Displaying knives in public

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Barn Owl

Old Age Punk
Apr 10, 2007
8,245
5
58
Ayrshire
I don't understand this 'sad' business when someone wants to wear the trappings of their lifestyle or hobby.

I find it more sad that a lot of folks wear trousers designed for the farms of middle america (denims) and caps designed to keep the sun out of a baseball players eyes.

I mean what use are denims in a wet climate like ours if you intend to be out in the wet,be it town or country.

I wear what would be described as a bushcraft uniform day in,day out and have done for many years,it's comfy and practible for me.
 

Barn Owl

Old Age Punk
Apr 10, 2007
8,245
5
58
Ayrshire
hope my last post didn't come across as a bit troll like, i can't seem to edit posts this evening.
reading it over i can see that it may, sorry.
 

Dougster

Bushcrafter through and through
Oct 13, 2005
5,254
238
The banks of the Deveron.
Maybe I'm getting old. But I really don't care what they do, unless it directly and imminently affects me, at which point I would react in what would best be described as 'excessive'.

We are moving far too far from our rights and worrying about perceptions. If a random sheeple told me they were offended by my rifle in case on the way to the car, or by my knife in a reasonable situation, they would be far far more offended by what they then heard.

Sadly this seems to be at odds with our current political/social slant where you are guilty by perception and, as the OP pointed out, simply carrying a simple tool is now a frowned upon act because the tool has been demonised, whereas the pillock behind it is fine and his social worker will be hauled over the coals for his actions.

There are few retreats for those who take responsibility for their actions, please God let this remain one of them.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
I don't understand this 'sad' business when someone wants to wear the trappings of their lifestyle or hobby.

I find it more sad that a lot of folks wear trousers designed for the farms of middle america (denims) and caps designed to keep the sun out of a baseball players eyes.

I mean what use are denims in a wet climate like ours if you intend to be out in the wet,be it town or country.

I wear what would be described as a bushcraft uniform day in,day out and have done for many years,it's comfy and practible for me.


Having grown up in Southern Mississippi and now living in Florida I'm always perplexed when someone says denim isn't suitable for wet climates. I've found nothing better. The "fast drying" fabrics are a myth. It's irrelevent for something to dry in 20 minutes if you know you're going back in the swamp in 10. If you're truly in a wet climate being wet all the time is just a given. Don't try to avoid it; embrace it.
 

Barn Owl

Old Age Punk
Apr 10, 2007
8,245
5
58
Ayrshire
I remember times from my youth getting wet in denims in winter and struggling against a freezing breeze,not pleasant.
Also nearly drowned with a pair on when thrown in a deep pool of a river,no matter how much i tried to move forward I was just being dragged down.Just don't like them.

Of course same can be said of any trousers but I was put off them easily.
reverted to good old british army lightweights mostly.
 

johnboy

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 2, 2003
2,258
5
Hamilton NZ
www.facebook.com
Dougster said:
If a random sheeple told me they were offended by my rifle in case on the way to the car, or by my knife in a reasonable situation, they would be far far more offended by what they then heard.

What's a Sheeple???
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
I don't understand this 'sad' business when someone wants to wear the trappings of their lifestyle or hobby.

I find it more sad that a lot of folks wear trousers designed for the farms of middle america (denims) and caps designed to keep the sun out of a baseball players eyes.

I mean what use are denims in a wet climate like ours if you intend to be out in the wet,be it town or country.

I wear what would be described as a bushcraft uniform day in,day out and have done for many years,it's comfy and practible for me.

So are jeans and baseball cap.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
I remember times from my youth getting wet in denims in winter and struggling against a freezing breeze,not pleasant.
Also nearly drowned with a pair on when thrown in a deep pool of a river,no matter how much i tried to move forward I was just being dragged down.Just don't like them.

Of course same can be said of any trousers but I was put off them easily.
reverted to good old british army lightweights mostly.

Understandable I suppose. That said I canoe in them and swim in class III rapids with no problems. Cold generally isn't an issue here. Although wet cold could be, it never has been
 

Everything Mac

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 30, 2009
3,112
83
36
Scotland
I must say I agree with everything that has been said.

If you can't wear a knife at a bushcraft show then whee can you?

i must admit that my personal knives only really ever get worn when I have a need for a blade to hand. Though I will quite often have one in my pack or a pen knife in my pocket.


