What do you need that big of a knife for?

[zeus]

That's the question I get asked when I use my Military to cut my meat or food in a restaurant.

My response is to pick up the butterknife or dull steak knife they supply me with a hold it up next to my Military. I say "see how much longer your knife is compared to mine?"

"Why do you give your customers such a big knife?"

Generally their knife is 1/2' to 1' longer....

[merciful]

If I need to be slashing at my food with a razor-sharp Spydie, I know I need to be heading for a place with a decent cook. But if needs must, it's nice to be prepared.

[yablanowitz]

Oddly enough, the most common question I get when I use one of my pocket knives in a restraunt is :"Can I borrow that?"

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: You cut your meat at the table in a restaurant with a military? As a customer? That's just lookin' to freak people out. :spyder:

[yablanowitz]

Not where I live. That's the advantage to living next to a beef packing plant, people don't automatically freak over knives.

[Episteme]

I think most comments regarding wearing a 'large' folder that can be categorized as being subtly hostile are due to common perceptions that the public has (either subconscious or blatantly obvious) about keeping a knife on one's person. Context seems to play a determining role as well; if I cut my steak with my Chinook III, and a restaurant employee makes a hostile remark along the lines of "why do you need such a big knife", what he probably means is "why do you carry such a big knife where ever you go". When I point out that the steak knife on the table is an inch longer than my Chinook, implying that a larger knife is well within reach should my intents be interpreted as criminally inclined, the employee's response should then be "but surely you don't carry a steak knife or similar implement on your person where ever you go", thereby emphasizing that his point is that I am carrying a large knife with me everywhere I go, and the fact that a larger knife is within reach by mere accident is besides the point.
In our society today, it seems that there are some fine lines that are difficult to discern when it comes to where and when it is socially 'acceptable' (leaving aside legal) to use a 'large' folder in a heavily populated area or public domain. In Manhattan, it sounds like I would be arrested if I used my Chinook III or similar model in a restaurant. However, I get the feeling that if I did this in rural Pennsylvania (an area I happen to really like), perhaps no one in the restaurant will even notice or mind. Heck, someone might even compliment my choice of cutlery.
There's are times and places for certain things and behaviors. Unfortunately, the hard part can be in the judgments.
-Mike

[SimpleIsGood229]

Fortunately, I live in Texas, so big blades aren't much of an issue, thank The Lord. However, I do get some remarks about how "big" my Endura 4 is. My reply is usually something like, "Nah, this isn't a big knife. This is a standard-sized knife. It's really not that big!"

I can't wait to get a Manix! :D

[yablanowitz]

Always answer a question with a question. If the waiter asks you why you carry such a large knife, ask him why he provides such a dull knife that you have to use it

[dedguy]

I don't usually use folders to cut food in restaurants mostly because it's more work than it's worth. I'd have to wash it both before and afterhand in the bathroom.

[cheez]

What do you need a big knife for? To cut big things, of course. Duh. :D

Keno

[MAT888]

That's the question I get asked when I use my Military to cut my meat or food in a restaurant.

My response is to pick up the butterknife or dull steak knife they supply me with a hold it up next to my Military. I say "see how much longer your knife is compared to mine?"

"Why do you give your customers such a big knife?"

Generally their knife is 1/2' to 1' longer....

Maybe next time you should bring a FB16 and order the largest steak available :D

I would like to hear comments on that one LOL

[The Deacon]

I think most comments regarding wearing a 'large' folder that can be categorized as being subtly hostile are due to common perceptions that the public has (either subconscious or blatantly obvious) about keeping a knife on one's person. Context seems to play a determining role as well; if I cut my steak with my Chinook III, and a restaurant employee makes a hostile remark along the lines of "why do you need such a big knife", what he probably means is "why do you carry such a big knife where ever you go". When I point out that the steak knife on the table is an inch longer than my Chinook, implying that a larger knife is well within reach should my intents be interpreted as criminally inclined, the employee's response should then be "but surely you don't carry a steak knife or similar implement on your person where ever you go", thereby emphasizing that his point is that I am carrying a large knife with me everywhere I go, and the fact that a larger knife is within reach by mere accident is besides the point.
In our society today, it seems that there are some fine lines that are difficult to discern when it comes to where and when it is socially 'acceptable' (leaving aside legal) to use a 'large' folder in a heavily populated area or public domain. In Manhattan, it sounds like I would be arrested if I used my Chinook III or similar model in a restaurant. However, I get the feeling that if I did this in rural Pennsylvania (an area I happen to really like), perhaps no one in the restaurant will even notice or mind. Heck, someone might even compliment my choice of cutlery.
There's are times and places for certain things and behaviors. Unfortunately, the hard part can be in the judgments.
-Mike

I agree, except I don't think the line is all that fine. I think 99% of the population has no problem with someone carrying what they perceive to be "an ordinary pocketknife" out of sight, or to such a knife being used, at appropriate times, for appropriate purposes. I also think that out of that 99% probably less than 5% share our opinion that a 4" bladed locking folder is "an ordinary pocketknife".

