What We Can Learn from Amanda Knox

[Muad'Dib]

Just checked out their vids since you mentioned cold steel. Nothing out of the ordinary there. The vids were entertaining and it's nice to see the knives in action.

You seem to be of similar mind as the anti-spyderco author, just directed at a different company. Making baseless associations to evil. "large man hacking away" compared to the anti-spyderco's "that's not a barcode it's a thumb stud!!!"

I don't think that was how he phrased that at all. He said that he doesn't care for the videos, but his hypothetical statement was about what an anti-knife person might think of those videos.

I think my favorite part of the article was where the "lawyer" talks about how these dangerous weapons are proven by cutting through a single sheet of paper in one smooth slice. Are knives not supposed to be sharp?

[geardog32]

After reading that article, I think that I need a delica wave now! Maybe an endura too.... and a military... and a citadel... I guess I just need to stock up now while I can.

BUY MORE GUNS AMMO AND KNIVES!

[The Deacon]

Whatever the faults of the US legal system, it pays to keep in mind that, while Ms. Knox is an American citizen, the murder, trial, and the review/reversal of her conviction, all took place in Italy.

It also pays to remember that, since Ms. Kercher was a citizen of the UK, it is likely that most of those involved with that website are also from the British Isles and could be expected to have a more negative attitude toward knives given all the anti-knife propaganda their government feeds them.

[DCDesigns]

btw. Who is Amanda Knox? Was she killed by some loser with a knife?

Havent been watching the news much lately, have you!?

[4450marcello]

Allow me to enter into this discussion, both as a collector of Spy, both as an Italian.
Here in Italy the port of the knife is basically illegal unless a person is hunting, fishing, mushrooms.
I, for my part, I do not go if I have my trusty EDC (Delica 4).
But that does not make a potential murderess!
The murder of Meredith was strongly felt here in Italy because it involved American citizens (and others) ... and especially because our justice failed in 4 years to settle the case.
everyone is innocent until proven guilty and actual evidence against Amanda and Raffaele and if there were, there have been destroyed by the inability of investigators. Unfortunately there is only the infinite sadness in the hearts of parents of Meredith for the poor broken lives of their beloved daughter.

[Brock O Lee]

What I learn from this is to ignore paranoid people, and to enjoy my Spydies before the whole world turns paranoid.

SA is currently busy implementing a new "Dangerous Weapons Act", which could influence our carry options here.

I cannot see how it will be enforced though. *Sigh*

[Evil D]

That quote about the "blood groove" is so stupid and wrong. Its called a fuller and the only purpose it serves is to reduce blade weight and balance it out. It also increases surface area and strength of the blade. If you stab someone, its not like the wound stays open on the sides so blood can come out..thats ridiculous. Ignorance is a plague.

[skatenut]

Eventually, there might be legislation to outlaw all knives with points, period.

This shows the way:

http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/06/anti- ... or-the-uk/

It's just plain stupid to pick on companies which manufacture folders.

[Blerv]

My problem with regulations against knives, even tactical ones, is chasing a red herring.

To quote a cliche, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people.". If the intent is there the tool is just a detail.

I don't look with anxiety to anyone carrying a pen or screwdriver. I don't fear the built 6'4" gym rat tho he can probably remove my head like King Kong.

Assuming civilization will stay civilized keeps you sane. Statisistics arent the best plan of defense but they work.

[syphen]

I've learned that If your a stereotypically good looking woman, chances are that once the media is involved... You can get away with murder!!!

Not saying Ms. Knox is guilty or innocent, ditto to Ms. Anthony.

[Evil D]

Eventually, there might be legislation to outlaw all knives with points, period.

This shows the way:

http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/06/anti- ... or-the-uk/

It's just plain stupid to pick on companies which manufacture folders.

If that happens, i swear i'm going to sharpen a butter knife to a razor edge and make a sheath for it and carry that as my EDC.

Actually now that i think about it, i might just buy a CRKT Razel since it doesn't have a tip
http://www.crkt.com/Graham

[DCDesigns]

If that happens, i swear i'm going to sharpen a butter knife to a razor edge and make a sheath for it and carry that as my EDC.

Actually now that i think about it, i might just buy a CRKT Razel since it doesn't have a tip
http://www.crkt.com/Graham

I just followed that link... Funny CRKT considers 8cr13mov a "premium steel".... hahahahhahahahahahahaaahahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahah

Nothing Chinese can ever be considered premium IMO.

[Evil D]

I know...if that knife came in a decent steel, i'd own one already. I love the idea and design of the blade. I've even thought of getting one for my tool box since i use a scraper a lot working on cars.

[Mr_Moe]

I wish I hadn't read that article. All the BS one has to put up with these days... Makes me wonder if the authors are still spoon fed baby food. Kitchen knives must be borderline dangerous for such folks...

