Why doesn't anyone carry a knife?

[Stubai]

Lots of good reading here...back in the day, most men carried, at the very least, a pocket knife of some ilk. With the advent of food packaging that does not require a blade to open we have less of a tangible reason to carry a cutting implement. Zip-lock bags, Velcro and other nifty technical inventions from brilliant minds have changed our world in amazing (often stunning) ways, and while the steels have become better and more refined, I doubt that there is a true need to EDC if you live in the big city metroplex areas. Living in a rural area is a different scenario altogether. The lowly butcher knife probably saw more action on the farm than any other and daily chores would have seen the need for a quality cutting implement...we had butchers that used carbon knives and heavy cleavers. Today, stainless is the norm in food prep. Now we shop in supermarkets and let saws do the work for us.

I still put a knife in my pocket when I leave the house as a testimony to my belief that some of the 'old timer' ways are not too shabby. Also, ponder the fact that many knives are not considered to be tools, they are deemed weapons in the culture of today in post 2001 climate.

 

[jonnyt16]

Because, by and large, we've gone from manhood to perpetual boyhood or metrosexual.

Pretty much. And I've run out of patience with these people to be honest. A few times I've been asked "Is that a knife? Why do you carry a knife?" To which I simply reply: "So I don't always have to use my gun."

The look on their stupid face is priceless.

 

[Veracious Coyote]

I have forgotten my wallet and cell phone while going out many times. I have never forgotten to bring my knife though.

 

[SoCal_kid]

I ask myself that same question almost daily. Mostly when I watch people struggling with packaging and other tasks where a knife would make things 100x easier. It is a hobby and a passion, but to a certain extent it is convenience and doing yourself a favor carrying a knife.

 

[jackknife]

Most people have a utility knife somewhere; they just don't carry it with them everywhere. We've build a world of convenience that does not require a cutting that often. A knife cuts rope great, but when was the last time someone chose rope or string over duct tape? How many people know how to tie a proper knot these days? Scotch tape has a built in cutter, toilet paper is pre-cut, food is pre-sliced, pre-made. If you are willing to spend a few cent more, you hardly have to lift a finger any more. Like everyone on this forum, I like to carry a knife, but I almost have to go out of my way to find a use for in in the urban environment. It'd be different if I worked on a farm, but most folks don't these days.

There is a heck of a lot of truth in that post. We live in a 21st century semi urban environment, at least most of us do. There's whole days go by that I don't really have a reason to pull out my knife. And when I do, it's usually a small cutting job that a tiny keychain pen knife will take care of. Then there's the increasing amount of work palces that have increasing amount of anti weapon rules, to include knives. The last couple of years before I retired, I worked in a place like that, and it was a machine shop no less! But because some young idiot amputated his right index finger when the lock on a Buck 110 gave away under abusive use, knives were then banned. We could only use the approved Stanley sliding blade utility knife issued by the supply room.

The ugly truth is, we knife nuts here on a knife based forum, are the 1% of the society at large. We're looked at funny, because we're the odd ones out. Some of my own family think I'm a bit weird because of my love of knives. Add to that the fact that most people don't like to carry anything they don't really use on a daily basis, and knives get stuck in a draw at home, instead of a pocket. Even the time tested Swiss Army knife and some multitools are going to be obsolete. Cans are beconing pull tops, bottles are twist opening, and even some major wine makers are investigating the plastic sealed twist off cap because of decreasing supply of cork, and cost. So there goes the cork screw. More and more packages are pull on the dotted line and they tear open very easy.

Lets face it boys and girls, the 21st century is changing a lot of values. There's no wild injuns' coming over the hill, and not many buffalo to skin. We love our knives because we're the mutants. The knife knuts. When I was a kid it was big right of passage to get that first pocket knife. Now a kid looks forward to his first cell phone. Knife? Who needs a knife when a little gizmo in your pocket is a phone, GPS, computer, video camera, and flashlight, not to mention much more?

Yeah, I do, but I'm an old fart. The kids now are into their gizmos, not knives. Try to take them camping, and they freak out when there's no place to charge their toys.

Carl.

 

[TheChunk91]

Most of the time when I "knife check" pockets I dont see anything there and I wonder how anybody can make it through the day without a knife, I would feel naked without one. Theres a special reserved place for a knife in any pocket and when the knife is missing then you are not completely functional to do all the things you need to do daily (other edc items also fall into this). I have a friend who doesnt really like knives but I made him realize how useful they were, then he got a kershaw leek and loved it, used it all the time, but then he lost it on a dirtbike ride in colorado and now he resorts to tearing things open with poor results. He claims its more "manly" to just rip stuff open, but he has no idea what hes talking about and how ineffective it is haha

 

[leghog]

Is that a karl erik freehand, leghog?

Just a Nording poker. Inexpensive one at that.

 

[leghog]

I like your strap for the bumper and the omega too!

Thanks. It's not a bumper wind but a c.285 hand wind from Omega's 30mm family of movements.

 

[pilote]

Even though I have carried knives since the age of 7 or so, I have rarely ever needed my knife.
I definitely do not look down on someone who does not carry a knife.
Anyway, if a knife is the only tool that can solve your problem, you are not thinking hard enough.

My knife is most useful in the woods and most of the world lives in cities or towns now, so the lessening need for knives seems obvious.

...i concur...nicely said.

