Ever bust up with your woman because of a Spydie?

[Chivers]

A tale of woe, am I on my own here or has anyone else had relationship problems as a result of their Spydie hobby? Went to the theatre here in the UK, and at half-time me and my lady each bought an ice cream. They came in little tubs with the spoons embedded in the plastic lids, and these were as impenetrable as most blister packs are. So, discreetly I thought, I took out my (perfectly legal) UK penknife to prise the spoon out: then saw my lady giving me one of ‘those’ looks that would drop a charging bull in its tracks.
"What?" I said. "What the ****’s the matter?"
This quickly developed into a full blown row that carried on all the way home – if she hadn’t said anything, nobody would have noticed anyway, because I wasn’t brandishing my Spydie and if they had seen it they would have seen straight away what I was doing.
Anyway, as a direct result of this me and lady have broken off our long-term relationship. I don’t blame the knife, mind – and I could have been more discreet with that great gift of hindsight, but I always reckon a knife is for using, and ‘dies’ if you leave it in a drawer or cabinet.
On another topic, I gather that our Scouts and Guides in the UK will no longer be able to carry their traditional clasp knives. This is bureaucracy gone mad – how will they whittle sticks, and what will horses do, now the Scouts aren’t equipped with that pointy thing to get stones out of their hooves?
Anyway, I feel better now I’ve unburdened myself. Me and my lady may sort things out, but one thing’s for sure, a SPYDIE is for life!!

[CombatGrappler]

I've never busted up over a Spydie, but I've definitely had some good fights over my significant other thinking she needed to instruct me on what I could or could not do in public.

[The Mastiff]

Chivers, is her beef with your spending, or your ownership and carry? I can understand a marriage partners desire to not spend as they see it on wastefull things. If it's a "people who carry and own knives are bad" thing that's a whole different ball game. That type thing is much more annoying to me, and more apt to cause me to get stubborn too.

[Joshua J.]

It takes guts to take a stand for reason in the face of adversity, but when it comes from someone you love, that kicks it up a notch.
Good job for not giving in, and hopefully she will be a little more understanding in the future (long term relationships usually don't die over quite so trivial a thing as this).

[spyderHS08]

Havent busted up over it...but my girlfriend sure does give me crap every time she see's somethin she doesnt recognize :D :p every few weeks and says woww do you really need another one?? and im like **** ya! lol She doesnt mind the carry and use, she just thinks its a waste of money to have so many. But I dont understand her whole purse thing..the girls got like a hundred of those coach and juicy and who knows what other brand purses stashed away (well not really that many but you know) so I just call out and say my spydies = your purse purchases :D

[Dr. Snubnose]

When mine says "What another Knife!, Why do you need so many!" I say..."What...you cook with one Pot!"........Doc :D

[Xolette]

I'll never understand girls-- and I am one! I've busted out my spyderco on a few occasions. Today, I was trying to cut a piece of loose string on my sister's shirt (more as a joke) and she screamed like a little girl. One of my friends asked, "Do you have your knife on you? If so, can you cut her credit card in half?" Like you, I'm happy to get some use out of my knife and don't want it to die in a drawer! Good luck on your situation.

And spyderHS08, I agree on the purses! Your limitless knives are way more functional than any purse!

[Monocrom]

It would be nice if women came with an instruction manual.

[iwolf81]

It would be nice if women came with an instruction manual.

Way too funny!!! :D

My wife and I seem to have an unspoken agreement. She hasn't yet criticized my knife purchases and I haven't yet criticized her handbag purchases. Still, neither of us have gone overboard... I don't have a Strider collection and doesn't have a Coach collection.

After a few years of marriage, I've learned to be nice and respectful to each other. If that can't be done, you're with the wrong person. (It took me 20+ years and countless headaches to find the right one.)

Ira

[Chivers]

Thanks for your replies, guys, I knew you’d cheer me up. BTW, it wasn’t the purchase of the knife but the fact that I showed it in public that caused her indoors to blow her lid. Anyhow, I did get a call from her: said her cat was sorry to my cat for some of the things she said, and I replied that my cat couldn’t give a **** what her cat thought. It’s a good way for people who find it hard to swallow their pride to converse, although I guess my cat (Chivers) would soon get tired of it and go off and kill something like a bunny for his mid-morning snack. Watch this space for more episodes of this long-running soap involving dull people, sharp knives and a cool ginger moggie.

[Buffalohump]

You did the right thing. That relationship would never work. My wife knows full well she can't come between me and my knives.

