Displaying knives in public

[Warthogiam]

I recently attended the Bushcrat show at Elvaston castle and was slightly concerned at how many people were carrying knives and sharps around the public areas.
I appreciate people were wild camping at the show as was I but I did not see the need to carry my knife, axe or machete around in full view when in the main show area and certainly not with a pint in my hand!
It all seemed to be a bit of a "mines bigger than yours" display of people's wares.
We all love our "toys" but I think they should be kept out of public view when not in the woods around our camps or at group meets.
There were plenty of sharps being sold and used in demonstrations under supervision
as you would expect at this type of event.
I would be interested to know what the organisers and those who attended the events' views are on this subject.

 

[MartinK9]

I never went, but if just one member of the normal public saw men, women and children responsibly wearing/carrying and/or using tools for their correct purpose and wasn't shocked into immediately calling for a SWAT team, then that's a win.


I am sick to death of the minority spoiling it for the majority and the "powers to be" having a knee-jerk reaction that only affects the law-abiding.

 

[lou1661]

Whilst I didnt attend that particular show, i have been to some in the past and have noticed the same thing. I however feel that with the mass media induced hysteria that surrounds sharps it is a good thing for people to see there responsable use, hopefully making them once again seen as tools not weapons.
Just my thoughts
Lou

 

[Peteo]

If it was a bushcraft show i understand, anyone attending should know bushcraft or be interested/informed on the subject so i suspect people expect to see knives being such a big part of a bushcraft kit

on the otherhand i did not attend so could not see first hand, if a passer by seen a guy with a pint and a knife i too would be alarmed..

That said if they were wild camping they had a reason for the blade and breaking no laws.. so crack on

 

[udamiano]

+1 on what MartinK9 said. to many knee-jerk responses

 

[Robbi]

if you can't wear a knife at somewhere like that, it's a very sad world indeed. Scaremongering by sheeple like yourself.....AAAaaaaaggghhhh ! KNIFE !... run !!!!! wise up mate !

 

[Mesquite]

+1 on what MartinK9 said. to many knee-jerk responses

+2 for Martins comments.

Why be ashamed of the tools you use to the extent you have to hide them away?

 

[British Red]

Yep, I'm on the same page.

Its the same when some dog walker on a footpath sees a "man with a gun" - usually a farmer a couple of fields away performing pest control. I personally think its a great thing for the public to see tools handled and used responsibly. Knives don't leap out of sheaths and attack someone and are no more dangerous than a green wood working chisel, bowl adze, or what have you.

Heck, go to a country show and there will be plenty of guys carrying guns - sure they are shotguns in slips on the way to the clay shoots, but guns none the less.

Great to see it too!

Red

 

[dave53]

+1 for martink9 typical knee jerk reaction yet another busybody going overboard regards dave

 

[Barn Owl]

Totally disagree with the op and agree with Martin.
I have no problem whatsoever with like minded folks wearing knives at such an event even when enjoying an ale.

Tom (retired cop).

 

[Chainsaw]

Interested to know why you were concerned, did you feel unsafe or ?

Cheers

Alan

 

[mountainm]

Just to play devils advocate. Sometimes they are worn like a badge and I see where the op is coming from. Would be nice to know how many sporting the knives knew how to use them.

 

[Black Sheep]

Yep, I'm on the same page.

Its the same when some dog walker on a footpath sees a "man with a gun" - usually a farmer a couple of fields away performing pest control. I personally think its a great thing for the public to see tools handled and used responsibly. Knives don't leap out of sheaths and attack someone and are no more dangerous than a green wood working chisel, bowl adze, or what have you.

Heck, go to a country show and there will be plenty of guys carrying guns - sure they are shotguns in slips on the way to the clay shoots, but guns none the less.

Great to see it too!

Red

Totally agree with BR, been to a few shows and seen folks carrying guns about in slips.

I've had a few funny looks meeting folks carrying my guns where I do pest control, but not as many as when you see armed Police escorting prisoners in the hospital where I work

As for knives I once inadvertently sat at a bar with my knife hanging from my belt talking to the local PC a while back, But and a big but I'd just left by Beach caster outside the door along with the fish and bait bucket.

