Pocket Knives-Who feels naked without one?

[kBob]

SO I was headed into the Atlanta Aquarium with the family when I set off a metal detector. What sort of socioty do we live in where an aquarium feels the need to scan folks for "weapons"

So I handed in, and got receites good for the return of a leatherman belt tool, a Spyderco Clip on, and a little SAK. The rent a cop and off duty cop that were at the security desk were astounded that I had three knives! There was BTW a line of men turning in pocket knives and there were a goodly number of such knives tagged and awaiting being reclaimed.

Sitting here at the desk I have a Camilus Cub Scout knife in the left front pocket and a Gerber assisted opening clip on. There is a little Buck folder in my jacket pocket.

They are all tools. I just used the assisted openner this morning as I was openning a feed bag I needed the other hand to hold. I used the Cub Scout knifes flat head screwdriver yesterday to turn the action screw on a .22 rifle to take the metal back out of the stock. Also used the assisted openner to obne a box of Medifast meals and a box of furnace filters this morning.

How do people live with out such tools? In the state museum at Homasassa springs there is a "knife" of flint that was used to butcher a manatee long ago enough that there was a bone with cuts matching that blade that was petrified....and I found them both on a dive for the state. Yes I did ask if I could keep them and note they are in the museum.

At some point in time someone would probably have left the hut without their loinclothe before leaving without their blade.

-kBob

 

[docnyt]

Wait a minute. When did the Atlanta Aquarium start using metal detectors? I'll have to make a mental note of that.

 

[TimboKhan]

Here in farm country, you need a pair of pliers

I grew up on a farm and sure enough, those leather belt pouches with a pair of slip joint pliers in them are required wearing. I didn't really know or have any faith in multi-tools until after I was in the USMC or I would have went that route, but when we were in the field I carried pliers on my belt and found them extremely handy on countless occasions. CeeTee slip joints were the plier of choice in this neck of the woods.

Now? I wouldn't carry those pliers in the field. A multi-tool is just as good (or even better) plier-wise, and obviously the "multi" part of the tool is darn handy too. Still, I keep several pairs around because a brand new pair costs less than 5 bucks!

 

[Jalexander]

The only time I don't have a knife on me is in airports and buildings with metal detectors.

Listening to the radio recently, and this gal on a morning show was shocked by someone carrying a pocket knife in Austin.

Good grief, what radio station was it?

James

 

[pikid89]

I always have at least one knife on me if my pants are on

Case Trapper carbon steel for everyday tasks, and a SOG Trident Folder for when a big/ one hander is required

 

[Water-Man]

I carry one.

 

[Sun195]

Knife in my front left pocket, keys in my front right pocket. Doesn't feel right any other way.

 

[DC Plumber]

What do you mean? I didn't know it was an option to go without one. I always have my Leatherman with me and most times one of a few different pocket knives with me too.

I would not feel fully dressed without one.

 

[CoastieShep]

Yes, I feel naked without one.

 

[swiftak]

Always have one in my pocket. Lately its been a Spyderco Delica.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I carry 3 every day cept Sunday and I carry 2 then. I have had a pocket knife in my pocket since my Granddad gave me my first Imperial back in 1970!

I carry a fullsized Lock back on my belt , a small kershaw in my Cell Phone Case and a stockman, Barlow or sodbuster in my front pocket. I keep them all cut you to the bone sharp.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I grew up on a farm and sure enough, those leather belt pouches with a pair of slip joint pliers in them are required wearing. I didn't really know or have any faith in multi-tools until after I was in the USMC or I would have went that route, but when we were in the field I carried pliers on my belt and found them extremely handy on countless occasions. CeeTee slip joints were the plier of choice in this neck of the woods.

Now? I wouldn't carry those pliers in the field. A multi-tool is just as good (or even better) plier-wise, and obviously the "multi" part of the tool is darn handy too. Still, I keep several pairs around because a brand new pair costs less than 5 bucks!

CeeTee pliers; Wow that brings back memories. I got a pair in my tool bag right now that Dad gave to me and he bought them back in the 1960's.

 

[GCBurner]

I'd walk funny if I didn't have a knife on one side to balance the key ring on the other.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I typically carry a pocket knife. I've got two Benchmade automatics, an Air Force commemorative folder and a Schrade my wife got me last Christmas that get rotated through duty.