I will be controversial here and say that I wonder how much of the knife wearing is a case of "I'm a bushcrafter, you can tell because I have a knife, tinder pouch etc etc on my belt"

Andy
 

johnboy

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 2, 2003
2,258
5
Hamilton NZ
www.facebook.com
I will be controversial here and say that I wonder how much of the knife wearing is a case of "I'm a bushcrafter, you can tell because I have a knife, tinder pouch etc etc on my belt"

Andy


Thats not controversial is it.? Just a valid thought or question..

I'm not sure what the intent or premis of the OP was.

But it seems we have a couple of issues ( denim wearing aside)

1. The Perception of the General Public to bushcrafters wearing knives on their person at a Bushcraft Show.
2. The 'need' for a bushcrafter to wear a knife on their person at a bushcraft show.

It seems to my simple mind that UK law caters for point 1 if its lawful to do so then there is no issue.

Point 2 to my simple mind is more about 'fashion' and personal statements. The answer to me is there is no right and wrong on that.
 

salad

Full Member
Sep 24, 2008
1,779
133
51
In the Mountains
I came over to the UK for the show and did not bring a belt knife with me as I figured all I needed was a folder to do most of my camping tasks that weekend , however in the past I have worn my belt knife to shows like wilderness gathering .
If I am honest in the past I put on my belt at shows because I wanted to and enjoyed the chance to show off something that I was proud to own .

Its funny now I live somewhere where I can wear a knife without the social stigma I used to worry about in the UK ,I am now not really concerned weather its in my pack or on my belt :)

Legal uk stuff aside I got no problem with people wearing there sharps at a bushcraft show weather its because they need it or just want the chance to show it off to other people who appreciate knives . Even though I did not bring one of mine I still liked to see other peoples knives because its something that interests me.

At the end of the day we all enjoy this interest in bushcraft in many different ways and I recon its good to be happy when we see other people enjoy it in there own way
 
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Chris the Cat

Full Member
Jan 29, 2008
2,850
14
Exmoor
I have one on at the Wilderness Gathering if camping for the wkend, but I don't wear one at the Bristol Knife show. ( 24th June this year! )

Its an odd one with Denim, it started life with the saliors of Nime in France ( Serge De Nime, cloth of Nime ) if I remember correctly !?
Must have been good for something outdoorsy, taken on as it was by cowhands and miners.
Have a good day Cats,
Chris.
 

santaman2000

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Jan 15, 2011
16,909
1,114
67
Florida
I have one on at the Wilderness Gathering if camping for the wkend, but I don't wear one at the Bristol Knife show. ( 24th June this year! )

Its an odd one with Denim, it started life with the saliors of Nime in France ( Serge De Nime, cloth of Nime ) if I remember correctly !?
Must have been good for something outdoorsy, taken on as it was by cowhands and miners.
Have a good day Cats,
Chris.

It started with Levi Straus making pants (trousers for ya'll) out of sailcloth in California for the miners during the 1849 gold rush. The only dye he could obtain was the blue indigo that has become the signature color.
 

plastic-ninja

Full Member
Jan 11, 2011
2,235
262
cumbria
I think folks get way too exercised over what other people are doing.
If it isn't relevant to me or those I care about or am responsible for I'm voting for freewill every time.
I rarely wear a beltknife nowadays but I always have some sort of blade either in my pocket or in my
backpack.
I don't think I had one on all the time at the Bushcraft show last year but I did for some of the weekend
and enjoyed comparing mine with some of the others being worn.This stimulated quite a few interesting
conversations and did provoke the purchase of a beverage or two also.It's not the carrying of knives that
has ever been the problem but the willingness to use one on a human being.
As has been said ad infinitum the knives used in violent crimes are rarely the relatively expensive and
specialised knives of the Bushcraft community , but more than likely will be a Stanley type knife or a cheap
bargain shop kitchen knife.
The knife is the tool ; not the person wearing it.
Cheers , Simon
 

Barn Owl

Old Age Punk
Apr 10, 2007
8,245
5
58
Ayrshire
It started with Levi Straus making pants (trousers for ya'll) out of sailcloth in California for the miners during the 1849 gold rush. The only dye he could obtain was the blue indigo that has become the signature color.

You'll all be wanting me to wear chaps next...;), hmmm..leather or ventile I wonder..:lmao:
Mind you,a good pair of dungarees may be what i need.Ordinary jeans just aren't comfy for me.
 

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