folder for art student?

F

flatliner762

Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
27
hey everyone, i just found out a close friend of mine got accepted into the Pratt art school in NYC so i thought i would get her a good knife to help her out. i was thinking a folder around $150, very sharp, durable, and can be used for self defense(im alittle worried about her walking around NYC for the first time)
 
I don't know specifically what NYC knife laws are, but if I were you I would definitely take a hard look at them before picking up any sort of knife. Also, I would be wary of putting a knife in someone's hand, especially with the intention of "self defense", if they have no sort of blade training. It's not only unsafe, but can lead to legal issues if the knife IS used in a defensive scenario.

In my opinio, if you really want to protect her, you'd be better off buying her a few self defense classes.
 
Zach Gulsby said:
I don't know specifically what NYC knife laws are, but if I were you I would definitely take a hard look at them before picking up any sort of knife. Also, I would be wary of putting a knife in someone's hand, especially with the intention of "self defense", if they have no sort of blade training.

In my opinion, if you really want to protect her, you'd be better off buying her a few self defense classes.
Click to expand...

Seconded.
 
I went to art school for 5 years (I am currently a designer and illustrator). The best knife to carry in college is a Swiss Army Knife, for the bottle opener and corkscrew. Trust me.
 
I agree as well with previous statements but I will also say that it doesn't matter if you have training or not with a knife, this is coming from a black belt and a combat instructor for the marine corps, you could give a knife to anyone and they will do damage. Training is not necessary to use a knife effectively. Its not a gun with sights and recoil loading and moving parts. Its a piece of metal that's sharp. We've been using them, some of us since we were toddlers, our whole lives. training would come into play more so if you were defending against a knife wielding assailant.
 
There have been a number of threads here about carrying a knife in the City. I would check them thoroughly before I did anything.

I lived in Manhattan during the bad crime years of the seventies. Far and away the most effective self-defense tool I used was keeping your street sense up and being aware of your surroundings. Spotting suspicious characters early, and crossing the street to avoid them.

For a knife, get something they can use for their class work.

I grew up in the Bronx, did undergrad at SUNY Buffalo, btw.
 
The current DA in NYC is on an anti-knife crusade. Please read some of the posts. Depending on the cop, any locking blade could put you at some risk for being cited. I'm usually more comfortable with a small fixed blade. It's insane right now. Then there are the usually fuzzy-minded rules the school might have about "weapons" on campus. That said, I would think something with a wharncliffe type blade might be useful for cutting/scoring paper or other materials used in art. Just a thought.

Jordan
 
Get her a SAK for everyday tasks. With NYC D/A breathing down the necks of knife owners in the 5 boroughs I would not suggest anything other than a slip joint.

They best defense in NYC is to walk with a group of four or more. If you can't walk with a group to get where you have to get then take a taxi.
 
Last edited:
Here is a topic, leaning in some stuff I know, ... for the most part.

First it depends on her "artistic style" for example is she into conservative or contemporary art, or who accepting of "out their" art is she. Either way you cant go wrong with a swiss army knife no matter what you likings are.

Although a mcusta with a damascus blade is very artistic. If you have a lot of money to drop get a theta (I think thats how its spelled) knife.

Spyderco has a few artistic knives, as does BM. I would suggest a balisong but sense th area in question is NYC thats not happening.

The sapphire kershaw would work amazingly. Any rainbow anodize or almost any anodized metal knife.

A few lock back knives such as case knives might work.

Also I dont suggest buying a knife solely for self defense especially if yo dont know how to use it in such a situation. Also I view knives as tools anyway.
 
I don't have a specific knife, but you should consider knives with Wharncliffe blades. This blade is optimized for cutting materials used by artists from canvass/fabric, card stock, plastic, sharpening pencils, to opening any number of containers. Think of it as a reinforced X-acto knife, and would be plausible for any art student to carry.

Wharncliffes also make good general slashers, if the knife ever is needed as a weapon of last resort.

Add: definitely consider knives with bright yellow or blue handle materials. It is a tool, so hide it in plain sight!
 
If I recall from the threads (you should check anyway; memory fades), the big no-nos are an exposed pocket clip, and a locking blade. Don't even think about anything assisted opening.

SAK is the safest and most innocuous.

The idea of a wharncliffe is excellent. There are a number of slipjoints and fixed blades with this pattern.

Every art and hobby store I've ever been in carries X-acto, anywhere from a basic to a full kit. There has to be a reason. I would check first, as she well might have this already.
 
flatliner762 said:
hey everyone, i just found out a close friend of mine got accepted into the Pratt art school in NYC so i thought i would get her a good knife to help her out. i was thinking a folder around $150, very sharp, durable, and can be used for self defense(im alittle worried about her walking around NYC for the first time)
Click to expand...

Tony nailed it with his post. The legal ramifications of carrying a knife are very touchy. Also, using a knife for self defense really does require some previous training. It might seem like a cookie-cutter response, but it's the truth. The likelihood of having the knife taken away and used against a person with no training is more probable than succesfully fending off an attack (in my opinion).

