Best Self defense knife?

A Glock 21 with... Oh right, the knife you have on you at the time...:p

Seriously the Leatherman Micra, that is one FEARSOM weapon in the right/wrong hands.:rolleyes:

Other options would be...

Ka Bar knife of any flavour, cold steel Tai Pan, Cold Steel safekeeper, Spyderco Civilian, Spyderco Matriarch, BM Balisong, CRK&T Crawford Kasper (personal experience with this one) etc etc etc.

If it is large and sharp it will do.

Get some armed and unarmed combat training or the best way to get killed will be the knife you bring to the fight. A knife is a tool and a weapon second.
 
I guess it would be whatever knife you have with you at the time. Since it's not much fun to lug around a heavy/bulky knife, make sure the one you select is of a comfortable weight and size.
It should also be strong enough to handle some twisting and lateral pressure.
And you might not want to spend too much on the knife either. After all, if you have to use it, it will probably become "evidence" and disappear into the black hole of our legal system. Or your attacker might run away with your knife still stuck in him...stranger things have happened.
For a fixed-blade: maybe a Gerber Fixed Gator.
For a folder: maybe a Spyderco Military.

Of course, if carrying a really large fixed-blade is'nt a problem, I would recommend an 18" machete or a Fiskars 14" hatchet!

Personally, I would'nt prefer a knife for self-defence. While it's better than nothing, it does have several very concerning drawbacks:
1) You have to get really close to your attacker.
2) You will probably get bloody (his blood or your own blood, or both), and the blood might just have some pathogen in it (like HIV or Hepatitis).

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Whats that old saying? "Its not what you have, its how you use it". Something like that. Anyway, if you had a stick (like a kali stick, bout 2-3 ft long) and I had a razor blade (yes a razor blade, thats what, 2 inches long?) and you didn't know how to use the stick except just what your grandady taught ya (when you have a stick, hit people) and I was experienced in knife/weapon fighting, I could guarantee (sp?) I'd beat you. It doesn't matter what kind of knife you have, its how you use it. I'd suggest before you pull a knife on someone for defense or what-not, to learn something about knife fighting, cause you never know what the other guy is carrying.
 
It MUST be my Swiss Tech Multi Tool :eek: because the airport in Providence RI wouldn't let me carry it onboard... :rolleyes:
 
Laci Szabo's Battle Sickle. One in each hand would be best I imagine.
sickle_beach_sm.jpg
 
For a folder, I like the Spyderco Police model the best.
For a fixed-blade, I like the SOG Seal 2000 or the larger Tigershark.
 
As far as folders go, that's what Spyderco made the Civilian for. Or if you want to attack and have a little training, the Cuda Maxx is a folding Bowie that really does the job.

Or if you have the $$, I'd go with a Weiland Wasp or custom Madd Maxx; either would do the job in style.

For a fixed blade, I prefer a well-made Bowie. Again, a Mid-Tech Raven from Simonich is an awesome piece or for bigger bucks and a bit of a wait, try a real Bagwell Bowie built to your body measurements.
 
My philosophy is to maximize your strengths, minimize your weaknesses. In other words, the more advantages you have in your size, strength, skills, strategy, element of surprise, mental preparation, environment, and your knife (or other weapon),... the better.

It's also a balance these. Example: There's no point in having the Excalibur sword if you don't have the physical strength nor skill to lift and wield it.

A good, fixed blade fighting knife with a 7 inch blade will give you several advantages IMO. It will reduce the time it takes to open up a folder, it will eliminate the likelihood of lock failure, it will give you more mass behind the knife compared to a 3.5 inch folder (mass X speed = power). And lastly, 7 inches is considered the minimum military spec to consider a knife lethal for stabbing (although many knife experts prefer slashing arteries over stabs).

Of course you can't carry a 7 inch fixed blade too comfortably.

For me, I need convenience too so I carry a folder since I'm more likely (and hopefully) to be cutting a bagel on a given day than a thug. Not to mention society hasn't made me fear for my life to the point that I have to carry an arsenal. So my favorite still the Benchmade 710:

- 4 inch blade for good reach (and easy to carry).
- Axis lock: strong as hell, quick to deploy.

My dream would be a bolt action lock folder (4 inches) with an Emerson Wave feature! ;)
 
Gunting if you have the training but other than that there are tons of excellent options out there.

AFCK, EKI Commander, Spyderco Military...

I have all of these and they would do the job just fine should the need arise.
 
I would say a Large Bowie Knife would be the best....proven design over the years, deadly in the right hands. :D

It would be tough to beat a Large Bowie 9" Blade or better like a Cold Steel Trail Master (Made for Fighting) or say a Large SOG.

On the other hand something like a Gerber MK II double edged 7" + blade wouldn't be bad either, but daggers aren't good slashing knives.

Cold Steels Magnum Tanto in San Mai III 7 1/2" Blade would be nice.

Or

In the shorter, easier to carry and conceal fixed blades, there are alot of nice knives with 5"~6" blade lenghts.

Folding knives, I think they have been covered already. My personal preference is fixed blade, but in a pinch A Spydie or Cold Steel folder with a 4"~5" blade will do.
 
There are a lot of good SD folders/fixed blades out there. Here are some of my favorites that I have carried.

Folders:

Spyderco Military
Spyderco Starmate
Spyderco Chinook
Spyderco Matriarch
Spyderco Endura

Fixed:

CRKT Companion
Spyderco Perrin

Any of these would be a great choice, depends on how much you want to spend.
 
