Why so cautious around non-knife people

[zignal_zero]

this is exactly why i've gone back to openly carrying a fixed blade.

a right that is not excercised due to FEAR (fear of "problems", future legislations, etc) is a right that has already been stolen.

i hear alot of people basically saying that if we stay quiet and try not to be noticed, they might leave us alone. not me, i'll take my chances pushing the envelope. then, IF they outlaw the knife i carry, i'll be more discreet about how i use it

 

[Moondrop]

Hello All,
I'm relatively new to the forum and have noticed quite a few people saying that they are hesitant to use their preferred blade around non-knife people. My question to them is why are you so concerned? I'm of course assuming any knife that you carry is legal and you are using it for a lawful purpose? With that being said, then who cares. Use the tools you have, enjoy them. I guess in my mind, by acting as if something is a big deal, then it's more likely to become a big deal when it really isn't in most cases.

Look forward to the replies.
RS

I've never had anyone go bug-eyed or freak out, but...
I worked at an arts & crafts store for a year (blech), and my job involved opening boxes of merchandise, stocking the shelves and cutting down those boxes to throw in the trash compactor. There was a handful of box cutters made available for this purpose, but they were never where they needed to be when there was a box that needed opening or breaking down, so I started bringing my SAK and using the smaller of the two blades on that to do what I needed to do.

The first time my department manager saw me using that knife, he made an oddball joke about not mugging or attacking (can't remember which) anyone with it. With a Swiss Army Knife. With those box cutters scattered about the store that other "associates" tended to leave on shelves where little hands could find them, he seemed to be more concerned about my non-threatening, very own personal knife that I NEVER left just laying about where someone's child could cut him/herself with it.

BTW, I never stopped using that knife in the time I worked there, and he was eventually let go due to other reasons. Nobody else ever complained about my lethal slipjoint, as far as I know.

But you never know how people will react. And it just makes me wonder what'll happen the first time I "whip out" my Mini Grip or Delica in a public place to assault some innocent piece of cardboard or that annoying plastic packaging so much stuff comes in now or whatever else.

 

[Moondrop]

The Concealed carry permit allows me to legally carry concealed a object classified as a deadly weapon concealed.(pistols, knives with any blade length and auto knives, blackjacks and even a club) Openly carried no permit is needed in my State.

Georgia only recently passed a law making the GFL (firearms license) a GWL, which now covers knives with blades over 5", IIRC. Under that, if I'm understanding it, we don't need a license. Some of the other things you mentioned are still a no-no here.
In any case, my GFL is now a GWL and I believe I (gotta recheck georgiapacking) can legally carry just about any knife I want, but I can think of one neighbor off the top of my head who'd freak and call the cops if she saw me walking around with a machete.

For the benefit of the easily frightened, I usually have a Vic Classic or Executive in addition to my regular EDC knives. But I imagine there are people who would find those threatening, too. I don't want to meet them.

 

[Greg]

I'd be real surprised if places other than Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (the places in which I've actually lived) didn't have laws about 'threatening behaviour'.

Having to explain to the authorities, whether at work or the legal system, how my knife behaviour was not threatening is not something I want to do, unless I am sure I'm going to win. The trouble is that some people are easily threatened and will yell for help promptly.

Fortunately, over the last 55 years of knife carrying, I've never had to do so. Use what is appropriate for the task, and be respectful of others and the situation and I doubt whether any trouble will come of knife use.

Also, being disrespectful is likely to cause the authorities to implement more restrictive laws, without having to make judgements as to appropriateness of behaviour. Remember that lawmakers have to be seen to be doing something, whether it is actually effective or not! Being unable to carry a 2 inch knife into a school hasn't actually stopped people from opening fire with automatic weapons!

Greg

 

[Ankerson]

I'd be real surprised if places other than Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (the places in which I've actually lived) didn't have laws about 'threatening behaviour'.

Having to explain to the authorities, whether at work or the legal system, how my knife behaviour was not threatening is not something I want to do, unless I am sure I'm going to win. The trouble is that some people are easily threatened and will yell for help promptly.

