Don’t blame you there. Where I live, you’d almost draw more attention without that telltale clip that most guys have showing. But I used to carry a Balisong for most of my young adulthood and it never drew unwanted attention because it stayed in my pocket. Now that I’m older, if what I’m carrying could be an issue like today where I had several doctor’s appointments, I just carry a Vic, which I have a few of. Hehe, I actually have a couple zip-lock bags full of Vics my sister gave me, which is where the two non-black ones in the photo came from.
I used to carry an automatic blade on my belt when I was a late teen/young adult but I was a student.
But I found my first job and I switched for no blade at all…plus locked blades are forbidden in France
Then, I bought a simple SAK (camper) and it didn’t quit my pockets since 3 years ! (and I add a E09 recently)
The Tank is held by a neodymium magnet and is easily detachable :
My understanding of the last itteration is that ANY knife is now considered a “D category weapon” you can buy it freely, detain it freely at home, but the law says you’re supposed to have a “legitimate reason” to carry one in public places if not you risk up to a 15000€ fine and 1 year in prison.
This gives a certain leeway to law enforcment officers to assess each situations, my experience is that if you’re not in a sensitive area and you do not look suspicious LEOs wouldn’t even bother asking you why you wear a knife, i wear a knife almost everyday and know a lot who do the same (french knife forum included), none of us ever had a problem with authorities that i can remember.
For myself I’m cautious about any law that relies on LEO discretion. I’m of a libertarian bent, and my view is that the Police should only step in if an active crime is committed. That is to say, if you feel like wandering around with a Natchez Bowie on your hip, fine. If you take it out in public and start shanking people with it, then we have a problem.
The Natchez was just the most extreme example to come to mind. You can insert anything suitably ludicrous in its place. A claymore perhaps? I’m with the people who reckon a 4” folder is as much as you need, but if you think a 72” sword is what you need for opening letters the law shouldn’t care. It should only care if you do something to threaten or harm others.
Today I got a new 4" Wustof paring knife. It was a last moment "add to cart" when I ordered my first Naniwa Chosera stone. (3000 grit). Ive never used water stones before and wanted to give them a try. I just have the one. I'm playing around to see how to work it into my DMT rotation. I'm not sure whether to use it in place of the fine DMT, or the extra fine. It does leave a nice mirror finish.
I bought the paring knife as I've been using $7 Henkel with a flexible blade and plastic handlE. I've had it for twenty years, and it was my mothers long before that. Although I've got it as sharp as a razor, I figured it was time for an upgrade.
They are a very good knife, I bought one just as a novelty but a week using it around the house and I could see the purpose behind it.
Every edge is sharp and as they are all straight lines they are very easy to sharpen on oil or water stones. The blade shape is called a Besh Wedge very strong on the tip for levering or prying, not that is a good idea with any knife, this one should hold up well if you needed to.
Added to that it is one of the smoothest knives to open and close that I have had out of the box. Just over $12 from FT.
The insert for turning nuts is only usable if the nuts are right near the end of the thread but might be useful, there’s a glass breaker as well. The thumb disk is wedge shaped and reversible if needed.
That’s the thing with these strange shaped blades, you don’t realise how useful they can be until you’ve tried one.
The Razel family of knives all hold a certain appeal with that folding version being the most useful - to me anyway - I’d like a close look at the one with the Veff style serrations as well, I don’t normally like serrations and was recently disapointed with the Spyderedge Clipitool with plain and serrated blades, just the same as all the rest, grabby and no substitute for a saw. Those Veff serrations look like they may work very well.
I’ve found that a “toothy” edge, sharpened to 280-400 grit works better than most standard serrations.