 

[JohnnyOrygun]

Pants on = leatherman wave on belt, benchmade griptillian and micra in right front pocket. Except on Sunday and then its my "autographed " crkt laredo in lieu of the griptillian and no wave. I have carried a knife pretty much everyday since I was 12 including school and that was in the 80's, of course now that is a major no no, better not even draw a picture of a knife...or you wil great a major stink,

 

[JEB]

absolutly feel naked without one...or two...

 

[TimboKhan]

I got a pair in my tool bag right now that Dad gave to me and he bought them back in the 1960's.

LOL!

I have my Grampa Counters pair, which are pretty darn old at this point. My own pair was bought in the mid-80's and have been around the world! Sadly, the good, worn in pouches for both are long gone. Grampa Counter lost his years ago, and mine fell apart.

 

[toivo]

Yes, always have at least one. I think I got my first one when I was in the second grade, and have never been without one since.

Any Schrade fans? I sometimes drive by the ruins of the old Schrade factory in Walden, NY. Here it is when it was operating:

That's only a part of it--there's a whole complex of red brick buildings, now abandoned and overgrown. After a fire in the '50s, they moved down the road to Ellenville, but a few years ago they shut down that plant too. Bye-bye American manufacturing...

 

[bsheets20061]

Here in ohio I always have my knife can't stand a minute of the day without it. I even had it in my pocket on my wedding day . I don't know many around these parts who don't consistantly carry one.

 

[Deus Machina]

When the Cub Scouts trusted me enough to hold a knife, my father gave me a three-blade Diamond Honed (An OldTimer, maybe?) knife with amazingly dense faux wood. I remember the thing like I remember my own birthday, and only wish I was as interested in it back then. I have no idea what happened to it. Probably dropped or stolen on a scout trip.

Spent quite a while without a knife because every day was at school where we weren't trusted with anything more than plastic scissors, but halfway through high school, a 2" Gerber went into my pocket the minute I was in the door. Still have that, but it's got a little chip in the blade.

Now, I feel more naked without my knife than I do without my gun, and must have, at the very least, a snap-blade cutter or a 1 7/8" Case knife. More often, (since my Case lockback went AWOL ) it's my Kershaw OC2 or, more recently, Scallion.

They get some odd looks at work (I've been called 'the guy with a switchblade'), but the work-issue cutters are less sharp than my thumbnail, and I just can't carry a razor blade when I need to carry something in the other hand.

I remember that Diamond Honed kept an edge forever, and my dad bought that for just that reason. These days I'm pickier about my knives--the clip on the Scallion feels backwards--and I'll let a decent edge slide, but I'm not actually satisfied with anything less than Kershaw's factory 'shaving sharp'. Unfortunately, my knives rarely come up that sharp the second time around.

 

[Flintknapper]

Have one with me everyday (anywhere legal).

I grew up in Austin, so I am surprised to hear of anyone being "shocked" that someone there was carrying a knife.

Austin may be the liberal bastion of Texas...but that lady must have been a transplant from somewhere else (San Francisco comes to mind).


Flint.

 

[kali13]

I live in Austin. I carry a knife everywhere I am legally allowed (Usually a Cold Steel AK-47 or a Vaquero Grande). Mainly as an everyday tool, but also for self defense if needed. Lots of people do here. It's no big deal. Perhaps, this lady was one of our many new arrivals from California?

 

[Skyshot]

As a tech rep I use a knife every day on the job, from cutting wire to shaving machine cases to fabrications. I work on a lot of equipment for the goverment and sometimes I have to leave it out in my vehicle, for instance, if I am working in a prison, and that's understandable. But when question about my knife I always ask the person If he or she thinks that the rest of my tools could not be used as a weapon. It's quite funny to hear them rationalize thier P.C. my grandfather always said "what kind of man don't carry a Knife ?" I guess we all know the answer to that one.

 

[DM~]

I absolutely DO feel naked without my pocket knife!

DM

 

[Mitch from LA]

Have one with me everyday (anywhere legal).

I grew up in Austin, so I am surprised to hear of anyone being "shocked" that someone there was carrying a knife.

Austin may be the liberal bastion of Texas...but that lady must have been a transplant from somewhere else (San Francisco comes to mind).


Flint.

England if the accent is to be believed (which would make sense). However there are a lot of folks around here (and elsewhere) that seem scared of just about any knife (usually guys in women's pants IMHO). It got me curious about how people view knives in general.