What the world needs now is more shiv cosies
Gascoyne Bowman makes and sells this useful and attractive shiv cosy at her Criminal Crafts Etsy store.
A stylish hands free carry all for your concealed weapon of choice. Polar fleece sheath, will hold a blade five inches in length with a two-inch width. The outside is embelished with rinestone strand and skull and daggers trim. The sequined garter is elastic and should fit most leg sizes, keeping your little secret safely tucked away.
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wouldn't a knife sheath made from material easily cut by a knife be ridiculously ineffective?
That does look nice. What's that on her leg?
I just embed all my concealed blades in the flesh of my thigh. Keeps things simple.
@#1 Knowles: Or perhaps its ridiculously effective, as you wouldn't have to take the time to unsheath your knife to use it? For when fractions of a second matter?
You do have to be ok with the surprise self-inflicted femoral artery wounds, though.
Thank God. I'm so tired of my shank falling through my fishnets.
I nearly self-inflicted a wound to my femoral artery when I was in college. I was sitting down outside, drawing. I had pencils and a scalpel in my hoodie-pouch pocket.
When I finished sketching, I leaned forward to stand up, and as I went to stand, the scalpel in my hoodie went into my upper, inner left-thigh, about an inch from my femorals.
I ended up limping up to my classroom, and asking for a first aid kit. The whole upper left leg of my jeans was dark with blood, and my teacher freaked out. I think, she was thinking more about her paycheck than my leg, though :)
Am I the only one who finds this sick?
People carry knives to threaten the health of others.
It's not something funny or particularly clever.
I'm sure I'm out of step, or I've missed the irony...
One could always use it to hold their Fukuoku 9000, instead of a knife. I'm just sayin'.
radiomovies, people also wear knives to roleplay at being someone they are not. Did you consider that before slagging someone's fun project?
really more of a scabbard than a cosy, and too big for a shiv.
RadioMovies,
No, you are right. Beyond the costume frivolity, there is definitely a dark reality that isn't as cute as the rhinestones.
That said, I imagine anyone who actually got this would be doing it for costume/character purposes, and unlikely to use a real knife. Whether or not that deals with the larger issue of fethising dangerous behaviour.
Radiomovies:
I'd imagine most people would rather a would-be rapist gets slashed than anyone get assaulted. I've known several non-threatening women who could have used a sharp knife in certain situations. It's of course not a good thing when worn by those who'd use it without just provocation, and training is helpful to figure out those situations and how to use it. If a woman is more likely to wear it and use it if it's pretty, I think it's good it's pretty.
#7, Radiomovies.
Not true. Have you ever tried chewing a shipping box open? I use my knife all the time. When cooking a Banquet frozen meal (TV dinner), how are you supposed to cut a slit in the film cover without a knife?
Knives are tools. Ask a mechanic to cut a radiator hose off using without a knife, and you will get strange looks.
@ Radiomovies:
But a knife can also be used for self defense, which is what I assumed from the context of this picture. Not everyone who carries a knife wants to threaten the health of others.
Knives can also be very useful tools. I usually carry a knife if I'm backpacking/camping for reasons that have nothing to do with self defense or offense.
You'll have to pry my sgian dubh from my cold, dead flashes.
@13, Harrkev
Agreed, knives are tools, but I don't refer to my utility knife as a "shiv", and the maker writes of it carrying "your concealed weapon of choice". It clearly is fetishizing a knife as a weapon, whatever you think of that.
Maybe it's meant for costume play? I don't get the appeal either.
London knife epidemic: 20th teenager killed
I've always carried a knife and I use one frequently w my job. I have seen and understand some people's fear of knives though. I think they associate them with blood, which of course many people are horrified of.
MDH - oh that's ok then. Sorry for being a killjoy.
Arkizzle - thanks. In this country (UK) we have some frighteningly draconian laws, and carrying a concealed weapon (esp a knife) is an imprisonable offence - with fairly good reason. Personally I'm glad it is.
