Belt Buckle Knives

M

MisterE

Joined
Feb 9, 2000
Messages
14
This may be heresey in this forum, but I'd like information on so-called "belt-buckle knives."

I'm interested in legally carrying (CWP) a defensive weapon in environments where other knife options are not approrpriate.

Are these gadgets any good? Do yo you have to unbuckle your belt before deploying it? Who manufactures these knives?

Any info would be appreciated.

E
 
Donna,

Thanks for replying to my inquiry. I tried to find the “Volois” knife on Yahoo and Google and didn’t get any relevant hits. Is that the right spelling? Is it the model or the manufacturer? Could you describe it? (i.e. is it a pivoting folder or a fixed blade? How stealthy is it? Where can I see one?)

Thanks,

E
 
One thing; belt buckle knives are illegal in many jurisdictions; be sure and check local laws.

Another thing. Donna is the consummate mistress of feminine concealment. She instructed my daughter in blade concealment a while back, when my daughter was in danger. My daughter learned a lot, and Donna really has a big favor coming from me. So, if you have any questions about blade (or gun) concealment, Donna is THE source, and quite approachable. On the matter of concealment, that is
wink.gif
.

I would mention the series of pictures Donna had taken with her in a 'little black dress.' These pictures showed how much hardware she could conceal, while not concealing much of herself! Except that I have not seen the pics
wink.gif
. REALLY, Donna, HONEST!! heh heh heh Walt
 
I have Bowen belt buckle knives. I found the quality very variable. I don't think using them in ANY state is legal though. If you are looking for some I have 2, one single edge and one double edge. I am able to send jpegs of them.
 
Hi,
I'm not a lawyer and please don't take my word - check it out yourself, but here is what I found.

I looked up the related law in WA and found a reference in RCW 9.41(1)(2).

It indicated that attempting to conceal a dagger or dirk is illegal. Most of the beltbuckle knives I have seen are essentially a dagger or dirk.

If you intend to wear such a knife in WA, I would advise you to research the law there first. Also check out any local laws.

I personally do not feel that a beltbuckle knife would be particularly good for defense. They are basically puch type daggers that are too short to penetrate well and not even too great for slashing. Better than nothing - maybe. Too slow to get it out. Also, it is concealed and concealed in such a way as to indicate that it was deliberate and possibly with intent to deceive. All of which would probably indicate that you are carrying it as a weapon rather than a tool. My personal advice is to steer clear and find something else. A small easy opening serrated or partially serrated folder like some of the Sydercos or their look-a-likes might be better and at least from what I read, probably legal to carry most places in WA.

I think it is not advisable to tell anyone you carry any type of knife for defense. Most any knife can be used for defense but carry one that can be a tool - primarily.

Again, check out the law yourself and my advise is to comply with it.

Good luck.


Originally posted by MisterE:
This may be heresey in this forum, but I'd like information on so-called "belt-buckle knives."

I'm interested in legally carrying (CWP) a defensive weapon in environments where other knife options are not approrpriate.

Are these gadgets any good? Do yo you have to unbuckle your belt before deploying it? Who manufactures these knives?

Any info would be appreciated.

E
Click to expand...

 
I remember seeing, some years ago a belt buckle knife that was a little different. The buckle was on the large side of medium size. a flat solid rectangle inlaid with exotic woods and turquoise A diagonal slightly raised section was the handle of a small folding knife. Pivoting the handle 180 degrees opened the knife and released it from the buckle.

These were an interesting gadget, and while they were well made mechanically and beautifully finished the knife itself was not very good. The steel in the blade was the poorest grade of stainless and the folding pivot and lock were questionable at best.

As far as a concealed weapon goes this type of things, especially like the one Donna describes, are apt to pass all but the closest examination. If however they are illegal in your locality and you are caught with one you will wish you had been carrying a Spyderco Delica or Endura. It would be very hard to explain.


Mike
 
Originally posted by MNH:
I remember seeing, some years ago a belt buckle knife that was a little different. The buckle was on the large side of medium size. a flat solid rectangle inlaid with exotic woods and turquoise A diagonal slightly raised section was the handle of a small folding knife. Pivoting the handle 180 degrees opened the knife and released it from the buckle.

These were an interesting gadget, and while they were well made mechanically and beautifully finished the knife itself was not very good. The steel in the blade was the poorest grade of stainless and the folding pivot and lock were questionable at best.

As far as a concealed weapon goes this type of things, especially like the one Donna describes, are apt to pass all but the closest examination. If however they are illegal in your locality and you are caught with one you will wish you had been carrying a Spyderco Delica or Endura. It would be very hard to explain.


Mike
Click to expand...

I believe you are referring to the Gerber
Touche belt buckle knives. I saw them with a wood inlay, mother of pearl inlay, scrimshawed ivory and unscrimshawed ivory inlay. Actually someone was selling on the "for sale" forums. Yes, this was one of the items I put in letters to Santa when I was younger. Never got one though [sniff].


 
Gerber, Gerber, could it have been a Gerber? I guess so. the quality of the knife end of the thing as I remember it was not up to their usual standard for that time. I remember wanting one at the time also, until I got to play with one. I think I spent the money on a small Gerber Mark I boot knife which was brand new at the time.


Mike
 
Well the link to some site was posted here a few times, and they make belt buckle knives, but these are fully serrated 3 inch bladed folders that are made to fit into the belt buckle, so it is that the buckle is a sheath for the knife.

they also made the ones for the little 22 caliber revolvers.
 
As an accumulator of odd or unusual I have several belt buckle knives, 2 bowens and a cple diff. samples of the Gerber Touche. No doubt the Bowen is #1 for design simplicity. Only problem is if you need a knife you have lost practical use of your belt, may or may not matter, but a consideration. In a true emergency this may not matter, but a consideration. The Gerber Touche on the other hand has a blade that's cam locked into the buckle frame. Pretty secure arangement and if you use knife you haven't sacrificed a belt in the process. Most GT belt buckle knives were produced with the plastic 'frame'. Others were made with a 'brass' alloy. Weak link in this system is the hook on the back of the frame which hooks into your belt hole would break off easily on the plastic model. The hook on the 'brass alloy' frame was more substantial and I've not seen one broke. Over the years I have 'inherited' a few plastic framed GT belt buckles with the broken hooks. Never have gotten around to working up a fix to make these usuable again, one of those rainy day projects.
 
Hi Everybody,

. . . and thanks for all the responses. I just got back in town and was overwhelmed by the notification e-mails.

Walt & Rick -- As to the legal issues, I don't plan to carry it in Wa, where legal concealed carry is restricted to handguns only. My plan is to have some kind of backup weapon while in Florida in establishments that firearms are prohibited in. Florida's Concealed Weapons Permit specifically allows for knives, so to be carried concealed, so the whole tool vs weapon issue is moot.

I had one of the pivoting Gerbers about ten years back and although it was convenient to always have a knife at hand, it wasn't particularly stealthy.

Paranoid, please either post the jpegs here or send them my way. Also, how do they deploy? Do you have to unbuckle your belt? Do they cry out "KNIFE!"?
 
Here is a link to the Bowen belt buckle knife site. I have a fancy double-edged model trimmed with silver and turquise which is very concealable with a western belt and boots but, alas, also very illegal to carry in Texas
frown.gif
.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top