EDC and the general public

[shunsui]

...Thankfully that satisfied their curiosity. How would you folks handle a situation if someone ask?

I usually show them the knife and say: "Don't YOU have one of these ? EVERYONE should have one of these."

I live in San Francisco, and the people who I see with a clipped knife in their front or back pocket are mostly women. Media manipulators don't dwell on that sort of thing too much though.

[v8r]

Is this a imagined scenario or something that has actually happened to you in the past? I have carried pocket knives since I was about 8 years old. Never once have I been asked " what is that in your pocket"?
When I worked in the oilfield, there was a industry wide ban on pocket knives. I was told this was due to injuries, and they didn't want " weapons" on locations. They then always preached about using the correct tool for the job etc. I saw a lot of people stick themselves with a flat blade screw driver trying to open boxes.....

[Able Dog]

I generally don't worry about people noticing my knife. Most people aren't even paying that much attention to each others pockets to be honest.

High visibility orange might be more attention grabbing though.

I usually use only my Kiwi out in public, and people even call it cute on occasion. That's fine with me because it distracts from the Police in my other pocket.

Personally, I don't see any need to lie if I'm not doing anything wrong. De-stigmatizing pocketknives is something we could all get behind, and showing that we carry them for a variety of legitimate reasons is one such way.

[vivi]

I usually EDC a larger folder like a Szabo folder or Pacific Salt. Smallest one in rotation is a Paramilitary 2.

No one ever asks about them. Friends and family are used to it, and most my co-workers carry one themselves.

[Brock O Lee]

I prefer to use deep carry or wire clips for the office or around town. No-one has ever asked me about them. Over the weekends I carry whatever I want.

[FK]

Last year I was at the copy machine and it needed paper,, flicked open my Delica to open the ream of paper, having done this for many years.
The new head of accounting was in the room and jumped back with terrified look on her face. She immediately went to the company president and demanded he ban all knife carry in the office.
Well the president is a close friend and he opened his desk drawer and placed two custom folders on the top,,, refused her request.

Regards,
FK

[SuckSqueezeBangBlow]

"and remember that we are not descended from fearful men"
Why are people conditioned to be so fearful of each other?
Obviously the Delica was just used as a tool to open the ream of paper, but what was going through her mind to be so scared? Did she really think you might use it as a weapon?
Doesn't she know you?

Your story is actually very saddening.

We need to condition people to love one another

[tvenuto]

"and remember that we are not descended from fearful men"
Why are people conditioned to be so fearful of each other?
Obviously the Delica was just used as a tool to open the ream of paper, but what was going through her mind to be so scared? Did she really think you might use it as a weapon?
Doesn't she know you?

Your story is actually very saddening.

We need to condition people to love one another

Ha, we need to condition people to deal with their own problems instead of running to some authority any time their delicate sensibilities are ruffled. Perhaps the presence of your knife reminded her that as a human she lacks any form of claws or fangs, and this upset her, which I will now call "sharp-shaming." Stop sharp-shaming in the office!

[npad69]

Last year I was at the copy machine and it needed paper,, flicked open my Delica to open the ream of paper, having done this for many years.
The new head of accounting was in the room and jumped back with terrified look on her face. She immediately went to the company president and demanded he ban all knife carry in the office.
Well the president is a close friend and he opened his desk drawer and placed two custom folders on the top,,, refused her request.

Regards,
FK

i just dont get it with these people, why is it in some place if you use a 6" box cutter, nobody bats an eye.. but bring out a 3" delica and they go crazy? :confused:

[SpyderNut]

Last year I was at the copy machine and it needed paper,, flicked open my Delica to open the ream of paper, having done this for many years.
The new head of accounting was in the room and jumped back with terrified look on her face. She immediately went to the company president and demanded he ban all knife carry in the office.
Well the president is a close friend and he opened his desk drawer and placed two custom folders on the top,,, refused her request.

Regards,
FK

i just dont get it with these people, why is it in some place if you use a 6" box cutter, nobody bats an eye.. but bring out a 3" delica and they go crazy? :confused:

Agreed. But unfortunately, perception is reality. If a person perceives an inanimate object to be a dangerous object, then the object is dangerous. If the person is able to see past their irrational fear (a fear that is encouraged thanks to the media and an uninformed public), then this same fearful person may someday become understanding--and perhaps even appreciative of a pocket knife.

[FK]

If I visited her kitchen,,, how many 5"-7" knives would be present?

In an office, opening a paper wrapped ream of copy paper with 3" Delica is life threatening?

Regards,
FK

[IXLER8]

Op worried about a Dellica 4 in his pocket?
Today at Costco I wanted to cut my hotdog.
I neck carry my RWL 34 mule. I took it out from under my T shirt and cut away.Got 1 strange look.
Walked over to the counter and asked the nice lady if she could run the blade under the faucet for a sec.
She did with NP or issues.Said "wow that thing is cool.
Wiped it off,put it away
Next table over was some dad with is wife and kids.he asked ,is that a Benchmade. I said PFFFFFT !
Asked if he was a knife guy, he said yea.Let him see it for a min. he took down info how to order one.
My state is NOT knife /gun friendly no less.
Who cares what somebody else thinks.

