Why we should all be joining Ed Fowler's Little Revolution

Add another to the group. As far as I know, in one work environment I persuaded at least 5 people to start carrying clip folders. I give knives as presents, and always try to instruct as to proper usage. I am also the go-to sharpener for most people that I know and try to teach that as well-but with little luck! On top of that I never use provided knives in restaurants- and nobody has ever commented beyond "that is a nice looking knife" usually my Boye Dendritic folder. Actually 95% of the comments I get are from the ladies- and almost never in the negative.
If one loves something it shows in all aspects of their lives- knives are no different.
 
Just a few days ago I sliced a cake using my Opinel and put the knife on the table in the Starbucks, and give the cake to my 4 years old daughter. The security person just give a slight glance.

And almost everyday in the office I just lay my BM AFCK on the table. I want people to reconsider their mind about knife as a weapon or a concealed weapon. Few people will open the knife, give some comments and finally ask me how to close it. Nothing to fear of.

Sorry for my bad english, it's not my language anyway. Cheers!

Frids
 
First of all, Thanks Dave for bringing up Ed's most recent column. I read it when my mag first showed up, but like you didn't think too much about it at first. For some time now I've made a point of never being ashamed that I carry a knife or two every single day, and also have tried to use them in a way that showcases them as valuable tools. Still, your post was a nice kick in the pants and helped to rekindle my commitment to helping portray our hobby in a good positive way. :thumbup:

Cheers,
Jon

P.S.- For those who like to use their own knife to cut their steak at a restaurant, check out the Kershaw/Shun personal folding steak knife. Beautiful piece, and fun to use.
 
SPXTrader said:
No disrespect orca, but I live in an area of about 200,000. Certainly not nearly as big as SF, but not exactly "rural". I would use the terms region and culture to describe why it's OK for me or Sandy to whip out an AO in public. Hunting, fishing and trapping are rites of passage in the mountains. I can kill, skin and cut up a deer in the AM, and go to the symphony in the PM, if I desire.

And Sandy's a Hatfield (yup, a relative of 'ol Devil Anse hisself) who packs a gun and two knives...so don't mess with her! :D Gotta love mountain women and a right to carry state! :thumbup:
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No disrespect taken; my response was based on your comment in 'liberal city'. I think you're right about the point on culture & location.

Last - thanks for the encouragement as well. Glad to see there's a lot of like-minded folks out there.

One other point I forgot to mention - I show people how to sharpen their knives as well. It's amazing how receptive people are to being around knives when they know someone who has one is knowledgeable.

Looking forward to seeing the progress in this thread - but I'm turning in now. Long boy scout meeting tonight, & I'm exhausted.

thx - cpr
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Add another to the group. As far as I know, in one work environment I persuaded at least 5 people to start carrying clip folders. I give knives as presents, and always try to instruct as to proper usage. I am also the go-to sharpener for most people that I know and try to teach that as well-but with little luck! On top of that I never use provided knives in restaurants- and nobody has ever commented beyond "that is a nice looking knife" usually my Boye Dendritic folder. Actually 95% of the comments I get are from the ladies- and almost never in the negative.
If one loves something it shows in all aspects of their lives- knives are no different.
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I hadn't thought about in this way, but I've been giving a close friends teen age kids knives for a few years. Partly because the daughter had started working part time and
I wanted her to have something more if she had great need.

I got the ok from their parents before giving the kids the knives.
 
My limited experience indicates that one of the ways to difuse some mild anti-knife hysteria is if you actually made the knife. The folks figure that you are just a tad eccentric and your CUSTOMERS are actually the loony mall ninjas:D
 
I read many excellent thoughts in this thread. Mr Mathews I sure wish your thoughts about schools were universal among school administrators, I believe our children's future as responsible adults would be much more promising.

I also wish the advertising for some knives showed them as something other than a threat. Just maybe a few letters to the advertisers could suggest a more positive image presented to the public. These "tactical" knives are a part of our community, but I wonder where they will be when we have to fight the legislature's for our survival?

