Carrying a knife for self defense?

J

Jeremy Reynolds

Joined
Jan 7, 2000
Messages
817
This isn't a thread about if you carry a knife for self defense or necessarily what you carry.

What I would like to know, is how do you choose a knife for self defense carry?

What specific features do you look for?

More importantly to me, is do you carry a knife that is a designated self defense only knife and not a normal edc/self defense combo? Why have you chosen this particular method for you?

Looking forward to hearing the responses.

JR
 
I would think that some key criteria are to look for a "carry system" that is quickest to deploy given your shape, size, skills, and lifestyle (e.g. do you wear heavy or multiple layers of clothing?), look for a blade that best matches your fighting style, and carry as big as you possibly can (within the limits of the law and your size) :)

RL
 
These are my five criteria I´ve noticed I would use if I was looking for a knife to fill the category of "Self defense carry":

1. Does it feel secure and good in any grip?
If I´m going to use it I want to be sure that I can get a secure grip even if it´s cold or wet. I don´t want to slip and cut off my fingers or even worse, drop it.

"Feel" is harder to explain. One part is what balance the knife has. Point heavy? Handle heavy? In between? Another part is how it flows when you swing it around. Example: The cuda (if I remember correctly) has balance point to handle but it still feels like a crowbar compared to the thinner Perrin (Spyderco). Weird. Some might think the Perrin has a grip that is too thin. It depends on how you are going to use it and the size of your hands. (This is why I think recommendations on different knives are fun to read but probably not much help you have to "feel it".)

2. Is the blade long enough?
Winter/Summer carry? Winterclothes are thick and might be made of leather or cordura like the Carhartt jackets. Will it penetrate through the clothes, through the skin, through a muscle or a vital organ? Important questions that needs to be addressed. A folder for summer and a larger fixed blade for winter might be a solution if you have a need to carry covertly.

3. Does it hold an edge?
Yes, you can kill someone with a 5 inch nail, a $4.99 screwdriver or a chinese $9.95 knife. What happens if you happen to miss and cut something else in the environment like a bag, a wall, a car or such? I personally think it feels better knowing that my knife could whitstand some punishment. What happens if there are more than one person attacking you? In wintertime? With winter jackets made of Cordura? One chance in a million? How many times do you need to be attacked - once. The million other times becomes irrelevant.

4. In what situation am I going to carry this knife?
T-shirt and shorts in summer? Business suit? T-shirt and jeans? Winter clothes? Size would be very important if I made a decision to buy a selfdefense knife. I wouldn´t want a bulge to reveal that I´m carrying. I also would like to be able to draw it fast if someone blindsides me. Does it have a good carry system?

5. Does it look good?
This last point might seem stupid for some. For me it is as important as any of the criteria mentioned above. This criteria has that psychological factor that should lead to a feeling of ability to defend yourself. If I have to decide between two knives that fills the first four criteria mentioned above I´m going to choose the one I like the most. Even if it costs more. If it doesn´t look good I´m not going to carry it as often and I might lessen/loose the feeling of being able to defend myself.

Re: Features
The special features I´m looking for in a functional knife are those based on the first four criteria. As I mentioned the fifth criteria is a different breed compared to the first four which might complicate things a bit. Right now I would love to have a Ryan, JSP inspired knife with a touch of Strider. A handle with nice cordwrap and menuki and a blade with grinds that would make Onion, Hossom or Snody cry. If I was looking for a self defense blade... ;) If I had the money.

But then that´s me. Someone else would probably settle for a Temperance by Spyderco (got one on order BTW).

/Colinz
 
Dark stab-oriented blade. If folder, silent opening, no CLICKs. In fixed blades, there are not many unsheating sounds that mean "¡weapon!". The idea is to be able to get your knife from somewere you could have your wallet, and stab with no warnings, so no autos unless you have a silent auto, or you know how to open it while stabbing instead of before.
 
