Best Combat Knife for Everyday Carry

**Mujawolf** · 04-28-2012, 02:31 PM

I apologize, if I posted this in the wrong Forum, I had no clue which one to choose for Tactical Folders. Anyway, I'm looking around for a Combat Knife to carry on me, not for tasks, just for one purpose. I'm looking for a knife under 4.0oz, Blade No bigger then 3.5in and my price limit is $250. Thanks for reading and any help would be appreciated.

Btw: I've looked at the Emerson Combat Karambit, real nice combat knife, considering this knife so far but if you guys have anything else to recommend, please do. Thanks.

**MacCairnie** · 04-28-2012, 02:43 PM

I don't think this is the forum you're looking for. General Knife Discussion might have what you're looking for, and I can almost guarantee you'll find some help in Practical Tactical. We don't tend to deal with anything 'tactical' here.

Best of luck!

**LKJW** · 04-28-2012, 02:46 PM

Yeah, wrong place, bud. We like little knives that are good for many purposes and none of them are protection.

**Mujawolf** · 04-28-2012, 02:47 PM

I'll make sure to move it over to the general knife discussion, thank you!

**LKJW** · 04-28-2012, 02:49 PM

No problem. I assume you're talking self defense. Knives are not real good self defense weapons unless you plan on throwing them. My .02. Hope you find what you're looking for.

**Mujawolf** · 04-28-2012, 02:52 PM

I know, Knives aren't really sufficient for self-defense. I just want one in my collection.

**mwhich50** · 04-28-2012, 03:23 PM

For me, a $250 knife stays in it's box at home. For pure protection, I carry a Cold Steel Safemaker. I have a concealed carry permit of course. A Kbar TDI, Spyderco matriarch are knives that I would consider if I didn't have the Safemaker. The large Cold Steel Voyager is moderately heavy, sturdy and has a terrific traction plan which is what I look for in a self defense knife.
I always have to laugh when people critcize carrying knives for self defense. Guns are better but also a more instantaneous and permanent solution. I like the combination of retreating and having the lethal suprise of a hidden push dagger, if there is nowhere to go.
LKJW you can carry your Case peanut, Delica, etc and I will carry my SAK and Safemaker.

**Peregrin** · 04-28-2012, 03:52 PM

i'm moving this to the Practical Tactical subforum.

**killgar** · 04-28-2012, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Mujawolf

I know, Knives aren't really sufficient for self-defense. I just want one in my collection.

That's a strong statement. It completely ignores thousands of years of human history and countless incidents where ordinary people have used knives successfully for self-defense (like myself). Is a knife a perfect weapon that will gurantee ones survival? Of course not, no such weapon exists. But have you ever spoken to a woman who was attacked by a man who outweighed her by 150 pounds and was in the process of raping her, until she pulled out a knife and stabbed him, causing him to let go of her and give her the chance to run away?

**Daniel L** · 05-02-2012, 08:46 AM

If you can stand 3.54 inches then the Emerson Horseman is great because of the finger guard and based on the venerable CQC-8. Do be prepared to do a little bit of G10 sanding though and break down / clean up.

**Jim malone** · 05-02-2012, 09:18 AM

My vote goes to the spyderco street beat. designed by Perrin, a guy who knows a thing or two about self defense knives.
Easely conceilable, great quality, quick to deploy.
I just noticed you are looking for a folder. The Spyderco Military or Para Military is hard to beat.

**slight** · 05-02-2012, 10:12 AM

arent they bringing back the bowie version?

**Jim D.** · 05-02-2012, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by LKJW

No problem. I assume you're talking self defense. Knives are not real good self defense weapons unless you plan on throwing them. My .02. Hope you find what you're looking for.

That's pretty false.

**CaneC808** · 05-02-2012, 08:51 PM

Karambit bro, there's sadly not a big variety unless you're cool w fixed blade, if so you can find plenty within your range. I've trained hand to hand for a long time and ppl I work with agree, in a self defense situation a karambit, ground fighting or hand to hand. Check out fox knives they manufactured Derespinas models.

**rustyrazor** · 05-04-2012, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jim D.

That's pretty false.

agreed... if knives weren't good self defense weapons, they wouldn't be the topic of so many discussions... jimmy hoffa said it best "rush a gun, run from a knife"

**adamallen** · 12-07-2012, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jim D.

That's pretty false.

lol throwing knives only work in movies. First off, you gotta be at the right distance. Second, knife throwing doesn't produce serious wounds like a stab.

**Boar** · 12-07-2012, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Mujawolf

I know, Knives aren't really sufficient for self-defense. I just want one in my collection.

LOL with an attitude like that nothing will serve you well. If you don't have confidence in yourself and the tool you're in trouble before you start...and confidence without training is false bravado.

Self defense is more about the size of the fight in the defender and less about blade length or caliber... In fact your question and the answer I quoted are why most people without agenda's will recommend you get some training.

Spend some time improving/educating yourself and you will understand expensive tacticool feel good "weapons" are less dangerous in the hands of an untrained person than a flea market special is in the hands of a trained person...and some training might just keep you from doing dumb things that get you killed or arrested.

Originally Posted by LKJW

No problem. I assume you're talking self defense. Knives are not real good self defense weapons unless you plan on throwing them. My .02. Hope you find what you're looking for.

You have that backwards, throwing your knife is far less effective than hanging on to it, watching TV and reading comics books/playing video games does not constitute a knowledge base sufficient to offer useful self defense advice...as they say in the military "stay in your lane" essentially this means if the subject is outside your experience you ought to keep your uninformed opinions to yourself instead of offering them as advice that is likely to get someone hurt...its good advice.

**mercop** · 12-09-2012, 03:26 PM

For those recommending the best combat knife, can you please share your knife fighting experience with me. I am always ready to learn.Throwing your knife huh, never thought of that, can you elaborate on that too. - George

**SeaxyBeast** · 12-09-2012, 06:11 PM

When I started training in FMA, (well...a few months in after it started to make sense and I stopped freezing all the time), I went out and got a decent quality tactical knife to carry just in case. Then, after I had done that for a few months and got tired of fighting my way around it in my jeans pocket or grabbing my Leatherman Micra instead for small cutting tasks, I stopped carrying a tactical knife and started carrying a smaller edc knife for convenience. Currently I am splitting the difference with an easy opening folder with a blade between 3.5 and 4" that can handle the small tasks without being cumbersome but gives me enough reach to lever out of a grab with it.

The tactics are in your responses, not in your knife.

**WillardCorspe** · 12-09-2012, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by mercop

For those recommending the best combat knife, can you please share your knife fighting experience with me. I am always ready to learn.Throwing your knife huh, never thought of that, can you elaborate on that too. - George

Best combat knife? I wasn't aware such a thing existed. Then again...

... Seriously though, it's all personal preference. For instance, I prefer thinner blades for SD.