I'm afraid of folding knives!

[Skimo]

Get the BM Adamas.

[Luca_Brasi77]

I would recommend the DPX H.E.S.T. Folder. Titanium framelock that could be blocked, which makes it nearly as safe as a fixed blade. Plus the bottle opener in the blade works like an Emerson wave opener, so with little practise it´s faster than most autos.

[frontline29]

You can't go wrong with the axis lock. It's one of the strongest locks IMO.

fully-automatic assault pocket knife

[Nixelplix]

Self defense knife? On second thought, stick to fixed blades.

[marcinek]

I guess I should have said this knife is intended for EDC for self-defense only. That (in my opinion) dictates a somewhat larger blade. I have a CCW and sometimes get tired of carrying a gun and would opt for a knife if I could find the right one. Plus a knife comes in handy a lot more. I don't often shoot my steak into bite-sized pieces or blast packages open.

Lemme see if I got this straight....the knife you are looking for will be used "...for self-defense only." except for when its being used for things other than self-defense, correct?

[marcinek]

I don't know anything about self-defense with a blade.

Then learn something!

And also, if you are freaked out under normal circumstances by folding knives, that ain't gonna help you "deploy" a folder under a stressed SD scenario.

There's no point why you should even be considering a folder. Get a smallish fixed blade. There are a ton of them.

[Superdave1]

Do't mean to add to the fear but I have had a few of these, like the design but every time I've put it to moderate use the lock has failed on me (it's not built with the best materials and it's a shame) It doesn't come down on your fingers through because of that dang second lock on it, but it does become useless even if you bend the liner lock back into place. I bought 3 of them after good first impressions then two failed and I'm left with one I won't use sitting in a draw. I keep hoping the design will go somewhere else or else CRKT will use better materials on it one day. Pity.

For a first folder that won't fail, break the bank or go out of style (IMO) look at the Kershaw Leek (if you can have assisted opening), or the Spyderco delica, of course theres a lot more to chose from of course.

As for self defense I personally rely on the running away method, so can't help you there.

What are you doing to cause lock failure "every time"? Are you getting the blade bound up in something or stabbing in to material?

[SavageSmurf]

Try a ZT 0561. Aside from the fact that its built like a tank, the finger guard prevents it from closing on your hand.

[chiral.grolim]

Alright, I'll throw in $0.02

Cold Steel Triad-Lock knives feature an ambidextrous over-built back-lock with a strong spring that requires deliberate force to deploy the blade and it SNAPS into place for a lock-up you can be confident about. Disengaging the lock again requires deliberate application of force as the back-lever must be depressed quite some distance to lift the lock-bar clear of the tang. The triad-lock knives I've handled can be easily opened and closed one-handed (either hand). Cold Steel offers a variety of knives and different blade-styles as well as sizes to accommodate your needs/desires. I can recommend the Recon 1, available in 2" or 3" or 4" blades clip-, drop-, or tanto-point, Aus-8 steel with G10 liners, light-weight with handle-grooves to lock in your grip. If you don't like the handle or style, there are LOTS of others, including the AK-47 and American Lawman. Good luck with your irrational fears, beats drawing your weapon on someone out of an irrational fear.

[Bigfatts]

I'll second the HEST 2.0 or some other sort of wave opening knife. In a sd situation you will have little to no time to get a knife into the fight. So something that shaves time off your "deployment" is invaluable.

That being said, think long and hard before you commit to using a knife as a sd weapon. The legal ramifications can be pretty bad. My suggestion is instead of a blade get a quality OC spray. Instantly debilitating and you don't have to let someone get touching distance to use it. Back it up with a basic sd training and you have a winning combo. You could also consider a Kobutan. WHATEVER you decide on, TRAIN.

[marcinek]

Shrade Sharpfinger.

[djjonny]

My fighting style is to run as fast as I can! I don't know anything about self-defense with a blade.

Running is the best way.
But with the utmost respect, if you don't know anything about self defense with a blade and think of a knife as a weapon, you are asking for trouble

Knife training not only teaches you how to attack with a knife but also how to defend against a knife.

Picture a scene where you with someone you really care about.
You 2 get attacked by a gang of people who had too much to drink and you pull out your knife. The knife gets knocked out your hand by a bat used by one of them.
A 2nd guys shoves you away while the third picks up your knife.

If you don't know a thing about knife fighting you open you and your friend to a world of ouch

Read about the numbers gang on wikipedia and you'll see what I'm talking about
They a colored (mixed race community) gang that operate in Cape Town South Africa. Pulling a knife untrained on any of them will get you killed.

There are many accounts of people untrained using knives to protect themselves, but imo one should never take it for granted

[Morrow]

Moving to Prac Tac.

[SeaxyBeast]

Do't mean to add to the fear but I have had a few of these, like the design but every time I've put it to moderate use the lock has failed on me (it's not built with the best materials and it's a shame) It doesn't come down on your fingers through because of that dang second lock on it, but it does become useless even if you bend the liner lock back into place. I bought 3 of them after good first impressions then two failed and I'm left with one I won't use sitting in a draw. I keep hoping the design will go somewhere else or else CRKT will use better materials on it one day. Pity.

For a first folder that won't fail, break the bank or go out of style (IMO) look at the Kershaw Leek (if you can have assisted opening), or the Spyderco delica, of course theres a lot more to chose from of course.

As for self defense I personally rely on the running away method, so can't help you there.

