reaction of people when they see you carry a blade

[Nicholls]

As a health care professional I sometimes use a knife to open packages, boxes, wrapped stuff. Usually it's with in the legal limit of length but I get reactions that imply I'm dangerous. I wonder if any body else hears this and what's a good way to respond to this?

[sam the man..]

Yeah, I get some too... Just unfold the knife and smile... Always curteous... <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Helps to ease the Shriek factor.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[Gary]

I get different reactions in different settings... in rural/sporting/outdoors/job site locations I get admiring comments... in urban/office/coffe shops/etc. I get those "he must be dangerous" looks mentioned by Nicholls. Since 9/11 I get questions whether I wear a knife to protect against terrorists. I usually say yes for the last 30 years, as well as to do battle with envelopes, boxes, tapes, ribbons, plastic wrappings (especially those CD wrappers). It also seems that fancy handles and smaller blades are much better accepted in urban settings. Usually once people see you use your knife a few times... they relax and accept it.
In general... if you are at ease with your knife... others quickly become at ease with you having a knife.


"Take Your Spydie On A Hike" -- Gary

[vampyrewolf]

just be relaxed about it... I even get scared when I see some ppl with knives, when their hands are shaking while they get it out!
Most ppl relax if you are in control of your actions, and don't get flashy. I tend to carry:
ladybug(50/50)
cricket(tufram - serr)
Delica(plain)
Dragonfly(ss - plain)
wegner jr(40/60)

that way I always have something small for around ppl, and still have a workhorse for anything large(delica and wegner).

I get the least reaction from the dragonfly and cricket. They fit thier size(the ladybug is too thin[no belly], delica LOOKS threatening[according to ppl at work], wegner jr is made for skinning.

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...

[Lt.Hawkins]

i DO have to admit that despite its size, the delica does have a wicked look about it... maybe its the acute angle of the blade shape... it ALMOST seems to go into a curve like the civilian if you squint or something <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

as for reactions for my knives:
no REAL negative ones from the few people at school who know i have one. the worst was probably from my dad <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
thats for the native.

only 3 or 4 people know about my spydercard.

[Allen E. Treat]

I've had it happen too. I do volunteer
work for a church that hands out groceries to the needy ; after a while
though, people tend to become "acclimated"
to your knife carry. Some of the people
I work with went out and bought spydies after seeing my trusty "Cricket"
perform. About the only people I would
worry about are the police, who would
rather we be dis-armed.

Sincerely,

A.E.T.

[Allen E. Treat]

I've had it happen too. I do volunteer
work for a church that hands out groceries to the needy ; after a while
though, people tend to become "acclimated"
to your knife carry. Some of the people
I work with went out and bought spydies after seeing my trusty "Cricket"
perform. About the only people I would
worry about are the police, who would
rather we be dis-armed.

Sincerely,

A.E.T.

[Blades]

I'll use my Delica to cut out coupons for customers. Since I work in an auto repair shop it's not too bad. I did have one person notice the "clips" on 3 of 4 pockets. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> That took a little explaining. Hehe.


Blades

[yog]

I work both in the office and out on site, so I get the same poles apart reactions that Gary mentioned.
Out on site I either get no comment or the good kind of interest.
In the office people don't know I carry a knife, they would freak. Luckily it's not an inconvinience as I have my own office.

"Walk softly, but carry a big stick."

[ruxton]

yeah i get the whole "run run hes got a knife!!" thing too, when i whip out the harpy to open a box or w/e, normally i just tell them to grow up and they probably have bigger in their kitchen, occasionally i do get the urge to say something slightly psycotic sounding like "sorry if i get blood newhere, its really hard to get it off the blade" or "don't worry i haven't killed ne1 with it, well not yet neway" and they run away and don't mention it again :p
MAT

[haji]

Yeah, I've seen that, too. Since I work in a knife shop, a lot of the time, I hear "What is that you're carrying?" To which I generally reply "My now discontinued Starmate!" <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[J Smith]

In my part of the world everbody carries a knife of some kind or another.Most think nothing about it,I will open and use mine anywhere with out thinking about it and have never gotten a reaction out of anyone.

Jeff

[Alan2112]

I'm a military cop, if you don't use a knife here, folks will look at you like your crazy. RKBA!

[Jazzman]

Well, I think that it all depends on the length of the blade of your knife. I rarely have people look twice at my Sebenza or Ladybug. However, the Matriarch and Harpy will usually get alot of attention. Thus, I only usually carry them on occasion.
Matt
Matt

[Lt.Hawkins]

jazzman- i think thats more blade shape than blade size <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

a large sebenza would scare people a lot less than a matriarch, harpy or civilian <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

its the inconsiquential things that sheeple worry about... whether the handle is shiny or black... whether it has serrations or not, whether it *looks* menacing.

:sigh:

[RickdM]

I just bought my wife and myself a pair of Crickets. When my wife saw the knife closed she thought it was very cute, then she opened it and looking at the serrated blade she just said wow! I have had the same reaction from other people, something about a hooked, serrated blade that just seems wicked.

Rick

[earthworm]

What do you do Nicholls?-I'm an R.N.myself.I've been in health for 28 years & have always carried at least 1 knife.My 50/50 Delica gets an"Ooohhhh that's a weapon!"reaction,to which I respond"No,it's a pocketknife."A Buck Prince-style(FRN handle:don't recall the model[?anyone?])gets no reaction.SAK's rarely rate a second glance.My Merlin & Jot Singh Khalsa get bug-eyes & lustful looks.A Buck 110 on the belt didn't rate a second look;I suspect a Leatherman wouldn't either-like an EMT beltpack.

[earthworm]

P.S.-re"looking dangerous":Massad Ayoob comments that when he carried a Colt.45 in Condition One he got many"Isn't carrying a cocked gun dangerous?" questions.He says he usually patiently explained how that's how the 1911 was designed to be carried & is safe in that Condition,but if in a'mood' would respond"So am I".*chuckle*

[mschwoeb]

I get odd reactions unless the blade is under 2 inches or looks unthreatning.

"While it may be that a society in which crime is so rare that no one ever needs to carry a weapon is 'civilized,' a society that stigmatizes the carrying of weapons by the law-abiding -- because it distrusts its citizens more than it fears rapists, robbers, and murderers -- certainly cannot claim this distinction."


Edited by - mschwoeb on 10/26/2001 3:16:30 PM

[Nicholls]

Earthworm,
I'm a P.T. working in an urban indigent care state hospital. Short blades get less comments. Around here 3.75 in. is the limit for one hand folders. A few of the patients share their knife stories or their carry. I've even used practice patterns for ROM exercises for UE pt's.
Nicholls