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Would You Wear a Fixed Blade On Your Belt in a Big City Environment?
- Thread starter redsquid2
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Getting aquatinted sounds complicated. According to my research on aquatinting, "...tonal gradations may be added to a printing plate that has already been worked with engraved, etched, or drypoint lines. The plate is dusted with finely powdered resin and then heated until the resin melts in tiny mounds that harden as they cool. Acid (aqua fortis) is applied to the metal plate and bites channels around the resin droplets." Doing that on human skin would be a real challenge.
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2010
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- 444
In a big city, no. In my city of 60,000, yes. Nothing over 3.5" though.
Kaleb
Kaleb
I saw this thread last night when it was half a page long. I didn't have time to reply and I'm glad I waited.
It always amazes me when people within a shared interest group express a prejudice against others within that group. The prejudice I've seen in this thread is "If you carry a fixed blade in an urban enviornment you must be some kind of macho, Rambo wannabe with something to prove." What's funny, and ironic, is that this is the same prejudice that non-knife people, or sheeple as they are often called here, display towards ANYONE who reveals that they carry a knife. How many members here have been on the receiving end of scrutiny, criticism, insult, or outright panic from others simply at the act of pulling out a small folder to open a package. I think it's a shame that some of us must encounter this same prejudice here, on of all places, a KNIFE forum.
Here where I live, in San Diego, It's perfectly legal to openly carry a fixed blade. And for the past seven years I have done so. Sometimes I carry an Entrek Cobra (4 inch blade) in a custom back-pocket sheath, sometimes I carry a Wilson Combat Model 25 (5 inch blade) in a hanging belt sheath. I have never encountered any trouble from carrying a fixed blade. No one has ever freaked-out and screamed "OH MY GOD! HE'S GOT A KNIFE!!!" And even though many cops have seen me carrying, none have ever pulled their guns or taken any noticeable interest in me. Only on one occasion did a cop warn me when my coat tail had covered the handle of the Entrek, thereby technically making it an illegal "concealed weapon", but he could see it was an accident, and he was cool, so he just gave me a friendly warning and after I fixed the problem I was on my way. He didn't even ask to see my ID or run a check on me.
I carry a fixed blade primarily for self-defense. I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of a violent street attack, and it always amuses me when other people share their "expertise" on the matter by saying things like "A weapon is no good if the bad guys know you have it". I always wonder if those "experts" have any real experience to back up what they say. Now I'm not going to get all "Practical tactical" here, in fact, I avoid that subforum, and usually this topic, but I feel compeled to make the following comments.
First of all, there are COUNTLESS documented cases of people saving themselves from impending attack by merely SHOWING the bad guys that they had a knife. Even most criminals are smart enough to avoid someone who they see is armed, and thereby capable of causing them serious bodily harm or death, and choosing to move on to easier prey. Does the display of a knife guarantee a bad guy will go away, of course not, there are no such guarantees in life, but I'm sure all those people who saved themselves from an attack, or from being raped, are very glad they had a knife nonetheless.
Second, I've learned the hard way just how difficult it can be to draw a weapon when in the midst of a violent attack. I've learned that sometimes in life, ones survival may depend on their ability to get a weapon in their hand as quickly and easily as possible. Trying to draw a weapon concealed in ones clothes, or trying to pull a folder from ones pocket, AND get it fully open and locked, can be very difficult if not impossible when you're being beaten or getting your ribs kicked in after you're knocked to the ground. I carry my fixed blades in such a manner were all I have to do is grab the exposed handle and pull. My sheaths are made to be tight enough to keep the knife from slipping out but loose enough to allow a fast and unobstructed draw.
I carry a fixed blade, and I'm very glad I do. It's entirely possible that I'm only alive today because on one dark and violent night I had a fixed blade at the ready. That's a hard lesson to learn, and once you learn it, it's impossible to forget.
It always amazes me when people within a shared interest group express a prejudice against others within that group. The prejudice I've seen in this thread is "If you carry a fixed blade in an urban enviornment you must be some kind of macho, Rambo wannabe with something to prove." What's funny, and ironic, is that this is the same prejudice that non-knife people, or sheeple as they are often called here, display towards ANYONE who reveals that they carry a knife. How many members here have been on the receiving end of scrutiny, criticism, insult, or outright panic from others simply at the act of pulling out a small folder to open a package. I think it's a shame that some of us must encounter this same prejudice here, on of all places, a KNIFE forum.
