Britain's blade culture claims another victim ...Scouts' penknives
Not carrying a knife will keep them safe; is that really what the Scouts spokesman said? Fortunately, others in their organization think differently:
I recently bought a pink mini-RSK for my niece. At my SIL's recommendation she'll get it on her next birthday (still in single digits). It's a tool and just happens to be pink

Pink is a good choice. Guys think pink is sissy. Good!

I have a friend who paints the handles of most of her tools bright pink. Not only are they easy to see, but the color apparently keeps them from wandering off and getting put into some guy's tool box.

Both of my teenage daughters have pink Swiss Army Knives, they received them as gifts after completing a significant outdoor accomplishment (Summer Camp adventures) and both have been trained in the safe use.

Whenever one of the girls uses her pink SAK in front of a friend I always hear the same question, "Where did you get the cool knife" and "can you Dad get me one too".

I love being a father.

Mike

I got my GF the pink SAK (breast CA) and it's sitting gatherin dust on her bureau. Some folks just don't get it. I'm practically done trying to convert her. Plus, I'm sick of her "humerous" comments whenever we're with friends.

Maybe taking her stuff out of the home supplies would catch her attention?

Pink is a great color because it immediately identifies it as belonging to her. Knives are a guy thing unless they're pink, even if it is a hot pink

Normally I wouldn't think of giving a knife to a girl/young lady as a birthday present, but she seemed to like my yellow mini-RSK and when I mentioned that it came in pink she was all smiles

Back to the scouts -- it's really too bad that the Brit Scout bureaucracy sees the answer to perceived knife problems in society to be the denial of their Scouts to have and carry tools that have been part of every Scout's kit for decades. Sad.

Apparently the Scouts in the U.K. are taking exception with statements in the article. The truth about Scouts and knives indicates they haven't banned knives and "will circulate a more detailed response". I would imagine from this that some of the statements were taken out of context; can't imagine a reporter taking anything out of context

Edit: Another article from Timeonline can be found at Scouts with knives are dangerous. But isn’t that the point? Read the first comment and while the Brit Scout may not have banned knives, they have restricted carriage. Be prepared, except in public. . .

DW loves her tiny SAK Classic, thankfully not in pink. Once she realized it had a file for her nails and a "Gee honey, you don't carry scissors with you." She converted. 15 years later she still loves it.

Read the original article here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/19472733/Scouting-magazine-articles-on-knives

Some in the U.K. have objected to the characterization of the Scout policy as a "ban" and claim that the newspaper article is misleading. We don’t think the Daily Mail article is that far off the mark. When an organization with a strong tradition of knife use and carry such as the Scouts comes out and clearly states that it considers knives as weapons first and prohibits their use except in specific situations determined ahead of time, we think "ban" is a fair characterization. Scouts are not to carry knives at any time EXCEPT when a specific need is identified, and even then, they are to be allowed to have them only for as long as it takes them to perform that specified chore. Clearly, the Scout leadership has abdicated to the anti-knife hysteria in the U.K. Clearly they are discouraging carry of knives as a useful tool in daily life. In our opinion, by considering them weapons instead of tools, they are setting a poor and dangerous example for their youth, on many levels. Knife Rights was founded in order to keep knives as useful tools in our everyday life. The policy change evidenced by the Scouts in Britain is anathema to anyone who considers knives to be essential tools and one of our essential rights here in America.

Doug Ritter
Chairman
Knife Rights


The following image, based on a famous painting of Scouts founder Robert Baden-Powell, was sent to me from one of our members.

Actually, it's a public place without reasonable cause.

Baden Powell said in scouting for boys that any fool can be cold, wet and uncomfortable.

One of my nightmares is a blazing tent. Trapped scouts, guides or cubs and no knife.


Should we add to that: Any fool can burn to death in a blazing tent?