Sorry for stirring things up, but a 'chiv' normally implies an offensive weapon rather than a defensive one, as it's a Geordie term for stabbing someone.
Sorry to be prudish but what I normally love about this site is its commitment to civil liberties. I understand in the US there's a right to bear arms, but surely there's also a right to walk around unperforated?
@#2,
That's Batman. But he's got a big stud belt to stash his shit.
I hate this. I also dislike many of the comments. The experience imparted to many women's groups in the UK is that if you are weaker than an attacker and attempt to use any sort of weapon you'd better be ready to have it taken off you and used against you. The "I need it for defence" argument only holds good if you are either very strong or too macho/stupid to realise this. It is the main reason that knife crime is increasing among teenagers here. They feel that carrying a knife for defence is a necessary and reasonable thing. It is only one step away from using the same weapon for attack, or having it used thus....
In any case, it should be pointed out that in the UK having an offensive weapon about your person unless you have a very good and believable reason for it, is an offence in itself.
It clearly is fetishizing a knife as a weapon, whatever you think of that.
That is not clear to me at all. What is clear to me is that some people see whatever they want to see, wherever they look,
Thank goodness Her Majesty's Government keeps inclined planes out of the hand of its dunderheaded citizens.
The ability to stab someone what needs a-stabbin' on demand is what separates us from Australopithecus. Well, that and plucked eyebrows.
YOWZA! Look at those GAMS!
Congratulations, long may you stay separated, and good luck with the further stages.
Please be aware that carrying a concealed fixed blade knife in California is illegal; it appears Criminal Crafts is in Portland where it *is* legal, but I know many BoingBoing readers are from CA. Be careful, know your knife laws for where you live and stay out of trouble.
http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/knifelaws.html
You can, however, carry a huge folding knife of literally any size in California - many nice Spyderco folding knives would fit just fine in that sheath. I recommend the Spyderco Native (it even comes in pink) as a nice every day carry choice.
The knife she's sheathing (or unsheathing) looks to me like its intended victim is a piece of fruit. Or possibly a bit of cheese.
i dunno. i have carried a knife ( well, several, over the years!) on my person since i was about 11-12. and that was a long time ago! i have never used it for any violent purpose, though you could argue that a few of them were probably designed for that purpose. sometimes u r up on a ladder, or holding onto something with one hand, and need access to a blade. i must use the thing more than a dozen times a day! i agree with ALOWISHUS @24, she does have a nice pair of twigs, and that batgirl tattoo...cute as a bug!
tools are for the workplace. If you must carry a stabbing implement for social purposes, best it be something like a screwdriver. Anyone can offer a plausible story for having a screwdriver with them.
takuan, i am constantly surprised at how useful it is to have my wave tool at different social functions!
I know a gal who carries her handheld high end branch clippers with her in her purse. She'll cut a broken branch with a nice clean cut, then slip the pair away into her bag again. I would love to carry a pair of clippers in a belt holster type thingee! Guerilla gardening on the go! YO!
yeah, my titanium cheeked Wave is often with me too.
But that's a coincidence and no substitute for the Sword Taia.
I often wondered what I'd favour as a professional killer, probably a cheap steak knife from a thrift store. I'm also glad I don't live in a duelling culture, but if I did my blade would be as plain as they came.
I like well-made, sharp pointy things, especially with a pedigree or a story. I appreciate them in displays that are well founded. But the weight of blood, even justified?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abLB7aTmnE4
i am constantly surprised at how useful it is to have my wave tool at different social functions!
I'm less surprised by how useful it is to have my tool wave at different social functions.
I would love to carry a pair of clippers in a belt holster type thingee!
I wear my Felco #8 in a belt holster.
the Felco No. 7 is the only implement of dignity suited to persons of quality and their horticultural requirements.
http://www.dobbies.co.uk/acatalog/felco_number_7_pruner_with_rotating_handle.jpg
Probably not going to be as enticing on my own leg as it is on the model's, but you do what you must.