Here where I live, in San Diego, It's perfectly legal to openly carry a fixed blade. And for the past seven years I have done so. Sometimes I carry an Entrek Cobra (4 inch blade) in a custom back-pocket sheath, sometimes I carry a Wilson Combat Model 25 (5 inch blade) in a hanging belt sheath. I have never encountered any trouble from carrying a fixed blade. No one has ever freaked-out and screamed "OH MY GOD! HE'S GOT A KNIFE!!!" And even though many cops have seen me carrying, none have ever pulled their guns or taken any noticeable interest in me. Only on one occasion did a cop warn me when my coat tail had covered the handle of the Entrek, thereby technically making it an illegal "concealed weapon", but he could see it was an accident, and he was cool, so he just gave me a friendly warning and after I fixed the problem I was on my way. He didn't even ask to see my ID or run a check on me.
I carry a fixed blade primarily for self-defense. I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of a violent street attack, and it always amuses me when other people share their "expertise" on the matter by saying things like "A weapon is no good if the bad guys know you have it". I always wonder if those "experts" have any real experience to back up what they say. Now I'm not going to get all "Practical tactical" here, in fact, I avoid that subforum, and usually this topic, but I feel compeled to make the following comments.
First of all, there are COUNTLESS documented cases of people saving themselves from impending attack by merely SHOWING the bad guys that they had a knife. Even most criminals are smart enough to avoid someone who they see is armed, and thereby capable of causing them serious bodily harm or death, and choosing to move on to easier prey. Does the display of a knife guarantee a bad guy will go away, of course not, there are no such guarantees in life, but I'm sure all those people who saved themselves from an attack, or from being raped, are very glad they had a knife nonetheless.
Second, I've learned the hard way just how difficult it can be to draw a weapon when in the midst of a violent attack. I've learned that sometimes in life, ones survival may depend on their ability to get a weapon in their hand as quickly and easily as possible. Trying to draw a weapon concealed in ones clothes, or trying to pull a folder from ones pocket, AND get it fully open and locked, can be very difficult if not impossible when you're being beaten or getting your ribs kicked in after you're knocked to the ground. I carry my fixed blades in such a manner were all I have to do is grab the exposed handle and pull. My sheaths are made to be tight enough to keep the knife from slipping out but loose enough to allow a fast and unobstructed draw.
I carry a fixed blade, and I'm very glad I do. It's entirely possible that I'm only alive today because on one dark and violent night I had a fixed blade at the ready. That's a hard lesson to learn, and once you learn it, it's impossible to forget.
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- Dec 13, 2005
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- 6,751
Wrong.
Texas does not allow open carry of handguns. Long arms may be carried un-concealed as long as it's not in a manner to "cause alarm." Also, any knife with a blade over 5.5" is considered illegal (as are dirks, daggers, bowies, blades designed to be thrown, etc.).
In addition, San Antonio is extremely touristy in many areas (like downtown) and there is a bit of a gang problem so one better be prepared for very close scrutiny if they decide to tempt fate.
But what do I know, I only lived there for 30 years ('til '09).
Sorry for going off on a tangent.
I EDCed a smallish (4" or so blade) fixed blade knife for many years in Los Angeles with no hassles. My work was just too hard on the folders that I could afford, but I could find affordable fixed blades that would hold up for a while. Once in a great while I would hear that someone in my workplace had been mildly freaked out about me because I carried a knife, at least until they realized that I was not violent and needed it for my work... I switched to folders about 16 years ago because the fixed blades would hang up when I sat down, and the clip-on sheaths I had would sometimes come unclipped when I was driving, and my knife would be "lost" in my car until the first time I went to use it that day.
Yep, pretty much agree with this.....part of the problem is that people have become so used to not seeing blades that they are conditioned to that and it really stands out when they do. Incrementalization is going on all over the place getting the people used to things that are just plain un'American and wrong and I for one am sick of it. I live in CO and even though we are a little better then many places I have been we are becoming more nanny state by the minute like most other states. I live close to a couple towns (Boulder specific) where I actually enjoy wearing things that attract attention and when given a funny look or something I invite conversation and many people will actually ask me questions about the item which is a great opportunity to educate or even just let them see you are not Hannibal but just an average American Joe. There is one particular and VERY popular trail outside of boulder where I openly wear my Smith and Wesson 44. mag right across the front of my chest and you would not believe the lengthy and not once heated conversations that have been started by that thing from people wanting to hold their first gun to why do you carry that and everything in between. It is the best ice breaker in the world and really brings up some topics that we should all be talking about more today. I do agree that there has to be some common sense and you need to pick your battles since some will just bring only negative attention and phone calls to the police even if it is completely legal. I may be able to walk in to Wally world with my unloaded deer rifle down the street (not saying I can) over my shoulder but I am not ready to duke that out yet. It is amazing at how fast things have changed in this country and we need to be careful and not become complacent and lose more then we already have. Hell I was just up in North Dakota pheasant hunting and my older family was talking about how they use to take their deer rifle on the bus during the season and the driver would hold the rifle till he took them home and drop them off short of the house so they could hunt the land on the way home...I am not saying that this should be the way but look how fast things have changed and most of them not for the better as far as I am concerned.