In many people's eyes, it's the difference between walking down the street listening to music on an iPod via earbuds, and walking down that same street with a boom box on you shoulder blaring out 100 decibels of whatever.

[Stevie Ray]

That's the question I get asked when I use my Military to cut my meat or food in a restaurant.

My response is to pick up the butterknife or dull steak knife they supply me with a hold it up next to my Military. I say "see how much longer your knife is compared to mine?"

"Why do you give your customers such a big knife?"

Generally their knife is 1/2' to 1' longer....

I would be reluctant to pull out a Military (or any folder) for that matter at a restaurant. Since it's likely that nobody else in the house is pulling a pocket knife out to cut what they've been served, it may well attract the wrong kind of attention since the rest of the patrons are managing to get by with the utensils they've been given.

[MANIXWORLD]

I think most comments regarding wearing a 'large' folder that can be categorized as being subtly hostile are due to common perceptions that the public has (either subconscious or blatantly obvious) about keeping a knife on one's person. Context seems to play a determining role as well; if I cut my steak with my Chinook III, and a restaurant employee makes a hostile remark along the lines of "why do you need such a big knife", what he probably means is "why do you carry such a big knife where ever you go". When I point out that the steak knife on the table is an inch longer than my Chinook, implying that a larger knife is well within reach should my intents be interpreted as criminally inclined, the employee's response should then be "but surely you don't carry a steak knife or similar implement on your person where ever you go", thereby emphasizing that his point is that I am carrying a large knife with me everywhere I go, and the fact that a larger knife is within reach by mere accident is besides the point.
In our society today, it seems that there are some fine lines that are difficult to discern when it comes to where and when it is socially 'acceptable' (leaving aside legal) to use a 'large' folder in a heavily populated area or public domain. In Manhattan, it sounds like I would be arrested if I used my Chinook III or similar model in a restaurant. However, I get the feeling that if I did this in rural Pennsylvania (an area I happen to really like), perhaps no one in the restaurant will even notice or mind. Heck, someone might even compliment my choice of cutlery.
There's are times and places for certain things and behaviors. Unfortunately, the hard part can be in the judgments.
-Mike

Hi i work in the kitchen as a chef in the SA NAVY and i always carry my D4 serrated SALT1 plain and even a Dragonfly plain with me at all times.The Spydies are just super versatile apart from my much larger chef knives i use.i like carrying a knife thats super lite,but still feels solid and has brute cuttingpower.SPYDERCO fits that description very well 4 me,and i plan on expanding my current collection even more,cause the spyder has bitten and im getting used 2 this cuttingpower.ps.the SALT1 doesnt rust,not in my kitchen so far,being xsposed 2 all kinds of moisture. :spyder: :) the steel is xcellent and is ideal 4 any kitchenchores. MANIXWORLD.

[PSU]

That's the question I get asked when I use my Military to cut my meat or food in a restaurant.

:eek: I agree that restaurant knives are practically useless for cutting but I would never pull out a Spydie, much less a Military, to cut my food. The general population cannot handle such things.

Come to think of it, I've never used a Spydie folder to cut food at my own kitchen table. It just wouldn't seem right to me. I have much more appropriate knives for that task.

[ASHTXSNIPER]

Fortunately, I live in Texas, so big blades aren't much of an issue, thank The Lord. However, I do get some remarks about how "big" my Endura 4 is. My reply is usually something like, "Nah, this isn't a big knife. This is a standard-sized knife. It's really not that big!"

I can't wait to get a Manix! :D

I live in South Central Texas and I never get comment about how big my Military or Endura folders are. :D

[OuchThatsSharp]

Isn't stuff in Tejas bigger anyway?

[Michael Cook]

Isn't stuff in Tejas bigger anyway?

:spyder: Has to be, being the second biggest state leaves Texans with a need to compensate! :p :spyder:

[doubleclaw]

Just two nights ago, I was at a local restaurant enjoying a late dinner of steak medallions and avocado sauce over fresh French bread, and I was using my SE Police model to cut the meat, as they had only given me a butter knife with my silverware. Considering the fact that the butter knife wouldn't even make a dent in the steak, I opted for a sharper one.

One of the waitresses came by and said to me,"We can get you a real knife," whereupon I replied with a smile, "This IS a real knife." She smiled and went about her business.

No one else in the establishment even batted an eye. It is good to live in South Mississippi...

[Agent Starling]

:eek: I agree that restaurant knives are practically useless for cutting but I would never pull out a Spydie, much less a Military, to cut my food. The general population cannot handle such things.

I'm with you on that point. I find that I get desensitized to what looks like a "big" or "menacing" looking knife the longer I am into collecting...and try to remember that most people are not. :o :spyder: :D

Agent Starling