Nem,
Re: 2.5" blade criterion.
Various reasons have been given as to why this criterion is part of policy.
Some that write up and make policy decisions cannot tell you.
Often times someone just adapts someone else's policy, and that is that.
Perhaps:
-Someone was smart enough to look at knives and any ill intent use and figured a blade that short would not reach vital organs.
Even looked at a Medical text and got some measurements.
-Looked at knives and measured a few, and knives with 2.5" blades have to be small, so less threatening, less chance of co-workers getting the idea to use knives in a stressful situation - and tempers flared and the like.
-Control.
Pure and simple some places are manipulative and controlling and keep employees under thumb to show them who is "boss".
Extends to customers seeing "how the company keeps everyone in line" and they like doing business with such folks - maybe they run their business the same way.
Some believe "governing" masses makes the whole society safer.
Guns, knives - whatever "tool" some feel people don't need these as the "governing bodies" will keep them safe.
English Lit instructor I had, originally from the UK, was for gun control, and other "controls" and she was "pushing and cramming down throats" all her ideology.
--
Sometimes the answer is whatever seems like the best one to fit the situation, or person asking.
i.e. One can look up using B. Levine's work on why Sailors used Sheepsfoot/Lambsfoot blades.
British Issued was Lambsfoot and Marlin Spike for example.
Ask different folks "why sailors used lambsfoot blades" and answers will include:
-Historically sailors used these.
Ask why this "history" and answers run from:
-Dropping a knife from a mast above to the deck below was less likely to hurt someone versus a "pointy" blade.
-Keep sailors from stabbing each other when drunk.
-Not stabbing themselves, or each other, working and rough waters.
Re: 2.5" again.
Status and Control.
All through history, all over the world, peasants, slaves, and other terms for the workers had a single blade knife, they did the work with.
These knives were simple , being one blade, and one blade knives are less expensive to make.
The owners, elite, and other terms for those in control - had multi-blade knives first. These were more expensive, since they required more labor to make.
These folks did not do the work, they controlled those that did the work.
Elaborate materials for handles, further showed "who was boss" and who had "status", "power" , "money" and "control"
Smaller and getting smaller was used to show more and more status, power and control - to mirror owning and controlling more peasants, slaves workers, and therefore these owners and elite worked less and less.
Same reason Elite used powders and chemicals along with umbrellas and parasols to protect them from the sun and be more "white" or "pale".
Workers outside got sunburned, tanned, and yes even blacks and other races will sunburn and tan.
The more the Elite was as "pure" or "distanced" by skin tone from workers - the better.
Case Sodbuster and Sodbuster Jr. Proven workhorse on farms , ranches, outdoor use.
Take a look, simple one blade design. Note how it resembles "function" of a Svord Peasant knife, Opinels...others too...used by folks that actually "worked" with a knife.
Kershaw Leek, Sebenza, Emerson, Spyderco, and others...take a look...single blade.
Some interesting conversations and discussions by Psychologists, Sociologists in regard to these knives, and what they look like and especially handle materials.
FRN handles, inexpensive stainless steels - and does the symbolism coorelate to a Peasant with a wooden handled single blade knife?
Peasant would carve designs in handles, not to identify their knife from others, to have some self esteem and not feel "lowly".
Others would paint, or adorn Peasant knives in some fashion for the same reason.
Again the Professionals see for instance a Leek, with pretty handles, or a SAK being rescaled in bone, or other materials.
Do we still have "workers" under control by "owners" and the knife is still symbolic of who owns whom?
Slip joint such as made by Case, takes hands on doing, and CV blades take some doing to heat treat.
Phil Wilson and others do a really nice job of heat treating CV and Carbon steel blades.
Still that slip-joint, takes some hands on , in design and fitting.
Contrast-.
J.Q.Public wants to make a "popular modern knife".
Fires up the computer, with software comes up with a design.
Sends this to the CAD/CAM downstairs and in a few minutes a prototype is made.
Tweak the setting on computer, check the price of metals and get the Stainless Steel that will protect his/her machines, come in rolled blanks easy to work, and the price is right.
Best price on FRN and screws and other needs as well.
Marketing says "if you limit this to 200 pieces, you can get more money than not - supply and demand if you will".
Fire up the computer, fire up CAD/CAM and run off those 200 knives in one afternoon.
$50, $100, $200, heck fire why not "get" $300 for these?
If you build it - they will buy it.
Hot damn! You have a $150 knife , one of the 200, and it is made of 420J stainless steel. For a special price, since you have one the "200" you get the screw assorted and little screw tools for $9.95, instead of the normal $16.95.
Better get that special screw set, pocket clip will moved "tip up" to "tip down" depending in teh Intrawebz discussion of the week.
Oh Phooey heck darn! You should have gotten that special sharping dealie while you had the credit card out....
Case Peanut - full retail at the Mom & Pop hardware store, the one the fellow opened up that Sunday you had a plumbing problem - remember?
$36.90 for the knife, and the Case Soft/Med stone was $9.95 and the Case Hard/White fine was $6.99.
Honing oil was $3.95 - but you use a dry hone or water - never oil on a stone.
$53.84 for Case Peanut and two stones.
You can take this knife to work, being under 3" closed , company policy says so.
Be a nice person, cut that cheese in the lunch room for the person that cannot bring his knife to work.
Smile, be polite, nod as they share how it is one of two hundred, and once the credit card gets paid down some , same company is rumored to do a run of 200 knives that really gonna be something else to have!
Case Peanut does not have screws, no need for that kit he shared about.
Relaxing at home finally at the end of the day and having used that Peanut all week, sit down and take that 2 7/8" Case Hard Fine sharpening stone, and holding in weak hand, and very lightly touch up blades freehand.
Drop of sewing machine oil, Ballistol, Kleenbore Formula 3 gun oil, Breakfree CLP, Penn fishing reel oil...whatever is handy oil the pivots and done.
History is such a neat teacher if one pays attention...
