Sheeple factor and knife carry

[catamount]

Even rabid sheeple accept the D'fly.

Isn't that an oxymoron? :D

[Plowboy]

I'm sure that we all agree that we should be able to carry what we want. I suspect that all of you are like me...a law abiding citizen. Although my "screen name" here is Plowboy (farming is a hobby), my real job is in university administration. As a result, I decided long ago that a small knife is best for me to carry and use. Many folks around universities are NKPs to the extreme. Most days I carry a Vic red alox to work. This works very well and no one seems too troubled. (Of course in my brief case there is a Vic Spirit multitool, Inova X1 flashlight and Delica...a mini kit of sorts.)

But when I'm at home on the farm, it is a Spyderco that is in my pocket.
:)

[Firefighter880]

I carry my big Manix almost everywhere :D . However, if I know I'm going somewhere where I'll be around a lot of people, and the chances of having to use a knife are high, I carry my Gerber Applegate-Fairburn Covert. The blade is actually longer than that of the Manix, but it's way slimmer design makes it look less threatening, and it's clip allows it to sit very low in the pocket and remain hidden. Mostly, I just carry my Manix though, and use common sense and don't whip it out in front of people unless under extreme circumstances.

I think common sense is the biggest issue. Most people don't look at your pocket and guesstimate the size of your knife by the size of the clip; rather, they only pay attention when you pull the knife out into their view. Of course, I always look at the type of pocket-clip, but that's because I'm a knife person, and I like to see what others are carrying. People are only frightened when they think something is about to directly affect them. The person passing you on the street isn't going to look twice, until you decide to pull out your 18-inch kukri and swing it around in their face. Then they get nervous. As long as you use good judgement, you'll be fine.

Or just get a Lava :D .

[The Deacon]

I have reached the point where, while I do not go out of my way to offend people by carrying knives that even I would describe as weapons rather than tools, I do not go out of my way to humor the terminally timid either. For the past several months, my most frequent EDC knives are a C83 Schempp Persian, a Kiwi, and a Lava. When a task calls for the use of a knife, I will use whichever is most appropriate, without regard to who might see me doing so.

[yablanowitz]

Tony, I carry more than 8 knives all the time. Usually a lot more. I have read our knife laws carefully, and the LEO who decides to arrest me for carrying them will be unemployed in short order. You can take that any way you want. I don't let the opinions of others influence what I carry. I use the closest knife to my free hand when I need one. If that is my Lava, fine. If it is my Endura, that's fine too. Usually if my free hand falls on a large knife, I only open the blade part way. Nothing quite like cutting a rope with an Endura while holding it by the Spyderhole with the blade a third open to impress the NKPs.

If the Police was legal to carry here, I would carry it a lot more often than I do :D

[smcfalls13]

For what it's worth, I currently carry some pretty formidable blades on my person. This is mostly due to the fact that I live and attend graduate school in one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. (Baltimore, MD).

While I don't fault you for dressing the part of Wolverine when in downtown Baltimore, you should definitely be aware of two small legal issues. One is that while state law does not impose blade limits, smaller jurisdictions do impose them, and not always officially. Baltimore County(where I live) has a 5" blade limit. It's not on the books, it's just common knowledge among LEOs in that area. If it's more than 5" it's getting confiscated at the very least. Baltimore City may have similar limits. Some will say if it's not on the books it can't be enforced, well, you should be right, but this is Maryland, nothing we do here makes any sense.

The second is that Maryland law forbids the carry of knives for use as a weapon. That includes self defense. If you're caught carrying that many knives, you're going to have a heck of a time proving they're all tools.

And unlike in court, where the burden of proof is typically on the prosecutor, it's up to you to prove your knives aren't weapons.

That being said, on the rare occasions I venture into the War Zone now, I'll have a Swick loose in my pocket(the sheath can be thumbed off quickly) a Tasman in my wallet pocket, and a subcom on my keys which can be deployed without notice.

[Th232]

Personally, one Lil Temp, and one of these

Guess which one gets which jobs?
I really should get a printout of the laws around here as well.