Personally I like my neck sheath as you can tuck it way when wary Joe Public are about

Richard

 

[scoops_uk]

Would be nice to know how many sporting the knives knew how to use them.

All I imagine, with varying degrees of competence, it's the most common tool on the planet.

Of course if it was a WI cake show and people were slicing cakes with much bigger knives no-one would comment or probably even notice.

Scoops

 

[Hastur]

I was at the show, personally I didn't carry a knife on my belt but most did.

Most children, including my 10 year old son had Mora's on their belts. There were free 1 to 1 knife safety and responsible use sessions arranged for kids and I made sure my boy attended before carrying his knife.

For what I saw there was no trouble at all. Sure a few kids (and adults) had plasters on from where they had handled a knife incorrectly but that's all part of learning to responsibly carry and use a tool.

99% of the knifes worn were handmade bushcraft knifes, I didn't see any machete's, and only one child with a forest axe on his belt!

As other posters have said, if you can't wear a bushcraft knife at a bushcraft show then where can you?

I think we need to encourge responsible carrying and usage of knifes as tools not question it.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Expat]

Another +1 to Martink9 and BR.
As the OP said - they were being WORN - not being waved about, so what is the problem exactly..??
Like I said on another thread, seem to be another case of finding/causing problems where none existed..

 

[Silverback 1]

I am sick to death of the minority spoiling it for the majority and the "powers to be" having a knee-jerk reaction that only affects the law-abiding.

Never a truer word.

Back in the good old days an an ex pistol shooter i made the annual pilgrimage to Bisley where it was not considered inappropriate to wear a handgun on my belt during the meet, nobody batted an eyelid, including the on duty police, but as the saying goes, the rest is history.

 

[FGYT]

As other posters have said, if you can't wear a bushcraft knife at a bushcraft show then where can you?

I think we need to encourge responsible carrying and usage of knifes as tools not question it.

Regards,

Dan.

same as every other public place you can wear/ carry what ever you like as long as you have specific reason

most people I suspect did

some probably didn't (day ticket holder who didnt buy a knife at he show or take one to actually use maybe a carving workshop )


those who did buy or where camping there cars in the car park and the tents are with in the Public place as far as the law is concerned so no different to carrying at least no body can break into your car or tent and nick it cause a crime and you have to explain why you left a sharp unattended in a public place

 

[Biker]

Maybe I'm reading the orginal posting wrongly, but using a knife at a bushcraft show is fine and dandy if there's something to make or use it on, but just having it on your belt while you wander about the trade stalls viewing stuff is like wearing a crash helmet in the swimming baths. Superfluous. It does make it look like you're trying to be flash by parading about with a peni5 substitute on your belt. I wonder how many of them had water canteens hanging off on their belts as well?

Time and place folks. Off in the woods, yes. Around a campfire, yes. Working on a project in a designated area, yes. But in a marque?

As a carpenter I wear one of those leather tool belt with pouches in it for screws and tools. My hammer hangs off a loop at my side and a fixed blade stanley knife sits on one of the pouches too, but I don't wear this in the highstreet.

Not disagreeing with Martins comment as it was well said, and the others that followed. But I read the OP in quite a different light.

 

[mountainm]

Maybe I'm reading the orginal posting wrongly, but using a knife at a bushcraft show is fine and dandy if there's something to make or use it on, but just having it on your belt while you wander about the trade stalls viewing stuff is like wearing a crash helmet in the swimming baths. Superfluous. It does make it look like you're trying to be flash by parading about with a peni5 substitute on your belt. I wonder how many of them had water canteens hanging off on their belts as well?

Time and place folks. Off in the woods, yes. Around a campfire, yes. Working on a project in a designated area, yes. But in a marque?

As a carpenter I wear one of those leather tool belt with pouches in it for screws and tools. My hammer hangs off a loop at my side and a fixed blade stanley knife sits on one of the pouches too, but I don't wear this in the highstreet.

Not disagreeing with Martins comment as it was well said, and the others that followed. But I read the OP in quite a different light.

You said it better than I did.