Awkard moments or negative responses while using your EDC!

[lawless]

We did inventory at work a while back and apparently there wasn't a pencil sharpener in the whole place. So every once in while I would hear someone say "Clint can sharpen your pencil. He carries a knife" in scandalous tones.

I've been carrying a knife for most of my life and I always carry one with the belt clip so I can clip it inside my pocket. I think some people get nervous when they see how I can take it out, open it, use it, close it, and put it back up (all with one hand) before they really know what's going on. But it's not like I practice it. Like I said, I've just been carry a knife for a long time.

A lot of people think I'm crazy for carrying a gun but with the way the world is these days, I think you'd have to be crazy not to carry a one.

[Molon Labe]

Fucking Malls.

[bgnad]

In college a girl needed a package opened. I pulled out my blade from my backpack and she said "that's not a knife, that's a Leatherman" with a grin.

Cool Chick!!! Did she say it with a Crocodile Dundee accent?

Usually the positive responses to my knife have been "do you have your knife on you?" and "You're a Boy Scout, huh?"

At one place I worked, they just called me "Tool Man" and I've heard jokes about the "Gam Man Utility Belt" for years. But people are always coming to me for everything, first aid, aspirin, tools, tow straps. If it is non-standard but useful, they come see me.

Sometimes, when they ask for something I have not thought of, I add to the stuff I keep in my truck.

But this thread brings up a good point. If someone needs a letter opened, bring out the Leatherman and not the ultra-cool tactical zombie decapitator that someone might call the police on you for carrying.

I have a very old Gerber Multi-tool and a Bosun's knife in pouches on me belt as part of my EDC, but a friend of mine taught me that the small "gentleman's clasp knife" (folded length about 2-1/2") carried in the pocket gets an absolutely minimal response in most places.

[Mumbles]

I was constantly getting asked: "You going camping or something?" followed by sarcastic smiles/laughs. After a while, I just started to ignore them, roll my eyes and walk away. They stopped asking shortly thereafter I think the color of the bag (coyote brown) has a lot to do with it.

Does anyone else have issues with backpacks and places like Home Depot? I can carry my briefcase/messenger bag in without a problem, but you try to carry a backpack, and the rent-a-cop throws a conniption.

[coyotebc]

Some people at work just can't wrap their head around the fact that the Health, Safety & Environmental Officer (me) carries a knife and "Gulp" hunts.
I usually carry a sak, less questions them my bryd crossbill or crkt m1

[m1lkm4n]

I pulled out my CRKT M16-13Z to open my daughter's freeze-pop at a ball game once. The mother of another kid on the team with my son sees the knife and says, "Geesh, rambo. Why do you carry a knife?".

About a half-hour later, her daughter goes to the concession stand and comes back with a freeze pop. Neither of them could get it open, so who do they ask?

I didn't get any flack for using it to open that freeze pop.

VINDICATED

[ReInventor]

I get accused of smoking pot (which I don't) because I don't smoke cigarettes and carry a lighter. Amusing I suppose. I've also noticed many strange looks when carrying my Jumbo Versipak rip-off, mostly in walmart. Usually *fag* from the boys and *psycho* from the girls. Most my friends have bags of some sort with them though, so it's mostly from strangers. I'm always, however, being asked for a knife or a flashlight with the usual response being...damn, THAT's a knife/flashlight!

None of the men on my wife's side of the family carry a knife, and half of them can't use one. I'm always being asked to open presents at family gatherings. I need to buy my brother in law a knife to carry before he goes to college. I've told him he should carry one, but I know he won't get one himself, and no one else will buy it for him.

[LaserCool]

When I met this girl for the first time, I was carrying my EDC in a Maxpedition Versapack plus my belt line: knife, AA maglite, Gerber Suspension, and my cell phone case w/compass inside.

She looks at me after asking what was in the Maxpy, and says "Pleased to meet you Batman".

[Apollo-11]

The only real problem I have with my EDC items (in my man-purse and pockets) is if I need to go through airport security. I have way too many pointy things and wet things (water bottles) in there, so I need to strip a bunch of junk out of it and leave in the car. This is now happening more and more in places like the Social Security office. They now have an armed guard, and a big warning sign on the door that a Leatherman in a sheath is considered to be a weapon and you will be arrested for carrying one. Apparently working in SSA is a hazardous occupation now, as they have the bullet proof bank-teller windows at all of their desks. I had no idea.