Jeremy. I generally carry my knives for utility but am always interested in something has what it takes incase push comes to shove.
I look for these things when purchasing folders;

DARK COLOR with dark blade coating: This is important because a knife with a black blade is much less likely to attract attention than a blindingly shiny uncoated blade.
FALSE EDGE so I can make into dagger if I want to.
SMOOTH ACTION prefereably with adjustable tension.
AMBIDEXTROUS ACTION for left or right handed opening.
ERGONOMIC with comfortable handle and good overall balance.
ADJUSTABLE CLIP for concealed carry with options.
QUALITY STEEL with plenty or carbon and not too much chromium (but enough so rust is not a problem). This makes sharpening easier and edge retention better (440C, ATS34, 154CM, D2, M2, VG-10, AUS-10)
PLAIN EDGE BLADE just because I hate combo edges and I wouldn't be buying a serrated blade for SD.
LANYARD HOLE because I find that when a very small lanyard is attached it can make quick draw easier in certain situations.

All this being said carry of any type of knife is illegal here. But I figure if I'm going to get caught in public with a knife then I'd rather have a legal knife than an illegal knife.....otherwise I would also consider auto or bali.
 
A lot of the critera posted already is good, but do you guys really get that carried away?

When I chose a carry knife, the first criteria it must fall into is blade length must be of legal lenth for carry. The secod thing I ask would be is the blade shape/grind and handle going to allow for practical daily use of this knife?

Solid lock up and a good sharp edge is also important. Other then that, I don't have any specific check list for what I want to carry.

My reason for the practicality of the blade is pretty simple. I totally disagree with the idea of carrying a "virgin" blade for self defense. I simply do not understand the theory of carrying and keeping a knife totally unused for self defense only. Why is this bad?

One key reason this is bad, is something Andrew alluded to earlier. When you draw, open, and use a knife daily, it becomes subconscious to do so. You know where the blade is without having to think about it. The response to draw and open becomes automatic. If I draw, open, and put to use my knife 10-15 times daily, I develop that speed and automatic response that is so necessary for self defense.

Another key reason has to do with self defense legalities. Carrying a virgin blade for no other purpose then self defense will get you nailed to the wall in a trial. The knife you are carrying is no longer a tool, but only a weapon to be used against other people. My carry knife gets used daily and has the scars to prove it. If I were to need to justify my carrying and using of the knife for self defense, I can honestly say my knife was a tool carried for daily cutting chores. I was able to use it to defend myself as it was the only or best tool I had on hand at the time.

The whole coating thing makes me laugh a little bit, no offense to those who choose to go that route. I'm not running a stealth commando mission. I'm a normal every day joe who carries a knife as a tool and who may in a very unlikely chance be forced to use it to defend himself. IMHO, coatings are for protection of the blade. In a self defense situation, a coating is not going to make a difference considering the ammount of time you have to get the blade into play. Considering most attacks happen at night in the dark, there's even less of a chance of it making a difference.

Anyways, that was just my rant. I do carry a knife daily for utility and am trained and willing to use it for self defense should the situation warrent it. I also carry an HK USP9c and/or S&W 340PD on me at night and weekends. I just have a big problem with carrying a blade with the sole purpose of cutting another person.

JR
 
IMO, if you train to fight with a blade, you will develop your own criteria, based on ability.

That said I think the criteria should be:

Legal length, single edge, fixed blade, finger guard, flat/lightweight design.

If you don't carry it, you won't use it.

If it is hard to get to when you need it, it won't be available.

I got assaulted by 2 teenage thugs with a knife in an elevator. My benchmade was clipped to my front pocket tip-down. Unfortunately, I was wearing a 3/4 length ski jacket and had gloves on, so drawing the knife was not an option to me anymore. Nowadays, I don't depend on a knife for defense.

But if I carried one, it would be based on the above criteria. In my front pocket that I can get to (if wearing winter coat), and to take my gloves off indoors.
 
You guys are missing some info here.
Jeremy is 6'4" and 300 lbs., former college football player. That alone will stop some from attacking him.
He also lives in Oklahoma where knife and gun laws are more lenient than places where many of us live.


Oh yeah, being ugly probably helps too
:p
 
There are two different folders that I carry for "self defense": A stainless SE Spyderco Police model, and a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande. Both are fairly large knives (the VG is over 13 inches when fully open!), both have fully-serrated blades, and both feel great in my hand.

If I could, I'd carry my Ontario/Bagwell Hell's Belle.:).
 
