Pocket Knives-Mandatory for Males?

[protoolman]

Remember when pocket knives were mandatory? Like when something needed cut and an adult would ask any nearby male to cut it? At work the other day, I realized I had misplaced my knife. (which everyone constantly asks me to use since they know I carry one.) So I asked around the building to borrow a knife. Out of 20 employess, probably half of which were men, NO knives at all! How can any man function without a good knife. Mine is an electricians knife because I use it to tighten screws as well as pry scrape and cut things many times a day. On weekends I carry just cutting knives with a keener edge. And good hunting knives when I head to the woods of course.
In high school in Montana in the 1980s it was a badge of honor to wear a Buck 110 on you belt at school. I was too poor so I carried a cheaper Schrade. Heck, when our preacher griped about people carrying (guns)concealed at church, I started carrying a big expensive tactical knife clipped to my pocket when I go up for Communion, just so he knows where I stand on these issues.

 

[rkrcpa]

I've been carrying a pocket knife of some sort everyday since I was probably nine years old. It is a habit I picked up from my Dad. My son picked it up from me.

It's funny how the same people who ask "Why do you carry a knife" always need me to cut something for them.

 

[vito]

I've carried a pocket knife with me since I was a kid, but I am old and that's how we were in the old days. I carry a 3" Kershaw clipped to my pocket, whether or not I am carrying a handgun.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I not only carry a buck knife clipped to my pocket, I also carry a Leatherman Wingman clipped to my other pocket. And I always carry a gun. Not sure how many at church carry a gun, but I'm one of them. I told the pastor one day he needed to educate people in the congregation to get down and stay down if someone comes in shooting, or it will be his fault, if someones head pops up because they want to run, and accidentally get shot. He was at a loss for words. But I firmly believe that, the pastor needs to make that announcement regularly. Not likely something is going to happen, but one never knows.

 

[Fox Mike]

I get aggravated when I fly and have to put it in my hold luggage. I don't feel fully dressed without my pocket knife. I cannot remember when I didn't have a knife in my pocket, even as a kid.

 

[Pal Val]

When I was a kid (and Ike was President), I flunked "handwriting" all the time, so the nuns did not allow me to use a pen. I wrote with a pencil and carried an old Barlow knife in my pocket, all the way through elementary and middle school. By the time I hit high school, the knife was part of my school kit, even if by then I was using a pen.

I have an eye-hand coordination problem. Luckily, it doesn't affect my shooting.

I won't ask what would happen if I walked into a school today with a knife in my pocket! Times change.

 

[Pat-inCO]

I carried a Buck knife for decades. Since then I've converted to a Swiss Army
Tool Kit. The extra features can be handy.

Since I've been in AZ, I also carry a CRKT MK16-03, which opens with one hand.

 

[sfhogman]

I always have my Kershaw Dividend on me. I've carried some sort of jackknife since I was 8 or 9.

And yes, the twerps who make a point of asking why I carry a knife are always the first to ask me to cut something...something about that mindset...

Jeff

 

[Dan in MI]

I get aggravated when I fly and have to put it in my hold luggage. I don't feel fully dressed without my pocket knife. I cannot remember when I didn't have a knife in my pocket, even as a kid.

This^
Because of this and my not wanting to lose a good knife to TSA by forgetting, I have two, or three, good, but cheap, knives in my shaving kit for when I land. My good knife doesn't go to the airport.

 

[Brules]

I've carried a knife for over 50 years...rarely without one. When I was a kid, all my friends carried one, even in school.

 

[Jeepnik]

These days I've changed from pocket knives to a 3" fixed bladed knife. No specific reason just something different for a while. But I have to concur with the OP. No one seems to have a knife anymore. In fact the younger folks shrink back as though a knife will jump up and attack them.

 

[sfhogman]

Thing is, you never know when you might need your pocketknife....check this:

https://dailycaller.com/2019/06/29/chick-fil-a-employee-saves-choking-boy/

Jeff

 

[Colonialgirl]

I carry a lever action Camilus (spelling?) in my back pocket when wearing jeans; My spouse gave it to me. I also have a CCW permit and it IS needed Always !!

 

[mexicanjoe]

When I worked patrol I carried a folding knife on my belt, a clip on knife ( GERBER) in my pants pocket, a boot knife and finally mu old Schrade 3 blade in my back pack......Im not paranoid, its just that working by yourself in a large county makes one think of many possibilities. My advice is: Keep that blade SHARP!

 

[blackhawknj]

A Boy Scout knife JHS-HS 1961-1967, a demo knife in the Army 1967-1971. The can opener/bottle got the most use. Then a Swiss Army, nowadays a Leatherman tool and a Buck 110, in sheaths.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I used to carry a jackknife but haven't in years.
I use a knife every day , but now I use a utility knife.
I have 3 or 4 of them in my truck at all times and carry one in my back pocket every day at work.
I do construction and a utility knife is more useful than any other kind of knife in what I do.
The only time I carry a jackknife or sheath knife is when I go hunting.

 

[Paul B]

Many years ago when I was living in Reno NV (1969) I as working in a cabinet shop. Every Monday the boss would have a meeting and one day he asked if anyone had a jackknife? No one spoke up and I said I just have this old pocket knife I've had for years. The boss gave me a $.25 an hour raise on the spot. :shock: I was the newest employee and had been there only a week. It was just about Christmas time so the boss gave everyone a present, me included. A shiny new pocket knife. 8) A few days after New Years I lost that new knife through a hole in my pocket. I found what was left after cars had run over it, Mechanically it was still sound but the scales were a total loss. During lunch time I fashioned a new set of scale out of some scrap formica and glued them on the knife. The boss came up and asked me what I was doing so I showed him. He gave me another $.10 an hour raise. About a month late I got my appointment to what was then called the Weather Bureau and left that job. It took me 6 years to get that appointment so I sure wan't gonna turn it down. Fot the record, I still have those two knives, my old beat up one that got me a raise and the one the boss gave me that I lost and then found again. These days I have a Browning clip on folder and it seems I use it probably two or three times a day.
Paul B.

