Pocket Knives

[bmattock]

Here is page 1 of 30 pages of search results for 'school stabbing' on the BBC news site.

http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin...ition=d&q=school+stabbing&go.x=0&go.y=0&go=go

And obviously, it was the owning of a pocketknife that forced them to run around stabbing people with it. They weren't just bad people who would have used whatever they had access to - if we take away their pocketknives, we'll make law-abiders out of them.

R-i-g-h-t.

How strange I haven't felt the need to stab anyone so far. Perhaps I am immune to the siren call of the steel.

Of course, I also keep loaded guns in my house, and thus far have manage to avoid running amok up and down my street, randomly blasting strangers and picking off small children.

I wonder how I manage.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[clarence]

You are correct it needs no permit or licence. But if you are found carrying it by the Police without reasonable cause to be carrying it (ie as essential for your work), depending on the blade size you will likely be cautioned and the knife confiscated or you could even be charged with carrying an offensive weapon.

See here.

Thanks a lot for the link. There is no instant release mechanism though, and the largest blade does not exceed 3 inches, so I doubt it would be a problem, unless I was entering a high security area, right?

I tend to just put it in my bag and leave it there wherever I go.

Clarence

 

[Andy K]

They weren't just bad people who would have used whatever they had access to - if we take away their pocketknives, we'll make law-abiders out of them.

I think the thought behind the law is fewer knives = fewer stabbings (deliberate or accidental). It is the same thinking behind our gun laws, guns are heavily restricted (to mostly clay shooters and farmers etc.) and therefore we have many fewer shootings than countries which have no gun restrictions.
I have several knives, I never feel the need to carry any of them in a pocket, like Clarence the most I'll do is slip a small multi-tool in my camera bag.

 

[VinceC]

In the United States, kids can't get legal booze until they're 21, so, because it is forbidden fruit, teens often binge themselves silly (and not a few die of it). My older couple of kids grew up in Europe and had a fairly take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward alcohol because they could order a beer at any restaurant if accompanied by a responsible adult. They were really startled by the attitude toward drinking when they arrived at their American colleges. Prohibiting possession of something really doesn't address the root problems of its abuse or misuse.

 

[clarence]

Let's talk about a culture of violence for example.

Get rich or die trying?

Clarence

 

[bmattock]

I think the thought behind the law is fewer knives = fewer stabbings (deliberate or accidental).

That logic can be extended infinitely. If we're all kept in prison, none of us can be out robbing banks. Fewer cars = fewer drunks behind the wheel. Fewer people = fewer criminals.

It's ridiculous, especially since criminals, strangely enough, choose not to obey laws that get in their way. And it is so hard to make a knife out of any random piece of metal. When I was in the Philippines, they sold machetes made out of old Jeep leaf springs. They flattened them out with hammers and used a grinder to put an edge on them. Wow, that was hard.

It is the same thinking behind our gun laws, guns are heavily restricted (to mostly clay shooters and farmers etc.) and therefore we have many fewer shootings than countries which have no gun restrictions.

We have a gun culture here, and we have more shootings. Restricting or banning guns would have no effect, there are already more guns than there are people, and like rangefinders, they're quite durable and don't go away. Since only law-abiding people will turn their guns in, then the criminals will continue to have them, and the law-abiding will be stripped of any means of self-defense.

Gun control may well work in nations where they have not had a couple hundred years of private gun ownership to the extent that ownership is pervasive and it literally impossible to collect them all up. It won't work here, is all.

I have several knives, I never feel the need to carry any of them in a pocket, like Clarence the most I'll do is slip a small multi-tool in my camera bag.

People will advocate preparedness. Carrying blankets and bottled water in the boot of their car, for example. A first-aid kit. Even high-energy candy bars in the glovebox. Since the earthquakes in LA a few years back, I've seen people who keep bottled water, windup radios, and such things in their desk drawers at work.

But the very notion of carrying a knife - which is just another tool - makes them fearful. Why, it might come to life and fly around the room, slashing random strangers! I won't suddenly stick someone in the eye with my pencil, but I'll most likely take it into my head to jab them a few times with my pocketknife.

Idiots, the lot of 'em. But, if they don't want to carry a blade, fine with me. Just don't get up my sleeve about it or try to pass laws against it. I'm no swaggering Rambo with a machete strapped to my back next to my bandolier, I carry a tiny, two-inch serrated blade pocketknife. But I'd no more leave the house without it than I would leave without my car keys, and I won't stop just because it makes namby-pamby types nervous to know I'm "armed with a dangerous weapon." If it came down to that, I'd reach for my car's tire iron before I'd reach for my blade to defend myself.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[rbiemer]

I generally have a Kershaw made Ken Onion designed non-serrated "Scallion" clipped inside my back pocket. The Scallion is pretty nice but not as nice as the "Chive"which I foolishly left clipped to my unform pants pocket that someone at the laundry company kept. :bang:
I also have some $3 small multi-tool that has a knife blade on it(that I don't think I'veever used--the blade doesn't lock). Didn't think I'd ever use the tiny scissors either, until I got the Canon IV--they don't cut real well but have been very handy to have with me since!
I'm a chef and some days I've got all my working knives with me--not that many, only 4.
If I can ever get away from the photo related GAS, I will get something custom made.
Rob

 

[Andy K]

Bill, even a small blade is dangerous in the wrong hands. As I recall the jets on 9/11 were hijacked with nothing more than Xacto knives. Not saying there should be a total ban on knives, I just don't see the need or logic in carrying one all the time.