For example: look through RG Russell's catalogues, so you see any black hooded ninjas within? He keeps the image positive and remains a very successful. We would enjoy a much more favorable image if all advertising showcased knives as he and Goldie have for years. Knives and their image can be so much more positive when we realize the emotion our ads convey. Case is another leader to teach us how to advertise.

When we look at the entire field of opportunity it is easy to become discouraged, but when we look at our own area of influence we can work to the benefit of all one little step at a time.

Again I thank all who have voiced their thoughts.
 
I grew up in a small town in the southern tier of NYS where they used to close school for the opening day of gun season. I also remember carrying my Buck or Case knife to school every single day of the school year in high school.(68-72) I can remember my buddy and I getting up early to check our trap line and jumping ducks on the Canisteo River before school. No one said a word back then about the Buck or the Case. Simpler times, seems to me to be so.

Definetly would not be the case now. Its funny I think Europeans have a better attitude when using a knife than we Americans and I only say that because of what I have seen in Ireland of all places and where I used to work. One of the lead engineers pulled out a very well used Victorinix to cut and apple up while in the lab. Another CE was in the lab at the time and about had a kitten. The apple cutter was from Germany and he took great pains to allay the fears of the other Chief Engineer that just happen to watching the test we were doing. The engineer from Germany cut the apple up like it was second nature and I am sure it was. I got into a bit of a debate with a SW eng. while working nights. The plant was in a crap part of town and had muggins, and a murder on the bridge right across from the door I went into. So I started carrying my XL Voyager PE. Now this fella was an ex Marine and proud of it as well he should be. But he couldn't fathom why on earth I would carry that knife when working at night and have it in my hand when walking to my car, which could be 8 pm or 12 pm or even later. When we were on vacation in Ireland for 2 weeks a few years back I saw many a person using a pocket knife while eating dinner in the pubs/restaurants we were in. These were locals too. My wife had a French eng. visiting one time and while out to dinner with an English lady, an Aussie and the Frenchie, the Frenchie pulled out a Laguiolle(sp?) and used it to cut his steak. No one batted an eye lash till I wanted to see the knife, then the Aussie guy started giving him a razzing which he couldn't understand at all. Anyways I say use'm if ya got them and full speed ahead with it. keepem sharp
 
All this "Politically Correct" BS is because of the damned Liberals in this country...You can't even pull out a small fixed blade from your hip without getting stares from the Sheeple! Ed is right, we've got to do something about this nonsense. :grumpy:
 
I carry at least one knife to work every day, and I use it multiple times a day. I've given knives as gifts before, but I do need to restart that.

One thing that blew my mind was that in college I carried a Vic Tinker daily. I used it every dang day. My company hired a new college grad from my old school. I was talking to him this week and showed him a new knife I'd picked up. He said that he didn't really know much about knives, as he'd never carried one. I asked how he'd gotten through a college engineering program without a swiss army knife. He told me that it was really hard to think of, as the school frowned on knives

Holy heck. My highly conservative school is now pumping out engineers who don't know how to fix a pump with a swiss army knife and duct tape. Yeesh.
 
I gave a knife to my sister for her birthday this year, for her 21st. She likes it and thinks its handy. (BTW, its a CRKT M-16). I think it also varies by location. The only comment I get about me EDC is how cool it looks and how sharp it is. If someones needs an opinion on a knife, or gun on occasion, they come to me. I always make a point to portray them as TOOLS, not weapons. Regardless of how the gov't views them.
 
I guess I'm another of your "revolution" supporters.

I've always carried a knife around. When I started a new job and first pulled out the Calypso Jnr., (this is in an office), a few eyebrows were raised but now nobody pays any attention, in fact now that they know I collect the things they'll sometimes ask if I've got anything new and can they see it.

Basically, if you just introduce non scary looking knives to people in a calm, matter of fact way and don't act like some idiot mall ninja then most people will accept them.

