Knives for dinner out

[mikerestivo]

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



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

I also have a circular saw at home, which is where I plan to leave it when I go out to eat instead of cutting my steak with it. The way I was raised, we didn't bring our own flatware, cutlery or other do-it-yourself tools to restaraunts when we went out to eat. I guess the next step in the evolution would be to bring your own food and have them prepare it? I am a huge pocket knife lover, but I would fully appreciate folks looking at me like I was a loon if I pulled out my Military to cut open a pork chop.

Educating the public about knives is a noble pursuit. Good luck with it.

[BAL]

Schempp Rock.

[bugout]

Oh, wow. This is the best thing I've read all day. Thanks for the laughs, guys. I'd really love to see one of you out at dinner whipping out the tactical folder for the steak. It would be like a nature special, with David Attenborough narrating.

[Sonny]

If the people you are with wouldn't think it was odd and the knife provided was dull then go for it. Frankly, I don't care what strangers think. If you try to impress everyone you will never succeed.

+1. I agree totally. Why would using your own sharp folder be considered tacky? What is there about using your own knife that you consider as an embarrassment? (I'm speaking of the circumstance when the house knife is dull as a spoon)
It's not like you're pulling out a gun...
Your folder's blade is not nearly as long as a steakknife blade. Why is it therefore intimidating to the public?
Here in Florida, we're pushing for "open carry" with handguns. If it goes through, then it'll go through in many other states, as Florida is the BoilerPlate for concealed carry laws in about forty states. And John Q. Public will have to get used to seeing people with open carry, whether they are initially nervous or not. BTW, concealed carry permit holders have an extremely low incidence of crime.
Of course, open-carry is already legal in a number of states, and I doubt if it freaks those folks out.
IMO, Sonny

[SolidState]

We have open carry in Oregon. It doesn't bother people. Not many people who understand society openly carry unless working. They prefer concealed for obvious reasons.

[mikerestivo]

+1. I agree totally. Why would using your own sharp folder be considered tacky? What is there about using your own knife that you consider as an embarrassment? (I'm speaking of the circumstance when the house knife is dull as a spoon)
It's not like you're pulling out a gun...
Your folder's blade is not nearly as long as a steakknife blade. Why is it therefore intimidating to the public?
Here in Florida, we're pushing for "open carry" with handguns. If it goes through, then it'll go through in many other states, as Florida is the BoilerPlate for concealed carry laws in about forty states. And John Q. Public will have to get used to seeing people with open carry, whether they are initially nervous or not. BTW, concealed carry permit holders have an extremely low incidence of crime.

Of course, open-carry is already legal in a number of states, and I doubt if it freaks those folks out.
IMO, Sonny

I don't think it has anything to do with being illegal or immoral. It has everything to do with custom and etiquette. And don't get me wrong - I don't care if another person cuts his steak with a Para 2. In fact, I would persoally think it's pretty cool. I am a HUGE knife nut. But no matter what we
think, it's highly probable that others will think it's weird. I think it's healthy to have some degree of respect for what others think (otherwise we would all be sociopaths, right?). The degree to which you care to care is up to each individual to decide.

Count the number of times that you have seen someone pull their own cutlery out at a restaurant and use it. Then count the number of times you have seen someone use the knife furnished by the establishment. If you are saying that the former outnumbers the latter, then you either live in a very undeveloped wilderness or you are fibbing.

Typically, tacky is burping or farting at the table, having elbows on the table during the meal, spitting partially-chewed food on the floor, eating shirtless, wiping boogers on the tablecloth, and so forth. I would think by all standards of traditional culinary etiquette (not your own personal self-created standards) that using a pocket knife while eating out would be frowned upon. You can disagree whether traditional etiquette is right or wrong, but folks, those are the long-standing, unwritten rules of dining out. When you deviate from that, why would you think that other diners might not find you odd? If they are ok with it, then you have a very knive-appreciative crowd, which is an exception to the norm. If it were not, knives would not even be provided at restaurants, with the understanding that most folks were going to bring their own.

In all my years I have never once found the cutlery furnished at a restaraunt to be insufficient. If I were to pull a folder for a meal, it would be because I wanted to find another reason to play with my knife (which I am always looking for), or I was bored and wanted to spice things up a bit by checking out reactions when I did so. Personally, I have never felt a real need to use my own knife in such a setting, although I always carry one.

I wouldn't want to mess with the cleanup. If I used my folder to cut a juicy T-bone, I would feel compelled to wash it off in the restroom after my meal. I would not want to put it back in my pocket either still juicy or poorly wiped with a napkin. I go out to eat for the atmoshpere, food and convenience. When I'm done eating, I don't feel like have to wash the dishes.

[Minibear453]

I think it's alright. They do have personal steak knives that fold. Knives are knives. I would use mine if the cutlery the restaurant provided was too dull. Otherwise, no reason to get a good knife dirty. And I doubt others would find it threatening. Maybe odd, but I'm used to being odd. And anyways, normal people don't check out everyone else's cutlery. All they see is knife cutting steak.

[w3tnz]

When I eat out its usually in the form of meat wrapped in bread which I use my hands, or chopsticks if we're out at sushi/teppanyaki.

I have used my superblue caly more than a few times cooking and eating at home.

[flybittensavage]

When we go out, it's casual & fun (or my version of fun)--we're not talking fine dining, valet, black tie, or even button-down shirts here. That said, I like to "change" when headed out on the town. I try to slip out of the g10 (paramilitary2) and carbon fiber (Gayle Bradley) that I have in my pociet day in and day out. Not because they are not "dressy" or the knives won't satisfy any task that I desire of them. Simply put, they remind me of work and of the daily grind. And whether I'm watching a movie; seeing my favorite band play; or drinking my fill (responsibly), I want to unwind, forget, change--and, as last-resort, it must be up to self defense duties.