 

[Moondrop]

I guess I am out of touch, I wear a watch, prefer cash and carry a pen and pad. Don't get me wrong I like my smart phone ad have a debit card but old school still has a place. At least until they come up with a pocket sized laser that can cut 2 inch rope in one pass, shave your arm hair and skin a deer, I will still carry a pocket knife.

I still wear a watch and can't stand to leave the house without a pen. I take it a step further and yet a step sideways with the pen--it's a disposable fountain pen that I refill. And I can't leave the house without something sharp. I find with a few exceptions, most packaging has become *harder* to get into with my bare hands and I am *not* going to chew stuff open. LOL

I don't know why so many people are willing to totally depend on someone else when something needs cutting. What do they do when nobody around them has a knife and one is needed?

 

[leghog]

Most of the time when I "knife check" pockets I dont see anything there and....

Be careful with your assumptions. You'd assume I had no pocket knife either as you can not tell one way or the other just by looking at me.

 

[James Y]

Be careful with your assumptions. You'd assume I had no pocket knife either as you can not tell one way or the other just by looking at me.

+1.
I always have at least two knives on me at all times when I'm out and about...a Victorinox Executive, and lately a Spyderco Pacific Salt SE. But because pocket clips wear out the seams of my pockets, I carry it down in the pocket next to my Executive. By all outward appearances, I'm not carrying any knife, unless I'm also wearing my Victorinox Spirit on my belt, which I often do. If no Spirit on the belt, I'll also carry a Vic Pioneer or Farmer.

I remember first hearing about Buck Knives in 9th grade (1978), when a male typing teacher pulled out a Buck Cadet from his coat pocket to cut something, probably sharpen a pencil, in class. I asked him about it, and showed him my knife, an Old Timer stockman at the time. He let me examine his knife. It was a nice, short conversation that wasn't a big deal. Nowadays, I'd get suspended, and he would probably lose his job for that.

Jim

 

[Allen R.]

I have always and will continue to always carry a knife on my person , As long as the law allows, A few months back we had a situation at my job, with soem younger guys bringing some pocket swords to work, and my boss was about to ban knives all together and make us all carry these yellow safety knives. I spoke up and made my case to our V.P. and thank goodness he is an avid hunter, and he also edcs a knife as well, so he just made a 4 inch blade limit. In my line of work ( automotive manufacturing) If you don't have a knife then your gonna stop the line, and if you stop that line then you better have a darn good reason, otherwise you may be in the unemployment office if it happens too much.

 

[The Whip]

What do they do when nobody around them has a knife and one is needed?

Sometimes they die. A quick glance here will provide plenty of examples of people who died for lack of a knife in our "modern, easy-open" metropolitan society:

http://www.againstseatbeltcompulsion.org/victims.htm

Just try cutting your way out of a seatbelt with a car key or the edge of a credit card and let me know how you fare. And that's just ONE of countless examples of situations you might face in which you really, truly need a knife.

I get extremely tired of people who ask me why I carry a knife (or pen, or flashlight, or handkerchief, or...). If you lack the imagination and/or experience to envision what pitfalls may await you when a fire starts, a dog attacks, the electricty goes out for more than a few hours, you become lost, you have an auto accident, etc., then you might not want to demonstrate that ignorance by opening your mouth and asking such a ridiculous question. If your only hope for rescue from peril is to call on someone who's better prepared for an emergency than you, you may just deserve what you get when help doesn't arrive in time.

-Steve

 

[denniskelley]

When I was working, co-workers would ask me for a pen/pencil to write something down(sign their paycheck) or a knife to open a box. After many requests, I told them they would have to provide their own.

 

[upnorth]

Watch an evening of prime time television and you will realize why people are afraid. I was lucky to have my employer accept a multi tool.

 

[TheChunk91]

That much is true, but theres also plenty of knives with pocket clips too.

 

[SCWillson]

Most of the time when I "knife check" pockets I dont see anything there and I wonder how anybody can make it through the day without a knife, I would feel naked without one.

+1.

I've carried a knife (or sometimes several knives) on me since I was twelve years old. I literally feel undressed without a knife in my pocket. One of the things I most hate about air travel nowadays is it means five or six hours without a knife on me; and the first thing I do when I recover my luggage is reclaim my pocket knife.

I've been very fortunate that every job I've ever had permitted knives (with one exception, and there I just carried concealed).

 

[jbmonkey]

Brainwashing from public school - my hometown permitted kids to have pocketknives, but they've been prohibited to students in most schools for awhile.

yep. Kids grow up without a knife they learn to get along without it. Watch any adult who went to school in the 80s and 90s and they use their keys to open stuff. Point is school zero tolerance aka govt schooling is one of the many reasons...and cant be ignored.

 

[TheChunk91]

I think a big reason most people dont carry knives is because of the fear culture that has been developed from movies and tv mostly (im sure theres alot of other stuff too). Most of my generation (I was born 1994) cant seem to fathom anything beyond cell phones, tv and all this protectionist "safe" environment crap, so naturally most of them are scared to death of knives, so many times have I pulled out a knife in public to use it when somebody gets nervous looking and steps further away. Anything can be safe if handled properly, so why are they afraid when the knowledge and skill is out there to learn? Ive carried a knife since my dad gave me my first one at 6 and there are very few days that I havent used one for something, like he always says, use the right tool for the job.