A Sharpie marker is about the same size and weight as a kubaton, only much cheaper, isnt an outward weapon, and has multiple uses. I must admit that I do visit other communities where everyone is all hyped about their new little pointy sticks, but if I carried one, I would still probably rely on my knuckles over it in a fight.

The whistle idea is good, I am going to get one.

I am not the kind of guy to go waving around my equipment, but I still don't feel comfortable carrying a knife into school, when I have seen people kicked out for just as much. I doubt that in the eyes of the Dean, a small 3' folder from Microtech is any different from an 8' Bowie. And yeah, I have heard "Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6", but my goal should be to avoid that as much as possible.

Somehow I find it disingenuous packing a felt marker which is a de facto Kubotan. This thinking is like Hienkle building airliners in 1936 or allowing box cutters the morning of September 11th. Both were a subterfuge against the rule of law, however onerous and common sense. My knife is a tool. Society needs reminding that knives are not neccessarily dedicated weapons and have legitimate uses. Until we somehow manage this bit of social engineering I will discretely carry a knife, not step back from reallity like a dance partner to stupidity. A french artist titled a famous work ' this is not a pipe.' Look at it sometime <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I cant see a pipe .... only its depiction ... I must have missed something <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well, I guess I must consider myself fortunate. I work as a Facilities Supv. and I get to walk around all day with a Supertool and a minimag in a Nite-ize case hanging off my belt, in plain sight. The President of the company asked me the other day what I had in "that thing" and I showed him. He told me not to leave it (the Leatherman) laying around. Why? " You know, I've been wanting one of those...." was his comment. Guess I better watch where I set it down.

Actually, until 9/11, a pocket knife with a blade less than 4" was legal. But no serrated or partially serrated blades were allowed, because someone thought that they looked "menacing."

/rant on
It wasn't knives that caused 9/11, it was the attitude that "If we just do what they say, no one will get hurt." They acurately found the weak spot in security, and it was that aforementioned attitude. Now we should make sure the average person CAN carry a pocketknife.
/rant off

BTW, the word is spelled discreet. Another case of a spell checker not being able to pick the right homophone, perhaps? After watching my supervisor at work attempt to open a taped box with a steel ruler (!), I had just (gently) snapped open my RSK Griptilian and handed it to her when my new (to the company) manager walked up behind me. I think he visibly jumped, and said "Can you carry that at work?" I casually replied "Oh yeah, it's just a pocketknife," but I am being more discreet, and carrying an RSK Mini-Griptilian or my small Sebenza. Another excuse to add to my knife collection. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Now I'm also carrying a little Gerber Ultralight LST (~2" blade) in the left watch pocket on my jeans for opening boxes, etc. I didn't like getting tape adhesive on my good knife anyway. It probably helps that our Facilities people all carry Leathermans and/or Gerber multitools, folding knives in belt sheaths, pagers, radios, cell phones, flashlights, etc. on their belts.

Oh, I dunno, perhaps Chris really meant discrete, as in separate from everything else. Perhaps he should've said he'd carry it with "discretion", which would've bolluxed the whole argument.

I tend to carry my knives both discreetly and discretely. Saves the hassle of fumbling through a pocket full of stuff, and then explaining about all that fell on the floor while I was rummaging. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A kid noticed the pocket clip on my 3" Gerber folder when I was subbing at a school a couple of weeks ago. His eyes got kind of big and he exclaimed, "Hey, that's a knife!" I looked him in the eye and calmly said, "yeah" like it was no big deal, and he didn't say anymore.

Glad he didn't notice the flame thrower in my other pocket. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have to chime in here and I hope none of you men are offended, then again, if your MEN, then you shouldn't be. It completely sickens me to the point of real nausea when I read that a man visibly jumped at the sight of a Mini-Griptilian. Not that many years ago, every boy over about 6 years old had a knife even at school. No one cared, and it wasn't an issue. How have we come to the point where a grown man was visibly upset or shaken by the sight of a small, 3 inch bladed pocket knife? I guess I am highly fortunate that in my office (Air Force parts purchasing office) in Alaska, that knives are almost a mandatory piece of uniform gear. I am part of a Transportation unit and here even the civilians carry big bladed folders on clips, or in belt pouches and it's expected, not feared. When I retire in just under 4 years from the AF, I hope the state of things isn't so bad, for I will have to retire to the woods to hide from the sissy prissy men who jump at the sight of knives...they surely will fall right over of heart failure at the sight of my AR slung muzzle down, Kimber 45 1911 holstered, and the various knives arrayed about me... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I agree. We carried knives to school when was younger and even would show our new one for show and tell. Now you mention the word knife or gun and you get sent home. When my grandfather was in school if he forgot to bring his knife or gun with him to school he was sent back home to get it.

The country has been Oprah-fied, what we have now are Alan Alda types that are sensitive, caring, fearful of knives, guns, tolerant of our enemies, trained in diversity and anger management. Where have you been? Wasn't this implemented in the military in the 90's? You need to be scheduled for retraining immediately! <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />