What's your reason to carry?

[MCM]

Its handy.
Every day for the past 30+yrs.

Why else?

[Shike]

My first knife with a pocket clip was an Endura which I bought shortly after they came out @ 1991 or '92. I have been carrying knives with clips ever since. To this day I have had only one person ask me about it and that was a fellow Spyderholic :D

[Wraithe9113]

Because

1) Whenever I don't, I need it.

2) I feel incomplete without it.

If someone prods more, I say 'cuz. Got my first knife when I was 8.

[Don Ellis]

To cut things... and I like the zombie excuse, as well. Thank you, tigerose123.

As for people seeing and commenting on my carryables, there's no reason for people to know you're carrying a knife unless you want it known. I carry two Stretch 2s in my waistband, one angled front right and one vertical behind my right hip. Thanks to my belt and the slight waist overlap of my dress shirt, they're effectively invisible. I've been with my current company for over five years and, as far as I know, no one has noticed.

And if you carry a knife for protection, why would you alert someone to the fact? Make it a surprise.

Don

P.S. Ok, having ended on a glib note, I'll add two things: 1) I suppose there's a deterrent factor in having a knife visible, but it also puts you at risk for an overwhelming attack if you're the target no matter what, and 2) I always figure that if I'm attacked, I'll have no chance at all to pull out a knife and that I would be better served -- certainly in the first few seconds -- by using my hands and feet and wits. My belief is that when you need a weapon most, you won't have one... so you'd better become one.

[v8r]

My brother is the only person that has ever asked me that.I told him it's just another tool.

Nobody is going to ask me that where I live anyway.If they are worried about my pocket knife,there really going to be scared if I feel a need to pull my sidearm.

Whats funny about my state is that you can't carry a pocket knife to the state fair ,but you can carry your sidearm if you have a CHL.How stupid is that? :confused:

[DMgangl]

I carry a knife because S$%t happens, and I'd rather be prepared then stand around with my thumb up my butt and a dumb look on my face.

DM

[spydutch]

I carry a knife because S$%t happens, and I'd rather be prepared then stand around with my thumb up my butt and a dumb look on my face.

DM

DITTO over here :D

Just last thursday when my collegue and I arrived at work(we drive together)

One way or another the passenger's door was jammed and couldn't be opened. Not all that bad but a strap of my back pack was stuck between that door.

I couldn't pull it loose so I thumbed open my S30V Millie/SE and cut it loose :)

So you never know when it's handy to have a knife on you.

Better to have one on you and not need it than the other way around I guess

BTW my collegue didn't blink an eye. But then he was born and raised('till his twenties) in Surinam(sp? :o )

[tpro68]

I am not allowed to carry my knife at work (school). I usually clip it on the back of my pants beneath my belt. I can think of few things less sensible than not carrying a knife. It would be like not carrying my pen or keys. Usually I am using it when someone asks why I carry it. Then I get to give them the funny look. I have answered some by telling them roughly how often I have used it this week. The other is to tell them that my folks have still not gotten over the cost of braces and would kill me if I tried to chew through all the stuff that I cut. If common sense were really that common it probably wouldn't have a name.

[Lord vader]

I carry a knife because S$%t happens, and I'd rather be prepared then stand around with my thumb up my butt and a dumb look on my face.

DM

+1000,I totally agree. :)

[bh49]

I carry knives because:
1. I love them
2. It is giving some convinces in my life.
At work nobody is asking why do I carry knives. In my company it is became normal within last three-four years :)

[Peter1960]

In my age I carry a knife as I want to carry a knife. Don't need any other reason

[Apocaly]

If I really think hard about why I carry a knive(s) it falls into 2 reasons.

1. It gives me instant access to an edged tool and I don't have to go searching for one when I need it.

2. I have a great appreciation of the engineering and artistic design that goes into a knife and carry a piece of that appreciation in some form at all times.

[bkzk100]

for the same reason i carry a gun.... carrying a cop around all day is just to much **** work. :D

[The Deacon]

I can't remember the last time I was asked why I carry a knife. Perhaps it's because the only time anyone is made aware of the fact I'm carrying one is when I'm cutting something and the reason is obvious. On the other hand, I've been asked "do you really need THAT big a knife" more than once. My usual answer is "occasionally".

Whether we agree or not, there's a certain legitimacy to that question. It implies that we are not following society's norm, and, again whether we like it or not, that is true. A relatively small number of people actually oppose the idea of carrying a knife. It's just that most non-enthusiast's idea of a "pocketknife" which "normal people" might carry is something roughly the size and shape of a Boy Scout Knife, or smaller. In their eyes a Spyderco Military has a lot in common with J-SAR wrist watches, H-1 Hummers, and rodeo belt buckles. While they can understand the basic purpose of the item, they find the size excessive, at least when the person possessing them is not engaged in an activity which makes them situationally appropriate. As long as what we are carrying is legal, "we" can ignore the comments but it does not hurt to understand the logic behind them.

[Don Ellis]

If I really think hard about why I carry a knive(s) it falls into 2 reasons.

1. It gives me instant access to an edged tool and I don't have to go searching for one when I need it.

2. I have a great appreciation of the engineering and artistic design that goes into a knife and carry a piece of that appreciation in some form at all times.

So young (6 posts) and yet so wise. :cool:

I agree with you... my knives are as much talismans as tools... but they're great tools when they're needed.

Don

[Don Ellis]

I can't remember the last time I was asked why I carry a knife.

It was years ago for me... we were at an annual dinner and a Brit struggling to open a box sealed with nylon straps asked if anyone had a knife. As I walked over, I flicked out my knife, cut the strap, closed the knife and slid it back into my waistband -- and very smooth, I was. :cool:

He was genuinely surprised that anyone had a knife (Hong Kong laws being what they are) and asked, "Why do you carry a knife?" (Why is it that people who just benefitted from your foresight ask such stupid questions?)

I said, "Because they don't let me carry a gun." He was amused and let it drop with a smile.

Cheers,
Don

[lamarrk]

I said, "Because they don't let me carry a gun." He was amused and let it drop with a smile.

Don

They let me carry a gun and I still carry a knife, and always have both on me (except at airports if I'm flying and federal buildings, now that I'm retired).

In the southern states, most everybody carries a pocket knife. My dad gave me one when I was 5 or 6 and I've had one in my pocket ever since.

I don't carry a knife for self defense. The one time I was in a position without a gun, I used my 3 cell Maglight to beat the guy off me. We'd fallen down a hill into a mud puddle and my gun had fallen out of the holster. He ended up on top and the fight was on. I NEVER considered using my pocket knife. I've been on the ground like that several times and it's the flashlight the stick and the gun, in that order. Only one time did I consider shooting one off me .. but the night stick was finally enough.

For me, using a knife for self-dense is way down the list of options.