Pocket checking strangers - pickup lines

Dergyll

Dergyll

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Feb 24, 2021
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So last week while up in Maine, I noticed alot more people carry knives (at least that I can see). I'm a pretty sociable guy (at least, that's what the men tell me...) so I tried to strike up a conversation, maybe ask where the locals go to fondle knives.

Scenario 1: parking lot security guard, I see a distinct aftermarket spyderco clip.
Dergyll: hey man that's a cool para 3 clip you got
Security Bro: yeah man I had it anodized and put it on this para 3 20CV!
Conversation continues for about 10m until my cruise arrived. Rating: success

Scenario 2: at a picturesque spot of top of Camden hills, family of 4, dad approaches me...I noticed the distinct outline of a kershaw SS leek clip.
Dad: hey do you mind taking a picture for us?
Dergyll: no problem, anything for a knife buddy
Dad: yeah... cool, um thanks
Conversation ends. Rating: failure

I've almost never had strangers ask to see a knife (I can count the times with my hand, usually when I'm fishing)...is this a weird thing to ask? Anyway, what are your thoughts on strangers asking to see what you're carrying? Do you ever do it?

Cheers!
 
Cheers to you for making the effort! I'm too reserved to reach out, but if someone produces a cool knife to perform a task, I'll certainly say, "That's a cool knife!"

I would rate scenario two as "no result," rather than failure. Dad might have been happy to nerd out if he weren't dragging his wife and kids around.
 
The only time I’ve tried to strike up a knife conversation with a stranger was in the parking lot of a shooting academy while gearing up.

A gentleman parked beside me pulled out a small Sebenza PJ to do something.

Me: Ah, the Sebenza club. Very nice.
Him: The what now?
Me: Your knife, the Sebenza.
Him: Oh, is that what it’s called? My son gave it to me. It’s pretty nice.
Me: Well, you’ve got a great son with great taste.
And that…was that.

I’ll talk knives with buddies occasionally. Most of my friends EDC something but I’m the only one who’s really into it Now & again they’ll pocket check me to see what I have on a given day.
 
BD_01 said:
A gentleman parked beside me pulled out a small Sebenza PJ to do something.

Me: Ah, the Sebenza club. Very nice.
Him: The what now?
Me: Your knife, the Sebenza.
Him: Oh, is that what it’s called? My son gave it to me. It’s pretty nice.
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:

I hope he at least has an idea of how costly those knives are. I'm just imagining him using it as a paint scraper, pry bar, or worse.
 
Boombats said:
:rolleyes:

I hope he at least has an idea of how costly those knives are. I'm just imagining him using it as a paint scraper, pry bar, or worse.
Click to expand...
Lol are we not supposed to do that with our CRKs? Oops. I've pried and scraped and hammered things with my Umnumzaan and nothing yet has happened to it besides some scrapes and dings in the titanium.
 
I tend to notice a knife and/or pocket clip on someone but rarely if ever say anything.

I don't remember the last time someone asked about my pocket knife.

Too many Karens and jerks in the world now. Pulling out a knife in a public place is just asking for a scene I don't need. Like I posted in a thread yesterday, I don't open carry a fixed blade in MI because I probably have a 90% chance of someone calling the police on me.

---------------------------------------

Oh, just re-read the thread title about pickup lines.

How about ..

"Hello Sir, is that a Cold Steel Espada Extra Large in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
 
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To be fair, Leeks are pretty inexpensive and easy to find in a lot of stores so non-knife guys who just want to have a knife may gravitate to them or even have one gifted and never know any more about their knife if they even remember the brand let alone the individual knife model. An anodized Para 3 clip writes a different story though. I've tried starting a conversation on two different occasions upon seeing someone use a Leek and another with a Mini Griptilian. Neither seemed to know what I was talking about so I just let it die.
 
Dergyll said:
Dergyll: no problem, anything for a knife buddy
Click to expand...
....... creepy and a bit strange..... did the guy try and get his family away from the spot ? For many knives are tool of convenience and utility and not a hobby. Seeking them out in someone's pocket for conversation is probably going to get you more of the second response than the first.
 
If someone near me uses a knife to cut a hunk of venison Jerky up for a snack: I'll comment on the knife rhey used...


... and then I'll move on!
 
Dergyll said:
So last week while up in Maine, I noticed alot more people carry knives (at least that I can see). I'm a pretty sociable guy (at least, that's what the men tell me...) so I tried to strike up a conversation, maybe ask where the locals go to fondle knives.

Scenario 1: parking lot security guard, I see a distinct aftermarket spyderco clip.
Dergyll: hey man that's a cool para 3 clip you got
Security Bro: yeah man I had it anodized and put it on this para 3 20CV!
Conversation continues for about 10m until my cruise arrived. Rating: success

Scenario 2: at a picturesque spot of top of Camden hills, family of 4, dad approaches me...I noticed the distinct outline of a kershaw SS leek clip.
Dad: hey do you mind taking a picture for us?
Dergyll: no problem, anything for a knife buddy
Dad: yeah... cool, um thanks
Conversation ends. Rating: failure

I've almost never had strangers ask to see a knife (I can count the times with my hand, usually when I'm fishing)...is this a weird thing to ask? Anyway, what are your thoughts on strangers asking to see what you're carrying? Do you ever do it?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Stahlmann, is that you?
 
I've been collecting for years and for some reason the couple times a stranger has seen what I was carrying and tries to talk about it, all knowledge of knives and anything else just blanks 😅 can't remember brands or types or even anything about what I'm carrying lol, not sure why it happens but the conversation never lasts long
 
When in doubt: just say, "I dunno; my Wife gave it to me for my Birthday."
That pretty much kills the conversation!
 
Andy the Aussie said:
....... creepy and a bit strange..... did the guy try and get his family away from the spot ? For many knives are tool of convenience and utility and not a hobby. Seeking them out in someone's pocket for conversation is probably going to get you more of the second response than the first.
Click to expand...
Correct, most of the knife buying market are for people that just need a knife.

My place of business has large Epson printers that will eventually need maintenance. The last time they were being serviced the individual had a ZT0350TS on top of his tool "pile", after seeing it for the 3rd time I just said "I like your knife". His response: "my buddy gave this to me, I love this thing..". We smiled and I continued on. If I see a blade on someone else I may comment in passing, their response will usually dictate the outcome of the conversion. Outside of work I never get comments.
 
Bob Denman said:
You need to hit those "hook-up" apps...
"Knife-weilding blade afficionado: seeking those with similar addiction... Must like premium steels and Damascus."
Click to expand...
In most of my socials I do have some sort of reference to knives in the descriptions 😂 "knife enthusiast, knife lover, etc. Probably scares people away which isn't always a bad thing
 
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