Men are hard-wired to want to own and use tools. Its like asking a woman to stop getting her hair done and to own one pair of shoes.

Its genetics - you cant fight it! :D

[The Deacon]

Think that particular reaction, at least to that degree, is more common in Britain, where there has been a concerted effort by both the government and the media to portray everyone who carries a pocket knife as a potential killer. I'd bet if you'd used a SAK it would have evoked the exact same response from her. From everything I've read, the mere act of removing a knife from ones pocket and opening it in public in the UK, no matter how innocent and logical ones motive and no matter how discreetly one may do so, may be viewed as a threatening gesture by strangers. That's what they've been conditioned to believe. In that context, her reaction becomes at least somewhat understandable. Had a similiar incident many years back with a young lady who could not deal with the fact I carried a handgun at times.

[kbuzbee]

Think that particular reaction, at least to that degree, is more common in Britain

Agreed. My wife not only relies on me always having a knife on me, she carries and uses her own spydies when I'm not around (and has expressed on many occasions how useful they are and how glad she is I got her a few...).

Like many here, she does think I own WAY too many but that is a different discussion

Had a similiar incident many years back with a young lady who could not deal with the fact I carried a handgun at times.

I don't view that quite the same, Paul (although I'm on your side of this equation!). Knives are most often everyday working tools that, like baseball bats and tire irons, CAN be used as weapons... Guns are tools for hunting and such but are much more commonly used (and intended as) weapons in EDC situations... I just don't understand how people can function without knives...
Seriously flying home this weekend I brought a bag of dried fruit on the plane (since United doesn't feed you anymore :mad: .... Well, okay you can buy a boxed lunch from them :mad: ...) I couldn't even open it since my UKPK was in my checked bag.... Well, I finally did but....

Ken

[v8r]

You know what my wife said to me the other day" Well at least knives are cheaper than guns" :D Does this mean she has seen the light? She has asked me in the past "How many knives do you really need?"I told her they are like guns, you never can have too many.She also gets her nails,feet,hair etc done, and also buys lots of Expensive shoes,so really it's all a wash.None of my knives will wear out as quickly as her shoes, but she is kind of used to me buying tools.I used to be a auto tech for several years so she got used to my habits long ago.

She also does not mind me carrying my handgun because she knows it's not going to come out of it's holster unless it's for a good reason(My kids and her's safety).

[Cave Dave]

I'll give you a little help with understanding women.

The problem was not this:

. So, discreetly I thought, I took out my (perfectly legal) UK penknife to prise the spoon out...

The problem was this:

..."What?" I said. "What the ****’s the matter?"

You had no reason to get defensive and angry. You should have said:
"wow that came in handy" and then kept your mouth shut.

99% of communicating with women is knowing when to keep your mouth shut. This is also applicable to interaction with cops, judges and supervisors.
Keep that in mind and good luck with the next one.

[anti-torsion]

I feel very lucky to have a lady that not only understands my knife addiction but supports it fully. She got me a mili for our anniversary and loves making runs to the SFO. Just the other day I got a rookie in the mail and it has not left her pocket since.

P.S. I agree with Dave... don't ask a woman whats wrong, she will tell you when ready.

[ChapmanPreferred]

It is good that you found out, although a difficult way, that you were with someone who did not share your ideals. There are wonderful companions out there who will accept you and your ways. Best wishes with your search for a better fit.

[yablanowitz]

I'll give you a little help with understanding women.

The problem was not this:



The problem was this:


You had no reason to get defensive and angry. You should have said:
"wow that came in handy" and then kept your mouth shut.

99% of communicating with women is knowing when to keep your mouth shut. This is also applicable to interaction with cops, judges and supervisors.
Keep that in mind and good luck with the next one.

Nope. Keeping your mouth shut doesn't help. My girlfriend gives me dirty looks and rolls her eyes and says things like "I can't take you anywhere" every time I use a pocketknife to cut my food in a restaurant. Of course, she usually says it when I dunk the blade in my water glass to rinse it off. I just ignore her, which is what she expects from me. She keeps trying to change me, and I keep being who I am instead, which is probably why we've been together for fifteen years.

[Blerv]

Mine is tolarant but calling her "woman" might get me shanked :)

[Cave Dave]

Nope. Keeping your mouth shut doesn't help...

I just ignore her, which is what she expects from me.

:confused:
Umm, could you explain the difference? I believe that is what I was advocating.