As you say, it's largely a matter of common sense and presentation. A smaller knife is going to be perceived much differently in an office setting than a bigger, more tactical knife. I'll carry a different knife depending on the setting. I like axis locks and flippers, but if someone else is in the kitchen where I work, I'll open my knife like an old-time pocket knife rather than a switchblade. Like those gun rights activists who want to open carry "black rifles" in town; it may be legal, but you do your cause no favors if you act inappropriately to your setting.
Great video! I think my wife is a little embarrassed that I always carry a knife but I guess my 5 year old daughter is proud of it. Two weekends ago we went to a birthday party for one of my 5yr old daughter's friends and the girl was having trouble opening the packaging on one of her presents. My daughter immediately, and very loudly, said several times "my dad has a knife". Because my wife was clearly mortified I just said that if the girls parents wanted me to open the package I would. Eventually the package was brought to me and I opened it. Once we got home, my wife told my daughter that she probably shouldn't announce to everyone that her dad has a knife. My daughter, being a curious 5yr old, said "why?" I jumped in and answered that "even though daddy carries a knife as a tool some people think of them as weapons to hurt people" and added that "I don't think many people actually use them in that way." My daughter responded with "those people are silly." Not wanting to call my wife silly, I left it at that.
I worked at a Credit Union for a couple years, and on my first day, I realized I'd brought my Crooked River to work. Lunchtime rolls around, I'm cutting up an apple and one of my coworkers gives me the side-eye like "did we just hire a murderer?" So I started also bringing a Dragonfly to cut open boxes, envelopes, etc A couple months down the road, and I brought in a couple of folding box knives to just have around the office, and people started using them. Next I brought in a mid-grade kitchen knife for the lunchroom (partially so I didn't have to worry about my pivots). Fast forward a couple more months and if the box cutters are across the room, my co-workers are asking to borrow my Dragonfly. The kitchen knives are dirty, I can use a larger pocket knife without comment. Slow, repeated, exposure to knives-as-everyday-tools changed my office's perception of both myself and pocketknives. Got to be by the time I left, I could bring up being excited about a new knife order in the same conversation as someone else talking about a new driver or putter.
My coworkers are 50/50. Some hate my knives, some love seeing what new knives I get and are always asking what knife I’m carrying. When I first got my ZT452CF one of my coworkers commented it was too big and looked too dangerous to own. Long story short, I brought in my espada xl the next day and now she doesn’t have an issue with the ZT.
So awhile back I got a full black PM2 and found not too long after that a lot of people were afraid of it. They called it a “tactical weapon” so I stripped the DLC and gave it a 600 grit satin and suddenly people were a lot more okay with it. Weird how color and texture can affect people’s responses
Ha! I used to tie a pink bandana around my male 90-lb German Sherherd's neck when I took him to a park for some exercise. Kids were fine with him (or her).
Few places is this more evident than with knives and firearms. Mossberg shotgun with polymer bits? Weapon of combat. Old 870 with beat up wood? Grandpappy’s duck hunting stick. That being said, a PM2 with a good set of wood scales looks fantastic imo
When I was in culinary school, I carried around a tiny kershaw cinder, since it's legal to carry small folding knives on campus. Pulled it out to open a box, and my friend said "Dude why do you carry that with you?" Keep in mind, the knife kits needed for class included 8 inch chefs knives which would make a 1000x better weapon than a tiny ass kershaw cinder lmao.
While I agree, many places are in the midst of an ongoing moral panic about knife crime, which comes with a magnification effect - 'you' carry a Dragonfly for box opening, but 'they' see a Voyager XL for throat slitting. This comes from a lack of understanding reinforced by that moral panic, which has become a legitimate phobia. Phobias can be overcome. Someone with vertigo will overcome it literally step by step; they start by taking one extra step on the staircase or step ladder, then another, and so on. It's not entirely at their pace, or it might never happen, but neither is flooding a solution unless requested by the phobic. That step-by-step process you advocate is the only way to overcome this moral panic. I make it a point (pun intended) now that if I am operating a one-hand-opening knife of any description, I consciously, deliberately, and slowly open and close it with two hands if I am around people who don't know me and don't know their way around knives. When they loosen up, they invariably ask something like "what's the hole for?" and then I show them by slowly opening and closing the knife one-handed (no spydieflicks or any other tricks... at least at first).
Hey Nick, thanks for making this video! I recently retired from military and brought a bunch of knives home, my mother honestly feared for her life when she saw them. I had to sit her down and explain to her how my knives are just tools not murder weapons. I even bought her an Opinel for her kitchen chores. Now she loves it :)
I recently had an experience taking an adult education class at a technical institute that I had originally thought was simply a Career Education School when it turned out that it was actually a high school. In those circumstances there are simply no knives permitted of any kind on the premises at any time. That's an example of a battle that simply isn't worth trying to fight. Now I just leave my knife at home while I'm at class or leave it in the car. Obviously that's a very specific example and I don't believe that one should always yield to the irrational fears of others - especially if one knows he or she will likely be cutting some boxes..
I’m glad I haven’t had to deal with much of this involving knives. Even post 9-11 my high school principal always had a buck 110 on his belt, and we all had our own pocket knives in class as well. After 18 years in the automotive industry I finally had a customer look at me scared for pulling out my benchmade 940 to perform a cutting task they needed done. The lady looked scared and was speechless. Her young son was scared, but spoke up and asked why I carried a knife. I just told him it was a tool I use to perform various cutting tasks at work such as the task they had presented me with. He went from scared to inquisitive, and mom went from scared to looking a little upset that I presented a non fearful image of knives to her son. I just said no more and continued doing what they needed done, smiled and wished them a nice day. She didn’t say anything not even thank you for the work I did. I think in situations like that, the best thing you can do is be as kind and as non threatening as possible. Answer questions short and to the point, don’t argue, just agree to disagree and don’t show that their disapproval bothers you. You can’t change their mind, only they can do that. I did this with a coworker involving guns. He went from “why do you need anything other than a hunting rifle?” To owning his own suppressed SBR. That was a decision only he could make for him self.
I think this would be particularly helpful in the UK where the mere sight of a knife is likely to end up with a call to the police despite there being knives that you can legally carry. People automatically assume that if you have a knife you're there to do harm and there is no reason to carry one. These people don't realise that most knife crime is done by youths with cheap or stolen kitchen knives, not someone with an appreciation for nice tools and is carrying an MKM Fara or Fox Suru. I have a very bright torch which is far better for defence than the small knives that I am allowed to carry, do people try to ban torches... nope, you're right Nick it's an irrational fear of the of the object rather than the persons intentions.
I live in the UK and yeah, there's so many people who seem to think that virtually any knife is a weapon and that anyone carrying one out in public lawfully is no better than some yob carrying a kitchen knife going out looking for some poor sod they can relieve of their valuables. Spyderco is one of the most popular knife brands in the UK, which genuinely surprises me because the pointy blades, the black g10 and the one-handed opening are a perfect storm for having some pearl-clutcher call the police on you because 'oh my god he has a knife'. I carry an Arthur Wright sheepsfoot knife (traditional handmade slipjoint, wooden scales, brass liners, 2.5in 75cr blade, etc) because it's perfectly sufficient for what I need it for and because it very much plays into my personal aesthetic sensibilities, but I've noticed people don't generally act scared of it like they do with other knives I've carried, such as the Spyderco Honeybee (even though the Honeybee is significantly smaller than the Wright), which I think is in large part because it looks a lot less 'weaponlike' by the average person's reckoning due to the snub nose, etc. I have in fact had good conversations with people about UK knife law when I've brought it out to cut a loose thread or something, who previously had the perception that you needed 'a good reason' to carry any knife or that carrying any knife was illegal, which simply isn't true (you can carry a knife for general purpose usage in the uk so long as it's a non-locking, non-automatic folder with a sharpened edge of no greater than 3 inches/7.62cm - you need 'a good reason' such as your job or camping etc. for knives which fall outwith that specification), and who had this perception because of constant scaremongering from the media and the police alike telling people that knives are always invariably dangerous weapons carried only by people who're going out looking for trouble. The common perception most people have of knives pains me greatly because even with something very unassuming like a traditional sheepsfoot knife, you still get the salvation army types who are scared of literally everything and think youths wearing hooded tops are the one true threat to society who always ask 'and WHY do you have a knife' if you bring it out to do something, then look at you like you just pissed in their tea when you respond with 'because the law says I can carry it'. Ideally I would have a barlow knife, which is a style people have carried since the 17th century, but because it's a type of clip-point knife I just know I'd have people freaking out about it if I did carry one, so it's simply less stressful not to. Here's to people not jumping at shadows anymore and remembering that a knife is just another tool - if it's used in a crime, the problem isn't the knife itself but the person wielding it. Even if that person didn't have a knife, they could use literally anything else as a weapon instead. Demonising the tool is just the government's way of avoiding solving the problems behind why people feel that they need to use them to threaten people with in the first place because that would require actual work on their part beyond picking up a big rubber stamp that reads 'BAN' and applying it to a piece of paper.
I find that if you give them a heads up ‘I’ve got a pocket knife to open this’ then pull it out and open it like your grandad did and if it’s a Dozier as opposed to a cold steel code 4 people are usually cool. You’ve giving them a heads up, you’re kind of asking them permission and you’ve reminded them that their grandad used to carry one and he wasn’t a psycho.
