Reviving old threads

[gustophersmob]

I have my Boomer theory on this.

In decades past, a higher percentage of people grew up on farms, in rural settings or in remote small town settings.  Kids were far more likely to be out on bikes, fishing, hiking or just kicking around.  In those settings, having some level of skill troubleshooting/repairing stuff was essential.

Fast forward to a time where most are urban or to some extent suburban dwellers (most of whom do not even maintain their own lawn) and you have a group of people who fix everything with their credit card.

Kids are disadvantaged that their parents and older sibs have no practical skills and therefore they dont either.

With that as an upbringing, why would you carry a knife or MT?

I’m not a boomer. Only a gen X’er by 3 months, but I agree with this.

I grew up in a rural area and was in scouting and tools were a daily part of life, including a pocketknife.

[Huntsman]

Good points from both of you Mr. W and SL.

Yes there us a decline in usage, from my perspective, it just makes me very sad that something so useful and - in my daily life - essential, (I literally use my SAK for something or other every single day) is being squeezed out of use, by legislation and the replace/throw-away, don't fix (yourself) culture of our (urban) society. 

I am sad for my son - maybe he will end up carrying a SAK or MT - but at the moment he cannot legally take one to school (if he does I have also committed a crime - by allowing him to do so!!) and is not of the tinkering/fix it mindset, or much of an outdoorsey/bushman type (unlike me!!)  - He plays on a screen .... 

I think the green/recycling political and social movements will help us - and of course also help the planet - So maybe there is hope for my son yet!!
He is into scootering and the scooter does need constant tinkering - So there is also some hope there.

[EMZ]

"I have my Boomer theory on this."

You are absolutely right. Last year I bought a My First Victorinox for my 15 year old nephew. I told him it could be a handy device to spread a sandwich with the rounded tip blade, but he said all knives were forbidden on school, and that at his age he wasn't allowed to carry a pocket knife at all!!
His dad didn't care, but his mom didn't allow him to EDC the pocket knife. Mom and dad are divorced (of course) so his mom won the discussion.
Uncle Boomer was left stupidified...

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

As a Gen X, I have to say that carrying a penknife was normal for me, but I grew up in rural areas and no-one ever frowned at carrying a penknife even at school (can’t imagine that now, but we saw them as tools not weapons), and in later life I carried a 91mm Golfer in my suit pocket when I was at work including flying on passenger jets all over the world, but that was before 9/11 and the subsequent clamp downs…. Although I happily still carry a SAK, I would think twice about having one in a pocket in London, and certainly wouldn’t use one in public there for fear of triggering someone into over-reacting…. Just not worth the grief! Ah well, mutatis mutandis…..

[ShropshireLad]

As a Gen X, I have to say that carrying a penknife was normal for me, but I grew up in rural areas and no-one ever frowned at carrying a penknife even at school (can’t imagine that now, but we saw them as tools not weapons), and in later life I carried a 91mm Golfer in my suit pocket when I was at work including flying on passenger jets all over the world, but that was before 9/11 and the subsequent clamp downs…. Although I happily still carry a SAK, I would think twice about having one in a pocket in London, and certainly wouldn’t use one in public there for fear of triggering someone into over-reacting…. Just not worth the grief! Ah well, mutatis mutandis…..

I live in London and do carry a SAK on a daily basis, but I've made sure to memorise Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 to quote politely in the extremely unlikely event that I'm ever pulled up for it.  I have other UK legal knives like Manly Wasp, Byrd Tern and more which I can legally carry here under the above mentioned legislation, but because this is London I don't usually do so, to err on the side of caution.

[ShropshireLad]

I have my Boomer theory on this.

In decades past, a higher percentage of people grew up on farms, in rural settings or in remote small town settings.  Kids were far more likely to be out on bikes, fishing, hiking or just kicking around.  In those settings, having some level of skill troubleshooting/repairing stuff was essential.

Fast forward to a time where most are urban or to some extent suburban dwellers (most of whom do not even maintain their own lawn) and you have a group of people who fix everything with their credit card.

Kids are disadvantaged that their parents and older sibs have no practical skills and therefore they dont either.

With that as an upbringing, why would you carry a knife or MT?

Here in the UK people use their smartphone to fix everything nowadays, even credit cards are becoming more of a rare sight, most do contactless payments with their phones nowadays, and also many pay on public transport using them, which can be annoying if it takes them a few seconds to do so, for whatever reason.

I'm gen X and smartphones didn't become ubiquitous until I was in my late 30s so I am used to getting by without one, which means I am not 100% dependent on mine.  Even for my age I suppose I am unusual in that I will nip out to the shops for groceries or beer without my smartphone, but won't set foot outside without a knife and lighter.   

[nate j]

Obviously, I personally think it is still worthwhile to carry a pocket knife.

But I do think their popularity overall is in a bit of a long-term decline, for several reasons:

1.  Decreased need (or at least decreased perceived need) - lower percentages of Americans hunting, or living on farms; “tear here” and other easy-open packaging; etc.

2.  Hoplophobes - portraying knives primarily as dangerous weapons as opposed to useful tools; knives being banned from places they were once permitted, including schools, commercial aircraft, sports stadiums, etc.

[Farmer X]

I'm a later Gen-X. When I was in middle and high school, carrying my SAK with me was not a big deal. Sure, it wasn't 100% okay, but I was okay as long as I didn't make a big production out of it. I feel bad for the sprogs in the public school system these days; I'm pretty sure they have to walk through metal detectors, as if they're some sort of criminals. Makes me glad my niece and nephew are home-schooled.

1.  Decreased need (or at least decreased perceived need) - lower percentages of Americans hunting, or living on farms; “tear here” and other easy-open packaging; etc.

I see a lot of those evil clamshell packages these days. The worst examples contain knives and other cutting tools. What if you need that tool very badly and you don't have anything to open that damn package?