It is much harder to start a revolution with steak knives than hunting rifles. I mean, consider why you don't actively participate in violent revolution right now (assuming you are dissenting against your government for some reason). Usually, it is because of the risk of injury and death.

You do reduce it when you bring a gun to a tank / plane / automatic weapons fight, rather than a knife. It isn't meant to provide all the armaments you need, but it leaves you a starting point.