Knife vs Multi-tool perception

[P_A_S_1]

Thank you for the compliment.

 

[blah9]

We also have to be careful because in a group of people like us discussing knife usage, we are more likely than the average person to not be fazed by seeing a knife, and thus we are more likely to be on edge only when the person holding the knife makes us nervous rather than the object itself. However, as already mentioned, there are groups of people who would be surprised to see a knife no matter who is carrying it. As an example, I have been in situations where people visiting from other countries with much more restrictive knife laws were surprised to see someone carrying a knife but the rest of the group was completely unfazed.

Anyway, I agree, these are some great posts about some of the factors that go into people's feelings about knife usage.

 

[ForrestChump]

Best and most eloquently worded post in the thread so far.

+1

I concur, unfortunately? for me thought, I have a rather large tattoo, a shaved head, and an often misinterpreted expression of thought on my face. There is a 0% chance of me misusing a knife in any way form or fashion. Even with the above attributes, I have approached LEO to inquire about concealed vs unconcealed with a knife on my person ( knowing I was carrying said knife legally ). I have never felt uneasy doing so. I think it's your demeanor, approach, body expression, confidence ect that take precedence more so over the way you look. Im around ruff people all the time in my city, I can tell instantly, regardless of appearance / race / tats / hair / wether a person is a potential threat. I can do it backwards also....normal Joe blow , clean cut, but something is "off". It's like a sixth sense and I believe most LEO that are upholding their oath have this down to a science and can most likely put me to shame reading people - Jason Bourne style!

I've even had weird reactions to my Leatherman Surge EDC, but the reasons posted in this thread are why I carry that instead of a dedicated folder most of the time. I just want to minimize any annoying conversations, but maybe I should change my attitude as well.

I agree. You should be extremely cautious around people that are intimidated by a multi-tool. There is obviously some mental proclivity present and I would consider them to be potentially dangerous.

 

[kaichu dento]

I think it's your demeanor, approach, body expression, confidence etc that take precedence more so over the way you look.

+1

Words matter, but more than words, how they're said. Appearances matter too, but more than appearance how one acts.

 

[Steve-at-Springboard]

Like George Carlin said, "Think of how dumb the average person is. Now think that half of them are dumber than that!"

I love that!! Wish I could fit it on a bumper sticker! Maybe a T-shirt!


BTW, the large Skeletool CX actually has a very good knife blade. It's made from 154CM, which is a proper knife steel. Same stuff used by Ernie Emerson in his production and custom knives.

 

[ForrestChump]

I love that!! Wish I could fit it on a bumper sticker! Maybe a T-shirt!


BTW, the large Skeletool CX actually has a very good knife blade. It's made from 154CM, which is a proper knife steel. Same stuff used by Ernie Emerson in his production and custom knives.

I was surprised by that. Leatherman really stepped it up on that piece.

No need for a bumper sticker, just talk to anyone on the street. BAM! Proof. :duh2:

 

[Berneck1]

I love that!! Wish I could fit it on a bumper sticker! Maybe a T-shirt!


BTW, the large Skeletool CX actually has a very good knife blade. It's made from 154CM, which is a proper knife steel. Same stuff used by Ernie Emerson in his production and custom knives.

Yeah, that's why I carry it. I feel it's one of their better tools. It's certainly my favorite of the Leatherman tools. The driver and pliers come in quite handy at times, also. Not nearly as much as the knife, but I use all the tools in it.

I agree, a lot has to do with the person holding it. I also work in a very white-collar type office. I think the reaction is more because you don't normally see a pocket knife used much in that environment.


Sent from my iPhone using Candlepowerforums

 

[Loloo]

You can try kubey edc multitool folding knife. It is multifunction to use and very sharp.
http://kubeyknife.com/kubey-edc-mul...ass-breaker-opener-3-4-5-inch-closed-318.html

 

[subwoofer]

The more we shy away from using tools legally, the more people assume a proper knife is a bad thing. We also have a duty to not negatively reinforce the bad impressions they might already have, but I feel as strongly about giving positive impressions. Often I'll take the time to explain to anyone nearby why the knife I'm using is better and safer than the alternatives and is legal and NOT a weapon.

I EDC the largest knife I legally can, as well a Victorinox Classic. If it is a small job and it is relatively public, then I'll use the Victorinox, but if the job needs something larger then I'll just use the bigger knife, quietly, responsibly and put it away once finished without making anything of it.

Multi-tools are more widely accepted, but I have far fewer uses for the tools in them than a knife blade, and the extra weight is not worth it to carry.

 

[kaichu dento]

The more we shy away from using tools legally, the more people assume a proper knife is a bad thing. We also have a duty to not negatively reinforce the bad impressions they might already have, but I feel as strongly about giving positive impressions. Often I'll take the time to explain to anyone nearby why the knife I'm using is better and safer than the alternatives and is legal and NOT a weapon.

