Knives for dinner out

[Mick]

I've used a Spydie several times in casual restaurants. I probably wouldn't use it at a high end place like Del Frisco's, and I definitely wouldn't pull out my J.D. Smith or Endura while I was out to dinner with my boss. You have to remember not everyone is into pocket knives like most of us here are.

[Manchu]

You guys all obviously have very different outings experiences than I have had in my life. Whenever I go out to a church function, a family BBQ out at a camp site, or any other outside eating activity the A#1 thing that gets overlooked is decent knives. Oh, they usually have some war club that will mash the french bread into a pita and is good for slathering peanut butter/jelly and not much else. Now add that the most common item to get the heave onto the floor at a restaurant due to an unfortunate series of events is the knife they gave you because you set it aside, usually close to the table edge, during the appetizer and salad portions.

So you have the option of sitting there like a putz because you might hurt some weinnie's feelerz because you carry a decent cutting tool just for such occasions and the thought of a pocket knife or small fixed blade makes them wake up with a loud gasp and cold sweats. Or you whip out the tool that you bought for "separating things" ,like Sal says, and calmly hand it over to the lady that needs it so everyone can get a decent piece of french bread or so people don't stare between you and their cooling food while you try to flag down your waiter for another steak knife you might get in next 5-10 minutes because they feel bad starting before you do.

I was raised to do three things whenever they came about:
1) To lift heavy things when a woman needs it.
2) To take care of "alarming things" when a woman needs it.
3) To always have a sharp knife handy when a woman needs it.

If a man can't handle these three basic duties, well...they were simply raised differently than I was.

I have the tools I carry handy for a reason. This doesn't mean that I toss a proffered steak knife, or any other suitable tool, over my shoulder and whip out my Street Beat like a wanker every chance I get, guys. Having done it in the past and doing it constantly to "show off" are completely different things.

^^This^^


Well said.

[jackknifeh]

Plates are hell on an edge. If they supply a knife, I use theirs.

I you "take the edge off" you won't completely ruin an edge that is hair popping sharp. Razor edges will roll badly when cutting on the plate. Just take a ceramic steel and lightly "take the edge off" the belly area of the blade. The portion of the blade that touches the plate should have a good working edge but not be razor sharp. Then the edge won't be damaged any worse than it already is. Don't grind your knive into the plate though. You won't have to if the steak is being cut easily and remember, steak isn't hard to cut with a sharp knife.

Take the edge off by gently sliding a ceramic steel or stone along the edge area of the knife that will touch the plate. Keep the stone at a 90 deg. angle with the blade. It should still be sharp but not roll when it slides on the plate. Keep in mind that steak knives slide along the plate all the time and still cut the meat fine. Of course this means if you decide to use your knife as a "dinner out" knife you may want one for that purpose.

Jack

[BAL]

Usually when the wife and I go out for a fancy dinner to celebrate something special, I just ask at the drive thru, if they can cut my Big Mac in half. That way I don't need a knife.

[ABergh10]

Unfortunately most non-knife people (NKP) don't understand but it should not be regarded as caveman-behaviour.
The most well known (and notorious) culinary journalists in Amsterdam (Johannes van Dam) never leaves his home without his folder. He always caries a Laguiole folder for when the "supplied flatware" isn't up to his standards. He prefers cutting meat with a fine edge as not to "tear up" the meat with serrations but just to separate it (thanks for the quote, Sal!).

Still, taking a classy, slender Laguiole knife from your pocket might be less disturbing to most NKP's than whipping out a Warrior... Personally, I take my knife out in public very little because here in Europe the sentiments around knives are very negative. Taking out a knife in public equals the intent to commit bloody murder to some people here...

[phillipsted]

I have use my delica 4 a time or two in a public restaurant. I don't seem to get looks or anything here, but it is probably due to my geography. I used my H1 Dfly tonight, but I was in my own dining room.

Yeah, if I try to pull that off in the DC-area suburbs, they'd call the tactical response team, DHS, FBI, ATF, and who knows else...

Argh.