Of my current Spydies, the Vallotan usually goes in the front, right pocket. The Vallotan replaces the orignial Persian. I try to employ "street smarts" (not parking in sketchy areas; situational awareness; avoidance; and even a fair amount of paranoia). I certainly don't relish the thought of getting my favorite tshirt all bloody; having to inflict mortal wounds on fellow man or the impending legal entanglements that would undoubtedly follow (wallet to be freely given; avoiding escalations at the expense of "honor;" reasoning & backing down; escape; separating "the herd;" employing familiar "empty hands" & palm sticks...). Yet, I will defend my two & four-legged love ones at all cost whether it be on a dimly lit street (or against thug-owned vicious dogs at the local dog park). Am I an expert in (3 to 4 inch) blade applications? Certainly not--but I have trained formally (removed from the arm chair & Hollywood fiction) and regularly practice with trainer-partner contact & remaining familiar with the live blades I choose to carry. Nevertheless, confidence, comfort & ego very much continue to be double-edged swords. I also understand that against a similar foe that I will walk away cut (or worse).

So with these intentions; stated personal preferences; & in the interest of multi-use, I could see where other Spydercos might serve equally well for my "dinner out." I don't own them, but I'm thinking Masaad Ayoob, the Navaja, and the discontinued Gunting. My next purchase will be the Yojimbo2 (pending availability/release), and time will tell whether it is deemed up to the task. (I have high expectations that it will earn a fair amount of pocket time--outside of work.)

[RanCoWeAla]

I have used my knife a time or two just messing with my Daughter to see what she would say. I don' t know about flipping my Spyderco open though in front of my Boss and his wife to cut a piece of steak unless he is a knife enthusiast and you think it would be ok. I can tell you the absolute best steak you will ever put in your mouth though and that's a fillet mignon from Texas Roadhouse if you have one of those where you live or for anyone else reading this. I should have done a seperate thread for best steak I guess.

[BAL]

Oh, wow. This is the best thing I've read all day. Thanks for the laughs, guys. I'd really love to see one of you out at dinner whipping out the tactical folder for the steak. It would be like a nature special, with David Attenborough narrating.

Welcome bugout. I know what you mean about some of the stuff being funny
that was wriiten. I don't know why people would feel funny about bringing their
own knife to a really fancy restaurant. I know when I took the wife out for our
wedding anniversary, no one seemed to mind at McDonalds that I tore into a
biggie mac with a Civilian.

[Mr Blonde]

At the occasional dinner with knifeknuts I've used my EDC (I recall using a UKPK and Manix 2). But that was also part 'show and tell'.

[The Deacon]

Oh, wow. This is the best thing I've read all day. Thanks for the laughs, guys. I'd really love to see one of you out at dinner whipping out the tactical folder for the steak. It would be like a nature special, with David Attenborough narrating.

Think you may have hit on what separates those who think using one's own knife in a restaurant from those who don't.

From what I've observed over the years, the folks who visit this and other knife forums fall into two general categories - the one made up of those who think of their folders as pocket knives and their fixed blades as hunting knives, and the other of those who think of all their knives as tactical weaponry. I suspect that many, if not all, our attitudes regarding "proper" knife use are the result of which of those groups we consider ourselves part.

The pocket knife folks think of knives primarily as useful tools. They understand knives have the potential to be used as weapons, in the sense that baseball bats, golf clubs, and jack handles can be, but that's not how they were brought up to think of them and it's not why they're carrying one. For them, removing a knife from a pocket, opening it, and using it to cut food while dining out, rather than hacking at their food or waiting to get the server's attention, requesting a sharper knife, waiting for it to arrive, and most likely finding it to be only marginally better, if that, is as intuitive and unremarkable as using their own pen to sign the check. Unless they're doing something to attract the attention of other diners, no one, with the possible exception of their tablemates, should notice.

The tactical folder folks think of their knives as weapons. Some think they can also be used for more mundane tasks, others believe they should be reserved for "the moment of truth". They don't quietly remove a knife from their pocket and simply open it, they deploy it, often going out of their way to do so flamboyantly since intimidation is a valid defensive tactic. Flicking, Spyderdropping, waving, or some other "quick draw" opening is their norm. I can understand someone, even a member of the pocket knife carrying community, being less than comfortable seeing a knife being handled in that manner. So, unless they're intelligent enough to adapt their behavior, I'd agree they probably shouldn't use them while dining out.

[TyJo]

I don't use my knife that often, but it would be too questionable for me to use on food since it would likely not be as clean as the cutlery provided. I honestly have never been at a restaurant and found the supplied knife was not able to separate my food into smaller pieces (but I'm odd and never order stake). I would feel extremely awkward pulling out my EDC (Paramilitary 2) and using it to cut up my food, it just seems odd/tacky to me. I do understand the usefulness of having a sharp EDC blade and using it when the supplied knife is useless, but it just seems too weird. O, and I'm not criticizing those who do or saying it is inappropriate, I am just saying it's not for me.

[Cscoop]

[UseQUOTE=Ankerson;746452]Use the Supplied flatware.....

Anything else is incredibly tacky to say the least....

That is unless one is eating at a place were they serve on paper plates and most of the people there are wearing wife beaters....[/QUOTE]

You care too much about your own self worth and the opinion of others.
Me, I like to use my Case medium Trapper on a nice prime rib.

[haarspalter]

thats when i pull out my french Laguiole (like jake knapp said in his "dont be jealous" vid) ... less tactical, more gentleman!