Fortunately, over the last 55 years of knife carrying, I've never had to do so. Use what is appropriate for the task, and be respectful of others and the situation and I doubt whether any trouble will come of knife use.

Also, being disrespectful is likely to cause the authorities to implement more restrictive laws, without having to make judgements as to appropriateness of behaviour. Remember that lawmakers have to be seen to be doing something, whether it is actually effective or not! Being unable to carry a 2 inch knife into a school hasn't actually stopped people from opening fire with automatic weapons!

Greg

Yes there are Brandishing laws here in the US so one has to be careful when and were they use a knife and how they behave and handle it when using it.

People just have to realise that there are a lot of people out there that really don't like knives for whatever reason and or they bother them, scare them etc.

It's not their problem, it's our problem or it really can be in a real hurry if the police get called or we get fired at work etc.

In a lot of peoples eyes a knife is a weapon period and if someone pulls one out then in their eyes they have pulled out a weapon pure and simple.

 

[Hitthespot]

Sometimes it is best to take a quiet position. When I started working were I work now 13 years ago, quite a few people were a little tweaked because I carry. Now some actually carry a knife themselves (male and female) others drop buy often wanting me to open a box of office supplies, toner or other typical things. Sometimes that quiet position turns into an actual ambassadorship. You can win someone over much quicker than whipping the sucker out and making the cut, before it registers with them.

Good post. This shows an even deeper issue that the person with the knife can make a much bigger impression than the knife they carry by how they carry themselves. "If Mr knife carrier, the super nice and responsible guy around the office can carry and be so helpful with a knife, then why shouldn't I? No need to bother him. However, braggin about the 14 inch blade on your modified Samuri sword to thwart off Zombies in the parking lot doesn't do a whole lot for any of our images.

Bill

 

[Warp]

Georgia only recently passed a law making the GFL (firearms license) a GWL, which now covers knives with blades over 5", IIRC. Under that, if I'm understanding it, we don't need a license. Some of the other things you mentioned are still a no-no here.
In any case, my GFL is now a GWL and I believe I (gotta recheck georgiapacking) can legally carry just about any knife I want, but I can think of one neighbor off the top of my head who'd freak and call the cops if she saw me walking around with a machete.

For the benefit of the easily frightened, I usually have a Vic Classic or Executive in addition to my regular EDC knives. But I imagine there are people who would find those threatening, too. I don't want to meet them.

There was no length limit on knives in GA other than the still-present 2" limit for schools/colleges, that is.

The problem was that the list of places off limits applied to all "deadly weapons", not just guns, so there was the theoretical potential to carry a gun somewhere, legally, where your pocket knife would be illegal.

As for places off limits the list is MUCH better and shorter now than it was two years ago, thanks in large part to GCO. No schools, no colleges, no publicly owned or operated buildings, no sporting events, no churches....as you can see the list is still ridiculous but it is better. In the last two years restaraunts that serve alcohol, bars, public transportation and generic/undefined "public gatherings" have come off the list.

 

[Rossi Knives]

I was at an instructors class with Michael Debethencourt and he told me a story of walking through a strip mall and seeing a lady with a stroller struggling with opening a package. She sees him and asks if he has a pocket knife. He says sure, pulls out his pink delica, opens the package and the lady thanks him and goes on her way.

Michael gets a cup of coffee and is walking to his car when a cruiser tears in to the parking lot and screeches to a halt in front of him. The cop asks, "did you just see a guy pull a knife on a lady with a baby?" Someone had called the cops from across the mini mall. Michael says "no" and drives off.

-Nick

 

[Warp]

I was at an instructors class with Michael Debethencourt and he told me a story of walking through a strip mall and seeing a lady with a stroller struggling with opening a package. She sees him and asks if he has a pocket knife. He says sure, pulls out his pink delica, opens the package and the lady thanks him and goes on her way.

Michael gets a cup of coffee and is walking to his car when a cruiser tears in to the parking lot and screeches to a halt in front of him. The cop asks, "did you just see a guy pull a knife on a lady with a baby?" Someone had called the cops from across the mini mall. Michael says "no" and drives off.