Other than that, I have a "can do" boy scout attitude toward emergency preps, and I get uniformly positive responses when people see my stuff. I think it's about the times, they are a'changin'. That being said, I do make it a point to not go into secure zones as much as possible, because I feel naked without my pointy things. Tools. However, if you are in such a zone, I have noticed that they never mention my 2 pounds of keychains, linked together with a carabiner. It would make a formidable weapon if I was otherwise weaponless.

[OhioMe]

At a meeting of my local zoning board this week someone noticed some papers were stapled upside down in a handout to be given to the public. They needed a staple remover and didn't have one. I pulled out my 2, maybe 3 inch pocket knife to remove them and the guy next to me looks at it and says. "Oh, a knife..". I really didn't know if it was "Oh, yeah, that'll work... why aren't I carrying one?" or "Oh, sweet jesusfuck...a knife...WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE".

[Tactical Badger]

At a meeting of my local zoning board this week someone noticed some papers were stapled upside down in a handout to be given to the public. They needed a staple remover and didn't have one. I pulled out my 2, maybe 3 inch pocket knife to remove them and the guy next to me looks at it and says. "Oh, a knife..". I really didn't know if it was "Oh, yeah, that'll work... why aren't I carrying one?" or "Oh, sweet jesusfuck...a knife...WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE".

If you were at a Zoning Board Meeting...it was "Sweet jesusfuck...WE'RE ALL GONNA' DIE!!!!"

If the guy was actually surprised enough to have said, "Oh, a knife." He thought he was in peril. A real man would have said "Schweet! Can I see it?" Or..."Mine's bigger."

I'd also like to go on record as saying "Sweet jesusfuck" is my new favorite expletive. Thank you ZS for expanding my vocabulary.

[OhioMe]

I'd also like to go on record as saying "Sweet jesusfuck" is my new favorite expletive. Thank you ZS for expanding my vocabulary.

Wasn't that originally from gunny or doc simon in the 'UK Girls Blow-Up House w/ Grape Kool-Aid' thread?

[IllicitDreams]

I've never been questioned about the knife I carry aside from one time. I used to carry a KaBar K2 Tanto tip, I took it out to open a box at work, and one of the ladies I work with asked me what I needed a knife for... as I was slicing the tape on a box. I looked at her and said "to cut the tape off the box" and went about opening it. This same lady carries a razor knife on her keychain for "self defense" the blade on it is probably a half an inch if that.

Other than that I've never gotten any strange response to what I carry... hell I used my Leatherman to replace a door on a cabinet at work that somebody pulled off and left hanging.

[Tactical Badger]

I'd also like to go on record as saying "Sweet jesusfuck" is my new favorite expletive. Thank you ZS for expanding my vocabulary.

Wasn't that originally from gunny or doc simon in the 'UK Girls Blow-Up House w/ Grape Kool-Aid' thread?

Probably. But your use of it just drove it on home.

[Apollo-11]

I've never been questioned about the knife I carry aside from one time. I used to carry a KaBar K2 Tanto tip, I took it out to open a box at work, and one of the ladies I work with asked me what I needed a knife for... as I was slicing the tape on a box. I looked at her and said "to cut the tape off the box" and went about opening it. This same lady carries a razor knife on her keychain for "self defense" the blade on it is probably a half an inch if that.

Other than that I've never gotten any strange response to what I carry... hell I used my Leatherman to replace a door on a cabinet at work that somebody pulled off and left hanging.

Good response. I usually come back with... "It's a tool, just like you are trying to be... only it's useful and helping me work right now."

[IllicitDreams]

I've never been questioned about the knife I carry aside from one time. I used to carry a KaBar K2 Tanto tip, I took it out to open a box at work, and one of the ladies I work with asked me what I needed a knife for... as I was slicing the tape on a box. I looked at her and said "to cut the tape off the box" and went about opening it. This same lady carries a razor knife on her keychain for "self defense" the blade on it is probably a half an inch if that.

Other than that I've never gotten any strange response to what I carry... hell I used my Leatherman to replace a door on a cabinet at work that somebody pulled off and left hanging.