I EDC the largest knife I legally can, as well a Victorinox Classic. If it is a small job and it is relatively public, then I'll use the Victorinox, but if the job needs something larger then I'll just use the bigger knife, quietly, responsibly and put it away once finished without making anything of it.

Another excellent post and my feelings exactly. Few things more exasperating than people that do carry a larger knife and make a point of brandishing it to bolster their pride. Nothing wrong with carrying a larger knife if that's what you need and you can carry it responsibly.

Multi-tools are more widely accepted, but I have far fewer uses for the tools in them than a knife blade, and the extra weight is not worth it to carry.

Personally, I need them both. I use the serrated blade on my Leatherman a lot for certain duties, the straight blade for things that I don't care to subject my main knife to, and use the pliers and screwdrivers on a daily basis. Still need a standalone knife for regular knife duties though. Can't imagine not being able to carry both.

 

[irongate]

It might also depend on what state and city that you live in and carry a folding knife or any other type of knife or even a so called multi-tool piece.

 

[RedLED]

Look, I always have carried a knife. And, yes, people are afraid of them. However if they are orange, or pink, they scare no one. Example: at a high class breast cancer luncheon, I comped them by the way, and I was speaking with the hostess, and other well to do ladies in Beverly Hills, where a twig snap sends the entire police Dept.

Since pink is their color I snapped out a pink Hinderer, or Strider PT in pink, and said "look, ladies I have a pink knife." one commented and said, 'oh how adorable.' Now if that had been a black knife, they would have freaked out and had me tossed from the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, and had my feet off the ground, and used my head to open the door...like Ace did to the cowboy in Casino.

Use color to your advantage, people are not scared of colorful knives but, if tour have black, or olive drab combat mission greeen, for get it! Use pink, purple, toxic green, orange yellow and blue. You will have no problems.

It works.

 

[Keitho]

Use color to your advantage, people are not scared of colorful knives but, if tour have black, or olive drab combat mission greeen, for get it! Use pink, purple, toxic green, orange yellow and blue. You will have no problems.

Great point. My grey colored Delica seems to get less of a reaction than a "tactical black" folder of the same size. Same as the difference between the perception of a wood-stock lever action vs an AR, as a previous poster mentioned.

 

[kaichu dento]

Yes, the color of the knife doesn't matter as much as the idea of what kind of person it must be who would carry such a colored knife. People are never freaked out by my black Benchmade 580 because of the way I handle it and I don't strike people as someone who is going to do anything threatening with it.

 

[flphotog]

Multi-tools are what they are great tools, usually with a knife included. If however you ever need to deploy the knife quickly for what ever reason you will be pretty much out of luck.
As a general rule I carry a small multi-tool (at the moment a Leatherman Rev) on my belt , a folder clipped to my off side front pocket and frequently a 3 or 4" fixed blade to top it off.

 

[vadimax]

I guess we cannot think of people that are scared with knives considering them deviated A simple example: while being a kid I have managed to hurt myself badly with a broken glass. Twice. Many years have passed since, but I still don't like to see broken glass or people hurting themselves with it.

May the reason be childhood bitter experience with cutting edges?

 

[TinderBox (UK)]

I prefer a small knife, I find leatherman types a bit too heavy to carry.

John.

 

[eugenechia1989]

I EDC a Leatherman Surge and I'm sure I could survive with it and nothing else, but I also EDC a Spyderco Endura 4 because for extended cutting, the Endura 4 is just more comfortable in the hand. I feel that the Surge's knife blade is fine for occasional light cutting. Despite the robustness of the tool, it's rather slippery in my hand and if I use it for harder cutting, there's the likelihood of the tool shifting in my grip and potentially cutting me. Also, there are sharp corners which get a bit irritating after awhile. The Surge's plain blade is a heck of a slicer, though, so I like to keep a really fine shaving edge on it and a more durable working edge on the Endura 4 (mine's saber-ground). I have no problems with Leatherman's 420HC, it has been quite impressive for me thus far.

Of course, local laws have a part to play, and where I am, the Endura 4 is legal to carry, so might as well carry it and use it to show the public that it's a cutting tool and it's solely user intent that turns it into a weapon. I have flicked open my full-sized Benchmade Griptilian in the middle of a shopping mall before and didn't get any attention, oddly enough. But I'm a bit crazy like that.

 

[leon2245]

downright astonishment

Idk if anyone is really having quite the extreme reaction as we might be imagining. Confidently and exuberantly deploy gear with a flourish, while studying them in hopes of a glimmer of anything that can be interpreted as stupid sheeple response we can get mad about, on the internet.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON THEIR FACE!

:laughing:

 

[kaichu dento]

Idk if anyone is really having quite the extreme reaction as we might be imagining. Confidently and exuberantly deploy gear with a flourish, while studying them in hopes of a glimmer of anything that can be interpreted as stupid sheeple response we can get mad about, on the internet.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON THEIR FACE!

:laughing:

Exactly.