why do you carry?

[Emanuel]

puukkoman wrote:

for the rest of his life, will have to live with the knowledge that he ended a human life.

The key word is LIVE. He will LIVE with the knowledge that he was able to defend his life successfully. He will live with the knowledge that he could have easily been killed that night by those 5 criminals had it not been for his tenacity and will to survive and his knife that he defended himself with.

He is alive! Can I get an Amen!?!

Knives are man's oldest tools, and for as long as they have been used for utility they have also been used as weapons.
Ignoring one doesn't change the other.

As a free human being I have the right by g-d to defend myself by any means I need to inorder to survive. I have that right, no, duty to protect myself. I have a duty to preserve my life, and I believe that not only because I believe in the bible but also simply out of a basic human instinct and will to survive.

Avoid any and all fights, as you never know what will happen no matter how well trained you are. That's important to keep in mind and never forget.But if I need to defend myself a knife is an excellent force equalizer and self defense tool.

Also, I'd like to echo what USAFSP just said about getting knife training.

 

[meshmdz]

i agree, knives are tools but people can use them as weapons.

 

[Psychopomp]

Sometimes I need to cut things.

 

[WarRaven]

Sometimes i need things to cut.

 

[mmarkh]

I carry a knife for utility purposes but if I had no other choice I would use it to defend myself or my family.That said if you do pull a knife for self defense you had better be prepared because the reality of cutting someone will be very intense.I hope I never have to experience it.

 

[Hateman]

I carry for utility for the most part. However, I do realize that there may be days where I may need to defend myself, or others I care about. Hence, I tend to carry and use a couple of small (about 2.5 inches) blades and one larger (about 3.5 to 4 inches) blade. I often use the smaller blades while the larger blades come out only if absolutely needed.

 

[edamhcneb]

I carry for simple cutting tasks at work, so I classify them as tools. Knives are not my 1st choice for SD, but (with the proper training) they could prove to be effective in certain situations.

 

[meshmdz]

I carry a knife for utility purposes but if I had no other choice I would use it to defend myself or my family.That said if you do pull a knife for self defense you had better be prepared because the reality of cutting someone will be very intense.I hope I never have to experience it.

mmark, amazingly true man. great posting.

 

[mmarkh]

Thank you meshmdz.I think a lot of the mall ninjas think that having a blade on them automatically makes them bad. Most people don't realize that if you need to use a knife for self defense your attacker is going to be a very desperate individual. That individual will most likely be a lot crazier than a normal rational person is or they wouldn't be doing criminal behavior in the first place. I would only consider using my knife if I truly believed my life was on the line because pulling a weapon will escalate any situation. I saw an aquaintance of mine stagger into our local drinking hole after he had been stabbed in a robbery attempt. There was a lot of blood and it scared the hell out of everybody. Getting cut is no joke. I think a lot of the mall ninjas just watch to much tv.I'll get off my soapbox now. I'm going to have knife withdrawls because me and the wife are leaving for the Carribean Sunday which means the knives stay home.Maybe I'll put one in my checked bags just to keep one in my room. Is that allowed on airline flights?

 

[ERdept]

I carry because it's a basic simple and usefull tool. I work in an ER and use it to open boxes for resupply, cut IV lines when the patient has been discharged and there are a mess of tubes and wires. It's just easier to cut the IV lines instead of trying to untangle them.

Open lunch bags when we order Italian. Open mail. Finally I have it for self defense purposes as I leave at 3 am and walk to a deserted parking lot. The minute I clock out and head for the door, the knife is in my hands.

As stated above, a gun would serve a better defense purpose, but would be less usefull. Defense is the lowest item on my list of uses, but the most important though least used for.

BTW, brandishing has gotten me out of two scrapes already. Aggressors backed way down post brandishing.

cliff

 

[meshmdz]

defense is the lowest on the list but it immediately becomes the ONLY reason you carry when SHTF. funny and ironic isnt it...

 

[FliGuyRyan]

I carry a knife(s) because I see it as an extension of my body. Knives make up for one of many shortfalls of the Human body design which I believe really sucks when I compare humans to other animals. Our finger nails are useless, and our teeth are limited too. :thumbdn: I use my knife regularly for cutting, opening packaging, grooming and getting those nasty slivers out of my skin. Carrying a knife makes me feel complete as a person and self sufficient.:thumbup: I take great pride in carrying a good knife. A person who carrys a knife is generally speaking a common sence individual. With some knowledge a knife can save your life and the lives of your loved ones when the threat arises. A knife will not jam and never needs reloading. I love my knives and most of you on this site love em too. With that said, do yourself a favor and sharpen up your blades and go out and buy another.

BUFFORD man, I couldn't agree with you more on every topic you've mentioned. I carry for all of the same reasons, and also in following in my dad's footsteps as well. Also, everyone here has probably been in the circumstance where you didn't have or forgot your knife, and you needed it. IT SUCKS!!! Also, I like impressing people when I whip it out, hehe... it's so big... ha

Ryan

 

[Bumppo]

First, I carry a knife because it is more practical for me to have one than not.
Tradition is the second reason. Even though my first knife is long gone, a cheap Barlow, being considered responsible enough to carry it was a right of passage, and a test for if I would be responsible enough to later learn to use a rifle. I remember that time and my stepfather fondly for those lessons.
Third, at least once or twice a week, somebody has to answer the big question with a positive response. "Does anybody here have a knife?"
The last reason is no matter how many stars a restaurant is rated, you cannot enjoy a great steak with a poor knife.

 

[meshmdz]

never cut a steak with my knives... but i am sure i will someday... haha