Self Defense Only Knives

PartialSerrations

PartialSerrations

Joined
Nov 22, 2001
Messages
1,106
Are knives such as the Spyderco Civilian worth carrying? Some people think self defense knives are the best thing since sliced bread and others despise a knife they can't cut with. Is a self defense only knife any better than a sharp production folder? Share your opinions with me. Thanks for reading my forum!!



IF WAR IS HELL, TAKE A BETTER PITCHFORK THAN THE DEVIL
 
Mr. Gray,

If you had the answer to this question, then mass knife producers could make one style and debating forums like BFC would be out of business. Other than threads like "How to sharpen" or "Folder or fixed" I cannot think of more of a hot-button question.

As I've said, I have one fighting knife; I carry a 3-inch neck knife for biking. It's an unusual situation, hence the unusual knife. I do not wear it unless I'm biking.

I guess anything with an edge could be used for defense, although the purists here will rattle off a list of 'proper knives' with reasons like 'good for back cuts' or 'SEAL approved.'

The truth is that you don't live my life, and I don't live yours. You have to feel comfortable with your purchase; your safety, and perhaps those in your sphere of influence might depend on that choice.

I'll give you ONE element of 'cheap advice.' I'd steer clear of the hype surrounding the Civilian. It was never very popular and almost went out of production once. If it was that great Benchmade would be running a second shift to keep up.

And find a good dojo, ask Phil for advice. Learn to be responsible. Be reasonable and still stay with good safety advice, don't go looking for trouble. Enjoy this great hobby.
 
Hello Robert,

I hope that I will never have to use any of my knives for self-defense!

When I'm buying a Knife I always give a thought on self defense , too.
My Knives are Tools and I need them for cuting and working, but i would not mind, if the same knife I work with also is usefull for self defense if I realy had to save my or other peoples lifes.
It needs to have the right "mixture" of workknife and selfdefense-knife.

But as I said already I hope I will never have to use on for self defense.

I've seen the Spydercho Gunting for serveral times and I like it. But I would not buy ist because its designed for selfdefense. I had no chance to test the Gunting, so I can't say anything about how useful it is as a workknife , but if it would be usefull for daily work in the garden or at home I would buy it.

My opinion is: If you need to defense yourself take a for self defense designed knife. If you give only a little thougt on seldefense (like me) buy the right "mixture" of work- and selfdefense knive.

Last sentence , My Shoes are my real life savers, If its possible I runaway !

Greetings
Olli

(I hope there aren't to many "errors" in my post)
 
Personally, I love my AFCK. It is designed as a defensive knife, but can also serve very nicely as a utiltiy knife.
 
As a rule, I carry a Glock pistol for "self-defense", (either my 10mm model 20 or a .40 model 23 or 27). I do, however, also carry a Spyderco (fully-serrated) Police model, a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande, or a Cold Steel (plain-edge) X2 Voyager as a "defense" folder, and those folders don't see any use as "utility" folders...(My Police model is part of my "EDC".).

As far as the Spyderco Civilian goes; To me, it IS too specialized, as it really can't be used as a "utility" folder (according to Spyderco themselves), where the 3 folders that I mentioned COULD be used for "utility" in a pinch.
 
It's a good idea to select a knife that has all the defensive properties you want it to, but have it appear as an ordinary fixed blade or folding knife. In the event of a jury judging you, you don't want the lawyer waving the knife around and have it show a "killer or combative" type of name or reputation.

If it does, you will be hard-pressed to prove that it's your work knife and happened to have it on you when your life was put in danger by some thug.
 
I always carry at least 2 knives:
one for utility
+ one for rescue!

The rescue knife is at this time a Spy Matriarch
- may safe your life or mine.

Enough said.
 
I usually choose my knives with SD as their main purpose in mind - that's why I personally would carry a Spyderco Civilian if I had one.

On the other hand, I usually carry an SAK or a smallish folder for utility tasks. I want my SD knives to be sharp at all times.
 
There is no reason to carry only one knife. They are not that heavy especially when made with modern materials.
 
There was a time when I would have said don't carry a knife unless it can be used for self defense and utility. Now, however I only carry a large stockman or SAK as an EDC although I have no objection to carrying a Police or AFCK if I feel I will be treading in shakey ground so to speak. It's just that I have been living a pretty tame existence lately and don't need a defence knife. Just remember that concerning knife defence; win or lose you are in deep, deep doo-doo. Keep a little folder in your pocket and a big fixed blade in your car.
 
It's a good idea to select a knife that has all the defensive properties you want it to, but have it appear as an ordinary fixed blade or folding knife.
Click to expand...

This is a sad but true statement. It is best to avoid knives with names that advertise their defensive purpose. You can count on some scumbag liberal lawyer or prosecutor using that against you in a trial.
 
Originally posted by W.T. Beck
This is a sad but true statement. It is best to avoid knives with names that advertise their defensive purpose. You can count on some scumbag liberal lawyer or prosecutor using that against you in a trial.
Click to expand...

Just once, I'd like to see a defense lawyer for a victim who used a knife against criminal attack stand before the jury and say:

"YES, he used an 'Advanced Folding Combat Knife'! He ended up having to use it for 'combat' -- self defense! He is alive today for the very reason that he had a knife that was suited for self defense. Would it be preferable that he had armed himself with an inadequate knife, say...a paring knife, that could not be used successfully in self-defense, and he got killed for lack of proper preparedness??!"

In a world that made the slightest bit of sense, no one would challenge you for having dispatched a bad guy with a mean-looking knife, or with Black Talon hollow-point ammunition, because they would see the logic in having the tools to get the dire job done adequately.

---Jeffrey
 
I carry my AFCK when I go running. Why? I recently saw some stray pit bulls roaming round my neighborhood. I dunno bout you, but if one of them suckers grabs a hold of me, imma stick em.
 
I like to carry a knife that can cover all the bases - that is why I carry either my large sebenza or calypso jr. lightweight. Their not specific purpose knifes such as the bram gunting - but they do everything well and could be used for defense if needed.
 
I own a couple of "pure & obvious" defensive blades, both folder (Spyderco Civilian, Gerber Folding A-F, Al Mar Jumbo Quicksilver) and fixed (Gerber MkII, Cold Steel Urban Skinner). I never carry any of these. I normally carry either an Emerson PSARK or a Spyderco Chinook. Both are suitable for heavy-duty cutting/rescue tasks. They are not normally used for "normal" day-to-day office chores (opening envelopes & packages, cutting string, etc.), as I carry either a small 3-blde stockman or a Case Russlock (less intimidating to co-workers).

Should I ever be forced to employ the Emerson or Spyderco in my own defense, it at least doesn't scream "dirk/ripping claw/push dagger." It may not make a difference in court; that's highly situational. However, it's one more base covered, and these folders are, for all practical purposes, as effective defensively as a purpose-built defensive knife. It's the determination and skill level of the user that will make the difference; not the exact blade length or configuration.
 
If I ever make a defensive knife, these will be the features I wish to have on it...

A 7" blade, bowie-based design with sharpened clip, fully serrated on the back, dual sharpened cross guard, sub hilt, skull crusher, blacktical coated, with pink g10 scales.

I will call it "The Fluffy Bunny". It will be marketed as a "butter knife". My company will be called the "Super Happy Fun Knife Company".

Regards,

Shaun.

(I live in Canada, so only a fool would carry an MOD here with any chance of using it for SD.)
 
Folding knives as SD knives are not the best idea. In a confrontation with high levels of adrenaline, the chance of deploying the knife without dropping it is pretty low.

Pure SD knives should be fixed blades that have a quick draw sheath.
 
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