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Changes in the way folks view knives
It used to be every man, and many women, carried a knife. Now days, folks carry cell phones- we have different daily needs in many cases, plus it really isn't socially acceptable to wield a knife in public, if you can believe it. Don't have one around young kids that aren't you own without that Mom jerking those kids away from your "weapon."
So the question is this- have you been in a situation recently where you pulled out your knife, either to show it to someone or because something needed cut, only to see shock or angry on the faces of the people around you?
So the question is this- have you been in a situation recently where you pulled out your knife, either to show it to someone or because something needed cut, only to see shock or angry on the faces of the people around you?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ian McEntee on
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Well, people at work used to give me weird looks. Now they ask to borrow my knife. Lol.
However, in this part of the US(Boston area), somehow the masses got this notion that if the blade is longer then your four fingers are wide it's illegal. This drives me insane for several reasons, the knife I carry ATM(RAT-1) is slightly larger then my hand width, and people keep telling me it's illegal(it's not, if it was I wouldn't be carrying it). It also drives me nuts because they're flat out wrong and because no law is ever written like that, EVER.
Went on a cabin trip in the Catskills in upstate NY in January, was using my KA-BAR at the cabin before we went into town, and forgot I had it on. Was walking around town for hours with it on, and no one said anything, or even noticed it, it was beautiful.
Key thing to remember guys, is it's not modern society, it's modern urban/suburban society. They still don't give a shit out in the country or up in the mountains. Lol.
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Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on
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I can relate with Nate. I've gotten accustomed to only reaching for my Yellow Comp Whittler when I cut into fruit, especially in public. The "New" feelings of the public, regarding knives, is difficult to understand. I was raised to view knives as tools, nothing more and nothing less.
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Permalink Reply by Halicon on
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It's quite amusing actually when people see the knife and thinks of it as a potential weapon. What I tell them is that I have never used an edged tool against anything more living than a plant.
What I would like to tell them however is that I practiced martial arts with a knife, and you would never even see the knife as you only deploy it as you strike, regardless that their continued worry is over something that would have been over long ago if it really happened.
Who deploys a knife and passes it around with a huge smile in preparation to strike you?
Over here in Sweden you get a jail sentence for carrying a knife in public, so most knife lovers are more or less forced to use very creative solutions. For me it's neck knives, boot knives, crossdraw stuff and such. Funny how the law forces you to use the kind of tools the real criminals use because of how easy they are to conceal.
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Permalink Reply by Frank Evans on
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Even in the "heart of Dixie" pulling out a toenail you’ll have to admit is pretty imposing. Just its mere mass to the “un-enlightened” regular pen knife totter could raise an eyebrow. Unfortunately the Swiss army little red knives with their scissors and tooth pick is about the limit for most folks… The can pick their teeth; cut off price tags, pull a splinter out of their pocket and it all makes sense. Now pick your teeth in that crowd with your ET, dig out a splinter or two, then cut some three inch ropes that are the holding the Crisscraft in dock, and they might accept you a little more. I’ve always wondered what you carried because if you tote an ET all the time you Kaki pockets must be reinforced. I carried a GEC 3 spring Whittler until two weeks ago it slipped down the leg of my pants in a department store and people looked at me like I was a terrorist. Now I’m just got a great Case Premium Stag Med. Stockman that hopefully no store rent-a-cops will draw down on me for if I drop it pulling out change.
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Permalink Reply by Joe on
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Oh man, all the time! It's rare when whipping a knife out here on Long Island NY does not cause people to recoil in some way. Last week I got a few knives from Kyley in New Zealand and I wanted to photograph them in natural settings. So I am exploring wild areas here on the island and stabbing the knives into tree trunks, logs, fence posts, etc. I went to the beach in Northport and I see this tree stump that washed up, and it looked cool and had the Sound behind it, and here I am with a CKC Belt Knife and a Hiker that I had on my neck and I stuck the knife into the log and was photographing it and some woman walks up and is wondering what I am doing. She sees the knives and I can tell she was taken aback, and she coldly asks why I an taking pictures of knives. I explain that I collect them and like to share images, but she obviously thought it was redundant and has no appreciation for the time and effort to create things by hand like this. Everyone obviously has their own opinion as to what art is and this is no different. But this hobby has the dangerous edge that some people find scary and I understand their fear, though trying to assure people tends to further turn them off.