HI JEREMY, HERE'S MY OPINION ON THIS 'EXCITING' SUBJECT:

"What I would like to know, is how do you choose a knife for self defense carry? What specific features do you look for?
>- IS IT A DEPENDABLE STRONG AND SHARP QUALITY KNIFE?
- IS IT SUITABLE FOR FIGHTING?
- IS IT CONCEILABLE EASILY, OR DO I JUST DON'T CARE IN SOME PARTICULAR SITUATIONS?.....
- DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE HAND IN YOUR HAND, CAN YOU HANDLE IT WELL AND DOES THE GRIP FEEL OK?
- HAS IT GOT A GUARD OR AT LEAST SOME THUMB-RESTS, IF NOT.....BAD KNIFE FOR FIGHTING
- CAN YOU OPEN OR DRAW IT EASILY AND FAST?
- IS IT A PROBLEM WHEN I GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY DISCOVERED MY KNIFE HANGING ON MY BELT? (FOR INSTANCE: I DON'T WALK THE STREETS WITH MY COLLECTABLE AL MAR SF-SOG. CARRY A KA-BAR OR CAMILLUS OR ONTARIO INSTEAD, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
- DOES IT LOOK THREATENING TO ATTACKERS? IF SO...GOOD KNIFE
- MOST IMPORTANTLY: CONSIDER YOUR -OWN- (KNIFE-)FIGHTING SKILLS IN CHOOSING A SELF-DEFENSE KNIFE. WHAT I MEAN IS: A FORMER NAVY-SEAL S POTENTIALLY LETHAL IF HE CARRIES A LOCKBACK-FOLDER WITH A 2" BLADE, BUT IF YOU'RE A FIGHTING NOVICE AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE UP FOR IT IN SIZE (LIKE ME), I ADVICE TO CARRY AT LEAST A 6" FIXED-BLADE OR A STRONG 4" ONE-HANDER LINERLOCK-FOLDER
- IF POSSIBLE, USE A LANYARD-ROPE, THIS PREVENTS DROPPING THE KNIFE IF YOUR ATTACKER HAPPENS TO BE FAST AND EXPERIENCED AND KNOCKS OR TWISTS THE KNIFE OUT OF YOUR HAND


More importantly to me, is do you carry a knife that is a designated self defense only knife and not a normal edc/self defense combo? Why have you chosen this particular method for you?

- TO ME IT DOESN'T REALLY MATHER. A BUCK 119, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR HUNTING, FOR EXAMPLE IS JUST AS GOOD A FIGHTING KNFIE TO ME THAN IS, FOR INSTANCE, A KA-BAR BLACK TANTO OR A COLSTEEL TAIPAN. IN SHORT, IT DOESN'T REALLY NEED TO BE A SPECIFIC FIGHTING-KNIFE, AS LONG AS IT CAN DO THE JOB

HOPE THIS HELPS ANY

D75:rolleyes:
 
Hey JR, I am probably the last person qualified to answer this question, but what the hell Im gonna anyways :p

I carry my knives to use for utility puposes. In fact I just got a box of knives in the mail I traded for, and used one of my EDCs to open them.

For self defense, I am not concerned if a folder is "made for fighting". So long as the grip is secure and your blade is kept sharp I suspect one folder of reasonable size will do as well as another. I do think a lock is important obviously.

I am sitting here with a Swiss-Army one hander liner lock. It is one of my utility knives. If I ever (God forbid) had to use it to gte myself or my family out of a violent situation then I honestly dont think that the bad guy will care if its a SAK one hander or a Spyderco Police Model...they are both sharp and IMO will do the job as long as I do mine.

Im with you on the black blade thing. If thats what somebody likes then fine, but in a surprise attack all I want to do is be able to get to my knife and use it to help me out of a bad situation. I dont care if it shines or not.

It should also be easy to carry and not weigh you down. You know how these Okie summers are...terribly hot and some of the worst humidity around.

Lifter is right. I know JR, and I suspect that any bad guy would prefer to find an easier and less intimidating target. Although no matter the size, on rare occasions even the big tough guys can become targets of bad folks and should also be prepared.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top