What kind of office do you work in?

If it's a legal or political type of environment, that makes a big difference. Being a do-it-yourselfer can be frowned upon. On the other hand, I've seen medical doctors sporting Leatherman Waves on their belts. I work in an information systems office. Basically anything goes.

My rule of thumb is, use the smallest tool possible for the job. I don't haul out my SwissTool to open envelopes. If I need it, I use it, but I don't make a show of it.

I carry my Victorinox SwissChamp on my belt, but I wear bluejeans most days. I also have lots of sweaters and pullovers I wear without tucking them in. That covers up everything I have on my belt. I usually have my SureFire E1e, SureFire E2e, cellphone, and a multitool of some sort.

I carry what I want to, but I never openly display anything.

My company's Christmas party was held at a museum in downtown Philadelphia. Suits required. Shirt and tie required. I usually wear a turtleneck sweater, but in this case, men were expected to adhere to the guidelines. So I adhered.

Was I un-equipped? Perish the thought!

I carried my beloved Victorinox Midnite MiniChamp II in my dress pants pocket. If I have to use it, someone may say it's cute, but that's all they'll say.

I carried my Spyderco Jester in my suite jacket pocket. Nice and smooth with no buldges.

No room whatsoever for my cellphone, so I brought along my shoulder bag, my Podzilla from Roadwired, and stuck my cellphone right on top of everything else.

My manager asked me what I had in my bag. I said my cellphone, my camera, and my first aid kit, which was all true. I had more stuff -- including my Leatherman Wave -- underneath everything else. He nodded, said I was prepared as usual, and didn't say another word about it.

I was able to slip my SureFire E2e vertically into my dress pants pocket next to my wallet, with the clip showing on the outside. No one noticed. No one said anything.

I put my Inova X5 into a Rip-Offs sheath and clipped it to my belt in such a way that my suit coat hid it. I was able to button my suit coat without any buldges.

I put some first aid items in various pockets and away we went.

The only time I've ever been severely under-equipped was during jury duty (I haven't flown since 9/11). No blades of course, but I took all my EDC flashlights with me. The guards were vigilant enough to open every light, remove every battery, and inspect them all. But I still took my flashlights.

-- Craig