Stephen- I agree with you 100%. To me a knife is a tool - not a weapon. I don't think this law in FL considering knives to be weapons was very well thought out and should be challenged. I can contact my congressman but I think it would be more effective if an organized group were to bring this to the attention of our legislators even in other states that have unusual requirements or limitations.

For instance, I read that in Texas, that it is permissible to carry a sheathed knife openly, providing the blade does not exceed 5 1/2". Your typical Buck Special 119 is just under 6" if measured from the hilt & not just the cutting edge. What about capers or other similar knives that have cut outs for the thumb and index finger? These laws are an ambiguous and arbitrary issue that varies from state to state and can turn a sportsman into a criminal without his knowledge.

I believe I have heard of an organization that sounded similar to the NRA only for knives, but I have forgotten their name? At the time, I was unaware that knives were being considered a weapon in the same category as a gun or rifle except in some cities.

This, to me, is yet another infringement of our civil liberties that needs to be addressed and soon if it hasn't been already?

Kent,

I agree also, even it if it used only for cutting purposes it is still a tool.  I would like to say I have never abused one for other things (the hammer,ect) but that would not be true.  There are two organizations.  The NKCA and the american knife and tool institute.  I spoke the the pres of the NKCA Gary Kennedy about a month ago and NKCA is working on trying to combine efforts with AKTI for the legislative issues.  NKCA has a local site here and the other is http://www.akti.org/.

Hi,

for me all  knives are tools. (not all tools are knives)

Allmost every trade has its typical knives : the Chef has his cooking knives, the electrician his knife to strip wire and open wrapping of the elements he has to install; the soldier has his knives, sometimes referred to as weapons, but they are the tools of his trade.

the fact that some people use knives to do bad things, doesn't change the fact that they are tools.

jan

Depends.  

I've always though a good knife can just cut things and maybe keep on cutting (so that means every single knife on the market is a good knife :D).  A great knife, however, can have more uses than just cutting things.  You might just need to learn a few good techniques.  In many cases it is a balance of the rights tools and enough experience and information that gets the job done.

You can be the best physicist in the world, but without a chalkboard and chalk (and probably a collider, some scanners, some lasers, you get the idea), you might as well be the average person on the block.

I'm also fairly certain most traps (more intricate than your average deadfall) are made quicker and more easily with a knife than your modern multi-tool.

In fact what is the right tool for making traps?  I mean you can make simple traps by just using what you find in the woods (all you need to do is find some sticks and a heavy rock or downed tree).  

It's is hard to really criticize someone for not using the "right tool for right job."  The right (and best) tool is the equipment that you have at the time (again this is in relation to actually owning the right tool and carrying it with you knowing that you will need to use it: preparedness).  If I don't have a knife with me in the woods (fancy that!) and I need to cut some food, you know what, I think I'll be perfectly happy using the edge of a rock, or the plastic liner in my backpack, or what ever I can find that might have an edge. 

What makes humans unique, is the ability to adapt and use objects to accomplish certain tasks.  It's only until know that we have the capability to develop, what we define as, task specific tools (and this is only in conjunction with development of task specific objects, i.e. screws + screw drivers).  [Think about it, Native Americans used stone/natural (sea shells) tools to make canoes, what defines a tool is the user].

Remember, a good knife just cuts.  A great knife, however, can do so much more.  At least, that's how I think it ought to be.