Blade length for SD

[Shorttime]

Fellas.

For those who carry a dedicated SD knife:

How long is the blade?

[Siromanta]

Right now I carry SOG Pentagon, blade is 5 inches long (12.7cm), or Glock 81, blade on this one is 6.5 inches long (about 16,5cm).

[Unistat76]

BM 710 has a 3.9 inch blade. I specifically look for at least 4" in a dedicated SD knife.

[oukaapie]

You will find the overwhelming majority carry blades in the 3-4 inch range.

[killgar]

I have two fixed-blades designated for self-defense, but of course I only carry one at a time. One is an Entrek Cobra, it's for discreet carry and I carry it in a back-pocket sheath, it has a 4 inch blade. The other is a Wilson model 25 for less than discreet carry that I carry hanging from my belt, it has a 5 inch blade. Four inches is the smallest I would go and six inches is pretty much the longest I would go.

[Peak_Oil]

I have a short Twitch I carry. The main reason for it is I can slip it through metal detectors. I clip it behind my belt buckle or under the eye holes in my shoes and never get shaken down any further.

[Shorttime]

Four to six inches.

If you could carry openly, would you bring along something bigger?

[CWL]

Look, if you can legally open carry and bladed instruments were that effective today, we'd be back to swords again. We aren't for a reason.

For actual & practical carry, you need something at least long enough to penetrate & reach major organs. But accessibility, and training are even more important.

If one was adequately trained, the chosen knife length and design would accentuate that style of MA/SD. Look at the kerambit, blade length often around 2", but in the hands of someone like Steve Tarani, he could open you up and filet you in a few seconds. -BUT a kerambit in the hands of a numbskull poser, it will only mean a split thumb.

Knowledge between your ears means more than any device in the hands.

[mercop]

Has no bearing when using Inverted Edge Tactics

[Shorttime]

No correspondence between blade length and personal skill. Gotcha.

I'm a real n00b when it comes to SD, and I want to stay that way, especially when it comes to knives. Don't take me too seriously. (Cause I don't!)

[SeaxyBeast]

2.5" for fixed for jurisdictional reasons and 4" for folder for convenience of carry. Above 4" I don't thing there's much more practical payoff until the bade hits the 10" mark and again at double that.

[pbcg]

I think 7" is the prefect size for CQC SD blade but in reality the limits imposed by various laws preclude carrying what may be ideal. As a general rule the bigger the blade you can carry is preferred. That's provided you have some training and know how to use it. In an emergency though Something is always better then nothing so learn to opitize what you have.

[Lycosa]

All you need are 3 inches.

[2edgesword]

What you can legally carry should play a major role in deciding on blade length. Once that has been determine you learn how to effective use a knife of that length.

[Rider675]

4-5 is the ideal for me. Any higher and your gonna have more ounces of weight than inches of blade.

[mercop]

The vast majority of edged weapon assaults that I have seen (you know, people actually using edged weapons on other people) involved blades of usually less that 2 inches. The vast majority of them being box cutters. The 3-4 inch rule touted by many is based on conjecture and not personal use or research into personal use by citizens defending themselves with an edged weapon, and the reason is that does not happen very much. I am not talking about brandishing a knife at someone to get them to leave you alone, if this occurs it would probably have worked with a stick or a hammer but knives are easier to carry.

Attacking the body using traditional "knife fighting" tactics you would be best served with a blade of 3-4 inches for stabs. But the truth is that when an edged weapon is part of a fight and not a "knife fight" people generally slash wildly outside of their silhouette, just as they through roundhouse punches. It has been my experience that during force on force most cuts are across the chest and upper arms. IMHO these often would not cause mechanical or hydraulic stoppages regardless of the length of the knife because it is being used to slash not cut/

For the reasons detailed above I am confident using any size blade with Inverted Edge Tactics to take advantage of my anatomical response to stress and my attackers weak underbelly.- George

[Edwood7]

3 to 4 inches from my own experience will do the job.