When talking about the CRKT M16 series I think it's important to differentiate between the many different versions of it that CRKT sells. Which model did you have that was causing you problems? Was it more than one version or were all three the same? (Not trying to make you defensive here, just wanting to know if there are particular models to look at more suspiciously). CRKT's biggest brand problem with those knives is that they have too many models without much to differentiate them and the quality gap between the better ones and the ones that they sell at Wal-Mart and the big store chains is pretty big.

I wrote a review of my M16-14 SF Tanto that has a decent picture of the lockbar and the fit. The blade steel on mine is either 8Cr14MoV or Aus 8 and the liner is 420J HC -- better than the cheaper versions that they sell at Wal-Mart or in chain stores. You can hear and feel when the lock engages and it takes work to disengage. The pivot seems sturdy and there's no blade play. It seems fairly reliable and, to be honest, if I ever have to use it for SD I think I'll have a whole host of safety concerns that are far bigger than having the lock fail.

I wish more knife companies would take a picture of the lockbar on their frame/liner lock models so that we could see the size and type of steel that they were using. I won't buy a linerlock until I've seen the lockbar.

But if you don't feel comfortable with the locking mechanism, then don't buy one.

If you like the Spydies you might also consider getting a Byrd Cara Cara or Meadowlark to test out before committing to an Endura or Delica. The steel isn't as fancy, but it's plenty tough and the lock is pretty much the same.

Your call.

[CWL]

I would recommend the DPX H.E.S.T. Folder. Titanium framelock that could be blocked, which makes it nearly as safe as a fixed blade. Plus the bottle opener in the blade works like an Emerson wave opener, so with little practise it´s faster than most autos.

Why get a copy of something? If you want a pocket opener, just get an Emerson knife.

[Fullmonte]

This won't catch ya if it folds up on you.

[sdragon]

The only thing I don't trust a folder for, no matter what locking system it has, is stabbing it into something hard. I have seen people injure their hands a few times by stabbing the knife into a wall. When you exert all that pressure onto the tip of the knife it can get amplified at the pivot point, and cause them to fail.

I recommend Spyderco also because they do some very through testing of their locks, which you can read a lot about on this forum. I'm currently EDCing a Native-5 which has a very solid back lock system. The only time I would ever use a knife for self defense though is if the attacker pulled a knife on me. However due to the fact that I'm 6'5" and 250lbs very few ppl seem to mess with me.

Check up on your knife laws because if a officer pulls you over it can be a lot more serious then you think. Where I'm from it is legal to carry a folder of any length, but if you commit any crime and are carrying a blade over 3" , even if the blade was not a part of it, it can be used against you. So it is better to be safe.

[KYenglish]

When talking about the CRKT M16 series I think it's important to differentiate between the many different versions of it that CRKT sells. Which model did you have that was causing you problems? Was it more than one version or were all three the same? (Not trying to make you defensive here, just wanting to know if there are particular models to look at more suspiciously). CRKT's biggest brand problem with those knives is that they have too many models without much to differentiate them and the quality gap between the better ones and the ones that they sell at Wal-Mart and the big store chains is pretty big.

I wrote a review of my M16-14 SF Tanto that has a decent picture of the lockbar and the fit. The blade steel on mine is either 8Cr14MoV or Aus 8 and the liner is 420J HC -- better than the cheaper versions that they sell at Wal-Mart or in chain stores. You can hear and feel when the lock engages and it takes work to disengage. The pivot seems sturdy and there's no blade play. It seems fairly reliable and, to be honest, if I ever have to use it for SD I think I'll have a whole host of safety concerns that are far bigger than having the lock fail.

I wish more knife companies would take a picture of the lockbar on their frame/liner lock models so that we could see the size and type of steel that they were using. I won't buy a linerlock until I've seen the lockbar.

But if you don't feel comfortable with the locking mechanism, then don't buy one.

If you like the Spydies you might also consider getting a Byrd Cara Cara or Meadowlark to test out before committing to an Endura or Delica. The steel isn't as fancy, but it's plenty tough and the lock is pretty much the same.

Your call.

No worries, you absolutely right, both about it being a problem to differentiate and the importance of being specific, I had 3 of the m16 01z model, AUS 6 if I remember right, and I also tried a tanto m16 10z and had the same problem - i imagine they use the exact same materials, but I do really like the design, size and the way it fit in my hand, had to give it another shot. I tried to find a better quality material version but ran into the problem you've mentioned, it was difficult to narrow down and I could never seem to find one, without a tanto (which isn't my favorite blade shape) and that wasn't discontinued or hard to find." the ones I had weren't from wal-mart but I know for sure they were the lower end cheaper versions you mentioned.

I had a M21 for a long time and loved that thing to, but the size and recurve weren't for me int he end. I only point out the M16 because it's the only knife I've had to fail on my the way the OP specified, again, worth pointing out the design was such that it wasn't able to come down on my fingers though.

thanks for the link to your review I will definitely check it out.

[BuffDrinkLots]

As im sure most have said...many good knives have enough room then when held properly your pointer finger will stop the knife before the blade gets to your fingers. Should the lock have an issue, which is rare. I have yet to have a lock malfunction on any spyderco i own and the few benchmades i own.

[harkamus]

Get a flipper knife. The flipper tang of most flipper knives will hit your index finger and stop the blade if the lock ever fails. You might get a pinch, but you will not get cut.