 

[rbiemer]

Bill, even a small blade is dangerous in the wrong hands. As I recall the jets on 9/11 were hijacked with nothing more than Xacto knives. Not saying there should be a total ban on knives, I just don't see the need or logic in carrying one all the time.

How does this equate to dis-arming law abiding people? I can't see the logic that gets from "a" to "b".
Personally, I worry much less about what someone has than about what that person's use of what ever tool is.
Rob

 

[VinceC]

>> Not saying there should be a total ban on knives, I just don't see the need or logic in carrying one all the time.<<

Same logic as carrying a camera at all times. When you need it, it's there.

I think someone committed to hijacking and destroying an airplane could improvise a number of weapons ... how about breaking open those little glass wine bottles for starters, and stripping the soda cans, which can be frighteningly sharp. On Sept. 11, 2001, it was not especially difficult to hijack an airplane. Now, if you tried, you'd probably be stabbed to death by passengers armed with plastic sporks.

 

[bmattock]

Bill, even a small blade is dangerous in the wrong hands. As I recall the jets on 9/11 were hijacked with nothing more than Xacto knives. Not saying there should be a total ban on knives, I just don't see the need or logic in carrying one all the time.

It's fine that you don't see the need and choose not to carry a blade with you at all times. I have no problem with that.

The problem I have is with laws that restrict my ability to do so because someone else doesn't see the need.

Whenever someone wants to restrict some behavior, some item, for my own good or for the good of society - I cringe. I always wonder "what's next?" And there is always something next. Those who like to ban things always swear there isn't, but there always is. I'm glad that people care about our society, but I hate that they think the best way to care is to impose control on my life.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[VinceC]

We should perhaps ban carrying cameras, either in public or concealed. They clearly can and have been misused to invade personal privacy.

 

[Andy K]

Whenever someone wants to restrict some behavior, some item, for my own good or for the good of society - I cringe. I always wonder "what's next?" And there is always something next. Those who like to ban things always swear there isn't, but there always is. I'm glad that people care about our society, but I hate that they think the best way to care is to impose control on my life.

Wow, if Bill can become a liberal there is hope for the world yet! 😀

 

[bmattock]

Wow, if Bill can become a liberal there is hope for the world yet! 😀

Not liberal, liberty.

We Libertarians are the absolute worst - we hold the ultra-conservative viewpoint on most issues, which some view as so far right, it's left again. Whatever - I am in favor of maximum liberty and personal responsibility instead of a nanny state that would protect me from the evils of gun ownership or the evils of free speech.

We think that the US federal government has three jobs:

1) Provide for the common defense.
2) Promote the general welfare.
3) Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

And that's all they should be doing. Anything else is lies, deceit, naked power grabs, and essentially unconstitutional.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[akptc]

... As to 'real mean' not needing knives - real men use appropriate tools and don't fear sharp or pointy things or see them as psychological replacements for their sadly lacking wedding tackle.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Totally agree. Now, big Chevy trucks, that's a different story altogether 🙂

Seriously though, I used to carry a small Swiss Army knife on my key chain, forgot all about it most of the time, until a very angry airport security guy chewed my head off when he saw it. So I am knife-less now, haven't really missed it yet.

 

[bmattock]

I liked this thread better when it was about gear.

The old discussion is kind of boring. Let's leave it out of what could be an interesting thread with stories about airport security and that one time you were really glad ot have the knife because...

I saved a hippie's luggage. Really:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.air/msg/598303ecd4cbf79f?dmode=source&hl=en

On 9/11, I was working in Pasadena at JPL/Logicon. I had my Spyderco CoPilot with me. I was stuck there for a couple weeks until flights got going again. When I flew home, I dropped my knife into a FedEx package and overnighted it back to myself. Good thing too, because everybody was having their nail clippers confiscated by security. I never carried it on the plane again.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[dostacos]

Bill, even a small blade is dangerous in the wrong hands. As I recall the jets on 9/11 were hijacked with nothing more than Xacto knives. Not saying there should be a total ban on knives, I just don't see the need or logic in carrying one all the time.

I use a knife almost every day. I carry a spyderco clip and/or leatherman and always have a 1 triple A mag lite attached to a leatheran micra tool in a pocket

 

[Mohan]

I have a great little SOG Flash but there’s no way in hell I will carry it on the street (especially being 19 and kind of middle eastern looking)

 

[SteveM(PA)]

knife:
Swisscard, had it for about 10 years. THE best tweezers in the world. I use everything in it almost daily.

harps:
Hohner Chrometta 8...Nice compact 2 octave, I THINK it's the smallest chromatic, almost has a clarinet-ish timbre. Perportedly the "Love Me Do" harp, but whatever.
Lee Oskar C...a bit brash, but I feel like a pro when I play it.
Hohner Sportsman (repro)...my favorite, hushed and sweet, easy playing, although the little paintings on it have mostly worn off (hope they weren't lead 🙂 )
Hohner Little Lady...always around my neck, good for pitch and xmas carols 🙂

 

[sf]

I think we should be allowed to carry swords down the street. Personally, these laws against weapons are foolishly self-imposed. They will lead to effects that we only consider in fiction - but which will end freedom as we know it.

I wish I was kidding.