I worked as a janitor in a hospital. I unpacked 500 pounds of supplies every week. I was also responsible for recycling said boxes and carrying them around. I got a Spyderco Bug to at least open the boxes, and people were legit uneasy about me having a "knife" and wanted me to go with a scissor or a scalpel instead.
If it's in a city/professional setting, then go Swiss Army knife hands down! Nothing is less scary and more useful and practical (except maybe a multi tool). You can use the little blade to open boxes and things. You can use the big blade to cut your Apple or whatever (all the while without cross contaminating the blades) and you have the other tools for whatever you need. It's an absolute win-win situation. I don't know why people think they have to get people to like modern day folders. I love them don't get me wrong, but a traditional knife stockman/trapper/Swiss Army etc. is just as good as anything else and is more socially acceptable. The more I get into knives, the more I get into the old skool knives. They just have more uses. As for Swiss Army Knives, they can do virtually anything a modern folders can do except hold an edge as long. If we are talking light duty city EDC, then SAK's are hard to beat if you are being honest with yourself. They are not as flashy or fun to play with but are just as practical. Try getting someone who is anti knife to get on board with a SAK, THEN get them in to modern folders later once they get the sickness we all share. Just my opinion. Jesus loves you all. Peace.
I used to carry my griptilian to my college art class. One day I was cutting a thick board with it and one of my class mates gave me a stare, but I kept on cutting and throughout the semester everyone got used to it because I was calm
Usually I get a "why do you carry a knife" from a person whom I'm helping with my knife at that moment. This is frustrating but I've developed a degree of tolerance to such questions, so I calmly explain why I actually need it. The funniest moment was when my co-worker asked whether I carried my Victorinox Pioneer for self defence. It can only defend a criminal by cutting of my own fingers, I guess.
I agree about the marketing point. Car makers don't sell us on the crowd plowing prowess for their cars. If there is a zombie apocalypse in the future I will change my tune for knife and car marketing.
The asshole in me wants to say "Teach them logic" in that it's not a weapon in the true sense of the word until theirs intent to do harm. (example-cars) But people tend to "think" with their emotions. So based on that I think it would be more effective to explain/show why your passionate about knives (design,materials,etc) .example, yeah it looks a bit scary but I picked it because of this design (then show them with your hand why you love that design, bringing it back to passion) or it has this blade steel so that I don't have to sharpening as often / worry about staining/ etc. Thanks for your great vids.
When it does work for me, I've noticed that this tends to be the best approach. Explaining first how a slip-joint works and using something like a Victorinox, then pulling out an extremely non-threatening, historic locking knife (a Mercator K55K in my personal experience), then moving up to something more modern/advanced but still locking (the Buck 110 I got from their custom shop with an S30V blade and explaining how the blade is made of a much more modern steel), then showing a liner lock on a Leatherman Surge, then pulling out a Spyderco Delica to show a modern backlock, and just slowly but surely getting them up to something like a Spyderco Endura 4 where it's big, but not murdery, and if they can take that, then slowly building them up further. I also got the BladeHQ exclusive Boker Kwaiken with the brass bolsters and micarta scales in part due to this. I get a VG-10 flipper with a very inoffensive look to it (especially since I figured out how to slowly "roll out" the blade--and yes, they added jimping to the tab since Nick did the review on the Kwaiken--and then pinch the spine if I'm not flipping it). A guy who was totally indifferent to knives thought that was "cool" when I pulled it out, so I have high hopes for that. I wrote elsewhere here that I'm a bit of a fatalist living on the fringes of a college town (despite living in an auto legal area that's legally-speaking very knife-friendly), so it's honestly not easy, but the few people I have converted via exposure (including up through autos!) have gotten a large dose of the "but you won't dispute that it's technologically interesting because..." argument.
One I've used that seems to work most of the time is- " I need this piece of string cut. If I hold it up like this, could you please cut it with my pocket knife? Thanks! " Then tell them about the pivot and the maker and oh I've got to go thanks for your help. It sometimes opens a door , or window depending on your denomination. ..😃
Try living in the UK I almost cut a finger off yesterday cutting up cardboard with a Spyderco UKPK. It's a great knife for light task's but wish I could carry one of my other 24 locking knives. 🙂
Try the Byrd Tern, looks similar but the slip joint is way stiffer. I know it's the cheaper option but having handled both and owning a lot of non locking sub 3inch knives it's the one I'd trust the most not to fold up on me (apart from the straight razor style opening ones like the svord peasant mini and Tops tac-raze)
this is so true I live in a country where not a lot of people carry knifes and the ones that do are normally shady characters waiting to rob you with ugly old rusted knifes nothing fancy like on this channel but I started carrying my knife daily and now most of the guys in my office area is carrying knifes as well as they noticed how useful it is it just took some time to show them that its not just a weapon but rather a useful item
As a former police officer, the definition of a “weapon”, I’m familiar with, is anything that can cause great bodily harm or death. A screwdriver, butter knife, pencil, hammer, ax, machete, car, etc. basically it depends on the manner in which it’s used or the intent. Fortunately, in my state (WA), knives don’t have length limits, unless it’s displayed in a manner that causes fear to other people. Unfortunately, automatics, dirks or daggers, and balisongs are illegal. Really doesn’t make sense as flipper knives and regular knives can be deployed just as fast. Knives are a very common tool, that in my experience, many many people carry. In fact, law enforcement was how I got into collecting knives. Police officers almost always carry knives while on and off the job. Yeah, a knife makes a great weapon and is capable of devastating injuries, at least in my experience, but I’ve seen injuries from the aforementioned objects as well, including a pencil. Unfortunately, people, now days are scared of their shadows, but the best thing we can do, as knife owners is to be responsible in how we carry them, and use good discretion when using them.
The legal deffinition of weapon is very similar in Slovakia, as the criminal code defines it as any object that can make an attack against the body more devastating. Fortunately you can legally carry whatever you like (autos, ballisongs, boxers....) unless it is very inappropriate and causes fear to other people, like walking into the bank with machette or axe or going to the pub with boxer or telescopic batton. Still I got scared reactions from female workes when tey saw a clip sticking out my pocket in an office environment. Oh man, I need to move back, I miss the freedom to carry whatever you like.
so, several years ago I had a coworker threaten to "call security" on me at over a .5 inch gerber keychain knife. At which point I politely pointed out every item in the room with which I could more effectively kill her with than the small non sharp box cutter on my keychain......never bothered me again. it took 45 minutes summarize every item visable in in the room.
Open your knife with 2 hands, even if your don’t have to, and people are a lot less scared. People are also a lot less scared of SAKs and Leatherman or Leatherman type tools. Opinels are good too.
As a forty year plus cyclist who has been struck by every type of motorized vehicle known to mankind, I walk people to the window at work and point out to the parking lot to show them a real instrument of death. I ask them how their drive into work was today and invariably they talk about the tailgater or crazy speeder using all three or four lanes weaving in and out of traffic. Then I ask them .. And you're worried about me bringing a pocketknife to work to open packages?
Totally agree. Slightly different, yet similar, my mother was terrified of spiders most of her adult life. Quite a few things, actually. A tiny wren got in the house once and she ran from it like it was a velociraptor. But spiders just freaked her out. It was bad enough that I stopped telling her if I happened to see one near her and would just catch it and relocate it. And I guess seeing me do that helped her realize they weren't so scary after all. She still didn't like them, but she didn't try to run through walls to get away from them anymore.
Thanks for a comfortable discussion about anti-knifers...you hit that one out of the park. Examples of knife companies that keep down the violence in their advertising :- A.G. Russell, Spyderco, Benchmade. Examples of knife companies that use violence & macho behavior to sell knives:- Cold Steel, Medford, ZT, Emerson. "Art knives", colored handle scales, "gentleman knives", non-locking blades...help to lessen the "violence". ( discreet pocket clips, eg. wire clips, deep carry clips, tiny & "see through" clips all help).
My girlfriend was largely afraid of knives when we first met and come to think about it had many differing views on things compared to me. Just spending time near me got her used to the idea of knives being tools in general, and to me a form of art. Same thing happened with cars and watches as well. Now I actually get aesthetic feedback from her on new designs and the like. If you don't treat it like a big deal, people will accept it as normal over time. Great video Nick!
I do have a fear of knives that causes me to actually feel physical discomfort and I can not be around people using knives. It is still a trigger if I am touching the knife or if someone else is touching it
My experience is that most bad reactions are caused by what knife you’re carrying. I’m an Iowa farm boy who learned long ago bigger knives get more work done faster. Probably my favorite knife is my Benchmade Monolock with its 3.75” clip point blade. But it almost always generates a reaction when I pull it out to use as a tool. Even in settings where I thought it would be normal like where men work with their hands & use tools it still gets a reaction. So I’ve relegated it to outdoor activities only. My favorite edc is now a Fox TUR with a 2.75” blade. That doesn’t generate nearly as much reaction. Now that I’m moving to Chicago I’m looking for a suitable knife under 2.5”. Awckkkk!
Since I've started working at the library, half of my colleagues got themselves different Victorinox knives. I don't count this as my personal achievement, but I influenced it in a settle way :)
I carry all the time, wherever I go. Multiple knives for various uses. Almost no one ever even knows I have them. I don't whip them out without need, and don't make a production out of it when I need to open a box. I just use it and put it away. I haven't had much problem with anyone who''s overly fearful. I've been asked about it a few times, and when I geek out about knife collecting, people understand I'm not an aspiring serial killer, but just a collector who carries his tools.
This is really similar to the psychological phobia treatment either Systematic Desensitization or exposure therapy. They are both great ways of getting over crippling phobias or minor fears alike.
