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. My benchmade grip is considered a "huge knife" (the iron is that your average chef's knife as the size of a chopweiler). Another interesting phenomenon is that some people find plain-edged knives to be MORE scary because whenever they go into an outdoor store like REI, all they've ever seen are combo-edged knives.

In fact, simply having a locking-blade knife on you at any time is quite a taboo. I carry my folders either in the pocket (not clipped) or inside the waistband. As for fixed blades-- forget about it. I don't leave home without my leatherman Surge, but I still have to be careful with that. I think that the reason why some people find carrying a knife so hard to understand, especially if its a fixed blade, is that they don't understand what such a knife is capable of. 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 don't spend as much on knives as many forum members, but I'm sure that even my relatively cheap RMD would shock people at $140.

Here are my usual tactics with sheeple:

Q: Why do you carry a knife?... thats so creepy
A: Because its one of the most useful tools/ I use it for cutting stray threads / some other mundane reason

Q: Knives are weapons... why do you need to be armed?
A: actually, the vast majority of crimes committed with knives are with kitchen knives. Kitchen knives are perfected designed for use as a weapon, whereas my pocket knife is not.

Q: Why would you pay XXXXX for that knife?
A: Well, a knife can save you life, so I guess a better question is, how much is you knife worth?

The best strategy? Keep you goods to yourself. And also, don't just whip it out. I've just pulled a knife and started using it as I would in the back country and people freak out because it seems like it came out of no where. We get used to noticing knives, but for other people it comes as a surprise if you're suddenly holding a blade

My thoughts,
-Cloak

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="" />




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="" />


.

Nobody I know is into knives, except my boss. And he only has a few junkers, and a Wilson Tactical Model 2 (6" blade, 1/4" thick, D2).

I tend to keep my blades hidden from others. I've already had a few knives stolen a number of years ago (a Randall Model 14, my old Buckmaster, my Polkowski, etc.).

I used to carry a 6in folder (which I realize can be little overkill) and now I'm back down to just under 4in (Hissatsu folder). But when I did carry that monster I was attending my nephew's birthday party. We got him a water gun. It was attached to the box by zip-ties and someone said, "Go get me a knife from the kitchen." Of course I busted out my EDC and zipped those ties right off.

One of my idiot relatives (male, gun owner of all things) asked in shock and alarm, "Why do you have that?!" I told him, and everyone there, while pointing at the cut-up ties, "For this."

Knives ARE the most useful tools, and people who don't carry them all the time forget they use them everyday in the kitchen. Huge 12in versions of them!

One last note, I got my father-in-law a Boker Trance for his birthday and told him to just try keeping it clipped in his pocket for one week.

Guess what happened? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Yes, things have changed. When I was growing up in Montana in the 70s and early 80s most people over 12 had a Buck lockback on their belt...you were some kind of hippie weirdo if you didn't. Now days your a weirdo if you have a knife on your belt...a throwback neanderthal.

The hiking public now days is more about carrying everything with them, I doubt that most of them could build a fire if their life depended on it. Real ultra light backpacking means no stoves and not packing in all your food, you have to live off the land for at least some of your food, and actually build fires and shelters

newdogma - Howdy and Welcome to the ScrapYard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the Yard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

And some pics of the sheeple in their natural position...

i dont go showing my knives off to the sheeple.the ones i showed my co-worker i had for a reason and he just happened to be there,and he does actually talk knives with me,well,at least he tries to.

i also avoid the sheeple as much as possible but i work for a large company and i work inside with about 1,200 other sheeple.

i hate when i pull out a folder with a 4in blade to actually cut something that needs to be cut and i get some weird look.

i've had people tell me i must be insecure about my manhood if i feel the need to carry a weapon with me everywhere.

i get so mad when i catch myself subliminally pulling my shirt down to cover the pocket clip on my folder so someone doesnt see it.i shouldnt have to worry about it.this happened to me yesterday in the doctors office.i come to the same thought every time.....----'em!!!!!!

i got the idea for this post when a girl at work saw my BLADE magazine and sarcastically said "ooh,a knife magazine,that sure looks interesting."i said that i collect knives and she assumed i meant the 420J gil hibben fantasy knives and i told her i collect really expensive and hand made knives and pointed to a nice custom in the mag.she said "oh,usually when someone says they collect knives i picture some big alien looking thing from star-trek."

i'm just glad i have something productive to do,like coming here when i tip a few to many back after work when i get out at 3:00 AM

That is a very true feeling many of us here in the UK share with you Northern who have hobbies involving guns or knives and it even crosses over into jobs which involve these "tools"....you would be suprised at how many soldiers in the Army are none knife orientated. By this I mean that they are not "comfortable" with them.

I often get tired of having to consider this "public awareness" aspect...as an example...it may sound daft...but if I am deer stalking I tend to carry my knives whether folder or fixed blade in either a pouch or sheath...in a pocket on my jacket rather than on a belt. That way if you meet anyone or go to the pub after an evening's stalking...you are not visibly carrying a knife.

Dress code is also something I consider....if I am stalking near "sheeple" I would still use a cammo jacket but often I will put on plus fours and wear a trilby hat so that the image is one of a "country gentleman"....it is an amazing thing to see the reassurance in their facial expression if you bump into them and you are carrying a rifle...because the "danger" they instinctively feel is assuaged by the trilby and plus fours...you "conform" to their idea of what a "justified" reason for owning a rifle and using one in the countryside should be. Particularly if walking along a country lane going back to the car...you even notice it with passing traffic.

In the Army this "fear" of knives is more subtle...but it is still there...

They all expect to see "Weapons" and the common issue rifle raises no ones pulse...but knives...particularly very sharp knives...still cause this instinctive reaction of being "wary" of them. A good example is seen every time we finish a Range session and weapons are being cleaned. The Army issue rolls of cleaning patches which are "cut to size" and I have seen everyone from privates to senior officers "sawing" away at this stuff with fairly blunt SAK's or bayonets or more commonly Leatherman's. None of these are sharp. I think the "sharpness" of a knife comes as a shock for most....as many don't know how to sharpen knives....so they always start with a factory edge and let it get blunter as time goes by.

When you use a really sharp knife it gets noticed...even soldiers seem to have concerns as to what sort of person carries a razor sharp knife...they seem to regard learning to sharpen knives and having really sharp knives as something different to themselves....and it can make them "wary". Thankfully for me now that is less of an issue...as you get older you can get away with this by simply looking like you learned all this on the way....and actually it sets a good example as far as I am concerned. A knife should be sharp.....

But if you have to watch how others perceive you even in the Forces regarding knives then in Civvi Street it is much more of a concern.

For me now I am more and more thinking I would like to live somewhere where my interests just fit in better....probably some part of the States...but even you guys are having problems.

Welcome newdogma to the yard.

Yes, welcome to the yard Newdogma....should have said so before...it is a great place for like minded knife enthusiasts.