[Episteme]

Karen: I whole-heartedly sympathize with your view
SMCfalls13: Maryland law has an odd statute on the books that says something to the effect of "A citizen may be permitted to carry a weapon to reasonably defend him/herself from harm from others". It is in the same section relegated to knife and weapon laws. I wouldn't rely on this clause as being a "license to carry whatever", but I am fairly confident that such a defense could be mounted should the "blank" hit the fan and (heaven forbid) a blade would have to be used in self defense and other avenues of legal defense have been exhausted (I'm not a lawyer-just a grad student). Further, Baltimore County's 5 inch blade limit that is not on the books smack of the appaling in that such a "law", if actively enforced, would set the stage for all sorts of laws that are "not on the books" to be enforced arbitrarily and capriciously. This, quite frankly, strikes me as neigh on repugnant.
With all of this in mind, my first line of defense should I be confronted by a predator would be to run very very fast. If that option is exhausted, I'd go for the 3 oz. Fox Firemaster Fogger (I've inhaled some of the stuff via secondary exposure, and the stuff instantly sucks the air out of your lungs, figurativly speaking). Last resort would be my Spydies. Dosing a bad guy with O.C. and making a successful get-away is an easier defense in court than carving someone up with cold steel.
I still carry my endura and 5'' Voyager.
-Mike

[tonydahose]

. If that option is exhausted, I'd go for the 3 oz. Fox Firemaster Fogger (I've inhaled some of the stuff via secondary exposure, and the stuff instantly sucks the air out of your lungs, figurativly speaking). Last resort would be my Spydies.
-Mike

i dont know if this is the same stuff as the oc spray we used. we watched a video of an instructor at our academy being sprayed with oc spray equivalent to 2,000,000 units. legally all we could carry was 500,000 unit oc spray. anyways the person being sprayed fought for a full 2 minutes afterwards before he was incapaciated. i dont know if the firemaster stuff you have is the same but i thought i'd give you a heads up on that. i would try to find the spray that comes out like "Stuff" that you use to insulate around windows. it sticks to their face so you wont get any blowback. as far as 8 knives, i think it is excessive and im considered the "knife nut" at my firehouse. thats just my opinion. some people think my car is too fast and that i dont need all that power. i say there is never enough. so keep carrying what you want and enjoy, just dont go flashing them around, watch out for the po po and hopefully you will never have to use them in sd.

[dedguy]

In my experience you can never make everyone happy. I've had people not bat an eyelash at my Captain yet freak out when seeing my Leatherman.

[smcfalls13]

SMCfalls13: Maryland law has an odd statute on the books that says something to the effect of "A citizen may be permitted to carry a weapon to reasonably defend him/herself from harm from others". It is in the same section relegated to knife and weapon laws. I wouldn't rely on this clause as being a "license to carry whatever", but I am fairly confident that such a defense could be mounted should the "blank" hit the fan and (heaven forbid) a blade would have to be used in self defense and other avenues of legal defense have been exhausted (I'm not a lawyer-just a grad student).

Oh it's possible to pull it off, you'll just need a good lawyer, and a better story ]Further, Baltimore County's 5 inch blade limit that is not on the books smack of the appaling in that such a "law", if actively enforced, would set the stage for all sorts of laws that are "not on the books" to be enforced arbitrarily and capriciously. This, quite frankly, strikes me as neigh on repugnant. [/QUOTE]

Yes it is. Can't even begin to argue with that. You're 100% right.

With all of this in mind, my first line of defense should I be confronted by a predator would be to run very very fast. If that option is exhausted, I'd go for the 3 oz. Fox Firemaster Fogger (I've inhaled some of the stuff via secondary exposure, and the stuff instantly sucks the air out of your lungs, figurativly speaking). Last resort would be my Spydies. Dosing a bad guy with O.C. and making a successful get-away is an easier defense in court than carving someone up with cold steel.
I still carry my endura and 5'' Voyager.

Good idea. :cool: It'll look good in court too, because it's obvious the blades are your last resort, not the first.