Good stuff, Nick. I had a good friend who was all "I can't believe you carry that with you everywhere !!" (Kershaw Blackout) I made him a gift of a Kershaw Scallion. A week and a half later he comes up to me with a sheepish look: "Where can I get another one of those knives? I lost mine and I can't live without it- I use it for everything...." True story.
I've whipped out my D/A OTF many times in the produce department of my local Fry's to cut tomato vines. If the 3 second process of taking it out of my pocket, deploying the blade, making the cut, retracting the blade and putting it away freaks you out, how is that my problem?
Smallest I’ve carried was a Kershaw Cryo, still a pretty utilitarian knife. I’ve met more people who are curious why you carry a knife rather then why it’s so big and scary. Best response, I have big hands so I need a bigger knife, plain and simple, doesn’t make it more or less deadly
Yes I agree and for some reason the emotional response from some people who have never handled knives or aren’t used to seeing them is negative. I use knives daily for different tasks and at first when I flipped out my manix 2 people at my job were a little put off, but as the months went by people asked to borrow my knives to use on a regular basis so it became normal to carry.
I once pulled my knife to do something on a golf course and was asked "are you going to stab me? " It seems to me that a golf club could be much more of a weapon, but they were more afraid of my three inch knife could do to them.
I have a substantial collection of knives. My wife has never understood why. She's not "afraid" of knives but she is apprehensive. I've been trying to get her to carry a knife for about 9 years now and it took all of that to be comfortable enough to consider it. She was intimated by their appearance, so I introduced her to the dragonflys and ladybugs. Finally, recently, she settled on an opinel no. 8. Hey, its not much but after 9 years, I'm making progress...
I'm used to the feeling, especially in my town, so with new people I always have a simple gradient, I carry a Victorinox Classic with them, get them used to me carrying a knife, and then I go to my normal EDC, which while not very menacing (It's a Dragonfly 2), it has a wide blade that can be off-putting to some people, and I make it a habit to test the waters with it. It's worked with quite a few people, who otherwise likely would've been turned off by my carrying a knife (like I said, my town is a tad odd), and generally by the time I'm carrying my Dragonfly around them, it's no big deal
I like having a knife in my pocket precisely because I do thik of it as a weapon.I'm in my sixties,and because of the type of work I've done,and the area,(ghettos)I've been in,I have been in more fights then you'd beleive,and I've never used a knife in a fight,(I personally prefer a club),but it's awfully nice to know if you need it,it's there
Perfectly said Nick, at first when my co-worker sees me carry knife, they gave me this concern/disgust look. And that is, we work at a restaurant and you can't go more than 10 feet without seeing a knife :)) But after awhile of demonstrating to them how useful this little sharp pocket tool is, they got used to it. And yes, they ask to borrow my knife, although I usually do the cutting task myself as I carry rather expensive knives.
Whip out an Espada XL wave style from each pocket, and explain to them in a calm tone that these objects are not dangerous weapons, while not blinking and keeping stern eye contact.
This is why I carry 2 different styles of knives on me, a traditional folder and a more modern folder. If I get a feel that they don't like knives or whatever I'll break out the traditional or if they are more familiar with them I'll use the modern style
"I AM THE LIVING MAN!!!!!!" Excellent video Nick as always. A great way to look at it. I carry a knife with me all the time and I work retail. I don't really bring it up with people who aren't knife people. I just use it as a tool like it's supposed to be used, I use it when necessary, and I put it away when I'm done. Just don't be a jackass is the moral of the story.
It may go without saying but I think it's good to point out that people should be careful in choosing the times they really want to try to change people's minds. I don't think it's worth losing a job or possibly having the police called if someone is just irrationally afraid and won't listen to reason.
I am trying to do this more, just comment and say good job to creators that I have watched and really enjoy. It’s not a donation, but just know at least one more person likes your content!
Its true. I used to bring my knife to work everyday. One time my co worker got into them because of me. And once i tried showing him how to flip it better and we where flicking it alot in a short amount of time and that was the point the boss said something about it and banned them. Even though ive used it months before that time..it really is how you present it
I work in a retail clothing store in the mall. The first week I worked there I asked my manager if I can use my personal pocket knife. She said the company doesn't allow personal knifes, But she said it was ok for me to use my knife. Only rules between her and I was dont plunge my knife in shipment boxes and dont whip it out in front of customers, I agreed. That was at the beginning of the year in January. Plus I rotate out my knifes like every day and a couple coworkers mention that to me. I just tell them straight up that I'm into knife collecting, their not like "oh no knifes, scary" more like tell me more about them. So talk about brands, blade, length, types, and most importantly laws in different states. It's nice working with people that respect what you're into.
My dads new wife actually made him give most of his knives away, some of them even to me. I, on the other hand didn't really care about her opinion about knives. So i usually have a knife in my pocket and even handed her a knife on a few occasions when she had to cut something. The fun thing is that she is a chef and she have a few sets of really nice kitchen knives. One day we discussed knife steels and it turns out that she has a set of VG10 kitchen knives. I had no idea that was actually a thing and i explained to her that i had a few VG10 folders. I guess she was just afraid of folding knives for some unknown reason. Anyway, i gave my dad a Kershaw flipper for his birthday a few months ago and i could tell he liked it a lot but was kinda waiting for her responce when they were alone. I didn't see it for a while but the last time i saw him he was carrying it. Funny how things turn out. 😉 Edit. It was just a stonewashed Leek by the way. Nothing too deadly looking.
Great advice. Treat it is a fear.,we all got them not necessary a knife but what ever. But it's harder to understand and explain that for me "it's a tool" It just doesn't cut it. But thoose people with thoose fears for the "object" not the person behind it. It's hard to get the words right for a mutual understanding.
Reminds me of one of my little cousins, who a few years ago on christmas, needed some wires cut in order to fully open his present. I am the only guy in my family who carries a knife, so i offer to open it the rest of the way for him and he agrees. Halfway through me freeing his present from its box he asks me, dead serious: "why do you always carry a knife". I said "to open up presents, would you prefer i stop using my knife right now?" (Of course we didnt speak english to eachother, because i live in belgium, but the original conversation wouldnt make much sense to most reading this) I feel like i slightly changed his mind about knives that day.
Jack Nemo Yes, but "I" type on a very shitty ipad and every button "I" can skip makes my day slightly better. I also dont use ' a lot because of this. Sorry if it bothers you.
Great vid Nick... battle born, zero tolerance, death on contact, and the main steam media, how else would a non knife person see it... even my woman showed anxiety when I carried a knife. Not anymore! She has two herself. My point is, once exposed to the real knife community, they will come around. Then again... for the ass hats out there just tell them it’s the oldest tool known to man, and ask them if they could find a use for one or two, as a TOOL! Not a weapon! Now go out there a buy a knife.
From my experience? Give them one, saying it will come in handy on more occasions, then they would expect, just require they do carry it on them. Just let them fidget with your own knife first to let them get accustomed and be sure to answer any questions regarding the knife's handling and such. Generally be very educative and forgiving in that initial stage. I've already successfully converted two people, one of whom was very sceptical, while the other used to be downright terrified by folding knives / pocket knives.
My girlfriend was afraid of knives but I bought her a pink mermaid Master Collection that I serviced and sharped before hand to give it the best action she loved it for how it looked and she really likes pink so then she slowly started to steal my more expensive knives even took my folding Adamas I bought her a pink mini-grip for her birthday and put a pink aftermarket clip, clip screws and scale screws on it and she loves it
Look, I don't know what mall lawn lobbys have to do with carrying a knife, but as a warehouse worker, my job is opening boxes and breaking down cardboard. Like, I carry a strop next to my Leatherman on my belt to keep the ole native salt shiny. I've found bright obnoxious colors become a novelty and my boss refers to my knife as "rubber ducky knife".
good video Nick. i know allot of people know this but just like guns and knives, they are only as dangerous as the type of person using them. The people who are scared of knives needs to realize that just cause someone has a knife doesn't make them dangerous. So if those people watch the actions of an average person using a knife for their every day use then I think that may also help people be more comfortable around knives.
I tell people that if someone comes at me with a knife, my blade is staying in my pocket. My priority would be not getting cut, so I'm going to avoid a knife fight. If I can't run away, I'll be looking for a shield, not a weapon. The idea that I wouldn't want to use it for personal defense really shows how little I see it as a weapon. I also tell them that I see a pocket knife as a utensil more than anything else, a way to slice an apple and spread peanut butter on it. If they seem doubtful, I show them my EDC spork to demonstrate my commitment to avoiding plastic utensils.
I've never seen someone in daily life freak out 'cause someone had a utility knife they weren't using as a weapon. My problem is all the local governments in my area, which have unreasonably restrictive knife laws, with a blade length limit of just 2.5 inches so they can have a pretext to suck more people into the criminal justice system. Everyone who isn't a target for the cops and is not likely to be frisked or have their cars searched can ignore these laws, so there's no push to change them. It hasn't done anything to lower violent crime, as this area (Cleveland) has one of the highest violent crime rates in America. Funny thing is, I can get a license to carry a handgun with multiple magazines, but when I measure the blade on a little, harmless Victorinox Spartan, I'm not sure if it's actually legal depending on how they measure the blade. It's absurd.
6 років тому+1
I live in New Mexico, and it blows my mind how I cannot carry an auto, balisong, or anything over 3" (unless it's a fixed blade, carried openly). Ever....Yet I can get a permit to carry a pistol (concealed or openly on the hip) for about $100 and a Saturday afternoon seminar.