How do you "show off the craftmanship"? That might help answer your question.--KV
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- Nov 6, 2011
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And while the state law is up to 5.5", Dallas has a 4" law. Other localities have more restrictive laws as well. I work in Dallas, so I keep that in mind.
I don't understand how "Bowie" is generally understood by Texas courts. My understanding (which is poor, I'll admit) is that a true "Bowie" is way over 5.5" anyway. I would guess (that's all it is) is that a fixed blade with a sharpened swenge might be what they mean (i.e. could get you in trouble). That's not really a Bowie, but clearly there's something they mean by "Bowie" for an under 5.5" bladed knife.
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- Oct 25, 2011
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I feel your pain on Chicago's knife laws, but I EDC my Izula since it's under the limit, and since I clip it to my belt, it isn't concealed.
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- Nov 20, 2010
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I suppose I'm lucky in that I live in Montana, and the law says 4"+ must be carried open unless you have a concealed carry permit, and here its relatively simple to get one if you are the normal law abiding person. Ok now on the same hand this is an open carry state, meaning that I could, if I wanted to, walk down the street down town with a pistol on my hip and the only people that would have an issue are the sheeple (I'm so glad we don't have many of them here).
I edc a Bark River Gunny and only one person has said more to me than "hey were did you get that?" I understand my definition of an "urban area" is way different than most other people's (IE. Missoula, Montana is an urban area to me). The time I have spent in "big city's" aka Denver and San Diego taught me some very good lessons. 1) big city's stink 2) big city's are full of sheeple 3) I would rather cut my own head off with a dull hack saw than live in a big city.
All that said, no I wouldn't carry a fixed blade in a big city... I wouldn't go to a big city in the first place, for the same reason I wont get on a air plane. If I cant have the tools I may need to survive things like crashes (that is assuming I live through the sudden stop and fire.) Earth quakes or any other natural or man made disaster, I feel the uncontrollable need to not be there. I know a knife or a gun will not guaranteed my safety or survival in any of those situations, but it dose give me better odds than some one w/o them.
So I think the point I'm trying to make is that its not the knives that are the problem, its the big city's and sheeple that are the problems imo. I think that a persons rights are like their muscles, if you don't exercise them you will lose them. Knife rights, imo, are right there w/ gun rights, I not only support them but I exercise them. I honestly think it would be better if every one not in jail or a mental hospital had both guns and knives on them when they walked out the door.
The fix for this is education, not restriction IMO.
I know that I may come off as a nut job, that's fine, Just my .02 after all.
I edc a Bark River Gunny and only one person has said more to me than "hey were did you get that?" I understand my definition of an "urban area" is way different than most other people's (IE. Missoula, Montana is an urban area to me). The time I have spent in "big city's" aka Denver and San Diego taught me some very good lessons. 1) big city's stink 2) big city's are full of sheeple 3) I would rather cut my own head off with a dull hack saw than live in a big city.
All that said, no I wouldn't carry a fixed blade in a big city... I wouldn't go to a big city in the first place, for the same reason I wont get on a air plane. If I cant have the tools I may need to survive things like crashes (that is assuming I live through the sudden stop and fire.) Earth quakes or any other natural or man made disaster, I feel the uncontrollable need to not be there. I know a knife or a gun will not guaranteed my safety or survival in any of those situations, but it dose give me better odds than some one w/o them.
So I think the point I'm trying to make is that its not the knives that are the problem, its the big city's and sheeple that are the problems imo. I think that a persons rights are like their muscles, if you don't exercise them you will lose them. Knife rights, imo, are right there w/ gun rights, I not only support them but I exercise them. I honestly think it would be better if every one not in jail or a mental hospital had both guns and knives on them when they walked out the door.
The fix for this is education, not restriction IMO.
I know that I may come off as a nut job, that's fine, Just my .02 after all.
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- Dec 27, 2011
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wow, reading some of the knife laws posted in this thread makes sick in my stomach of how pathetic the politicians and lawmakers are.........are we still Americans ?, no were not.this country has been hijacked by crooks that are stripping all of our rights one by one....I don't put politicians in the same category of being real Americans and some are not human.