-Nick

People never cease to amaze me.

 

[Tripton]

It's called being aware of what's going on around you.

Now if was someone who was cutting something like say a worker etc then I wouldn't be too worried about it...

If the person was someone who pulled it out and was playing with it or acting strange etc then I wouldn't take my eyes off of them until they put it away....

Well, thats different than just if someone just "pulls out a knife". Situational awareness also involves threat management...and a guy that pulls out a knife to cut something doesnt trip off any bells for me, unless that something is a person.

If a person pulls a knife and is acting strange, of course i would watch them. Same goes for if he is holding a bat and acting strange, holding a gun and acting strange, or not holding anything and acting strange.

I think I get what you are saying, but your original post seemed to insinuate that people with knives make you nervous.

 

[Moondrop]

I was at an instructors class with Michael Debethencourt and he told me a story of walking through a strip mall and seeing a lady with a stroller struggling with opening a package. She sees him and asks if he has a pocket knife. He says sure, pulls out his pink delica, opens the package and the lady thanks him and goes on her way.

Michael gets a cup of coffee and is walking to his car when a cruiser tears in to the parking lot and screeches to a halt in front of him. The cop asks, "did you just see a guy pull a knife on a lady with a baby?" Someone had called the cops from across the mini mall. Michael says "no" and drives off.

-Nick

Nice that the person who called the cops stuck around to see what this guy might do to the old lady... :barf:
That's false concern, IMO. And cowardly if they thought she was actually in danger.

 

[Moondrop]

There was no length limit on knives in GA other than the still-present 2" limit for schools/colleges, that is.

The problem was that the list of places off limits applied to all "deadly weapons", not just guns, so there was the theoretical potential to carry a gun somewhere, legally, where your pocket knife would be illegal.

As for places off limits the list is MUCH better and shorter now than it was two years ago, thanks in large part to GCO. No schools, no colleges, no publicly owned or operated buildings, no sporting events, no churches....as you can see the list is still ridiculous but it is better. In the last two years restaraunts that serve alcohol, bars, public transportation and generic/undefined "public gatherings" have come off the list.

Re: length limit--do you mean for carry? This is from my NBC affiliate's report of the passing of HB308:
"Georgia's new law requires that if you carry a knife with a blade more than five inches on a handle, either concealed or not, you have to get a Weapons Carry License, just like a handgun."

Assuming they reported it correctly, it would mean either:
1) there was a length limit before 308
or
2) there was no limit and now there is and you need a license to exceed it

I think I'm more confused now than before HB308 passed.

 

[canadiantrailman]

registered user

 

[grayman19]

I think the right tool for the job makes all of the difference. I bring a leatherman skeletool to work everyday, and always have people asking me to cut something for them, or for them to borrow it. If I brought my 8in blade Ontario fighting knife to work, I would probably get fired. If you don't need to carry a large knife, then don't, and everybody will be happy. The same goes with guns. There is a big difference in opinion between someone who carries a 9mm pistol and somebody who brings a SW 500 to the grocery store.

You don't need to call attention to the knife. Treat it like the tool that it is, and people will probably be cool with it. Brag however, that your Spyderco Civilian can chop right through somebody's arm in one swing, and they will probably call the cops.

 

[TLARbb]

Well, it is my opinion that you need not carry a sword to cut up your steak and that the knife you EDC should fit the expected need for the day. You have to determine that yourself.

I have a picture (below) of two knives that I regularly EDC and they are not all that much different in size, but there is a significant difference in reaction of some people if I use one rather than the other. If I am going to be working in an office environment, I will take the 194OT Schrade over the 812 Benchmade because the Benchmade intimidates some folks that the 194OT will not. It is fact that just opening a knife with one hand will make folks look at you with much more attention.

So, if I am going to be doing chores that may call for fairly heavy duty knife work, either at home or elsewhere, I will take a bigger knife that is easy to deploy and if I am going to work in an office environment, I take a smaller traditional pocketknife. Or take one of each and use the one appropriate for the situation.

