Christmas is a comin' and the geese are getting fat ...

[Big RR]

I had a small (less than 3") sterling silver (the case, the blade was steel) pocket knife I used to carry (I got at a gift at a client's Christmas party when I was a consultant), but like Guin I stopped carrying it when I had to pass through metal detectors in courts and airports (well before 9/11); it's still in, my dresser. When I carried it, I found many uses for it opening packages, etc.

[RayThom]

I've had a Case, 3-blade, stag handle, pocket knife on my person almost every day since grade school. I never hid it, never denied having it, and never prosecuted for having it. Plus, almost every family member has a CCP/CCL. No big deal is ever made of it. Oh, and we are all Democrats.

"An armed family is a polite family." I guess it all has to do with temperament.

[MGMcAnick]

I thought I'd lost my first Leatherman a few years ago. It was a Christmas present from Mrs Mc. I did a craigslist search simply for Leatherman. I turned up a couple. One was only $20, like new. They retail for about $60 at Wally World. The day after I bought it, I found the original. Now I have two, one to carry and one on my desk at home.

I tried to use the original one on my desk the other night. It was so dull it would not cut the plastic I was working on. I need to take my good whetstone home and work on it some evening. I can get a blade sharp enough to cut well, but not shave.

There used to be a bored security guard where I worked who would sharpen knives for anyone who asked. He watched a big door go up and down at the fork lift entrance to the military secret project area we worked in. Hours of complete mind numbing boredom punctuated by a minute of slightly less boring activity. When he sharpened my knife, it would shave the fuzz off of a peach. I don't think Gillette could do any better.

There have been a few times when I had to remember to leave my tool in the car. Once I got all the way to the door before I realized my mistake. Even the local municipal sports arena and DMV have metal detectors now.

[wesw]

well rube....,

it seems that knives have generated a lot of interest, and fondness.

maybe you should give knives...., if you can get the parent s permission of course.

if not..., back to the old drawing board!

[Jarlaxle]

I thought I'd lost my first Leatherman a few years ago. It was a Christmas present from Mrs Mc. I did a craigslist search simply for Leatherman. I turned up a couple. One was only $20, like new. They retail for about $60 at Wally World. The day after I bought it, I found the original. Now I have two, one to carry and one on my desk at home.

I tried to use the original one on my desk the other night. It was so dull it would not cut the plastic I was working on. I need to take my good whetstone home and work on it some evening. I can get a blade sharp enough to cut well, but not shave.

There used to be a bored security guard where I worked who would sharpen knives for anyone who asked. He watched a big door go up and down at the fork lift entrance to the military secret project area we worked in. Hours of complete mind numbing boredom punctuated by a minute of slightly less boring activity. When he sharpened my knife, it would shave the fuzz off of a peach. I don't think Gillette could do any better.

There have been a few times when I had to remember to leave my tool in the car. Once I got all the way to the door before I realized my mistake. Even the local municipal sports arena and DMV have metal detectors now.

Yeah, so does Gilette Stadium...which has security that manages to be both mind-bendingly annoying and mind-numbingly worthless! I could have gotten in with my Model 29, and they'd never have known!

My wife carried a pair of stilettos through security at a court house...tbey were in plain sight, and nobody even noticed! (She uses them as hairpins.)

[BoSoxGal]

Well then there's the hundreds and hundreds of courthouses in rural America that have zero security and which, despite laws prohibiting weapons of any kind except wielded by peace officers, are essentially wide open to knife and gun-toting lawyers AND unstable litigants/defendants.


I got a bunch of great toys and books for the niece I live with, some books and treats for her mom & dad, and as usual my dog will get a nice steak.

Like Jarl I personally eschew gift-receiving, except I'll let my cousin give me a free massage.

[oldr_n_wsr]

I always have my swiss army knife with me. Actually I carry two, one little that has just a blade, file and scissors and the other a bit larger with a bunch of stuff.
I had a small one confiscated at the airport once. I thought it would be ok but I thought wrong.

I Have a filet knife, hunting knife and folding lock blade (all Buck) that are in my headboard. Don't use them much. Haven't hunted in a few years and most fish I catch and release.
I have a leatherman but I don't carry it much.
On the weekends when I could use it more, I usually wear sweatpants, thus no belt to hoop the leatherman case on.
My first pocket knife was an official boy scout knife that I got for Christmas one year waaaaayy back when (late 60's). I promptly lost it at Grandma's house about two hours after getting it.
Fast forward to 2002 when we moved grandma out of her house and we found that knife down the back of the couch. I barely remembered havign gotten and losing that knife. I gave it to my nephew who is about 2 badges away from earning eagle scout.

[Long Run]

My first pocket knife was an official boy scout knife that I got for Christmas one year waaaaayy back when (late 60's). I promptly lost it at Grandma's house about two hours after getting it.
Fast forward to 2002 when we moved grandma out of her house and we found that knife down the back of the couch. I barely remembered havign gotten and losing that knife. I gave it to my nephew who is about 2 badges away from earning eagle scout.

Nice story!

[rubato]

I've given knives before as gifts, along with Leatherman tools, so its been done.

Speaking of, back when I was doing forensic chemistry in the 1990s I had to testify in court periodically as well as go into police, sheriffs, Cal DOJ, federal DOJ and the FBI offices in LA. The level of security varied a great deal. Many courts had no security to speak of (other than an armed officer in the courtroom). The Marshals guarding the federal court in downtown LA were thorough and pleasant, they took away my pocket knife but gave it back as I left.

yrs,
rubato