women and knives, are we freaks?

9mmbladechick said:
I'm a normal female who carries on my person at least two knives at all times. One of which is concealed and one that is clipped to my waist band or pocket.

My issue lies with all the ignorant people out there who think that a woman with a knife is a freak. That we are something to be feared and something to be ridiculed or made to feel stupid. ( I have an indepth posting about this w/ in the Spyderco forum: titled knives and women who carry them. Should you want more detail about my story)

The question I have is why are we any different then a man who has a knife? Why are we "freaks" when we pull out our knife to cut open a bag of jerky? Can we not take care of ourselves? Funny, its ok for us to use "kitchen" knives, to cut onions for dinner, steaks for our family.....but God forbid we "carry" a knife and use it outside of the kitchen!!
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I don't think there is anything "unusual" or "wrong" with a woman carrying a knife (or gun).
Of course I was raised in a different era. My grandmothers, aunts, and great aunts all carried a knife in their purse, as did my maternal and paternal great grandmothers. My maternal great-great grandmother carried a folding knife and the always loaded break top .38 S&W Smith & Wesson revolver great-great grandpa gave her for her 30th Anniversary present. (sadly I never got to meet him. He passed 30 some years before I arrived. Great-Great Grandma was 100 or 101 when she passed in 1963) Great Great Grandma also carried a (razor sharp) sheathed 3.5 inch paring knife in her apron pocket, and a razor sharp sheathed 10 inch blade butcher knife under her apron.
After 2nd grade, the school expected 99+% of the boys to have at least one (slipjoint) knife in their pocket while at school, and 95%+ of the girls have either a pocket knife or a small fixed blade (paring knife, 4 or 5 inch fillet knife, or a bird and trout knife) in their purse.
(girls in pants was unheard of when I was in elementary school. Even shorts were rare back then. The "style" had advanced by Jr. High and Highschool to range from pants and shorts, knee length skirts/dresses to micro mini skirts an short shorts )

Lets face it, times have changed. (and not for the better, IMHO) When I was young, a man was as likely to forget his pants when he left for work, as to not have a pocket knife on him. As late as the 1980's the job interview included the HR person asking to see your pocket knife. You were judged by the condition of your knife:
No knife = Unreliable, forgetful, not trustworthy. You don't get the job.
Dull, rusty, (a patina was ok) wobbly, broken/chipped blade(s) and other signs of abuse, like using the bolsters to drive tacks (smallest nails possible) = You don't take care of your tools, use the wrong tool for the job at hand. You don't get the job.
Knife in good condition; all cutting blades sharp, no rust (again, a patina was ok) no wobbly blades, no signs of abuse = You're reliable, trustworthy, use the right tool for the task at hand, take care of your tools (and hence likely to take good care of theirs). You get the job.
Today, a lot of folk think there is something "wrong" with anyone, her or him that carries a knife (or firearm, pepper spray ...).
Hollywood the media, and politicians have vilified knives (and firearms) holding inanimate objects responsible for their misuse (especially firearms) rather than the people who misuse them, and have vilified those who carry a knife for the mundane cutting tasks that come up in real daily life.

It isn't just women who are accused of being "freaks", attempt to make feel foolish (the fools are the ones complaining) and so on. Everyone who carries a knife faces the same thing. Men  may even have it worse! People see a male as being more likely to be a murderer than a female.
 
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Is a woman who carries a couple of knives a freak? Hell no! Why would you or anyone think that? It sounds fairly normal to me.
 
afishhunter said:
I don't think there is anything "unusual" or "wrong" with a woman carrying a knife (or gun).
Of course I was raised in a different era. My grandmothers, aunts, and great aunts all carried a knife in their purse, as did my maternal and paternal great grandmothers. My maternal great-great grandmother carried a folding knife and the always loaded break top .38 S&W Smith & Wesson revolver great-great grandpa gave her for her 30th Anniversary present. (sadly I never got to meet him. He passed 30 some years before I arrived. Great-Great Grandma was 100 or 101 when she passed in 1963) Great Great Grandma also carried a (razor sharp) sheathed 3.5 inch paring knife in her apron pocket, and a razor sharp sheathed 10 inch blade butcher knife under her apron.
After 2nd grade, the school expected 99+% of the boys to have at least one (slipjoint) knife in their pocket while at school, and 95%+ of the girls have either a pocket knife or a small fixed blade (paring knife, 4 or 5 inch fillet knife, or a bird and trout knife) in their purse.
(girls in pants was unheard of when I was in elementary school. Even shorts were rare back then. The "style" had advanced by Jr. High and Highschool to range from pants and shorts, knee length skirts/dresses to micro mini skirts an short shorts )

Lets face it, times have changed. (and not for the better, IMHO) When I was young, a man was as likely to forget his pants when he left for work, as to not have a pocket knife on him. As late as the 1980's the job interview included the HR person asking to see your pocket knife. You were judged by the condition of your knife:
No knife = Unreliable, forgetful, not trustworthy. You don't get the job.
Dull, rusty, (a patina was ok) wobbly, broken/chipped blade(s) and other signs of abuse, like using the bolsters to drive tacks (smallest nails possible) = You don't take care of your tools, use the wrong tool for the job at hand. You don't get the job.
Knife in good condition; all cutting blades sharp, no rust (again, a patina was ok) no wobbly blades, no signs of abuse = You're reliable, trustworthy, use the right tool for the task at hand, take care of your tools (and hence likely to take good care of theirs). You get the job.
Today, a lot of folk think there is something "wrong" with anyone, her or him that carries a knife (or firearm, pepper spray ...).
Hollywood the media, and politicians have vilified knives (and firearms) holding inanimate objects responsible for their misuse (especially firearms) rather than the people who misuse them, and have vilified those who carry a knife for the mundane cutting tasks that come up in real daily life.