At least you get 3 inches, but yeah, it drives me crazy. I'm constantly torn over whether I should ignore the local knife laws or obey them, as I think it's unlikely at this point in my life that I'll be frisked by a cop. And if I ever did catch a charge, I could probably plea bargain it away, but I dunno. I have a bunch of EDC blades that conform to the laws but my preferred blade length is just over 3 inches.
6 років тому
I wouldn't worry...but then again, you never know. Life has a way of sometimes cascading into total "F-you" mode. I've had more than one REALLY bad day. Where everything seems to come down on me with unrelenting and unwarranted hellfire harshness. I have never been busted for knife violations, though. I still think it's crazy that a 6" fixed blade, worn openly on the belt is OK in NM, but a folder over 3" in the pocket (concealed!) is wrong... Oh, and yeah.., It's a way to generate more income for the state. Fines, etc. Legal fees. Also look at how it might effect the poor, minorities, low level 'criminals' like pot smokers...It's all about money and outdated views. Sadly.
Usually I only get a knife out when i'm needing to cut something, so if someone asks me why I carry I usually just say "for situations like this". This tends to be especially effective when the thing that needs cutting is for them because they are struggling with something. Typically they look at me as if to say "fair point" and nothing else is said. I've never really met people that are genuinely fearful though, and I think that would be a very different situation.
I carry a Boker Urban Trapper with cocobolo handle that I use daily for lunch. I don’t use table knives and steak knives because well, they suck. People are used to me carrying a knife because its just my utensil.
Living in Idaho no doubt people have different attitudes about knives as fishing, hunting and backpacking are common pastimes. In addition open carry is not uncommon, so seeing someone with a 9mm on their hip is not rare, although often people roll their eyes at these folk. But knives are still seen as scary to some. I started using my Case Hobo knife at work to eat lunch. People love the fun of it and sometimes I am not even using the knife, just the spoon and fork. My boss asked me about it as she needed a gift idea for her husband. I also mention I am using a few hundred less plastic utensils a year, which environmentally oriented people appreciate. The knives I carry in my pocket at work are either my Case doctor’s knife or my Chris Reeve Mnandi. I have a Benchmade OTF auto that I love, but do hesitate to bring out in some situations. When tavelling it is hard to beat a Swiss Army knife, as a tiny pair of scissors and a toothpick seem to render the blade less scary.
Good points all around, but I'll continue to carry my BM Presidio 1, not BMs most expensive specimen but ticks evey box on what I like to carry. Until I can get my fingers on a PM 2 Tanto lol. Also I've lent my pocket knife to everyone in my life on multiple occasions.
That's very reasonable, Cassandra, and I'm really sorry to hear that. Talking to a professional might help, EMDR is amazing for helping through trauma. But luckily, there are many ways to cut open an envelope.
“Always carry a knife with you. Just in case there’s cheesecake...”. -General James Mattis I feel like there’s an issue here around how one defines a weapon. I’m a longtime martial artist and would define a weapon as anything you could use to physically harm someone, which certainly includes knives (some more than others). And even though I use knives to open boxes at work, a major factor in how much I wind up carrying a particular knife is how confident I feel using it if I were ever forced to defend myself or others. How fast does it deploy, and how good is the grip? Is there something to prevent my fingers from sliding onto the blade? I think largely it’s a security blanket because as you’ve discussed, feeling prepared for any situation gives you a certain level of comfort. For those of us who care about the ability to defend ourselves, however unlikely the need, violence is just another situation we choose to be prepared for. But whenever someone asks me why I carry, I stick with “opening boxes at work,” or “in case there’s cheesecake.” Those are far more realistic reasons, and are also true. I also avoid anything billed as “tactical” because the word usually describes an aesthetic rather than what features the knife has that might make it well-suited for self-defense, and also because I’m not trying to scare people every time I open a box. Another random musing, if people aren’t afraid of kitchen knives they shouldn’t be afraid of folding knives... most kitchen knives are much better suited towards using as weapons. Anyway, your advise is spot-on. I’ve got a couple coworkers asking me for knives now.
I find the best approach with non/anti-knife folk is a nice mangling cut while doing some practical task with said knife. Or at least that worked with my childhood friend, who while traumatized, a year later was edc’ing his own knife. 🤷♂️😂
Nick, I'm trying. I also more often than not feel like I'm spinning my wheels. But then, I think part of it is circumstance. I live on the fringes of a college town (at a college I attend on and off...health) where you actually DO unfortunately find some ugly rhetoric about more or less any sort of knife. These people do serious harm, in my opinion, to the people without opinions because they do not fear knives; rather they disdain them. I've actually tried to convert those people with some of the most historically interesting, inoffensive designs you can think of (Victorinox Tinker, Mercator K55K, then you move up to something a little more modern or gimmicky like the Spyderco Bug I use to cut plastic model kit parts off their sprues) and I should have realized that some of that effort was hopeless--although I noticed these people rarely if ever fear knives. They just seem to look down on their owners (myself included) and really want people to share their views in some cases. I realize you're never going to get everyone, but as long as you have the handful of diehard anti-knife people spewing their bile, it's an uphill battle. There have been a few converts along the way (including the girl I love, who is not afraid of autos at this point, as I am in a VERY auto-friendly state and local area, legally-speaking), and I am proud of that, but when someone tells you, and I quote, "look, I just don't care; knives will never be anything more than weapons to me" and you can tell they actually mean it and DON'T care what you're saying *and* what you've shown them is your SwissChamp...it's discouraging. Another kid...grad student, too...well, with him, just the fear in his eyes at being shown a Victorinox Tinker showed me he either had a true psychological phobia like you talk about in the opening or has never been out and about in the world. And I'm never gonna win that guy over. A tip I've learned along the way, while I'm here: I guarantee you that if I pulled out a Spyderco Military with a satin blade and never spoke the name and a Spyderco Delica 4 with a black blade, they would say the black-bladed knife looked scarier. I own neither (yet...my Delica is a plain Jane VG-10 with black handle and satin finish and a Military is one of those "to buy" knives), but it's just been my experience that black blade=scary, satin/stonewashed/acid-washed blade=not scary to these unfortunate individuals. I dunno Nick...am I sounding a little fatalistic?
Its the oldest tool in the world! Ridiculous to even have to defend your position for having a pocketknife, someone getting scared when you use a pocketknife to cut open a box and asking you why you have that weapon (as if you're going to attack them just bc you have it) is just as absurd as pulling out a screwdriver to unscrew something and frightening someone bc you have the potential to stab them with it.
I had this one socially challenged person explain why he was afraid of knives. He said i'm not afraid of knives i'm afraid of what I will do if I get that knife. e.g. smash his phone with it. So in his cas his problem was lack of self confidence. This is what happens if you sit around thinking about things instead of doing things.
As you say, it's largely a matter of common sense and presentation. A smaller knife is going to be perceived much differently in an office setting than a bigger, more tactical knife. I'll carry a different knife depending on the setting. I like axis locks and flippers, but if someone else is in the kitchen where I work, I'll open my knife like an old-time pocket knife rather than a switchblade. Like those gun rights activists who want to open carry "black rifles" in town; it may be legal, but you do your cause no favors if you act inappropriately to your setting.
I do like how every time Nick puts down the Coldsteel Voyager knife it induces what appears to be a minor earthquake.
The USGS is going to make me start pre-registering my filming times...
@@NickShabazz you really should be careful considering your newly acquired geological circumstances
MOLON LABE! MILAN LABAY! MALONE LABE! MALAN LOBE! MOLAR LABE! MOLTEN LAVA! MOLON LABIA! MOLAR PAVAY! MOLON LOBBEY! MOLON LABE! AM I BEING DETAINED???!
DON'T STEP ON SNEK
sorry couldn't resist.
MOLES IN THE LOBBY!? CALL PEST CONTROL!
COLON BOBBY
Labia Minora what???
Molon labe, Mulan Lobby, millan libean, milling machine.
can I like this more than once? First for the yelling and again for don't step on snek.
Great video!
I think my wife is a little embarrassed that I always carry a knife but I guess my 5 year old daughter is proud of it.
Two weekends ago we went to a birthday party for one of my
5yr old daughter's friends and the girl was having trouble opening the packaging on one of her presents. My daughter immediately, and very loudly, said several times "my dad has a knife". Because my wife was clearly mortified I just said that if the girls parents wanted me to open the package I would. Eventually the package was brought to me and I opened it.
Once we got home, my wife told my daughter that she probably shouldn't announce to everyone that her dad has a knife. My daughter, being a curious 5yr old, said "why?" I jumped in and answered that "even though daddy carries a knife as a tool some people think of them as weapons to hurt people" and added that "I don't think many people actually use them in that way." My daughter responded with "those people are silly." Not wanting to call my wife silly, I left it at that.
I worked at a Credit Union for a couple years, and on my first day, I realized I'd brought my Crooked River to work. Lunchtime rolls around, I'm cutting up an apple and one of my coworkers gives me the side-eye like "did we just hire a murderer?" So I started also bringing a Dragonfly to cut open boxes, envelopes, etc
A couple months down the road, and I brought in a couple of folding box knives to just have around the office, and people started using them. Next I brought in a mid-grade kitchen knife for the lunchroom (partially so I didn't have to worry about my pivots).
Fast forward a couple more months and if the box cutters are across the room, my co-workers are asking to borrow my Dragonfly. The kitchen knives are dirty, I can use a larger pocket knife without comment.