[Episteme]

Tony,
Thanks for the heads-up. Since reading your post and actively reflecting, I have cut down my carry of steel down to 3 blades; ankle, small of back, and strong-side front pocket. i respect anyone's opinion that brings things back to 'good-sense'; especially from someone in the save and serve professions. My carry of steel is down to three blades: SE Endura 3 on ankle, Tasman Salt in small of back, and Cold Steel Voyager strong side.
On the O.C.- The Fox Firemaster unit is 5.3 million units (SHU). It's like naplam in a can. :p I also fully understand that O.C. does not always work as it's supposed to; moving laterally after spraying can prevent the bad-guy from getting a hand on you.
The "stuff" that you speak of I believe refers to Pepper Foam. I also carry the Foam (rated at 2 million units) made by DPS. I avoid having to deploy all of this "gear" by never going out at night, never going to bars, and being aware of my surroundings.
stay safe,
Mike

[poodle]

if its legal i carry

[dlemay]

Episteme, how do you carry your OC? Just in a pouch on a belt. Looking at viable options for that as well. Don't live in the best part of Portland. Someone actually tried to mug one of my school buddies just down the street a month ago.

[DAYWALKER]

Alohallo Knifebrother Arend,

Cripes bro...that SE Police will look like a Delica with you holding it!

I say, "don't draw heat". Pack your C07, but then have a small one for "other times". I remember awhile back when I was packing something to send off to a forumite here AT the PO. I kept whipping out my Cold Steel Vaquero Grande to cut tape, and everyone freaked for some reason. :confused: :p

Just kidding, I think I was using my Endura at the time, and even then people got uncomfortable and the Security Guard came by, to make sure I saw he was carrying an ASP. :rolleyes:

Sheesh.

God Bless and use that POLICE!!!

[OutofGum]

The thing I would worry about, if I were carrying that many knives, is a possible civil suit, from the "victim" if I ever had to use one. It sounds ridiculous, but if the plaintiff can successfully argue that you carried the knives with the intention of using them for defense (i.e. inflicting harm) they would probably win the case.

A car driver was successfully sued when he hit a guy that was attempting to car jack him. A home owner successfully was sued when he shot a guy in the leg who was running from his house with stolen property. There are tons of cases like these out there.

[JaM]

I'd go with the police, but with a 'back-up" for NKP. Something "small", like a Delica.

[i.v]

i typically EDC either my salt1 or my U2, but for "extreme" situations i have a sheepfoot ladybug, it's very rare to see eyebrows raised on that..
i also have my vic spirit tool which never draws any attention because multitools are very common and accepted here

[tonydahose]

first of mike, carry what you are comfortable with. if 3 is enough than i glad, plus it will save you a few minutes getting ready everytime you go out :D and shave of a 1/10 in the 60' :) when i first got on the fd i had a ton of tools in my pockets, the old timers would have a screwdriver or two and a pair of Kliens. you would be surprised how 1-2 pounds of stuff in your pockets weighs you down (along with the 50-60lbs of other stuff we carry all the time)

A home owner successfully was sued when he shot a guy in the leg who was running from his house with stolen property. There are tons of cases like these out there.

when i was in business law (for awhile i was going to be a tax attorney :p till i figured i couldn't sit behind a desk my whole life)we went over a ton of cases like this. my teacher's advice was if you are going to shoot an intruder make sure when he falls that he does it inside your house. "if he is in the doorway shoot him in the knees so he falls foward and then finish the job"
also a few tidbits he offered was to empty the magazine/revolver and tell the officers you dont know how many times you shoot, you just kept pulling the trigger in a panic. :eek: "maybe the guy won't have relatives and you wont be sued in a civil suit" this of course for someone who wasnt trained to use a handgun, so i am out of luck there. i say have a story set up in your mind now. example, the intruder was stealing my big heavy tv(not projection guys..lol) when i confronted him he raised it over his head and was going to throw it at me, i was in fear of my life so i .... well you get the point and tvs are cheap now if you have to buy a new one.

[Hapkidoin]

When having to cut packages, string, tape, etc around NKP, I rely heavily on my small but sharp cricket, that lives in the deep carry of my pocket.

The one time that I used my Chinook for a mundane task, I thought that people were going to faint. The clack of the lockup sounded like a rife shot and the size/shape of the blade had them frozen in place like a deer in the headlights.

Chuck