I have yet to be told that I shouldn't have a knife on me. Except for the law of course which, where I live, considers anything that any idiot could could interpret as a knife, including, probably, a nail file, as a deadly weapon and anyone who carries one must be a terrorist.

Hopefully, if people become more accustomed to seeing people doing normal, every day things with knives, these ridiculous laws will gradually disappear like other bad and unnecessary laws.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard good people try to educate, it only takes one nut case to stab somebody somewhere and our beloved politicians will get another knee jerk reaction ....
 
This was a large part of the reason I did my "Great Knife Giveaway" project earlier this year. I didn't keep totally precise records, but it ended up being around 800 knives distributed.

I bought knives by the pound off of eBay, mainly TSA confiscations and some State of Pennsylvania confiscations. I've taken some hassle whenever I mention buying confiscation knives, but it's not like TSA would stop confiscating them if they couldn't sell them; they'd just end up melted to scrap.

In a 20lb bag of knives, the price was usually around 10c each. Mainly little keychain SAK clones, numerous standard-size stainless-steel SAK clones, and a mix of other small stuff. Out of 800 knives I only found a handful of semi-okay knives. Single best knife was a Camillus Silver Sword (MSRP $20), so apparently the guys who pre-sort the knives really know their stuff.

I left knives in tip jars and other such places, and gave some away just by handing them to folks randomly. Also traded many for a cigarette at a bar (though I don't smoke) since most folks seemed more comfortable getting "a really good deal" rather than something for free.

I personally gave away about 550, gave 200 to a BFC member to give away, and another 50 to a friend in Newfoundland to give away.

I think that such giveaways can't help but improve knife-relations in America. If any members here want to team up and make some huge bulk purchase of cheapie giveaway knives, I'm certainly interested.
 
Hi all,
Here's what I'm doing.
Whenever I get change out of my pocket I make sure my SAK comes out on my palm with it.
I show off my new purchases at work.
I even get them delivered there so nearly everyone knows "Greg got a new knife yesterday."
I use my own knives at every opportunity, rather than the non-sharpened pieces of steel usually on hand.
The other thing we have to do is resist labeling people who don't understand knives with the same name as our perceived enemies. For example, I am a liberal, a social worker, and work in an office in a large city. I am also a pistol shooter and knife carrier.
Greg
 
I've been using my knives in public for whatever I want for over forty years. I didn't even know I was a revolutionary. I've whittled in the park at city-wide events, used my knives in restaurants (one particular dinner party saw my knife cutting up everyone's steaks, as it was the only sharp knife in the place), opened my mail in the post office, opened packages for my boss in her office, given knives as gifts, sharpened knives for people, demonstrated the difference between what someone though was a knife and a real knife too many times to count.

Unfortunately, I think it is a lost cause. I think the ongoing urbanization of the world population will continue to erode the acceptability of knife carry. It will continue to hang on for a while in places like this, where hundreds make a living with knives, but it will vanish entirely in other places. From what I have read, a person could be arrested, fined and probably jailed in New York City for taking a penknife out of their pocket to sharpen a pencil in public.
 
yablanowitz said:
Unfortunately, I think it is a lost cause. I think the ongoing urbanization of the world population will continue to erode the acceptability of knife carry.
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yablanowitz, you mention urbanization but I am not sure that you are taking suburbanization sufficiently into account.

From US 2006 Census data there are an estimated 81 million people in the US living in 258 US cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Since there were an estimated total of 299 million people in the US in 2006 that leaves 218 million people living in municipalities with populations less than 100,000. That's 73% of the US population.