It's up to all of us to use good judgement in our knife useage.

EJ

 

[Gadgetaholic]

I'd be real surprised if places other than Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (the places in which I've actually lived) didn't have laws about 'threatening behaviour'.

In New Zealand it is illegal to carry a weapon in an urban area without a legal reason to do so. I have never had a problem carrying a SAK & a multitool, but if I were carrying my RAT-1 then I would be breaking the law. I can carry my BK-9 while camping in the woods, but wouldn't want to be caught carrying it in town. Threatening someone is definitely illegal too of course, but just having a knife on you could get you arrested unless you can justify it to the satisfaction of the police officer. If you have a filleting knife in a holster on your belt and are carrying a fishing rod and walking towards a fishing spot then you are going to be fine, but just walking along a city street with an Endura in your pocket would be bad if you were stopped and searched. Luckily your chances of being stopped and searched are pretty low for most people, but you certainly don't want to be seen using a knife that you would have trouble justifying to the law.

I don't know anyone that has a beef with the law here, there are plenty of people in society that you really don't want walking around armed and you don't want the police unable to do anything about it until they actually attack someone. Most of the time common sense prevails and non-dangerous citizens are rarely harassed for having a small cutting tool in their possession.

There is one case though that I remember reading about in the news paper:
A man was arrested and taken to court for possession of a weapon, he was searched and was found to have a SAK on him. The judge looked at the SAK and said it didn't seem any more dangerous than what a certain member of the judiciary had in his pocket for cutting his apple for lunch - case dismissed. I think the accused was a crim and the police just didn't have anything they could arrest him for so they grasped at straws and charged him for the SAK is his pocket. Thankfully the police are generally much better than that.

 

[Vivi]

I carry a large Spyderco everyday, and use it everyday, often in public places. I've been doing this for years, and I've never had an issue with anyone caring. I've had cops, co-workers and girlfriends admire my Military.

 

[Alvaro Candanedo]

It never cease to amaze me that in some palces in this world, people try to outlaw objects. Here in Panamá, there are no laws (at least, that I know of), that outlaws knives; the problem is that with the passing years, less and less people USE knives outside the kitchen. There seems to be a culture of meekness, where people who rely more and more on the State to provide for them, demonize objects, or behavior (a too big signature, as an indication of aggresiveness? Really?), just because these don't fit in their particular idea of how the world should be. This is preposterous.

 

[Warp]

Re: length limit--do you mean for carry? This is from my NBC affiliate's report of the passing of HB308:
"Georgia's new law requires that if you carry a knife with a blade more than five inches on a handle, either concealed or not, you have to get a Weapons Carry License, just like a handgun."

Assuming they reported it correctly, it would mean either:
1) there was a length limit before 308
or
2) there was no limit and now there is and you need a license to exceed it

I think I'm more confused now than before HB308 passed.

If that is the case then we acquired a limit as a result of HB308. I guarantee you there was no bullcrap 5" limit before.

I hadn't heard of a 5" limit other than this thread, though. Will have to see.

A SAK would do in most cases so why bother pulling out the black 4" types?

Because I don't carry a SAK. I carry an Emerson CQC-8

 

[Noctis3880]

It's a little silly when you think about it really. During my job as a produce clerk, I once popped open my Kershaw Shallot S110V to cut a sample of fruit for the customer. As you could imagine, the reaction was shock and wide open eyes, and I should count myself lucky she didn't scream for the cops right then and there. The funny thing is that I've been using my Tojiro Flash Paring Knife to cut samples for customers the past 3 days without so much as a single look or comment about the knife. The irony being that my Tojiro Flash is MUCH sharper than my Shallot was, and the thinner blade on top of that means that it would be capable of causing a LOT more damage to human flesh.

I personally blame mainstream media(television, movies) for doing such an effective job of demonizing the folding knife and turning it into an icon of a thug's weapon rather than a quality tool(which my Manix 2 is). Though I suppose it's unreasonable for a non-knife person to know about such things, including the fact that anyone with a pen could potentially kill someone.