I have ditched all my folders and only neck carry now.
White River Backpacker S30v so light, safest grip IMHO. cant notice this at all under a shirt
OR
RWL 34 mule /Oleg Krymlin scales /sheath kinda clunky
OR
Bark River Mini Aurora 3v. Best knife of the 3 but 3.7ish blade and sturdy. bit big and heavy. Dont care.

A friend is begging me for the mule. May give it to him.
Served with him, good guy.

[PayneTrain]

Very nice, IXLER. I'd rather carry a fixed blade, and CT law doesn't have a problem with it as long as it's less than 4", but I'm still working on a comfortable way to do so.

Ever since I started carrying, back in high school (yes, IN high school, 2000-2004, post Columbine and 9/11), I can probably count fearful reactions on one hand. And Old Saybrook is populated mainly by the rich, the elderly, and the police (no joke, they held a record for cops per capita, probably still do). I use a pocket knife openly fairly frequently, and lately I've gotten nothing but interest and awe, if anything. Use it sensibly, and no one will care. Ya gotta train people just like you train a dog. If you don't make a big deal about it, they won't either. Eventually...

[IXLER8]

I got 3 PM, will just answer here;
The Mini Aurora is not big and heavy by any means,Just compared to the backpacker.Bit less bulky then the mule with scales.

haha right on Train.

Still not ONE word/test or review on RWL 34 mule toughness

[Evil D]

Threads like this make me really thankful I live where I do. It also doesn't hurt that my concealed carry permit literally covers "weapons of mass destruction", and that's an actual quote. I can legally carry a sword if I want and apparently a nuclear warhead as well lol. I don't carry anything larger than a Military, and I'm still respectful to those around me and avoid any unnecessary flashing around and acting stupid with it. I've always felt it's good practice to carry two knives, one large and one small, and use them based on your need and the situation (as your local law permits of course).

[PaleMoon]

Last year I was at the copy machine and it needed paper,, flicked open my Delica to open the ream of paper, having done this for many years.
The new head of accounting was in the room and jumped back with terrified look on her face. She immediately went to the company president and demanded he ban all knife carry in the office.
Well the president is a close friend and he opened his desk drawer and placed two custom folders on the top,,, refused her request.

Regards,
FK

Trying to imagine the president's reaction gave me a chuckle, I wish we had more individuals like this around :)

The country where I reside has virtually no knife laws. However, every time I pull out a knife, whether it's a dragonfly or endura, I get the same thing: "Are you planning to kill someone?"

I now carry my manbug backup everywhere, and only take out something larger if the task requires it or if no one is around. The funny thing is, law enforcement, in contrast with the general population, couldn't care less. If anything, they'll think it's cool. I also go through metal detectors daily and never had an issue with private security firms.

[bearfacedkiller]

Within reason, caring too much about what other people think is part of the problem. I won't be sharp shamed and if it does ever come up I see it as an opportunity to enlighten somebody.

To quote a wise man's t-shirt; "Whatever the problem... education is the answer."

[Bill1170]

Great replies in this thread. I've carried a pocket knife daily for almost 50 years and I almost never get weird reactions. The key is to act in a non threatening manner. If anyone comments on blade size, I'll chuckle and share the observation that almost every kitchen knife in America has a longer blade than my PM2. It also helps that when I open my folding knife around others it is typically to assist them with some task they need done.

[awa54]

Where I live, the rule of thumb is; don't do anything illegal with a blade/firearm and nobody will bother you, law enforcement included... Concealed knives with a blade over six inches and automatics are both illegal, but the only time you hear about anyone being busted for such is if they used one in a crime (hardly ever) or were apprehended for a crime and were in possession of one incidentally. The most common weapon violations seem to be hunting related stuff like shooting before/after legal hours, shooting from a roadway, or having a loaded rifle in a vehicle.

The only reaction I can recall to my use of a knife in public is a recent exchange at my work with an older woman, she observed me using a UKPK to remove an uncooperative price tag and said with relish "that's a wicked looking knife".... I just let it slide without comment.

If I was questioned about my carrying a knife, I would simply say it has many uses in daily life, maybe ask the questioner how they open packages without one.

[PayneTrain]

It also doesn't hurt that my concealed carry permit literally covers "weapons of mass destruction", and that's an actual quote.

You know, growing up I was given the impression that a CT CC permit would cover otherwise illegal knives too, like autos, balis, and anything over 4". Imagine my disappointment when I found out that I'm now allowed to carry an instrument designed specifically to severely injure other human beings, but not my cute, handy little auto Mini Stryker because what? It's dangerous? It has no point other than to hurt people? The only people who can carry them here are police, fire, or military personnel. It's a little annoying that we let that one get away from us, but oh well. It's not like I haven't carried and used it without issue for the same reasons no one jumps under a table when I cut my lunch with my PM2. Though I won't dare try to bring my Replicant to work. If you have to open that without fanfare then there's no point in using it!