[Bolster]

Actually now that i think about it, i might just buy a CRKT Razel since it doesn't have a tip

I like that design! I would love to have a chisel tip knife for contracting work. But it would need to have a "tactical spider" on it before I'd be interested in buying. Brand loyalty and all.

[Evil D]

I like that design! I would love to have a chisel tip knife for contracting work. But it would need to have a "tactical spider" on it before I'd be interested in buying. Brand loyalty and all.

Yeah, that whole design would really benefit from a spydie hole. I'm not a big fan of chissel grinds though, i could life with it on the tip but the belly would have to be some other grind.

Anyway, we're derailing...so back to the topic :)

[wvguy8258]

I'm a lawyer. In the U.S., we have an adversarial system. Each side tries to win, and makes the most influential arguments it can. If you are charged with a crime, the prosecutors will do whatever they can to put you in jail or prison. If you are defending yourself from criminal charges, you need your lawyer to do whatever he or she can to exonerate you. Because each side has the task of fighting for their goal, each side must fight hard or the other side will win.

The link the OP posted is similar, in that those who are defending the memory of Meridith Kercher will say and do whatever they can to advance their cause.

Our legal system is flawed, but tell me a better one.

What we as knife owners can do to protect ourselves is to continually advocate for a common-sense view of pocketknives by the public, such that anti-knife arguments won't be effective. The knives we carry in our pocket are typically smaller than the smallest kitchen knife any grandmother uses to cut an apple for her grandchild. But as we can see from that link, descriptions of knives can be very salacious, the opposite of cutting an apple for one's grandchild.

Part of the problem is that so many knife manufacturers -- and owners -- focus on the tactical nature of knives. (The same thing goes on in the gun world, e.g. Black Talon ammunition vs. Hydra-Shok ammunition. Which one sounds sexier to the tactical gun enthusiast?) It makes things harder for us knife owners to own and carry knives that we use exclusively as tools.

Finally, if you were the grieving family of a daughter who was stabbed to death, and one of the suspects had a combat knife prominently on display in his bedroom, wouldn't you suspect that person of the murder partly because of that knife? It's human nature to suspect him. We shouldn't be surprised that family members or their lawyers would latch onto the knife in order to seek justice. That is our system.

And it speaks to our education level or quality that the most persuasive argument (for the average audience) is one full of, and likely based upon, logical fallacies. Hopefully the future will be one in which a lawyer would have a disincentive to spin tales because he knows the jury will see it for what it is and he will lose all credibility.

[Bolster]

And it speaks to our education level or quality that the most persuasive argument (for the average audience) is one full of, and likely based upon, logical fallacies. Hopefully the future will be one in which a lawyer would have a disincentive to spin tales because he knows the jury will see it for what it is and he will lose all credibility.

Very much agree with your statements, WV. Logical fallacies work, and work wonders. I think more minds are changed with logical fallacies than any other type of argument. Unfortunately our system of higher education stopped teaching people "how to think" some time ago. Today much of the curriculum is devoted to "what to think." I also dream of a utopia where people can recognize defunct argumentation. However studies have shown repeatedly that an argument's CONCLUSION (whether the listener likes the conclusion or not) largely determines its perceived VALIDITY. So if I like where an argument nets out, I consider the argument to be a valid one. If I disagree with the argument's conclusion, I consider the argument invalid. This is known as simple prejudice...pre-judice, or judging before I have the facts. It's also known as "being human."

[wvguy8258]

Very much agree with your statements, WV. Logical fallacies work, and work wonders. I think more minds are changed with logical fallacies than any other type of argument. Unfortunately our system of higher education stopped teaching people "how to think" some time ago. Today much of the curriculum is devoted to "what to think." I also dream of a utopia where people can recognize defunct argumentation. However studies have shown repeatedly that an argument's CONCLUSION (whether the listener likes the conclusion or not) largely determines its perceived VALIDITY. So if I like where an argument nets out, I consider the argument to be a valid one. If I disagree with the argument's conclusion, I consider the argument invalid. This is known as simple prejudice...pre-judice, or judging before I have the facts. It's also known as "being human."

To this point, you can graduate high school and college without ever learning simple life saving procedures or taking a course on philosophy or logic.

[Bluntrauma]

Eventually, there might be legislation to outlaw all knives with points, period.

This shows the way:

http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/06/anti- ... or-the-uk/

It's just plain stupid to pick on companies which manufacture folders.

Wondering what the fate of my garden hoe will end up with. Anything can be used as a weapon if the intent is there. It's not the weapon that kills but the person wielding it. A can of tuna in a sock can make a deadly weapon. I am really going to hate the loss of my socks and my tuna fish sandwich.