What seems to be very in vogue lately is small fixed blade or neck knives. Seems everybody is imitating Fred Perrin's La Griffe. Emerson makes one. Spyderco has one called the S.P.O.T. CRKT Knives makes one called the Bear Claw, which is very economical. I even saw a variation done by TOPS Knives. Huh. Been surfing the web today at lunch time and saw one called the Pukulan which was really neat.

Anyways, I know this is going to start the folder versus fixed blade debate again so I will just shut my trap.

Just my 2 cents. :p
 
I would opt for the Spyderco Bram Frank "Gunting" ; while Ugly as homemade sin, I understand it's like optimimum for MBC ;) Also, on the "low end" is the Spyderco "Endura"
with either PE,SE, or combo edge.

I have a friend who(m) can get you Spydies below MSRP: ( Linda )

GlassHartt@aol.com


She can get you the "Gunting" for about $90 ;) E-mail her!

AET ;) (ATE on the Spyderco.com "home" forum ;))
 
Hmmm... I keep seeing many people reccommend serrated edges. How many living things have you tried to kill with such knives? I hunt small game with a blade whenever possible, and I've flat given up on serrated edges. On slashes, they catch more like a saw, and won't penetrate the hide. Every serrated knife I've tried absolutely REFUSED to penetrate in a stab. The scallops just catch the fibrous skin and won't go in. On the other hand, a double ground clip point blade with a very narrow point will practically slide in under its own weight. A 'scary sharp' straight edge will also slash far easier, leave a bigger wound, and allow you to retreat quicker than the serrated edge. (I've learned this is important when dealing with angry, dangerous organisms.) I'm not so sure why this is; it's just what I've found. You'd certainly *think* that serrated knives would perform better than they do.

Here's another gem that somehow escapes too many people. Stabbing is all about the point! Sorry guys, but drop points suck! So do straight backs and every tanto I've tried. (unless they have a well ground false edge on the spine) Clip points with a large, rounded, upturned point are no better. The blade must be shaped so that the point is very slender, and is centered in line with the force applied by your thrust. I.E., when you thrust, the *point* must be presented to the target; not the *edge* or a blunt spine. Since daggers aren't too popular these days, I'll just skip straight to recommending a clip point with a narrow tip, centered with the handle, and it MUST have at least a false edge ground on the clip, if not a fully sharpened clip.


Sorry if I sound to negative with all this... These are just MY requirements. I've stuck a blade into a living thing literally thousands of times now- that's how I arrived at my opinions.
 
Originally posted by the possum


Here's another gem that somehow escapes too many people. Stabbing is all about the point! Sorry guys, but drop points suck! So do straight backs and every tanto I've tried. (unless they have a well ground false edge on the spine) Clip points with a large, rounded, upturned point are no better. The blade must be shaped so that the point is very slender, and is centered in line with the force applied by your thrust. I.E., when you thrust, the *point* must be presented to the target; not the *edge* or a blunt spine. Since daggers aren't too popular these days, I'll just skip straight to recommending a clip point with a narrow tip, centered with the handle, and it MUST have at least a false edge ground on the clip, if not a fully sharpened clip.


Click to expand...

the possum,

OMG somebody else that agrees with my thoughts on fighting knives..:D

You are 100% correct.

I'll just skip straight to recommending a clip point with a narrow tip, centered with the handle, and it MUST have at least a false edge ground on the clip, if not a fully sharpened clip.
Click to expand...

Or you could have said Bowie...:D
 
Originally posted by Allen E. Treat
I would opt for the Spyderco Bram Frank "Gunting" ; while Ugly as homemade sin, I understand it's like optimimum for MBC ;)...
Click to expand...

I would say the effectiveness of the Gunting depends on your objectives because, as BOK, said it requires specialized training.

I haven't trained with the Gunting but my interpretation is based on an e-mail conversation I had with Bram Frank where I asked how come the blade is so relatively small. His reasoning was:

1. For slashing, the blade need not be large.
2. To conform to the most strict laws concerning blade size.

But the biggest reason was that the Gunting is designed first as a non-lethal, martial arts weapon. In the closed position it works similarly to a kubotan keychain for leverage, and increased impact.

This is a good idea since there are laws regarding lethal or excessive force.

The blade is essentially a secondary backup or tool within the Gunting.

I think that's why the Gunting is designed as a tip-down carry knife. If it were tip up, the kinetic opener would catch on your pant pocket and deploy the blade automatically like an Emerson Wave. Therefore, that would defeat the kubotan capabilities and make it somewhat redundant.

To conclude, if your objective in self defense is to inflict maximum lethal damage, then I don't think the Gunting is your cup o' tea.

If your objective is to inflict non-lethal force (e.g. your a policeman or security guard trying to control an unruly person) then the Gunting might be the ideal self defense knife.
 
If you want something that will be really good for stabbing, a Spyderco Centofante PE might be a good choice.
 
Originally posted by ElectricZombie
If you want something that will be really good for stabbing, a Spyderco Centofante PE might be a good choice.
Click to expand...


Nothing beats a dagger for stabbing, double edge, 7" + blade.

Perfect design for a stabbing knife with the needed lenght to reach the vitals.

A Cold Steel Tai Pan and a Gerber MK II come to mind when daggers are in order.
 
Originally posted by Ankerson
Nothing beats a dagger for stabbing, double edge, 7" + blade.

Perfect design for a stabbing knife with the needed lenght to reach the vitals.

A Cold Steel Tai Pan and a Gerber MK II come to mind when daggers are in order.
Click to expand...

I seem to always agree with Ankerson, but he's right. A double edged dagger -- like a Sykes/Fairbairn -- is a good stabber.

Along this philosophy, I suppose a spearpoint would be the best conventional folder blade style unless you can find a folding double edged dagger blade (like a folding SOG Pentagon).

What you think Ankerson? ;)
 
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