I wouldn't give up so easily on so many Americans. In my opinion, if our revolution reaches over 70% of Americans we can declare victory.

yablanowitz said:
From what I have read, a person could be arrested, fined and probably jailed in New York City for taking a penknife out of their pocket to sharpen a pencil in public.
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Although in NYC public recreational whittling and pencil sharpening are out however peeling apples (especially in one of the City Parks) could arguably be acceptable as picnicking:

Chap. 1 Public Safety 10-133 c. It shall be unlawful for any person in a public place, street or park, to wear outside of his or her clothing or carry in open view any knife with an exposed or unexposed blade unless such person is actually using such knife for a lawful purpose as set forth in subdivision d of this section.
d. ...(6) any person displaying or in possession of a knife otherwise in violation of this section when such knife (a) is being used for or transported immediately to or from a place where it is used for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking or any employment, trade or occupation customarily requiring the use of such knife
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But I wouldn't advise anyone to try this one in an NYC mall or on a city street unless they have a lot of time and money on their hands (arrest, lawyers, court appearances etc.) Try it in a City Park at your own risk, unless of course you have a full-blown picnic and you keep handy a copy of the relevant citation from NYC statute.

NYC will certainly be among the last holdouts, come the revolution.
 
My thanks to everyone who will join the revolution. Its not just about knives, its a revolution back toward common sense which is greatly missing in society anymore. Lack of common sense and thinking the worst about everyone around us has got us where we are today. Out here in the Dakota's things are not so bad on the knife front but I have seen in my travels, a lot of paranoia. Count me in and use your knife to set a good example. When you are wearing your camo and carring a knife, open a door for someone, let someone step ahaead of you in line,. The little things can add up to big change. BE NICE.
 
Apparently Ed and I think alike. I whittle in public all the time. Just yesterday in fact I sat in front of th Atwoods parking lot in the back of my Jeep whittling while my wife shopped.

STR
 
I think it's a noble thought. I have a great deal of respect for Ed and I find his thoughts are always very deep. I've spent many hours thinking about our discussions on thermal cycling and edge thickness variations.

Unfortunately, I think the "trend" is in the other direction.

It seems to start with our entertainment. Films depicting knives in the hands of the "bad guy" doing "bad things". We've had many a discussion with movie producers trying to get them to have the "good guy" use the knife in a "good way", but I guess that doesn't sell movies.

From the films comes the attitudes and laws. Fear IS the prime mover.

Locking folders are not legal in the UK for normal carry. (There is a website in the UK actually asking people to "turn in their knives"). Nor are lockers appreciated in Belgium. Australia, Norway and Israel have tried to outlaw knives altogether for carry (uncussesfully at this time). Denmark does not allow one hand openers...and the list goes on.

Many of the laws come from law enforcement officers that are afraid of a suspect suddenly producing a "life threatening" knife hidden from view. That's why auto openers, flick knives or fast one handers are illegal in many areas like Canada. Again, fear is the prime mover.

The trend is to smaller non threatening knives for public carry and show. Many of us carry a small knife for public use as well as a larger more effective blade for harder work. I always use one of my knives for meals in a restaurant.

I agree that Ed's revolution would be a good thing, but it is really bucking a tide of tsunamic proportions. As mentioned, always use your knives in public in a non-threatening way.

By the way Ed, my collection is still missing that "special" Ed Fowler piece ;)

sal
 
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Ed. My most recent example of 'blade education' came in the form of my boss, actually. We just hired a new worker who now sits behind me. The desk was previously unused for about a year and a half or so, but still bore the stick-on name plate of whoever sat there (she left before I started there). My boss went to go scrape off the name tag, but was doing so with a pair of scissors. The only thing he managed to accomplish was removing little bits and pieces with the pointed tip.

I keep a SAK in my desk for the can opener (I've been too lazy/cheap to buy a real one, and the SAK works just fine), so I grabbed it and gave it to him with the flathead screwdriver extended. Made short work of the name tag :D. After that, my other boss gave me kind of an arched eyebrow and asked if I carried a knife around with me in kind of an accusatory tone (I did have an Endura in my pocket at the time ;) ), but my first boss just gave me a smile and a quiet pat on the shoulder as I received my SAK back. Hopefully, that's one more person converted to the cause.
 
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