Victorinox makes a wide variety of utilitarian knives that would serve just about ay combination of tasks. If you wanted to go a more traditional route, GEC (Great Eastern Cutlery) makes a variety of pocket knives that are beautifully made with great attention to detail.
 
I second the idea of a Wharncliff blade, especially good for trimming photos, mats, artwork. (My son is a Graphic Design student, and regularly uses my wharncliffs)
An Alox, Victorinox SAK "Electrician" has an very nice wharncliff, which takes a nice edge, and would be more Sheeple friendly in school. Boker Wharcom is a nice little knife that acts and feels bigger than it is. I also like a Kershaw NEEDS WORK, but I bet it would be frowned upon by NYC authorities (AO, length, etc). Of course, a Spyderco Yojimbo 2 would be ideal but I don't think I'd want to be found with it by NYC LE.
 
Last edited:
SAK or a slipjoint.
The needs of a student might call for something to open lunch, cut strings, cut cookies and open good bottles of wine as well as a proper cap on an imported beer. The awl will help with opening paint tubes, the screw driver to open cans with paint, thinner etc. The blade to sharpen a pencil for drawing and sketches. The tiny screwdriver to take care of glasses that have come loose.
 
Swiss Army Knife for sure. I have a Tourist model. It's small, weighs next to nothing, and has a corkscrew, bottle and can openers, large and small blades, and a reamer. Cost about $20. I also got a Spartan Lite which has a phillips head screwdriver and an LED light in addition to the tools the Tourist has. It also comes with a mini flathead screwdriver. I have a Vic Farmer too but it doesn't have a corkscrew.

I really like the Tourist because it's so small. The Spartan Lite is thicker and it's cool to have a little LED light and the phillips head. I have a Fenix E05 so I don't carry the Spartan Lite as often.

Tourist: http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Everyday/Tourist/53131
Spartan Lite: http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Everyday/Spartan-Lite/53451
Compact: http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Everyday/Compact/54941
Spartan: http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Everyday/Spartan/53151
Waiter: http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/Swiss-Army-Knives/Category/Everyday/Waiter/53891
 
I agree on the wharncliffe blade aspect and would highly suggest looking into the Boker Wharcom. It's GREAT for art folks, and I can speak from experience. It'll also fit in the super tiny pockets that most girls' pants seem to have.
 
Wow pratt is a Heck of a school. Im friends with alot of artists and students at corcran and AIW so I have a bit of experience with this. Wharnecliff blades are definatley a good craft type knife. On the other hand I think hawkbills make the best SD blades for people who arent really formally trained.
I would consider the Spyderco Tasman Salt in nice bright friendly yellow. http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=215

Its H1 steel and serrations are really good for NKPs who arent going to be that big on mantaining them. The biggest thing I would say is to take off the pocket clip and replace it with a nice bright lanyard, think bright green with pink and orange beads. According to New york knife laws a pocket clip counts as displaying, so my knife that is set up for when i go to ny relies on a lanyard.

The other thing to consider is that if it wont fit in her tiny pockets then she will carry it in her purse where its really not going to do her a lick of good for self defense.

Training is great and everyone should take a self defense course of some type, but I dont think anyone is really going to continue to press an attack against anyone swinging a 3inch sharpened hook around wildly preferably screaming for help. Doesnt matter if your a tiny woman, 3 inches of sharpened steel is a real equalizer. People always say: well what if its taken away. Well I would challenge anyone that unarmed or armed with a knife to take away a spyderco tasman salt from someone that doesnt want to give it up, espeacially if they have time to loop that lanyard around their wrist or a few fingers. Maybe some highly trained people could manage it, but I think these people are most likely not predating tiny young women all that often.
 
^^^^^^^^^
That is a legal gray area. The police do not care if the knife is "friendly yellow" or not, an exposed locking knife is a problem regardless of handle color. Best to learn to dial 911- or add it to speed dial. What you are suggesting is unsafe in many ways.
 
RevDevil said:
^^^^^^^^^
That is a legal gray area. The police do not care if the knife is "friendly yellow" or not, an exposed locking knife is a problem regardless of handle color. Best to learn to dial 911- or add it to speed dial. What you are suggesting is unsafe in many ways.
Click to expand...

You are correct in many ways, but I tend to avoid getting frisked by the police. Its worked for me, and I do not engage in illegal activities nor do I bring unnecessary attention to myself. On the other hand the fabled 911 speed dial is a great way to notify the authorities of where to pick up a body. I've spent alot of time in urbanized areas doing security and in general being in bad or wild parts of town, these are my opinions. I don't advocate for anyone to do anything against the law or that they themselves are not comfortable with.

I live with police officers and am friends with others and they generally make snap calls on whether they feel this person is a threat or if their intentions are mundane. I would rather have the "freindly knife" than the the dork ops deathmatic 5000. Again this is just my suggestion. The lanyard doesnt have to be above the pocketline it just aids in grabbing the knife, nothing grey about that.

Also the last thing I want is to turn this into a practac mall ninja rambo fest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top