It isn't just women who are accused of being "freaks", attempt to make feel foolish (the fools are the ones complaining) and so on. Everyone who carries a knife faces the same thing. Men  may even have it worse! People see a male as being more likely to be a murderer than a female.
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I almost always had at least a pocket knife on me, from the time I got my first Buck folder. That included school, something that would get you suspended for today. I got in my share of dust ups, but there was never any thought of using a knife in a fight, because that was wrong.

I know and have known plenty of women who collect and/or carry knives. They work on ranches, in trades, at knife stores, or are just tool using mammals and like knives for the same reasons guys do. Unless you're doing things to make the people around you get overly stabby, there's no reason to be concerned about it. I've always felt better if the women in my life are armed than unarmed.
 
shane45-1911 said:
Answer? Manbag or "murse". Go ahead, do it - we won't laugh at you.................... much.
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LOL... I was just musing aloud today, about getting some kind of leather briefcase, manbag type thing, something in between a traditional briefcase and "bowling ball bag", to carry various things that I might want to have on me.

I feel like a backpack is a little juvenile but that could absolutely be personal associations. A duffel bag is too large, and doesn't look good, either. But maybe something in a tasteful leather, ierno...
 
Hashishiin said:
LOL... I was just musing aloud today, about getting some kind of leather briefcase, manbag type thing, something in between a traditional briefcase and "bowling ball bag", to carry various things that I might want to have on me.

I feel like a backpack is a little juvenile but that could absolutely be personal associations. A duffel bag is too large, and doesn't look good, either. But maybe something in a tasteful leather, ierno...
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We traveled recently and I discovered fanny packs, now frequently called messenger bags but they are the same- can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist, are making a big comeback. A year ago I would not have been caught dead wearing one, but all the designers are now making them and there are cheaper ones on Amazon. Yipee.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
We traveled recently and I discovered fanny packs, now frequently called messenger bags but they are the same- can be worn over the shoulder or around the waist, are making a big comeback. A year ago I would not have been caught dead wearing one, but all the designers are now making them and there are cheaper ones on Amazon. Yipee.
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My wife, who is french, told me they call them banana bags.
never thought i'll wear one..i now own three banana bags...
I wear mine around the waist but with the bag in the back. My favourite model is made by Patagonia and is very small and lightweight.

There are plenty of "tactical" fanny packs for operators and sheepdogs available.
 
My better half who was raised on a cattle ranch won’t carry a knife
on her person. I’ve tried to get her a knife that she would use. But,
she seemed to struggle with the different styles of locks and thumbstud
openers. I let her use my Pro-Tech Walter Brend auto and I haven’t seen it since.
She keeps it in her purse or a fanny pack, she seems to really like it.
She also carries a Sig p238 wherever she goes. She’s usually better armed
than I am. She’s also a lot better shot than I am!😂
 
9mmbladechick said:
I just want to thank everyone so far for the support and the feed back. For all you women who came out of the wood work and replied.... Wow, it pleases me to find kindred spirits. Thank you

For all you men who honor us woman with your support (and the occational purchase of a new knife now and then :D ). THANK YOU

I am not a new Knife chick. I've carried for years, but I didn't show growth and interst in furthering my collection, until I ran back into an old friend of mine from high school who shared with me his passion for knives. Now I'm not just carrying I'm resurching and beginning to make my collection grow.

I'd appreciate information. Knowledge is power, and I'm not supper familiar yet with a lot of different types of knives. I've found for myself that I like folders. I can conceal a six inch in my bra and wouldn't blink twice at doing that durring the times I can't carry my gun, or that I want to "dress" up and tuck my shirt in, so to speak. You know, the night on the town, party dress nights. Can't always carry a gun, but can always protect myself!
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The fact that you can conceal a 6 inch blade in your bra and have it go un-noticed puts the biggest smile on my face, respectfully
 
Hashishiin said:
LOL... I was just musing aloud today, about getting some kind of leather briefcase, manbag type thing, something in between a traditional briefcase and "bowling ball bag", to carry various things that I might want to have on me.

I feel like a backpack is a little juvenile but that could absolutely be personal associations. A duffel bag is too large, and doesn't look good, either. But maybe something in a tasteful leather, ierno...
Click to expand...
I carry a mansatchel everyday including work and gym.
Actually pretty nice, but I do it for need more than anything.
 
9mmbladechick said:
I'm a normal female who carries on my person at least two knives at all times. One of which is concealed and one that is clipped to my waist band or pocket.

My issue lies with all the ignorant people out there who think that a woman with a knife is a freak. That we are something to be feared and something to be ridiculed or made to feel stupid. ( I have an indepth posting about this w/ in the Spyderco forum: titled knives and women who carry them. Should you want more detail about my story)

The question I have is why are we any different then a man who has a knife? Why are we "freaks" when we pull out our knife to cut open a bag of jerky? Can we not take care of ourselves? Funny, its ok for us to use "kitchen" knives, to cut onions for dinner, steaks for our family.....but God forbid we "carry" a knife and use it outside of the kitchen!!
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with woman carrying a knife.

Chick I'm currently seeing not only carries a knife but is also training MMA and is taller than me.
 
Skar said:
I carry a mansatchel everyday including work and gym.
Actually pretty nice, but I do it for need more than anything.
Click to expand...

Satchel - that was the word I was looking for. I was thinking of a satchel to lug some small bits of gear and stuff around with me, made of a tasteful leather, something like that. You like it?
 
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