Slow, repeated, exposure to knives-as-everyday-tools changed my office's perception of both myself and pocketknives. Got to be by the time I left, I could bring up being excited about a new knife order in the same conversation as someone else talking about a new driver or putter.
Really cool story. Thanks for sharing.
If someone is cooking microwaveable Indian food in the workplace, then they are more dangerous than a knife is.
MOLON LABE MY MICROWAVE CHANNA MASALA TYRANT
@@NickShabazz Okay, you can keep your masala, but never microwave fish.
😂
I smell that shit every work day and that's no lie!!
They are actually way more of a danger after they've eaten it.😂
My coworkers are 50/50. Some hate my knives, some love seeing what new knives I get and are always asking what knife I’m carrying. When I first got my ZT452CF one of my coworkers commented it was too big and looked too dangerous to own. Long story short, I brought in my espada xl the next day and now she doesn’t have an issue with the ZT.
J Muhr art of the deal! 👌
shock therapy is a real thing!😂
So awhile back I got a full black PM2 and found not too long after that a lot of people were afraid of it. They called it a “tactical weapon” so I stripped the DLC and gave it a 600 grit satin and suddenly people were a lot more okay with it. Weird how color and texture can affect people’s responses
Absolutely. Wood, even the slightest hint of it, somehow soothes the fearful.
you did a good thing, but that still hurts my soul.
Ha! I used to tie a pink bandana around my male 90-lb German Sherherd's neck when I took him to a park for some exercise. Kids were fine with him (or her).
People like that are just out to make their own drama. Too much television.
Few places is this more evident than with knives and firearms. Mossberg shotgun with polymer bits? Weapon of combat. Old 870 with beat up wood? Grandpappy’s duck hunting stick.
That being said, a PM2 with a good set of wood scales looks fantastic imo
When I was in culinary school, I carried around a tiny kershaw cinder, since it's legal to carry small folding knives on campus. Pulled it out to open a box, and my friend said "Dude why do you carry that with you?" Keep in mind, the knife kits needed for class included 8 inch chefs knives which would make a 1000x better weapon than a tiny ass kershaw cinder lmao.
"Hey Classmate! I'm gonna stab you with my 1400$ Custom folder that i bought last month!"
While I agree, many places are in the midst of an ongoing moral panic about knife crime, which comes with a magnification effect - 'you' carry a Dragonfly for box opening, but 'they' see a Voyager XL for throat slitting. This comes from a lack of understanding reinforced by that moral panic, which has become a legitimate phobia.
Phobias can be overcome. Someone with vertigo will overcome it literally step by step; they start by taking one extra step on the staircase or step ladder, then another, and so on. It's not entirely at their pace, or it might never happen, but neither is flooding a solution unless requested by the phobic. That step-by-step process you advocate is the only way to overcome this moral panic.
I make it a point (pun intended) now that if I am operating a one-hand-opening knife of any description, I consciously, deliberately, and slowly open and close it with two hands if I am around people who don't know me and don't know their way around knives. When they loosen up, they invariably ask something like "what's the hole for?" and then I show them by slowly opening and closing the knife one-handed (no spydieflicks or any other tricks... at least at first).
perhaps they went to Blade HQ and saw the prices.....?
Hey Nick, thanks for making this video! I recently retired from military and brought a bunch of knives home, my mother honestly feared for her life when she saw them. I had to sit her down and explain to her how my knives are just tools not murder weapons. I even bought her an Opinel for her kitchen chores. Now she loves it :)
Why did your mother think you would murder her?
I recently had an experience taking an adult education class at a technical institute that I had originally thought was simply a Career Education School when it turned out that it was actually a high school. In those circumstances there are simply no knives permitted of any kind on the premises at any time. That's an example of a battle that simply isn't worth trying to fight. Now I just leave my knife at home while I'm at class or leave it in the car. Obviously that's a very specific example and I don't believe that one should always yield to the irrational fears of others - especially if one knows he or she will likely be cutting some boxes..
I’m glad I haven’t had to deal with much of this involving knives. Even post 9-11 my high school principal always had a buck 110 on his belt, and we all had our own pocket knives in class as well. After 18 years in the automotive industry I finally had a customer look at me scared for pulling out my benchmade 940 to perform a cutting task they needed done. The lady looked scared and was speechless. Her young son was scared, but spoke up and asked why I carried a knife. I just told him it was a tool I use to perform various cutting tasks at work such as the task they had presented me with. He went from scared to inquisitive, and mom went from scared to looking a little upset that I presented a non fearful image of knives to her son. I just said no more and continued doing what they needed done, smiled and wished them a nice day. She didn’t say anything not even thank you for the work I did.
I think in situations like that, the best thing you can do is be as kind and as non threatening as possible. Answer questions short and to the point, don’t argue, just agree to disagree and don’t show that their disapproval bothers you. You can’t change their mind, only they can do that. I did this with a coworker involving guns. He went from “why do you need anything other than a hunting rifle?” To owning his own suppressed SBR. That was a decision only he could make for him self.
Mellon lobby, borther
Hell yeah borther!
😂
The King 😂😂
I think this would be particularly helpful in the UK where the mere sight of a knife is likely to end up with a call to the police despite there being knives that you can legally carry. People automatically assume that if you have a knife you're there to do harm and there is no reason to carry one. These people don't realise that most knife crime is done by youths with cheap or stolen kitchen knives, not someone with an appreciation for nice tools and is carrying an MKM Fara or Fox Suru.
I have a very bright torch which is far better for defence than the small knives that I am allowed to carry, do people try to ban torches... nope, you're right Nick it's an irrational fear of the of the object rather than the persons intentions.
I live in the UK and yeah, there's so many people who seem to think that virtually any knife is a weapon and that anyone carrying one out in public lawfully is no better than some yob carrying a kitchen knife going out looking for some poor sod they can relieve of their valuables. Spyderco is one of the most popular knife brands in the UK, which genuinely surprises me because the pointy blades, the black g10 and the one-handed opening are a perfect storm for having some pearl-clutcher call the police on you because 'oh my god he has a knife'.
I carry an Arthur Wright sheepsfoot knife (traditional handmade slipjoint, wooden scales, brass liners, 2.5in 75cr blade, etc) because it's perfectly sufficient for what I need it for and because it very much plays into my personal aesthetic sensibilities, but I've noticed people don't generally act scared of it like they do with other knives I've carried, such as the Spyderco Honeybee (even though the Honeybee is significantly smaller than the Wright), which I think is in large part because it looks a lot less 'weaponlike' by the average person's reckoning due to the snub nose, etc.
I have in fact had good conversations with people about UK knife law when I've brought it out to cut a loose thread or something, who previously had the perception that you needed 'a good reason' to carry any knife or that carrying any knife was illegal, which simply isn't true (you can carry a knife for general purpose usage in the uk so long as it's a non-locking, non-automatic folder with a sharpened edge of no greater than 3 inches/7.62cm - you need 'a good reason' such as your job or camping etc. for knives which fall outwith that specification), and who had this perception because of constant scaremongering from the media and the police alike telling people that knives are always invariably dangerous weapons carried only by people who're going out looking for trouble.
The common perception most people have of knives pains me greatly because even with something very unassuming like a traditional sheepsfoot knife, you still get the salvation army types who are scared of literally everything and think youths wearing hooded tops are the one true threat to society who always ask 'and WHY do you have a knife' if you bring it out to do something, then look at you like you just pissed in their tea when you respond with 'because the law says I can carry it'. Ideally I would have a barlow knife, which is a style people have carried since the 17th century, but because it's a type of clip-point knife I just know I'd have people freaking out about it if I did carry one, so it's simply less stressful not to.
Here's to people not jumping at shadows anymore and remembering that a knife is just another tool - if it's used in a crime, the problem isn't the knife itself but the person wielding it. Even if that person didn't have a knife, they could use literally anything else as a weapon instead. Demonising the tool is just the government's way of avoiding solving the problems behind why people feel that they need to use them to threaten people with in the first place because that would require actual work on their part beyond picking up a big rubber stamp that reads 'BAN' and applying it to a piece of paper.
I find that if you give them a heads up ‘I’ve got a pocket knife to open this’ then pull it out and open it like your grandad did and if it’s a Dozier as opposed to a cold steel code 4 people are usually cool. You’ve giving them a heads up, you’re kind of asking them permission and you’ve reminded them that their grandad used to carry one and he wasn’t a psycho.
I worked as a janitor in a hospital. I unpacked 500 pounds of supplies every week. I was also responsible for recycling said boxes and carrying them around. I got a Spyderco Bug to at least open the boxes, and people were legit uneasy about me having a "knife" and wanted me to go with a scissor or a scalpel instead.
If it's in a city/professional setting, then go Swiss Army knife hands down! Nothing is less scary and more useful and practical (except maybe a multi tool). You can use the little blade to open boxes and things. You can use the big blade to cut your Apple or whatever (all the while without cross contaminating the blades) and you have the other tools for whatever you need. It's an absolute win-win situation. I don't know why people think they have to get people to like modern day folders. I love them don't get me wrong, but a traditional knife stockman/trapper/Swiss Army etc. is just as good as anything else and is more socially acceptable. The more I get into knives, the more I get into the old skool knives. They just have more uses. As for Swiss Army Knives, they can do virtually anything a modern folders can do except hold an edge as long. If we are talking light duty city EDC, then SAK's are hard to beat if you are being honest with yourself. They are not as flashy or fun to play with but are just as practical. Try getting someone who is anti knife to get on board with a SAK, THEN get them in to modern folders later once they get the sickness we all share. Just my opinion. Jesus loves you all. Peace.