Good response. I usually come back with... "It's a tool, just like you are trying to be... only it's useful and helping me work right now."

Now I just carry a plain jane SAK... I've had it out in the ER at work helping someone repair their glasses using the tweezer as a screwdrive... no one batted an eye at it.

[jdavidboyd]

At a meeting of my local zoning board this week someone noticed some papers were stapled upside down in a handout to be given to the public. They needed a staple remover and didn't have one. I pulled out my 2, maybe 3 inch pocket knife to remove them and the guy next to me looks at it and says. "Oh, a knife..". I really didn't know if it was "Oh, yeah, that'll work... why aren't I carrying one?" or "Oh, sweet jesusfuck...a knife...WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE".

If you were at a Zoning Board Meeting...it was "Sweet jesusfuck...WE'RE ALL GONNA' DIE!!!!"

If the guy was actually surprised enough to have said, "Oh, a knife." He thought he was in peril. A real man would have said "Schweet! Can I see it?" Or..."Mine's bigger."

I'd also like to go on record as saying "Sweet jesusfuck" is my new favorite expletive. Thank you ZS for expanding my vocabulary.

Actually, nothing could be better than the line from the movie (and for the life of me I can't remember the name, but it involves, in this scene, two red-neck brothers wearing cowboy hats, who go like this:)
Brother 1: Shit!
Brother 2: Fuck!
Brothers 1 & 2: Shit Fuck!

I laugh until my jaw hurts every time I see that. (So, you would think I would remember the movie, neh? Unfortunately, no....)

[airborn4x4]

I don't have any bad comments to tell about, but...

So I am at work (I build lasers), and I use my gerber multi-tool to cut the tape on something. My boss notices it, and my CRKT still clipped to my pocket and says "Yeah, you'll fit in here."

Another time I was in a sporting goods store looking at holsters. The fellow helping me wanted to get the Uncle Mike's off the package but couldn' break the zip-ties. I flip out my gerber and open the scissors. The employee just remarks, "yeah, that'll work".

I love Montana.

[Napalm{WmD}]

Everyone that knows me always ask me for my knife or flashlight. For Christmas and birthdays I will be giving out knives and flashlights.

A few people know I carry a gun. At first they thought it was weird, but now they accept it(except for my mom, she worries too much.) Hell, one sunday my pastor asked me if I was packin' and could watch the tithe box. (that's the money box for ya'll nonchurch folk) I told him sure. Then asked can I shoot someone too?

The best was the day I had my AR in the office at work with several loaded mags. It was in a case, but they had to see what it was. That was the day everyone realized I was "weird". Now when I do something that doesn't make sense to them and they ask about it, I just say "this seems strange to you?" Their usual reply is "oh, yeah, I forgot who I was talking to"

[Apollo-11]

So I am at work (I build lasers), and I use my gerber multi-tool to cut the tape on something. My boss notices it, and my CRKT still clipped to my pocket and says "Yeah, you'll fit in here."

I love it!
I have the usual SAK in my left front pocket and Leatherman in my left rear pocket (in the low-profile scenario, because a belt sheath is a no-no sometimes), plus the Leatherman micro in my Man-purse and the Cold Steel Bushman in my BOB. If I leave home without at least two knives and two flashlights, there is something very seriously wrong. I'd much rather be lacking my pants.

[Brash]

A friend of mine was complaining today that it was to dark to see into the back of the stock room at work to find what he needed. So I pull out my flashlight. He says,

"Bloody hell thats bright. Why do you carry a flashlight anyway?"

I thought of this thread and replied,

"Yeah, good point. Why do I bother?"

Then I turned off my flashlight and walked away. I think he got the point.

[ZombieGranny]

HA! Good for you

[Apollo-11]

A friend of mine was complaining today that it was to dark to see into the back of the stock room at work to find what he needed. So I pull out my flashlight. He says,

"Bloody hell thats bright. Why do you carry a flashlight anyway?"

I thought of this thread and replied,

"Yeah, good point. Why do I bother?"

Then I turned off my flashlight and walked away. I think he got the point.

LOL Speak very slow-ly: "Be-cause it's dark."

[BAD BOY]

I usually come back with... "It's a tool, just like you are trying to be... only it's useful and helping me work right now."