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I started wearing a neck knife as part of mr EDC and avoid whipping it out in front of people, because I get negatve reactions mostly. Usually it's shock and concern I get. Women especially will reel back, or caution me thar I could get in trouble with it or hurt myself.
But I have several now and find them a nice addition to my pocket clip knives edc like my Spyderco Endura.
I have taken to drawing it out when needed by doing it inconspicuously and never make a show of it.
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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on -
JJ hit it right on the nose .. I was raised to view knives as tools, nothing more and nothing less.
I also was raised using knives as tools, nothing more and nothing less. My Gdpa used a stockman for everything from cutting baler twine to whittling. Great-uncles .. the same. Dad & most uncles small game & fishing to opening gifts. I’ve skinned squirrel, make willow whistles, & actively collect. My siblings shared this environment during their formative years. As a result .. knives are innately considered tools. Viewing them as weapons requires conscious thought.
I married a city girl. My sweetheart was raised w/ dull kitchen knives ... and that was the extent of it. No sportsmen in the family, no firearms in the house, no knives but in the kitchen. Nobody whittled, nobody even carried a pocket knife that she was aware of ... maybe/sorta some G'pa memories .. otherwise, few “tool” memories were formed. I know reading & movies were valued experiences. I suspect some “weapon” memories were formed. Her first view of typesetting boxes full of pocketknives hanging on walls was interesting !! For her & her siblings .. knives are innately viewed as weapons. The concept of "objet d'art" was easier than "tool". Seriously !! Considering knives as tools required conscious thought.
Our default values get programmed quite early by what experiences we get to fill our database with. Luckily, they are learned responses ...... i.e. they can be unlearned.
As a long time knife fan .. I keep this in mind & use edged instruments responsibly in public. i.e. the Paragon auto stays hm under the open dictionary on my desk & the Queen 06L goes in my pocket. No quick, abrupt, attention attracting motions when I use a knife in public. Just an everyday comfortable relaxed intuitive implementation of an edged tool in its design purpose. And .. it's promptly returned to my pocket in the same intuitively relaxed manner.
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Permalink Reply by Bob Andrews on
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Reply from the Hills and Hollers of West by god Virginia!We DO give a shit out here in the country and up in the Mountains! We give a shit about our personal liberties and freedoms. We give a shit about our Second Amendment Rights.We give a shit about the way our children are raised,and taught!Aound here evry man,and most women carry a pocket knife. Makes no difference in town or on the farm.Many carry an edc fixed blade on their hip,makes no difference in town or up the holler.Many also carry firearms.In West Virginia it is Legal to carry a firearm anywhere if it is not concealed.You can wear a gun on your hip downtown if it's in open sight. As for concealed,we have whats called "Must Issue". If you apply for a permit,the State MUST issue you a permit unless you do not qualify for some very limited reason.You don't have to prove you need it,they have to prove you're disqualified. And we have a "Right to Keep and Bear Arms" Amendment to the State Constitution to keep Countys or Cities from limiting these Rights within their jurisdiction.So make no mistakes,WE DO GIVE A SHIT!
Bob Andrews
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lol Dave, too bad that you got a city girl. It doesn't look completely hopeless though. :)
It's just flat out funny how people react to knives, but as soon as they become BIG and thin like a kitchen knife it's a-ok. I'm talking more in a situation like for Dale. Is she ok with kitchen knives the size of her elbow and hand put together?
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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on -
Nope .. not OK w/ kitchen knives the size of her hand & elbow combined .. she has unlearned her earlier biases & now chooses the tool to fit the purpose .. and we don't do anything in the kitchen that requires a tool of that size ..
and she has recently upgraded her EDC from this
to this
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Looks like she's slowly getting there :)
That Hocho (or is it a western knife, can't quite make it out since the left side is showing) needs some polishing buddy, those sushi rolls should have a much cleaner cut. ;)
Mostly a joke, but I think you should be able to squeeze some more out of that knife, or maybe you might even consciously have to dull them a bit or your girlfriend won't feel safe using them?
Well, in any case, try the "claw" grip on the knife for cutting stuff like rolls and other vertical cuts. Instead of putting the index finger on the spine, take your index finger and thumb and grip the knive's blade instead, not touching the handle. It's much easier to do decorative cuts like that and is regularly used among chefs, but what do I know, you might be one. :)
Thanks for sharing the pics
Regards /Hal
White River Knives
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