The scout's are adamant this Scout knife policy is not a ban, but when you look at the conditions they put on knife carry, the whole issue of preparedness is rather hollow. They'll be prepared to use a knife. . . if they only had one at the moment they are in need.

So the scouts just have to plan the next time they will get lost so they can plan to have their gear with them

I guess my 30 year old BSA knife is a 'pre-ban'. Who knew?!

Lol, you're one lucky man. I hope you have a pre-ban sheath to go with it as well!

They sure as heck ain't ever gonna get mine unless they pry it out of my cold, dead hands.

Unfortunately Scouting took a hard right turn some years ago and it is difficult for those with fond memories of Scouting to identify with many of its current positions. But without going into forbidden political discussion, all we can do is watch and comment on preparedness-related follies now considered by Scouts to be politically correct, such as the pocket knife ban.

I agree with you. Even twenty years or so ago when I started in Cub scouts the political culture in the Boy Scouts was beginning to diverge from my current values. I suspect that has only gotten worse. Its unfortunate, the ideas, skills and ideals in much of Scouting are very good, but if I ever have kids I don't think I'll put them in Boy Scouts.

On a different note, I'd like to say knives are excellent gifts for girls. I regularly give knives as presents to women in my life, including my mom. I know positively of several who carry theirs regularly. A good knife is simply to useful to pigeon hole as a masculine or feminine tool. Of course they can also be very personal tools, and it sometimes takes a bit of effort to tailor a knife properly to the recipient.

Every time a woman/girl/female I've known has shown even a slight interest, I've responded with a knife they wanted/expressed an interest in having. One time it was a simple SAK for a girlfriend, this time it was for my young niece. Giving a knife to someone (male or female) who has no interest is a waste of good steel.

So how does this NOT tell the the Scouts they are not trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, nor reverent? Well, maybe reverent doesn't come into it, but....

Next thing you know, they won't be allowed to carry fire making tools either.

I can't say anything more without saying something that would have Doug and Blast wanting to make me into pinata.


Oh, and on the subject of knives for girls- great gift. My mother still has the dagger that was made for her when she was 9.

I guess I grew up in an age when a man was expected to carry a good clasp knife in his pocket, and I honestly do not understand all of the paranoia and fear around them now.
This anti-knife attitude with the Scout Troops is especially weird, but there has been a big shift away from letting kids do anything woodsy too.
The last time I had anything to do with a scouts event the parents were terrified by the idea of their kids leaving the sidewalk.

I will mention that I started noticing attitudes shift at about the same time as the Rambo movies were promoting Rambo type knives.
Why people should find that scarier than Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho with the kitchen knife I will never quite understand either.
Yet for some reason people never started calling for bans on kitchen knives did they?

A lot of women regard good paring, fillet and chef knives as great things to receive as giftware and are proud to have them in their kitchens.
A lot of women like having their own clasp knives and hunting knives too.
My ex used to swipe my pocket knives and put them in her purse so she could slice apples and stuff for our son. She would "find" them for me when they got dull. That was usually just after the one I was carrying had gone missing instead.

I gave a Classic to my sister a few Christmases ago. She didn't seem very keen on it at the time(which i anticipated, and paired it with a copy of Fiddler on the Roof), but wouldn't you know I spied it hiding in her luggage after she got back from a trip recently. It made me feel warm and fuzzy.

This stuff is getting ridiculous. What's next? They aren't allowed to go camping because it's too dangerous?

Sadly I have to agree. Even though the article cites the law saying that small, folding blades are OK, their own guidance makes no distinction.

I don't know how much standing this has. It is described as "guidance", so hopefully individual troop leaders are not required to follow it. It may only apply as a default position for leaders who don't have an opinion of their own. Also I imagine (and hope) it's only a handful of people at the top of the UK scout movement who think like this.

I got my very own knife in the 4th grade, and since about 9th grade carried a folding knife daily. Kids these days would be expelled!!! Also had my guns in the trunk at school because we often went shooting after class.

Things sure change