Dirk

[Casey]

Alaskan Celt,

I've been looking at the Cold Steel Dirk too.

I am awaiting the delivery of the Mini-Culloden from them.

Let us know what the dirk is like as it appears to be made from different steel.

Casey.

[Brasilikilt]

Hey all

I've walked around the streets of Portland many a times with large blades on my belt.
I have had casual discussions with police officers about the legality of it. The best answer I got was "You can legally walk down the street with 6 guns strapped across your chest, I legally couldn't do anything about it until you point it at someone or started shooting"
Oregon as with a good number of other states have an "open carry" law which allows you to carry firearms and non-folding knives larger than 3" in plain view. So that means that carrying a dirk or sgian dubh in your sock is perfectly legal here.

I'm what you would call a bit of a knife enthusiast. I have been known for years to collect knives, knife parts etc etc for recycling into new knives.
I take advantage of every chance to walk around wearing wearing a kilt with one of my blades tucked in the belt.
For now the closest dirk-like knife I have is an unsharpened WW1 era Mauser boyonet (I also have the rifle it belongs to)
I still haven't constructed my own Scottish dirk yet, but I do have a chunk of african ebony for the handle. The blade (or metal to make one) is a little harder for me to come by.
I need to make a sgian dubh first :-)
Take care everyone
Brasilikilt

[Alaskan Celt]

[BenTheScott]

A buddy of mine used to wear a very large knife sticking out of his boot until he got in trouble with the law. He decided he liked the look though, so he cut a knife down into a largish bottle opener and inscribed the words "Ha-Ha! Gotcha!" on both sides, just for the benefit of the cop who wants to get into it with him.

As for wearing one casually, I see no real problem with wearing one, but it's not exactly a utility item, is it? I wear a leatherman, but it's a tool. What, exactly, are you going to do with a thirteen inch blade?

[bubba]

Slaughter stolen cattle maybe

[Alaskan]

What, exactly, are you going to do with a thirteen inch blade?

If you live in, or are going camping/hiking/hillwalking in an area that has bears, but guns are illegal... a 13 inch knife wouldn't be a bad idea. Yeah, a dirk wouldn't be as nice to have on your side as a firearm... but if a bear decided to eat you, a dirk would be better than trying to fight a bear with your bare hands.

[BenTheScott]

Bears in my part here are afraid of noise. There aren't too many Grisley Bears in Maine. Take a tin can filled with pennies or pebbles. Works just as well as a deterant. Also, if you are worried about bears, whistle whilst walking through the woods. It warns them of your presence and frankly, they don't want to come into contact with human beings if they don't have to. Most of the time, they'll move out of YOUR way before you even see them if you are making enough commotion. Just don't leave the hot dogs out in the camp site!

[Alaskan]

You are right Ben, usually people who are mauled by Bears are mauled because they surprised the bears. That is why the bells etc. are good to carry when hiking. The bears hear you coming and move away before you come out of nowhere and surprise them.

There was a notice in a store I went to frequently in Alaska that was explaining bear safety for tourists.
It explained first, wear a bell because the bears will know you are coming and you won't surprise them.
Second, there is pepper spray that is designed for deterring bears and it is a good idea to carry this.
Third, if you see bear droppings it is a good idea to get out of the area. If you don't know how to recognize bear droppings they smell like pepper and have bells in them.

Kidding aside, yes making noise so that you don't stumble on and surprise a bear is the best thing to do, but it is not foolproof and sometimes bears do pull people out of their tents at night.
Carry the bell so that hopefully you don't ever run into one... but also be prepared to fight for your life if you have to. It seems that not a summer goes by that nobody gets mauled in Alaska. In Alaska I would carry a firearm... that is a much better way to protect yourself from a bear than a knife... but here in Hokkaido (yes there are bears here) guns are not allowed (it is possible to obtain a rifle and a hunting liscence, but it is not easy), so the best I can do is a big knife. If I am going to be camping in a kilt and carrying a big knife, it might as well be a dirk.

[Doc Hudson]

Bears in my part here are afraid of noise. There aren't too many Grisley Bears in Maine. Take a tin can filled with pennies or pebbles. Works just as well as a deterant. Also, if you are worried about bears, whistle whilst walking through the woods. It warns them of your presence and frankly, they don't want to come into contact with human beings if they don't have to. Most of the time, they'll move out of YOUR way before you even see them if you are making enough commotion. Just don't leave the hot dogs out in the camp site!

Ben, there are two things you should bear in mind.

Even though Maine suffers a dearth of grizzlies, a higher per centage of black bear charges result in an actual attack than do charges by grizzlies and brownies. I've been told that is because brownies and griz make mock charges to defend territory, while black bears do not.

Also be aware that if a black bear does attack, it is because he sees you as food, and is far more likely to be pressed home to a finish. There are several attacks annually in which black bears stalk, attack, kill and devour people. To black bear we are just another source of protein.

Brownies and griz are bigger, and more unpredictable, but black bear are actually more dangerous. Be prepared to fight when you are in Brer Bruin's territory, cause you can't run or climb fast enough to escape. BTW, the play dead advise doesn't work as well for black bear as it does for griz and brownie. If you are gonna get bit, you might as well get in a few licks of your own. Personally I'd prefer a .45-70 rifle or a .44 RemMag revolver, but I'd certainly pack a big knife if a gun was impossible.

[Alaskan]

We say "If it's brown lie down, if it's black attack!"

This is because like Doc Hudson says, brown bears often attack to defend territory or their children, if you act dead, they don't feel threatened by you anymore.
Also, like Doc Hudson says, black bears are more likely to be attacking with the intention of devouring you, thus playing dead just makes it easy for them, but if you fight back they might decide to go for easier prey.

Of course the other rule is if the rules aren't working, break them. So if you try playing dead and the brown or grizzly bear doesn't leave you alone, fight, fight, fight.
Personally, I don't think I would be able to play dead. Too much fight in me.