Prettiest Self-defense knife

T

Trent

Joined
May 4, 2000
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79
What do you guys think its the pretiest or slickest knife that could be used for self defense? I really like the Spyderco Lum Chinese folder but it looks so pretty like it wouldn't even hold up in a self defense or even hard use capacity. I mean you definetly would not want to take it into the field. I just want a knife that looks pretty and not intimidating but would still come throuh in a self-defense situation.

Trent
 
On the surface, your request seems to be illogical...almost contradictory.

If you are intending the knife for a lady, that's a whole 'nuther issue that's been debated a lot...and I mean a lot.


However, if what you want is a non-intimidating knife, then you don't want it for self-defense reasons. Perhaps what you really mean is a knife that won't scare away your friends, but could be used quickly in self-defense?

Do you plan on using it for every-day tasks? (or just to carry through rough neighborhoods?)


The reason I ask is that neck-knives are great self-defense knives and stay mostly out of sight. However, they are not very friendly-looking to non-knife people.

On the other hand, a small folding kerambit is somewhat friendly, but not as quick for self defense. Make sense?

Tell us your priorities...(A, B, C...) and we'll do our best to make some suggestions.

Dan
 
I'm not going to deal with threatening vs non-threatening; I'm just going to deal with what I consider "pretty". I would also suggest that we focus on production knives, since there the field becomes too large if we include customs.

My first vote goes to the Camillus Aftermath. The raised and polished flame pattern is elegant as well as bold. Even the little details, like the shape of the grip and guards are pretty. And I doubt anyone would argue that it isn't an effective defensive knife. :D

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My second vote will be more controversial, but I have to nominate the multi-colored Kershaw Boa. The color scheme is about as non-traditional as you can get, but it does look nice. The shape of the grip and blade are elegant and flowing. From a defense perspective the Boa offers a secure grip, a lower guard, and a blade that can stab or slash effectively, plus the speed-safe mechanism for fast deployment.

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My third choice goes to a fixed blade. The Camillus OVB Fisk Southwest Bowie has clean lines and a beautiful grip. It looks very nice. It is also one of the most efficient fighting blades ever built.

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--Bob Q
 
Kershaw Rainbow Leek...really like it allot. Looks good, assisted opening, feels great in the hand.

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CRKT Crawford/Kasper Professional Model:

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In my opinion, it's pretty and intimidating.
 
Pretty ? You should read the description of the Fallkniven WM 1.
 
Any one of the Benchmade 940's with colored handle. The red handled one looks pretty sticking out of one's sternum.;)
 
One of the things I love about "art knives", or damascus and pearl etc, is that they dress up a knife to the point where it is disarmingly attractive or pretty, like a fancy pocket watch. This is legitimate man's jewellery; a bit of ostentation that is, or should be. perfectly acceptable, if a little uncommon nowadays. But such a knife can be a superb functioning knife, and most appropriately a superb "tactical knife". So in my book, the "prettiest" self defence knives are quite high end customs made by the very best knifemakers, and there are many. Some of the usual tactical culprits also make amazing dress tacticals, like Elishewitz, Tighe, Lightfoot etc, and some of the art knife specialists make knives that work beautifully as tacticals for non "combat" use :rolleyes: , like Fronefeld, Schwarzer, etc. IMO, a knife isn't great if it isn't exceptional to use, potentially anyway. Great beauty doesn't preclude functionality. You may never want to mar it by carrying it or heaven forbid actually using the edge, but that's another issue. Some makers make dress tacticals that are affordable enough to actually use. The best factory blades are often production versions of the customs. like Crawford/Kaspers, Lightfoots, Pardues etc. I particularly like the old Benchmade Pardues, but I don't know if they still make them.
 
While not pretty in the "girlie" sense of the word, my customized and highly zone polished Camillus CUDA CQB-1 looks very cute.:D.
 
Fred Perrin customs. A nice custom La Griffe with horn or dyed bone handles, coloured spacers, mosaic pins and a polished blade, you gotta admit, thats pretty sweet. :D
 
I completely fail to see why the Spyderco Lum Chinese would not work as a SD knife. Do you have any idea what the cutting capabilities are of that blade? Just

I have several of Bob Lum's Custom Chinese Folder and I would not hesitate to use any of them in a SD situation. curious.
 