Tak... the ginsu knife ad was a classic in its day, but it ain't got nothin on the Slap Chop...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj5cHIQA
ja!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TMqCbBNss&feature=related
Cute, but I doubt most folks who think this looks sexy has any clue how to handle a knife and not hurt themselves.
vraiment?
I've used a knife (or very sharp bladed instrument/tool) frequently.
I don't find a need to carry it around ON me in general - weirdly, whenever I need to be 'up a ladder' I also know I 'need a ladder' and so I can also get 'my toolbox' which contains my sharp bladed instrument. I also don't carry my ladder and toolbox with me in general. Though I would if I had a job which required this of me.
It's disingenuous to say that you 'need' a knife or bladed tool to be on your person unless you have an occupation which requires it. In between times you can put it back in your tool box.
@Takuan. Carrying a screwdriver without an obvious reason can bring charges of possessing a implement capable of allowing illegal entry to a motor vehicle (IANAL so YMMV depending on which country/state/county/region/shire/reality you live in) :))
moi? my screwdriver, she is to adjust the moteur of my automobile. This should be obvious even to a silly policeman.
Padraig - Your tone belongs back in your tool box
haw man, am gonna chib ur face!
The wee dirk in the photo above, suited as it is to lady, reminds me of another woman I knew. Of samurai family, she would have received a kaiken among her wedding gifts. Likely then a real blade rather than wooden. All women of her class had such and were expected to use it competently and ruthlessly to defend their honour or to take their own life.
When I remember her now it is difficult to reconcile the cheer and strength with the trials and heritage.
Aye, I'll guv ye a Glasgo' smile.
I carry a philips, a flat blade, a leather punch, a small file, a can opener, tweezers and a tooth pick. Oh, and a dang sharp blade. The day don't go by but what I whip it out and fix something.
Buck Swiss.
you know, I've often wondered about Pete Postlethwaite.
You think he got smiled?
@#23:
"Thank goodness Her Majesty's Government keeps inclined planes out of the hand of its dunderheaded citizens."
Wait, our government is regulating hills now I know we have an authoratarian government, but..?
#23 - Disagree. The thing that seperates us (or some of us at least) from Australopithecus is not going around stabbing anyone who "needs a-stabbin'". I take it you and you only are the arbiter of the list of people who need stabbing. Presumably the stabbed person doesn't feel that they required a blade in them.
I think the world would be a safer place if all guns and knives were frilly and girlish. And ammunition should be sold in tampon boxes. Men with an overabundance of testosterone would be mortally afraid of being seen using them.
Thank GOD (if she exists) for the American Revolution.
Sometimes it seems like every Britisher with balls left or was (forcibly) shipped out.
The sheath seems a little too wide for that knife to me, especially for effective concealment, if that's what it was really meant for. It does beat the clunky old utility belt, though.
If you will excuse me now, I am going to go install a bat signal.
Snig is right. Ammo in Tampax boxes would never get used- by men, anyway. Heck, I won't even go in a woman's purse because they keep a layer of used tissues on top as a protective barrier.
Phikus is right too- why is the sheath so wide? When she puts her legs in the air the knife will fall out. "Oh, that? Uh... I'm gonna kill Batman, as soon as he shows up."
hey, sometimes you need a knife, and sometimes people get stabbed. i don't think there's as much of a connection as fear would lead you to believe.
every city has a warehouse, operated by the police, of every implement ever used to hurt/maim/kill. such warehouses contain just about every imaginable object you can lift with your two hands. knives yes, guns yes, but also bats, signposts, pipes, lamps, pans. at least a knife has other uses than stabbin'.
@#52, Gouldina, "Presumably the stabbed person doesn't feel that they required a blade in them."
THEN THEY SHOULDN'T'VE NEEDED A-STABBIN', now, should they?
Some folks just need a-stabbin'. Most folks who need a-stabbin' don't get the stabbin' they deserve. That's a crime. Like carrying a knife in the UK, apparently.
@#51, Shadowfirebird ... They've been regulating hills since Hadrian, no?
No. They haven't.