Why a folding knife
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But you can translate 'pocket' to 'a thing that you keep your items in', whether that's a small pouch or a bag.
Lucy Locket lost her pocket.
Kitty Fisher found it.
Not a penny was there in it, but the ribbon around it.
Buying a pig in a poke* was to buy a sack possibly containing a pigs head and a cat.
A pocket of hops, also known as a hop pocket, typically contained about 80 kilos (approximately 176 pounds) of dried hops. These pockets were large sacks made from hessian or jute material.
* Scottish and Northern English word for pocket.
Pockets were commonly just pouches and bags.
Icannot believe that pockets made folding knives but once they appeared, obviously they could conveniently go into a pocket whether integral with clothing or not.
Thinking a bit more about this - I have to admit that it’s a possibility. I’m sure that storage and stowage were major reasons for their adoption.
Happy to be wrong.
Kitty Fisher found it.
Not a penny was there in it, but the ribbon around it.
Buying a pig in a poke* was to buy a sack possibly containing a pigs head and a cat.
A pocket of hops, also known as a hop pocket, typically contained about 80 kilos (approximately 176 pounds) of dried hops. These pockets were large sacks made from hessian or jute material.
* Scottish and Northern English word for pocket.
Pockets were commonly just pouches and bags.
I
Thinking a bit more about this - I have to admit that it’s a possibility. I’m sure that storage and stowage were major reasons for their adoption.
Happy to be wrong.
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Clearly you do not understand me. I am saying that knives have not been demonized and deemed forbidden to carry everywhere and everytime until a few decades back.
In yesteryears knives and daggers were commonly carried by everybody so no need for a folding knife in the sence of having a knife that could be carried hidden because it was not forbidden to have a knife/dagger on your belt.
Can't quote the last paragraph but there lies the difference, puukko has never been considered primarily a weapon it is a tool. Hundred years ago much more so than today when politicians have caught the weapon contagion from somewhere.
I left school in 1965.
I used to travel to Delamere Forest by train with a big Bowie knife hanging from my belt and no one turned a hair.
About the same time I carried that Bowie and another sheath knife through customs atLiverpool Hollyhead and Dún Laoghaire without any comment. That became impossible in 1969 when the Irish troubles flared again.
Edited to add:
This one:
All my secondary school days, my mates and I wore sheath knives for walks and bike rides.
Most scouts wore one.
(I also had dad’s jack knife. Every ex-soldier in the road had one.)
I used to travel to Delamere Forest by train with a big Bowie knife hanging from my belt and no one turned a hair.
About the same time I carried that Bowie and another sheath knife through customs at
Edited to add:
This one:
All my secondary school days, my mates and I wore sheath knives for walks and bike rides.
Most scouts wore one.
(I also had dad’s jack knife. Every ex-soldier in the road had one.)
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Why would you wear a sheath knife for walks or bike rides? Actually curious. Why not have it in a pack? I'm not against sheath knives... but wearing one... just because... seems more fashion accessory than need. And in the 60's, it wasn't a fashion accessory, or a need to have one on your belt. I do understand that at times, requiring quick access to a knife is useful... none of those times include riding a bike or hiking... unless you're in an area of potentially dangerous animals, or people, but the law allows for that where it matters. And none of that matters in the UK... apparently. (law wise)
Why carry it in a pack when back then then was nothing wrong with carrying it on your belt, as per Pattree's experience.
Also, you can't say there are two reasons for carrying it (fashion, need) and then say those weren't reasons...that makes zero sense. You can make suggestions for why, but not immediately dismiss your own suggestions without any reasoning, as then why suggest them in the first place?
@HillBill
……… but we all did.
I lived in a fairly rural area by Ringway Airport in a village called Heald Green. Later I lived in the little market town of Altrincham. We weren’t tearaways, teds or “cosh boys” (a term in common use about then.). Just normal teenagers well inside the social norm.
My point is, whatever our motive, we were permitted to carry one openly, without question in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
……… but we all did.
I lived in a fairly rural area by Ringway Airport in a village called Heald Green. Later I lived in the little market town of Altrincham. We weren’t tearaways, teds or “cosh boys” (a term in common use about then.). Just normal teenagers well inside the social norm.
My point is, whatever our motive, we were permitted to carry one openly, without question in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
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Lots of reasoning...
Slower fingers than thought process, Easily distracted, Our lass sending the laser guided cat to attack my leg with her laser pointer....Loss of train of thought as a result.
So... I literally said... area dependant (well actual wording was 'varies from area to area' in post 31 of this thread). Yes, in built up areas... Cities, well populated suburban areas etc that was a thing. Rural areas... maybe not so much. But my point still stands. Why carry a sheath knife on a belt, while riding your bike? What reason would you need quick access to it for? Random wild animal attack? Gotta make a feather stick in the next 10 seconds or die? So yeah, as Pattree says just above this "Rural area, Everyone wore one" So a fashion accessory then. He wore one because someone else wore one, because someone else wore one... in the area they lived. Not through need, but through... well if he does it, i should/can do it... without any real need 'to do it'. Socially accepted... in a rural area, fashion accessory. I'm sure they all felt like proper men. I don't begrudge them that. BUt dont tell me it was normal, because a tiny part of the country wasn't bothered.
And i didn't say there were 2 reasons to carry it, fashion and need. I said neither was actually a reason for wearing one on a belt in the UK.
Don't get me wrong Hugh. I'm not against it. Just pointing things out in the context of the thread. As to why Folding knives are more of a go to than a fixed blade. Answer is simply they are far less visible, and thus, more socially acceptable. (note to add... never made a folder in my life... made almost a thousand fixed blades, so i hope that clears up my feelings on the matter)
Well, i guess the Crime prevention act of 1953 didnt so much apply to standard type sheath knives back then. All i was saying is that in more built up areas, it wasnt a done thing due to social convention and accepted norms. Rural area were not the same,, (and rightly so imo) Just saying you didnt do through need. You did it because, as you say... everyone did.
@HillBill
I can’t help thinking that you are looking down the wrong end of the telescope.
Looking FROM the 1960’s :-
I’m saying that openly carrying a sheath knife in my childhood and adolescence was not seriously different from the situation described by @Herman30 and @TLM.
There would be no need to adopt a folding knife for any social or legal reason. For convenience - certainly. Older people did not tend to carry fixed blade knives except on the allotment. (Vegetable garden.)
I can’t help thinking that you are looking down the wrong end of the telescope.
Looking FROM the 1960’s :-
I’m saying that openly carrying a sheath knife in my childhood and adolescence was not seriously different from the situation described by @Herman30 and @TLM.
There would be no need to adopt a folding knife for any social or legal reason. For convenience - certainly. Older people did not tend to carry fixed blade knives except on the allotment. (Vegetable garden.)
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No, i can see what you're saying mate. My initial responses were about 'historical general' reasons. Not local/rural ones. Taking it out of context based on the OP is the reason we are having this chat. History doesnt really record local stuff, unless it became of thing of legend. When things change historically, they dont change in one specific point, and at one specific time. TIme has to pass. Change has to happen. FOr example... Would you take the same bike rides with a knife on your belt today? If so, why/ If not... Why? Is it because of laws? Social reasons?... or because not everyone does it anymore? Or maybe you've moved from there? Where you might live now wouldnt allow it?... Too old to ride a damn bike....?
(i'd be the last one)
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