This is why I treat my Al Mar Sere the same way I do my CC. Nobody sees it unless it's a real emergency.

I have a Kershaw Scallion that is (was) assisted opening. I don't need the extra speed or any hassles from LEOs about it being a switchblade so I just took out the spring and removed the safety. Problem solved.

Wow, I just had a weird feeling today. I was in the office talking to our Head of Security (an ex-RCMP cop) discussing panic alarms in some our buildings. I showed him a panic alarm button that gets attached to a Customer Service workstation and he wanted to open it up and take the battery out. He tried with his letter opener but didn't work. Without hesitation, I took out my Spyderco and clicked it open! It took me a couple of seconds to open the case (but I really don't like using the knife as a pry!)

The guy never even flinched. It wasn't until I was putting the knife back on my pants that I realized that if there was anybody in the company to not "flick" my knife in front of, the Head of Security would be it. But he didn't give it a second thought - thankfully for me, there are other people in this world besides me who think carrying a pocket knife is just a regular thing.

However, I'm not a "total doughnut head" - I am going on a tour of a newly renovated and occupied Correctional Centre (min. security) next week. The first thing I thought of was that I should probably empty my pockets of all my goodies before going on the tour, lest any of the items become "lost"!

The head of security probably knows a simple pocket knife isn't a threat. I've known a lot of people who needed a screwdriver, scissors, etc that I've used my leatherman for and they have never cared or probably didn't even know it had a knife.

Years ago I was a simple pc repair guy and had to enter a correntional facility to fix the library pc. I emptied my pockets and the gaurd said you can't take that in, take it back to your car. So I picked up my pocket knife to take it back out and he said no, you can take that, you can't take the cell phone.

i opened a box of printer paper once at the school i work for, and a student noticed my knife and said, "I didn't know you IT guys were armed." To me, a knife is a tool first... i've never been in a situation where i've needed a knife as a weapon (unless you count filleting fish?)