I used to carry my griptilian to my college art class. One day I was cutting a thick board with it and one of my class mates gave me a stare, but I kept on cutting and throughout the semester everyone got used to it because I was calm
The worst thing is when someone yells at you for carrying a knife one day, asks to borrow it the next, and then yells at you again next week
Usually I get a "why do you carry a knife" from a person whom I'm helping with my knife at that moment. This is frustrating but I've developed a degree of tolerance to such questions, so I calmly explain why I actually need it.
The funniest moment was when my co-worker asked whether I carried my Victorinox Pioneer for self defence. It can only defend a criminal by cutting of my own fingers, I guess.
Lmao" why are you against me sheeple am i being detained!"
I agree about the marketing point. Car makers don't sell us on the crowd plowing prowess for their cars. If there is a zombie apocalypse in the future I will change my tune for knife and car marketing.
"fix your brakes buddy" Not all of us are as privileged as you. We all can't afford 15 Z hunters.
Brakes are one of those things that, even having a rough time, I fixed.
The asshole in me wants to say "Teach them logic" in that it's not a weapon in the true sense of the word until theirs intent to do harm. (example-cars) But people tend to "think" with their emotions. So based on that I think it would be more effective to explain/show why your passionate about knives (design,materials,etc) .example, yeah it looks a bit scary but I picked it because of this design (then show them with your hand why you love that design, bringing it back to passion) or it has this blade steel so that I don't have to sharpening as often / worry about staining/ etc. Thanks for your great vids.
When it does work for me, I've noticed that this tends to be the best approach. Explaining first how a slip-joint works and using something like a Victorinox, then pulling out an extremely non-threatening, historic locking knife (a Mercator K55K in my personal experience), then moving up to something more modern/advanced but still locking (the Buck 110 I got from their custom shop with an S30V blade and explaining how the blade is made of a much more modern steel), then showing a liner lock on a Leatherman Surge, then pulling out a Spyderco Delica to show a modern backlock, and just slowly but surely getting them up to something like a Spyderco Endura 4 where it's big, but not murdery, and if they can take that, then slowly building them up further.
I also got the BladeHQ exclusive Boker Kwaiken with the brass bolsters and micarta scales in part due to this. I get a VG-10 flipper with a very inoffensive look to it (especially since I figured out how to slowly "roll out" the blade--and yes, they added jimping to the tab since Nick did the review on the Kwaiken--and then pinch the spine if I'm not flipping it). A guy who was totally indifferent to knives thought that was "cool" when I pulled it out, so I have high hopes for that. I wrote elsewhere here that I'm a bit of a fatalist living on the fringes of a college town (despite living in an auto legal area that's legally-speaking very knife-friendly), so it's honestly not easy, but the few people I have converted via exposure (including up through autos!) have gotten a large dose of the "but you won't dispute that it's technologically interesting because..." argument.
One I've used that seems to work most of the time is- " I need this piece of string cut. If I hold it up like this, could you please cut it with my pocket knife? Thanks! " Then tell them about the pivot and the maker and oh I've got to go thanks for your help. It sometimes opens a door , or window depending on your denomination. ..😃
Try living in the UK I almost cut a finger off yesterday cutting up cardboard with a Spyderco UKPK. It's a great knife for light task's but wish I could carry one of my other 24 locking knives. 🙂
Try the Byrd Tern, looks similar but the slip joint is way stiffer. I know it's the cheaper option but having handled both and owning a lot of non locking sub 3inch knives it's the one I'd trust the most not to fold up on me (apart from the straight razor style opening ones like the svord peasant mini and Tops tac-raze)
this is so true I live in a country where not a lot of people carry knifes and the ones that do are normally shady characters waiting to rob you with ugly old rusted knifes nothing fancy like on this channel but I started carrying my knife daily and now most of the guys in my office area is carrying knifes as well as they noticed how useful it is it just took some time to show them that its not just a weapon but rather a useful item
As a former police officer, the definition of a “weapon”, I’m familiar with, is anything that can cause great bodily harm or death. A screwdriver, butter knife, pencil, hammer, ax, machete, car, etc. basically it depends on the manner in which it’s used or the intent. Fortunately, in my state (WA), knives don’t have length limits, unless it’s displayed in a manner that causes fear to other people. Unfortunately, automatics, dirks or daggers, and balisongs are illegal. Really doesn’t make sense as flipper knives and regular knives can be deployed just as fast. Knives are a very common tool, that in my experience, many many people carry. In fact, law enforcement was how I got into collecting knives. Police officers almost always carry knives while on and off the job. Yeah, a knife makes a great weapon and is capable of devastating injuries, at least in my experience, but I’ve seen injuries from the aforementioned objects as well, including a pencil. Unfortunately, people, now days are scared of their shadows, but the best thing we can do, as knife owners is to be responsible in how we carry them, and use good discretion when using them.
The legal deffinition of weapon is very similar in Slovakia, as the criminal code defines it as any object that can make an attack against the body more devastating. Fortunately you can legally carry whatever you like (autos, ballisongs, boxers....) unless it is very inappropriate and causes fear to other people, like walking into the bank with machette or axe or going to the pub with boxer or telescopic batton. Still I got scared reactions from female workes when tey saw a clip sticking out my pocket in an office environment. Oh man, I need to move back, I miss the freedom to carry whatever you like.
so, several years ago I had a coworker threaten to "call security" on me at over a .5 inch gerber keychain knife. At which point I politely pointed out every item in the room with which I could more effectively kill her with than the small non sharp box cutter on my keychain......never bothered me again. it took 45 minutes summarize every item visable in in the room.
Open your knife with 2 hands, even if your don’t have to, and people are a lot less scared. People are also a lot less scared of SAKs and Leatherman or Leatherman type tools. Opinels are good too.
As a forty year plus cyclist who has been struck by every type of motorized vehicle known to mankind, I walk people to the window at work and point out to the parking lot to show them a real instrument of death. I ask them how their drive into work was today and invariably they talk about the tailgater or crazy speeder using all three or four lanes weaving in and out of traffic. Then I ask them .. And you're worried about me bringing a pocketknife to work to open packages?
As an urban cycle commuter, that is a great way to put things into perspective.
Agree, same.
Totally agree. Slightly different, yet similar, my mother was terrified of spiders most of her adult life. Quite a few things, actually. A tiny wren got in the house once and she ran from it like it was a velociraptor. But spiders just freaked her out. It was bad enough that I stopped telling her if I happened to see one near her and would just catch it and relocate it. And I guess seeing me do that helped her realize they weren't so scary after all. She still didn't like them, but she didn't try to run through walls to get away from them anymore.
Thanks for a comfortable discussion about anti-knifers...you hit that one out of the park.
Examples of knife companies that keep down the violence in their advertising :- A.G. Russell, Spyderco, Benchmade.
Examples of knife companies that use violence & macho behavior to sell knives:- Cold Steel, Medford, ZT, Emerson.
"Art knives", colored handle scales, "gentleman knives", non-locking blades...help to lessen the "violence".
( discreet pocket clips, eg. wire clips, deep carry clips, tiny & "see through" clips all help).
“WERE GOING OUT FOR DINNER AND YOUV GOT YOURSELF A WEAPON OH MY GOD” lmao 100% my wife.
My girlfriend was largely afraid of knives when we first met and come to think about it had many differing views on things compared to me. Just spending time near me got her used to the idea of knives being tools in general, and to me a form of art. Same thing happened with cars and watches as well. Now I actually get aesthetic feedback from her on new designs and the like. If you don't treat it like a big deal, people will accept it as normal over time. Great video Nick!
I do have a fear of knives that causes me to actually feel physical discomfort and I can not be around people using knives. It is still a trigger if I am touching the knife or if someone else is touching it
No step on snek!
knowyourmeme.com/photos/1051601-gadsden-flag-don-t-tread-on-me
@@NickShabazz I can work that out for you, you more of a heels, socks, or bare feet kind of guy?
Hippity hoppity, this is my stabby property.
Random factoid because I am a fanboy: One of They Might Be Giants' tours was titled "Don't Tread On The Cut-Up Snake World Tour 1992"
Iowa has the greatest state flag of them all.
My experience is that most bad reactions are caused by what knife you’re carrying. I’m an Iowa farm boy who learned long ago bigger knives get more work done faster. Probably my favorite knife is my Benchmade Monolock with its 3.75” clip point blade. But it almost always generates a reaction when I pull it out to use as a tool. Even in settings where I thought it would be normal like where men work with their hands & use tools it still gets a reaction. So I’ve relegated it to outdoor activities only. My favorite edc is now a Fox TUR with a 2.75” blade. That doesn’t generate nearly as much reaction. Now that I’m moving to Chicago I’m looking for a suitable knife under 2.5”. Awckkkk!
Since I've started working at the library, half of my colleagues got themselves different Victorinox knives. I don't count this as my personal achievement, but I influenced it in a settle way :)
I carry all the time, wherever I go. Multiple knives for various uses. Almost no one ever even knows I have them. I don't whip them out without need, and don't make a production out of it when I need to open a box. I just use it and put it away. I haven't had much problem with anyone who''s overly fearful. I've been asked about it a few times, and when I geek out about knife collecting, people understand I'm not an aspiring serial killer, but just a collector who carries his tools.
This is really similar to the psychological phobia treatment either Systematic Desensitization or exposure therapy. They are both great ways of getting over crippling phobias or minor fears alike.
