying a knife in public, and after more than a decade of openly carrying a fixed-blade in public, that certainly hasn't been my experience

I stand corrected. Carrying a Bowie knife in Wal Mart is not what makes you a moron. My apologies.

 

[Surleyone]

I've noticed an alarming phenomenon among members of this forum-set.. The concept of 'sheeple friendly'... I see people not picking certain knives because of how other people might percieve the knife. I see things like 'people get nervous when I pull out x knife'.. Or 'I use this knife when people are around because its not intimidating'.. Or something along those lines..
Why would you let someone elses stupidity/fear/ignorance dictate what choice you make for a cutting tool? If you were going to do that 'for realz' you would have to forgo carrying one at all.. Because maybe someone you might see, or that might see you with your knife wouldnt be comfortable around ANY knfe.
As a knife person, I have never once given any thought to what people NOT carrying MY KNIFE might think if they see it get whipped out and used, so this concern for other people's 'comfort' is completely alien to me.

Whatchu talkin bout, Willis? How do you justify it? Why bother? Whats wrong with growing a set and carrying what you like?

I agree 100% Basically I am ALWAYS carrying a knife. Sometimes 2 or more. I also own 30 guns, but I don't let many people know this as it is not always a good thing to say to many people. I grew up in Canada. Born in 1952, by the time I was 10 or so I was hunting with my dad. I let my son fire my 1911 in 45acp at about 10. No problem. If you live in a rural area that's how it is. If you live in a huge city like TORONTO as I now do. You better not EVER let anyone you don't trust even see your guns! When I clean them I close all the curtains so that I can't be spotted by a neighbour who might call the cops because they saw a "TERRORIST MANIAC" with a gun. So it is with knives. In town what ever I carry is ALWAYS hidden. Out in the country where we hunt we go into town with a 9in fixed blade on my hip & no one bats an eye. No one bats an eye or cares What co makes the blade you are totin. That's how it is.