TedP

[Flinx]

When we took my niece out to dinner at Outback for her 18th birthday, I gifted her with a Spyderco Maddox that I had purchased years ago just for this reason. She was involved in an accident three months before her third birthday that left her paralyzed on her left side. She is a very independent young lady, so this knife really suits her. She used it all through dinner to cut her steak. We got a couple of odd looks from folks until they realized that she couldn't use her left arm at all.

[JD Spydo]

I like the one Brother's recommendation of the "Street Beat" and I can see where it would be advantageous.

However on more than one occasion I have taken my full Spyderedged Catcherman to restuarants and particularly to Bar BQ places here in Kansas City, MIssouri USA ( the Bar BQ Capital of America I might add)

I take my full Spyderedged Catcherman with me to a lot of eating places and I'll probably do the same with my new USN nuclear green H-1 Catcherman as well.

Yeah the Street Beat and the Catcherman is a great duo for eating out

[defenestrate]

While I am a bit less obvious and frequent about it as I once was, I generally carry a PE capable of some food work in my RFP. The Navaja is my favorite for a surgically-cut steak.

[SuzieQ]

to be honest, Id rather use an opinel

+1 They blend in great with the regular cutlery

[KBR]

I am one of those that doesn't care what other people think......if I need a knife, I will use whatever I have in my pocket if the provided 'knife' in a restaurant is not doing the job.

In one instance, I was asked by a friend of mine(who's gotten after me sometimes for carrying a knife) if he could borrow my knife when he got frustrated with the restaurant cutlery that he had.

Remember, a sharp blade is a safe blade.

[MCM]

Whats ever in my pocket at the time.
Its not a big deal as everyone else in the room has a fixed blade.
Even non knife people..... LOL LOL
So my 3.5" - 4" folder isnt a big deal.

[Sonny]

Use the Supplied flatware.....
Anything else is incredibly tacky to say the least....

Agree 100%.

It's a small knife. All of the patrons have great big carving knives at home. Maybe an education, a little at a time, would be good.
Sonny

[maa14]

Whats ever in my pocket at the time.
Its not a big deal as everyone else in the room has a fixed blade.
Even non knife people..... LOL LOL
So my 3.5" - 4" folder isnt a big deal.

This is pretty much what I think also

[Papa_K]

The overall adult answer to this one is "No", unless it's some kind of outdoor BBQ (etc.). Even from a former-military point of view: get a grip.

[JD Spydo]

For all of you newer Spyder Brethren ( Sisters too ) you really need to check out the Catcherman and from what I've been told there are a few of the USN, Green handled, H-1 Catcherman models still out there for sale if you know where to look.

I have found that the Catcherman model is so versatile and useful in the food arena that you can use that model for just about anything in the culinary sector.

Over the years I can't begin to tell you how many food cutting chores I've used one of my Catchermans for. The one that I've had the best luck with is one of the older, fully serrated, AUS-8 models. The full SE Catcherman should be in every bug out bag, survival kit and every food prep kit as well. To me it's been so useful and such a worksaver that I don't know what I would replace it with if I lost the ones I have.

One Brother mentioned the ZDP-189 Delica>> I would give him a big high five on that one too. The older K-05 is a really nice food knife as well.

[MCM]

When I need to use my knife, I am discreet & it goes un noticed.
Not sure I could pull it off with my Catcherman

That would be pushing it..

One of these 3 would fly though....

[LBNoble]

First off, you shouldn't need to, but if you wanted to, I wouldn't deem it 'tacky'- perhaps 'particular' or 'eccentric', but why should you care about what other diners think? Life is too short to futz w/ a useless knife...

[Simple Man]

Yes, in fact, I used My G-10 E4 yesterday at lunch to cut an Arby's sandwich in half. There were two ladies sitting in front of me, a table full of retired golfers next to me, and at least a half dozen Sheriff's Dept officers across the restaurant. I didn't give it a second thought and neither did any of them. :shrug:

I don't go looking for times to use it, but when it is needed, I do not hesitate.

[PatCatMan]

HAHAHA!
My wife (boss) would kill me if I did that!
I've been tempted - but she already thinks I'm too much of an armed, survivalist redneck as it is.

A nice place - not cool. If the knife isn't sharp enough - ask for another.

I'm a knife guy - but if I saw someone pull his EDC in a nice place I would think "Who is this guy trying to impress sooo bad".
Pat