Good stuff, Nick. I had a good friend who was all "I can't believe you carry that with you everywhere !!" (Kershaw Blackout)
I made him a gift of a Kershaw Scallion. A week and a half later he comes up to me with a sheepish look: "Where can I get another one of those knives? I lost mine and I can't live without it- I use it for everything...."
True story.
I've whipped out my D/A OTF many times in the produce department of my local Fry's to cut tomato vines. If the 3 second process of taking it out of my pocket, deploying the blade, making the cut, retracting the blade and putting it away freaks you out, how is that my problem?
Smallest I’ve carried was a Kershaw Cryo, still a pretty utilitarian knife. I’ve met more people who are curious why you carry a knife rather then why it’s so big and scary. Best response, I have big hands so I need a bigger knife, plain and simple, doesn’t make it more or less deadly
Yes I agree and for some reason the emotional response from some people who have never handled knives or aren’t used to seeing them is negative. I use knives daily for different tasks and at first when I flipped out my manix 2 people at my job were a little put off, but as the months went by people asked to borrow my knives to use on a regular basis so it became normal to carry.
Officer art thou detaining me
I once pulled my knife to do something on a golf course and was asked "are you going to stab me? " It seems to me that a golf club could be much more of a weapon, but they were more afraid of my three inch knife could do to them.
I have a substantial collection of knives. My wife has never understood why. She's not "afraid" of knives but she is apprehensive. I've been trying to get her to carry a knife for about 9 years now and it took all of that to be comfortable enough to consider it. She was intimated by their appearance, so I introduced her to the dragonflys and ladybugs. Finally, recently, she settled on an opinel no. 8. Hey, its not much but after 9 years, I'm making progress...
I'm used to the feeling, especially in my town, so with new people I always have a simple gradient, I carry a Victorinox Classic with them, get them used to me carrying a knife, and then I go to my normal EDC, which while not very menacing (It's a Dragonfly 2), it has a wide blade that can be off-putting to some people, and I make it a habit to test the waters with it.
It's worked with quite a few people, who otherwise likely would've been turned off by my carrying a knife (like I said, my town is a tad odd), and generally by the time I'm carrying my Dragonfly around them, it's no big deal
I like having a blade in my pocket. I do not think of it as a weapon at all. It's to me just as normal as a pair of shoes.
I like having a knife in my pocket precisely because I do thik of it as a weapon.I'm in my sixties,and because of the type of work I've done,and the area,(ghettos)I've been in,I have been in more fights then you'd beleive,and I've never used a knife in a fight,(I personally prefer a club),but it's awfully nice to know if you need it,it's there
Perfectly said Nick, at first when my co-worker sees me carry knife, they gave me this concern/disgust look. And that is, we work at a restaurant and you can't go more than 10 feet without seeing a knife :)) But after awhile of demonstrating to them how useful this little sharp pocket tool is, they got used to it. And yes, they ask to borrow my knife, although I usually do the cutting task myself as I carry rather expensive knives.
Whip out an Espada XL wave style from each pocket, and explain to them in a calm tone that these objects are not dangerous weapons, while not blinking and keeping stern eye contact.
This is why I carry 2 different styles of knives on me, a traditional folder and a more modern folder. If I get a feel that they don't like knives or whatever I'll break out the traditional or if they are more familiar with them I'll use the modern style
"I AM THE LIVING MAN!!!!!!"
Excellent video Nick as always. A great way to look at it. I carry a knife with me all the time and I work retail. I don't really bring it up with people who aren't knife people. I just use it as a tool like it's supposed to be used, I use it when necessary, and I put it away when I'm done. Just don't be a jackass is the moral of the story.
ADMIRALTY COURT!!! (And yup, good approach.)
It may go without saying but I think it's good to point out that people should be careful in choosing the times they really want to try to change people's minds. I don't think it's worth losing a job or possibly having the police called if someone is just irrationally afraid and won't listen to reason.
I am trying to do this more, just comment and say good job to creators that I have watched and really enjoy. It’s not a donation, but just know at least one more person likes your content!
Its true. I used to bring my knife to work everyday. One time my co worker got into them because of me. And once i tried showing him how to flip it better and we where flicking it alot in a short amount of time and that was the point the boss said something about it and banned them. Even though ive used it months before that time..it really is how you present it
I work in a retail clothing store in the mall. The first week I worked there I asked my manager if I can use my personal pocket knife. She said the company doesn't allow personal knifes, But she said it was ok for me to use my knife. Only rules between her and I was dont plunge my knife in shipment boxes and dont whip it out in front of customers, I agreed. That was at the beginning of the year in January. Plus I rotate out my knifes like every day and a couple coworkers mention that to me. I just tell them straight up that I'm into knife collecting, their not like "oh no knifes, scary" more like tell me more about them. So talk about brands, blade, length, types, and most importantly laws in different states. It's nice working with people that respect what you're into.
Absolutely! Making people aware of the machining, the design, and the craftsmanship can help too.
So you don't recommend pulling out your gun to show them what a real weapon looks like? "That's no weapon, it's a tool. THISSS is a weapon".
Carrying a knife with a wire pocket clip automatically makes it less spooky. And open it slowly as possible
My dads new wife actually made him give most of his knives away, some of them even to me. I, on the other hand didn't really care about her opinion about knives. So i usually have a knife in my pocket and even handed her a knife on a few occasions when she had to cut something.
The fun thing is that she is a chef and she have a few sets of really nice kitchen knives. One day we discussed knife steels and it turns out that she has a set of VG10 kitchen knives. I had no idea that was actually a thing and i explained to her that i had a few VG10 folders. I guess she was just afraid of folding knives for some unknown reason.
Anyway, i gave my dad a Kershaw flipper for his birthday a few months ago and i could tell he liked it a lot but was kinda waiting for her responce when they were alone. I didn't see it for a while but the last time i saw him he was carrying it. Funny how things turn out. 😉
Edit. It was just a stonewashed Leek by the way. Nothing too deadly looking.
Great advice. Treat it is a fear.,we all got them not necessary a knife but what ever. But it's harder to understand and explain that for me "it's a tool" It just doesn't cut it. But thoose people with thoose fears for the "object" not the person behind it. It's hard to get the words right for a mutual understanding.
Reminds me of one of my little cousins, who a few years ago on christmas, needed some wires cut in order to fully open his present. I am the only guy in my family who carries a knife, so i offer to open it the rest of the way for him and he agrees.
Halfway through me freeing his present from its box he asks me, dead serious: "why do you always carry a knife". I said "to open up presents, would you prefer i stop using my knife right now?" (Of course we didnt speak english to eachother, because i live in belgium, but the original conversation wouldnt make much sense to most reading this)
I feel like i slightly changed his mind about knives that day.
even in Belgium they have the concept of the upper case I, yes?
Jack Nemo Yes, but "I" type on a very shitty ipad and every button "I" can skip makes my day slightly better. I also dont use ' a lot because of this. Sorry if it bothers you.
Le Lemon Don’t apologize to him, he’s a douche.
CVN71 OU812 The great part is that he didnt capitalize the first letter of his own sentence.
Great vid Nick... battle born, zero tolerance, death on contact, and the main steam media, how else would a non knife person see it... even my woman showed anxiety when I carried a knife. Not anymore! She has two herself. My point is, once exposed to the real knife community, they will come around. Then again... for the ass hats out there just tell them it’s the oldest tool known to man, and ask them if they could find a use for one or two, as a TOOL! Not a weapon! Now go out there a buy a knife.
Imagine being afraid of a sharp piece of steel
From my experience? Give them one, saying it will come in handy on more occasions, then they would expect, just require they do carry it on them. Just let them fidget with your own knife first to let them get accustomed and be sure to answer any questions regarding the knife's handling and such. Generally be very educative and forgiving in that initial stage.
I've already successfully converted two people, one of whom was very sceptical, while the other used to be downright terrified by folding knives / pocket knives.
>Fix your brakes buddy
i legit thought it was the train about 100yd (maybe less tbh) lol
FWIW, high-performance pads often squeal before they're fully warmed up. We don't all drive Corollas.
My girlfriend was afraid of knives but I bought her a pink mermaid Master Collection that I serviced and sharped before hand to give it the best action she loved it for how it looked and she really likes pink so then she slowly started to steal my more expensive knives even took my folding Adamas I bought her a pink mini-grip for her birthday and put a pink aftermarket clip, clip screws and scale screws on it and she loves it
Look, I don't know what mall lawn lobbys have to do with carrying a knife, but as a warehouse worker, my job is opening boxes and breaking down cardboard. Like, I carry a strop next to my Leatherman on my belt to keep the ole native salt shiny. I've found bright obnoxious colors become a novelty and my boss refers to my knife as "rubber ducky knife".
Tactical, as a marketing term, should only be allowed in relation to Zombies!
Zombies make it seem even less rational for some. #Has15ZHuntersInThisRoom
good video Nick. i know allot of people know this but just like guns and knives, they are only as dangerous as the type of person using them. The people who are scared of knives needs to realize that just cause someone has a knife doesn't make them dangerous. So if those people watch the actions of an average person using a knife for their every day use then I think that may also help people be more comfortable around knives.
Good video. In my experience size matters. Especially at the office. My two favorites are my Benchmade Valet and Spyderco Chaparral.
If someone at work bugged me about a knife I would try letting them borrow one for the day, and see how often they use it ya know...
Never met anyone who was afraid of a knife unless someone was trying to stab them .
