Well, I guess I'm in a somewhat unique situation. Except for Mr. Sharp, who is in the same boat. But being in high school, I have to be extra careful with who knows what about my knife wielding tendencies. Even today, I told a friend I couldn't meet him on Saturday because i was going to "an outdoor convention"... yeah, that would be the gathering we call "BLADE WEST".
My school rules say "don't bring weapons to school", but this poses a problem for me because I don't see them as weapons. In places like the south and midwest, there is a significant gun culture and thus knives are fairly commonplace. Here in Portland, there is NO gun culture, and thus knives attract a LOT of attention and really freak people out.
I don't know if I would call that so unique.
You are unique mostly due to your age. And probably less because of you region than you might think - relatively speaking.
Times have changed for most everyone over the years.
A lot of people around the country seem to think of Texas as "Gun Totin' South". Not really the case. The majority of the people in Texas live in and around cities. The "City Folks" are mostly Sheeple.
School has been strict about knives for many years and for various reasons is just getting more and more strict. But, I believe it probably very fair to say that has likely changed for schools "Nation-wide".
I went to school in a suburban area in the 70's and 80's. Even back then in suburban north Houston, it was a "Strict" School rule that no student could carry a knife. Punishment was pretty steep if they enforced it. Detention, Suspension and even Expulsion from school were all possible. But, at the time and while it was on the books, I think "Judgement" was still used. Judegment by school officials is pretty much gone with the Dodo bird. Parents and attorneys have made it so. Basically, if a principal suspended one kid and not another, then all of a sudden it is not fair anymore. Principles are not given the lattitude the used to get to "decide" if a certain student is a high risk or not.
I actually carried a SAK for many of my High School years in my front pocket and often a 3-bladed (non-lockback) Buck folder. But, I knew not to take it out and use it where a teacher would see me. In spite of that, I actually did use my SAK once in a class and the teacher (who I happen to get alone with) gave me a look that meant: "Put that away and don't let me see it again". These days, she would have been required to report me or risk loosing her job.
Of course, for some reason, SAKs and little non-locking folders seem to scare Sheeple much less even today.
However, back then about the only other type of locking folder was a lock-back Buck type folder. Buck Knives wer big back in the 70's and 80's.
If I understand correctly, Michael Walker is credited for developing the first functional pocket liner lock folders in the early 80's. But, production versions were not commonly seen until late 80's and even then not common until probably mid 90's or so (????). The knife industry has changed a lot over the last really short few years.
I still think a lot of Sheeple seem to be more comfortable (so it appears) seeing old school Buck lock-back type folders with brass bolsters in leather sheaths. A lot of cowboys around Texas still carry them.
I guess the Sheeple don't see the modern locking folders as "more functional tools". And apparently see them as "more DEADLY weapons" or something ????? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />
When I tell hiking buddies about batonning, 99% of the time they'd never head of it before. If people knew all the things that you can do with a fixed blade, I bet they'd see their value more easily. Most hiking/backpacking websites warn people against fixed blades because they are "more dangerous".
I have a strong urge to say something like: "Say it isn't so".
But, I have CLEARLY noticed a lot of the hiking and Backpacking, REI type stuff being very Yuppy / Urban oriented focused on cool gear to make city folks want to get outside into nature.
I have to admit, I am a sucker for a lot of their cool gear. But, there seems to be VERY little focus on quality knives and the basics. Most of the knives seem to be more geared towards multi-tool gadgets. I guess they need the tools and gadgets to tweak the fancy gear, tents, cooking stoves and adjust their techno boots, clothing and such ???????? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
The "hiking" "Backpacking" crowd seems to care more about getting out and to places and less about surving and living with and off the land. Don't get me wrong. I can appreciate both mentallities. I WISH I were out hiking and camping more. But, I like quality knives and good functional basic designs.
I like "some" of the multi-tools. But, most of them have just become silly and rediculously gadgety junk. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />
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