My wife would second the opinion on the Kersha Boa with the colored handle and the polished blade; it's her favorite.

Now, my choice would be for a knife I have little use for. I ordered one of the last old model Benchmade Butterfly knives (Pacific?) for a friend of mine, and it came to my address. I opened the package to check for Q/C.

What a knife! Old world polish, great fit, solid knife. I can flip one, albeit slow, but it opened like butter. When he got the knife, he flipped it open in a blur. Beautiful knife.
 
I'll second the Kershaw/Ken Onion Rainbow Leek!
It has several attributes that make it a decent EDC and self defence knife:

1) The blade pierces extremely well and is good for slicing too.
2) The frame-lock is very strong and secure.
3) The knife is small and light enough to wear with very light clothing--even underwear only.
4) The Speed-safe assisted opening combined with the flipper make it very fast and safe to open.
5) If it every "went to court", the Rainbow Leek does'nt look like a "man-killing-ninja-death-stalker-psycho-knife".
6) It is not too expensive, so you will not loose a lot of money if it gets taken or is lost.

The only real disadvantages that I can see are:
1) It's just a bit small.
2) It could be slippery when bloody.
3) Some folks will think it's a switch-blade.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I'll chime in with another vote for the Kershaw/Ken Onion rainbow Leek.

Very pretty knife. (Almost girlishly pretty.) Large enough to be useful in a fairly wide range of situations, including self-defense. (The rainbow Chive is equally pretty, but too small for many purposes. But ultra-compact knives have their place, too.)

Reasonably priced. Nifty "Speed-Safe" assisted-opening system, which manages to stay on the safe side of the law in the vast majority of places. Decent, if unremarkable, materials and craftsmanship, from an okay company.

I admit, I may be slightly biased. My rainbow Chive (the Leek's smaller brother) arrived in yesterday's mail, and I expect to pick up a rainbow Leek pretty soon.

Really, though, a "knife that could be used for self-defense" is almost as broad a category as "paper that could be used for writing." I mean, some knives are more suitable than others, but nearly any knife would do fairly well in a pinch. (Well, maybe not the steak knife I was given at a local restaurant, the other night. But I tend to categorize that more as a butter spreader, than as an actual cutting instrument.)
 
If what the questioner means is a knife for fighting that doesn't look like a weapon then an old Kershaw slim line (if you can find one) folder is the answer. I bought one back in the days (late 70s - early 80s) when I lived in cities and no one (or hardly anyone) had heard of Kershaw. A pretty little gentleman's knife. Blade was made of something stainless they were calling Kai steel. Tortise shell handle panels. 3.5 inch rounded spear tip blade that locked open like a buck folder. On more than one occasion when going through a metal detector I just tossed it in the tray with the keys and picked it up on the other end. Four or five times Deputies or guards pulled it out, looked at it, then dismissed it as a weapon and gave it back with the keys as I entered. Knives for fighting have big blades I think they thought. What they didn't realize is 2 or 3 inches of good steel is really all you need if you know anatomy. I kept that thing sharp enough to shave my arm bald. I worked the lock till it could be opened like a Buck. Hold the thumb notch between the thumb and the first finger and snap the wrist and it was open. It was actually used to resist muggings on more than one occasion and worked well. Ir also opened boxes and cut tape very well. It was such an inoffensive looking pretty little thing that to my regret a woman I lived with back then started carrying it in her purse and took it with her when she left. I am sure it's still out there somewhere.
 
Thanks for the thoughtful replies. Allow me to clarify. What I meant was what is your opinion for the best choice for a knife that is meant to be used primarily for self defense, but would not raise any eyebrows around the office, or if worse came to worst, in court. The Rainbow Leek seems to have some fans. My concerns with that and the Lum Chinese folder are lock strength, and gripiness. Here is the thing. I live in a college town. I work at a University. The best policy is to always conceal, but I would ideally like a knife that I could whip out and open an envelope or a box with that wouldn't cause people to gasp. Ideally, they would say, "oooh that is a pretty knife." But if luck fell upon me wrongly, the knife would still be a good self-defense performer. I'm curious what the ideal compromise knife for this is...gentlemen's jewlery that works. And ideally for me at least, it would be a production folder ;)

How grippy are the Leek and the Lum? How strong are their locks?
 
Kershaw slim line, no question. Totise shell or ivory panels with gold or stainless trim.
 
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