 

[Coop]

I have carried my Swiss Army pocket knife with me for 30 years now.

Never had a problem.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Mini-Buck in my "watch pocket" and Leatherman on my belt.

 

[gramps]

I've carried a knife for over 50 years...rarely without one. When I was a kid, all my friends carried one, even in school.

You had to carry a knife at school——-how else are you going to play stretch or mumbly peg at recess? :shock: :mrgreen:
gramps

 

[Muley Gil]

When I was 6 years old, I found a single blade pocket knife out in the garage. I asked my granny if I could keep it and she said yes. I have carried a knife ever since, even to school. During my cop days, I had a Gerber F-S in a shirt pocket, a cheap folder in another pocket and a Gerber tool in a pouch on my Sam Browne belt. I also carried either a .45 1911 or a .44 or .45 revolver on my belt, a Colt Cobra on my ankle and a NAA in my left front pocket.

I worked in a rough town.

 

[Captain America]

I’ve never carried a pocket knife, I actually don’t recall ever owning one.

 

[Ethang]

Long before Gibbs Rules, my dad taught me that a man always has at least a pocket knife. A few months ago there was a young hipster male in the checkout line who had to ask the counter help to open his bag of beef sticks for him. Pathetic. The only time I am without one is on the very rare occasions I fly, then I have one in my checked luggage.

 

[gramps]

When I was 6 years old, I found a single blade pocket knife out in the garage. I asked my granny if I could keep it and she said yes. I have carried a knife ever since, even to school. During my cop days, I had a Gerber F-S in a shirt pocket, a cheap folder in another pocket and a Gerber tool in a pouch on my Sam Browne belt. I also carried either a .45 1911 or a .44 or .45 revolver on my belt, a Colt Cobra on my ankle and a NAA in my left front pocket.

I worked in a rough town.

St Charles?
gramps

 

[Mobuck]

I've quit carrying a good folding knife for every day farm work. I clip a folding utility knife(the replaceable blade type) on my right hand pants pocket. A multi-tool is kept in it's belt pouch on the left side behind my hipbone. I buy the utility knives on sale for $4-5 with a lifetime warranty and I use that warranty frequently due to the abuse I put on them. At that price, I don't feel too bummed if I happen to lose one now and then.
At meetings people just look toward me and make a cutting motion cause they know I have at least one really sharp knife on me at all times. One guy in the group made this comment one day: "It always scares me just a little when your knife comes out. Even when I know it's going to happen, the way it just appears and that little flick opens the blade gives me a tiny chill like seeing a snake unexpectedly." That's exactly the way I want it to seem--no telegraphing the action.

 

[RICHP]

Never leave home without it, even though I seldom use it anymore.

 

[Del J]

Case Canoe when I do.

 

[contender]

I, like so many here grew up carrying a knife. It was a "rite of passage" for a young boy to be given his first knife. And yes,, we all carried them to school. I was in High School, my senior year, and we had a new football coach/PE teacher. I wasn't one of his students. Yet, one morning, on my way to homeroom, he grabbed my left arm, and said; "Let me have it!" I almost hit him. ( I first thought that was what he wanted.) He then said; Take that knife off & let me have it!" I firmly replied; "It's mine, it's not a weapon it's a tool. I use it in wood shop, paid for it with my own money & I've never threatened anybody with it. AND,,, NOBODY is big enough to take it off me,, especially YOU!" I then looked at how he had my left arm, and he let me go. I turned & went to my homeroom, very pizzed.
Soon after,, he came into my HR, and whispered to my HR teacher, pointing at me. I flipped him off. I was told; "The Principal wants to see you." Well, I went to the office, and as I got there,, the principal was chewing out a guy for tardiness. After he got through with him, we went into his office. He said; "Hey, short-s**! came in here hopping up & down about your knife. Where is it?" I turned & let him see my sheath knife hanging on my belt. We discussed why I carried one & all. He then said; "Do you have a smaller one or a pocket one you could wear for a while to get him off my back?"
I replied that I did & that I would do so.
End of story.

Today,, I'd be in jail for just having one in a school.

I have carried many knives over the years. I own quite a few,, as like guns,, you always seem to need just one more. But,, I too have switched what I carry & where & when.
Daily, a cheap folding utility knife with disposable blades. I occasionally lose one,, or need to abuse one. And when I fly,, it goes into my checked bag. Leaving Las Vegas this past Jan after SHOT,,, I forgot to put it in my checked bag. I had to deposit it in their barrel & leave it behind.
But for hunting,, or other things,, I have a fair selection of GOOD knives,, and enjoy them immensely.

Mandatory for males? Heck yes!!!!!!! AND even the ladies should have one. I've given Miss Penny a couple!

 

[Goldstar225]

Dad gave me my first pocket knife when I was 5 or 6. Except for basic training I've carried one for every day for 56 years now. Wouldn't feel fully dressed without it. I don't recall any boy in my school who didn't have a pocket knife.

 

[Kevin Keith]

I have a few pocket knives but I don't carry one regularly. I'm doing good if I remember my billfold.