I tell people that if someone comes at me with a knife, my blade is staying in my pocket. My priority would be not getting cut, so I'm going to avoid a knife fight. If I can't run away, I'll be looking for a shield, not a weapon. The idea that I wouldn't want to use it for personal defense really shows how little I see it as a weapon.
I also tell them that I see a pocket knife as a utensil more than anything else, a way to slice an apple and spread peanut butter on it. If they seem doubtful, I show them my EDC spork to demonstrate my commitment to avoiding plastic utensils.
A gun aint ready for a fight but a knife is! Always has its sharp strong steel blade ready to slice of a freash clean slice or cut
I've never seen someone in daily life freak out 'cause someone had a utility knife they weren't using as a weapon. My problem is all the local governments in my area, which have unreasonably restrictive knife laws, with a blade length limit of just 2.5 inches so they can have a pretext to suck more people into the criminal justice system. Everyone who isn't a target for the cops and is not likely to be frisked or have their cars searched can ignore these laws, so there's no push to change them. It hasn't done anything to lower violent crime, as this area (Cleveland) has one of the highest violent crime rates in America. Funny thing is, I can get a license to carry a handgun with multiple magazines, but when I measure the blade on a little, harmless Victorinox Spartan, I'm not sure if it's actually legal depending on how they measure the blade. It's absurd.
I live in New Mexico, and it blows my mind how I cannot carry an auto, balisong, or anything over 3" (unless it's a fixed blade, carried openly). Ever....Yet I can get a permit to carry a pistol (concealed or openly on the hip) for about $100 and a Saturday afternoon seminar.
At least you get 3 inches, but yeah, it drives me crazy. I'm constantly torn over whether I should ignore the local knife laws or obey them, as I think it's unlikely at this point in my life that I'll be frisked by a cop. And if I ever did catch a charge, I could probably plea bargain it away, but I dunno. I have a bunch of EDC blades that conform to the laws but my preferred blade length is just over 3 inches.
I wouldn't worry...but then again, you never know. Life has a way of sometimes cascading into total "F-you" mode. I've had more than one REALLY bad day. Where everything seems to come down on me with unrelenting and unwarranted hellfire harshness. I have never been busted for knife violations, though. I still think it's crazy that a 6" fixed blade, worn openly on the belt is OK in NM, but a folder over 3" in the pocket (concealed!) is wrong...
Oh, and yeah.., It's a way to generate more income for the state. Fines, etc. Legal fees. Also look at how it might effect the poor, minorities, low level 'criminals' like pot smokers...It's all about money and outdated views. Sadly.
Usually I only get a knife out when i'm needing to cut something, so if someone asks me why I carry I usually just say "for situations like this". This tends to be especially effective when the thing that needs cutting is for them because they are struggling with something. Typically they look at me as if to say "fair point" and nothing else is said.
I've never really met people that are genuinely fearful though, and I think that would be a very different situation.
I carry a Boker Urban Trapper with cocobolo handle that I use daily for lunch. I don’t use table knives and steak knives because well, they suck. People are used to me carrying a knife because its just my utensil.
Has anyone tried locking them in a room with a bunch of packages and a pair of scissors? 🤔😂
This is a good practice to apply to firearms as well
except that besides use for hunting, firearms aren’t utility tools, defensive tools yes, but limited purposes comparatively.
I need to use my glock 19 to open an amazon box.
@daAnder71 unless its a target rifle or a collectors piece. Intent of the user is what matters, not intent of the designer.
I find that when I use my Swiss Army Knife people are fascinated by the many tools ... My Spyderco gets dirty looks ... Nice video Nick ...
Odd. I’ve found “Am I being detained?” to have a 100% success rate.
😂
Living in Idaho no doubt people have different attitudes about knives as fishing, hunting and backpacking are common pastimes. In addition open carry is not uncommon, so seeing someone with a 9mm on their hip is not rare, although often people roll their eyes at these folk. But knives are still seen as scary to some. I started using my Case Hobo knife at work to eat lunch. People love the fun of it and sometimes I am not even using the knife, just the spoon and fork. My boss asked me about it as she needed a gift idea for her husband. I also mention I am using a few hundred less plastic utensils a year, which environmentally oriented people appreciate. The knives I carry in my pocket at work are either my Case doctor’s knife or my Chris Reeve Mnandi. I have a Benchmade OTF auto that I love, but do hesitate to bring out in some situations. When tavelling it is hard to beat a Swiss Army knife, as a tiny pair of scissors and a toothpick seem to render the blade less scary.
Dang I missed out not getting one of those pakkawood Dragonflys.
What is the slipjoint in the lower right corner?
Most scary knife ever is the bug
Good points all around, but I'll continue to carry my BM Presidio 1, not BMs most expensive specimen but ticks evey box on what I like to carry. Until I can get my fingers on a PM 2 Tanto lol. Also I've lent my pocket knife to everyone in my life on multiple occasions.
I know a knife isn't a weapon but my sister used to chase me with knives on a daily as a child and I haven't been able to get over my fear
That's very reasonable, Cassandra, and I'm really sorry to hear that. Talking to a professional might help, EMDR is amazing for helping through trauma. But luckily, there are many ways to cut open an envelope.
“Always carry a knife with you. Just in case there’s cheesecake...”. -General James Mattis
I feel like there’s an issue here around how one defines a weapon. I’m a longtime martial artist and would define a weapon as anything you could use to physically harm someone, which certainly includes knives (some more than others). And even though I use knives to open boxes at work, a major factor in how much I wind up carrying a particular knife is how confident I feel using it if I were ever forced to defend myself or others. How fast does it deploy, and how good is the grip? Is there something to prevent my fingers from sliding onto the blade? I think largely it’s a security blanket because as you’ve discussed, feeling prepared for any situation gives you a certain level of comfort. For those of us who care about the ability to defend ourselves, however unlikely the need, violence is just another situation we choose to be prepared for.
But whenever someone asks me why I carry, I stick with “opening boxes at work,” or “in case there’s cheesecake.” Those are far more realistic reasons, and are also true. I also avoid anything billed as “tactical” because the word usually describes an aesthetic rather than what features the knife has that might make it well-suited for self-defense, and also because I’m not trying to scare people every time I open a box.
Another random musing, if people aren’t afraid of kitchen knives they shouldn’t be afraid of folding knives... most kitchen knives are much better suited towards using as weapons.
Anyway, your advise is spot-on. I’ve got a couple coworkers asking me for knives now.
I find the best approach with non/anti-knife folk is a nice mangling cut while doing some practical task with said knife. Or at least that worked with my childhood friend, who while traumatized, a year later was edc’ing his own knife. 🤷♂️😂
Nick, I'm trying. I also more often than not feel like I'm spinning my wheels. But then, I think part of it is circumstance. I live on the fringes of a college town (at a college I attend on and off...health) where you actually DO unfortunately find some ugly rhetoric about more or less any sort of knife. These people do serious harm, in my opinion, to the people without opinions because they do not fear knives; rather they disdain them. I've actually tried to convert those people with some of the most historically interesting, inoffensive designs you can think of (Victorinox Tinker, Mercator K55K, then you move up to something a little more modern or gimmicky like the Spyderco Bug I use to cut plastic model kit parts off their sprues) and I should have realized that some of that effort was hopeless--although I noticed these people rarely if ever fear knives. They just seem to look down on their owners (myself included) and really want people to share their views in some cases. I realize you're never going to get everyone, but as long as you have the handful of diehard anti-knife people spewing their bile, it's an uphill battle.
There have been a few converts along the way (including the girl I love, who is not afraid of autos at this point, as I am in a VERY auto-friendly state and local area, legally-speaking), and I am proud of that, but when someone tells you, and I quote, "look, I just don't care; knives will never be anything more than weapons to me" and you can tell they actually mean it and DON'T care what you're saying *and* what you've shown them is your SwissChamp...it's discouraging. Another kid...grad student, too...well, with him, just the fear in his eyes at being shown a Victorinox Tinker showed me he either had a true psychological phobia like you talk about in the opening or has never been out and about in the world. And I'm never gonna win that guy over.
A tip I've learned along the way, while I'm here: I guarantee you that if I pulled out a Spyderco Military with a satin blade and never spoke the name and a Spyderco Delica 4 with a black blade, they would say the black-bladed knife looked scarier. I own neither (yet...my Delica is a plain Jane VG-10 with black handle and satin finish and a Military is one of those "to buy" knives), but it's just been my experience that black blade=scary, satin/stonewashed/acid-washed blade=not scary to these unfortunate individuals. I dunno Nick...am I sounding a little fatalistic?
There had better be a review for that GEC coming.
Is that what that is? I've been trying to find a name forever
@@vinceiopez3657 It is a GEC 43 Oregon Trapper.
Its the oldest tool in the world! Ridiculous to even have to defend your position for having a pocketknife, someone getting scared when you use a pocketknife to cut open a box and asking you why you have that weapon (as if you're going to attack them just bc you have it) is just as absurd as pulling out a screwdriver to unscrew something and frightening someone bc you have the potential to stab them with it.
I had this one socially challenged person explain why he was afraid of knives.
He said i'm not afraid of knives i'm afraid of what I will do if I get that knife. e.g. smash his phone with it.
So in his cas his problem was lack of self confidence. This is what happens if you sit around thinking about things instead of doing things.
Get them into knives. Then get them into watches. You are a brilliant man.
DO NOT GET (them) INTO WATCHES. Or do, if they really piss you off.
Stark Parker *X-Files theme song plays*
😂