I gave my Dutch friend a pocketknife for Christmas. He refused to take it.

[Wanted Man]

The folding pocketknife is a Kershaw 1760. The blade is 3.13 inches. The steel is very high quality and would last him a lifetime. I offered it because he's said that he doesn't carry a pocketknife and doesn't know anyone else who does. We're good friends, so I thought I would give him one, because where I'm from (Utah, USA), almost everyone I know carries a pocketknife. I've had one since I was eight years old. I think of it as a very useful tool (that could be used as a weapon in an emergency). He could only see it as a weapon and said, "I've never thought 'Wow, I wish I had a knife right now.'" I said, "That's because you've never had one. Now that you have one, you'll find yourself using it all the time."

The knife made him very uncomfortable and he gave it back to me. He said, "It just feels wrong" and refused the gift. I have to admit, I was shocked and hurt by his refusal.

So what the hell is going on here? Any Europeans out there who carry a pocketknife? Is my friend just an oddball, or is there a social stigma against carrying a pocketknife. And if there is, why?

More:

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ag419/i_gave_my_dutch_friend_a_pocketknife_for/

:lol:

[Panda Tse Tung]

I use it to open packages (I hate blister packs!), cut rope, slice apples (or a chunk of ham from a street-corner vendor), clean under my fingernails, as a screwdriver, to mark wood for cutting, and so on and so on.I don't eat with my nail-cutter :|.

edit: nvm, he added:


Oh, and I disinfect my knife on an almost daily basis because cleaning my fingernails, then cutting an apple immediately after is not something I do. But I also do not fear germs as much as most people do. But that is the topic of discussion for a different day.

[An archist]

http://jeremyfirth.com/images/kershaw1760.jpg

I wouldn't refuse it, but I wouldn't call it a pocketknife either.

[Honggweilo]

Dutch culture is all about honesty; you tell people how you feel, to their face. The better the friendship, the stronger the feeling of needing to be honest with each other. The fact that he refused the gift and tried to explain to you why means your friendship is sound! Something some belgians can learn from (allthough some brabantians need to learn some manners in politeness and empathy; you know who you are :rolleyes:)


I can't speak for the Dutch, but living in London, if you're carrying a knife and walking around, you're a chav. And you don't want to be a chav.
Everyone I know has a pocketknife at home though.
:lol:

[Pogue]

Whats the law like over this where you are? Over here alot of people carry knives, you'll be fucked if you're caught carrying one by the filth.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

Whats the law like over this where you are? Over here alot of people carry knives, you'll be fucked if you're caught carrying one by the filth.

Depends on the circumstancesU in terms of geting fucked , if they find it in a car or a rucksack or something your probably not going to get eyehole fucked in court since its alot harder to prove its an offensive weopen (which means they normally don't do anything).

Unless your black.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

lol @ utah

[Sasha]

i almost always cary my leatherman but thats difrent:
http://toughsledding.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/wave.jpg

[Guerrilla22]

LOL Utah. People here carry this:

http://www.clearleadinc.com/site/images/handgun1.jpg

[Honggweilo]

this thread is getting dodgy, i'm not disclosing what i use on a public forum

[Pirate Utopian]

I use a plastic spoon. Works every time.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

this thread is getting dodgy, i'm not disclosing what i use on a public forum

what the fuck does that mean?

[Tyrlop]

in denmark its illegal to wear knife, that is longer then 7 cm or you will get jailed.

[Honggweilo]

It is against the guidelines to discuss, promote, glorify, instruct, agitate or incite the practice of terrorism, the art of weapons manufacturing, the making, distribution or selling of explosives or weapons and of illegal narcotics: Anyone posting such information will have it removed and could potentially be banned. It not only puts you at risk, it puts other users and this board at risk.

The state has already shut down and imprisoned website administrators for allowing the posting of bomb making materials (see the case of Sherman Austin).

Carying pocketknifes in public is illegal in the netherlands, even if used for utility purposes

[Sasha]

no its not, under dutch law its illigal to carry any weapon or annything that is ment to be used as an weapon and caryd in an way it could be put to direct use.

i.e. weapons are anything banned under the "wapenwet", this inlcudes:
illegal weapons (guns, teargas/pepperspray, ploertendoders, gun replica's)
illegal (weapon) variations on legal things (knives are in principal legal, stilleto's are not. an piece of wood is in principal legal, an piece of wood with nails in it is not)
legal products but ment to be used as an weapon (baseball bat on your way to baseball practise is legal, on your way to the current lover of your ex-girlfriend it is not.
pocket knive or hunting knive when camping/hunting is legal, when you go clubbing its not)
etc etc

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

I fucking hate europe sometimes we need to be better at killing our counry men as long as they ar ****s insted of eachover and forigners.

[Honggweilo]

no its not, under dutch law its illigal to carry any weapon or annything that is ment to be used as an weapon and caryd in an way it could be put to direct use.

i.e. weapons are anything banned under the "wapenwet", this inlcudes:
illegal weapons (guns, teargas/pepperspray, ploertendoders, gun replica's)
illegal (weapon) variations on legal things (knives are in principal legal, stilleto's are not. an piece of wood is in principal legal, an piece of wood with nails in it is not)
legal products but ment to be used as an weapon (baseball bat on your way to baseball practise is legal, on your way to the current lover of your ex-girlfriend it is not.
pocket knive or hunting knive when camping/hunting is legal, when you go clubbing its not)
etc etc

true, true. still, in the context of this topic its dodgy since its for "protection"


I fucking hate europe sometimes we need to be better at killing our counry men as long as they ar ****s insted of eachover and forigners.
you really need to cut back on the comaboozing drunk posts

[Guerrilla22]

It's perfectly legal to own a handgun here and to carry a concealed weapon with a permit. :p

[alfred j. kwak]

I believe it is illegal in the Netherlands to carry/own a knive that cuts on two sides? But it is legal to own a working blackpowder gun (pre-1945),

[Sasha]

I believe it is illegal in the Netherlands to carry/own a knive that cuts on two sides? But it is legal to own a working blackpowder gun (pre-1945),


see my post above ^, any weapon (as in: ment by owner to hurt or threaten people) is illegal, historic stuff is not (as long as its hanging on your wall and not on your belt when you are out to setle some argument that is).

see: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_wapens_en_munitie

anyway, possesion of "an working black powder gun (pre-1945)" might be legal, possesion of blackpowder outside in the form of fireworks during the last days of december or with an permit is not....

[Revy]

sounds like a stupid gift, IMO.

[The Red Next Door]

Maybe he didn't want to get caught with something like that on him people in europe thinks that you a troublemaker