3" self defense folder?

Spyderco Merlin or Harpy. :thumbup:

Best bet though would be to just run away and avoid any confrontation and/or possible jail time.
 
DavidW3 said:
> Well since you make it sound like it isn't going to be used very often and just > needs to be a good reliable knife, I'd probably get either a delica or a kershaw > leek (because of the quick speedsafe release).

I tend to agree.

I heard some bad folks carry utility knives as weapons these days. Imagine what it would be like when you have to hand the bad guy your sebenza because he has his three dollars utility knife on your neck.
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Funny you should mention that- The local newspaper here has a weekly crime collum that gives the date, location and type of crime in the area. More and more recently the slide out utility knife is showing up as a weapon of chioce for the street mugger. They demand your wallet and cell phone or you get slashed by a couple of them. Like other types of vermin, they seem to run in packs.
 
More and more recently the slide out utility knife is showing up as a weapon of chioce for the street mugger.
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Precisely my point...a utility knife is no match for a 3" .357 magnum.
 
V-1 said:
I should have mentioned that I have a blue Yojimbo. Wicked sharp with plenty of handle with some nice index pivots milled in.

I was just wondering if anything else is out there that would match these for form and function. Something that I may have overlooked.

I appreciate the feedback.
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Gotcha. I think you've gotten some good suggestions on this forum. I'd also say that there's not a single knife mentioned here that will not be readily out-cut by your Yojimbo (go ahead and do some head-to-head testing if you pick anything else up). Nor will you find anything with a much better handle, since the Yojimbo's big handle already gives you full-size handling even w/ a 3" blade. If you want something that can stand up to more utility work (Yojimbo's point pierces easily but is fragile for hard tip-work for utility), then the lil temperance provides a good uptick.

You're probably not getting a more effective 3" fighter with anything else ... you can get better utility characteristics, or something that's easier to carry (smaller handle, so you'll trade off the security). Or, you can buy another one just for the hell of it -- which, of course, you should be doing anyway, as a knife knut :)
 
Most of the best have been mentioned. Of knives still in production, the Small version of the Timberline Kelly Worden had excellent ergos, it is almost undroppable.

Two out-of-production 3" folders that definitely deserve mention are the Kershaw Talon, which many seem to consider the best defensive folding hawk blade ever mass manufactured (seriously, Google around, this knife has weird fansites); and the several incarnations of the REKAT Pioneer. The small REKATs are, to me, one of the best hand-filling sabre style grips ever, up there with the Elishewitz Stryker. And REKAT did wizardry with their 3" tanto blades - strong spined, but deep hollow ground to thin slicing edges - on BOTH primary grinds. :) Their second series (Pioneer II?), with G10 onlay on aluminum rather than the original G10 scales over steel liners, was flat ground, so you get your choice.

REKAT had their problems. Ergonomic design was not one of them. In my opinion, etc, etc.
 
I'll second the Timberline Wortac. Your little finger naturally wraps around the grip for a nice firm lock on the knife. Its blade was made for slashing.
 
The common "box-cutter" slide-out utility knives have for many years been used by many street criminals as weapons because they are sold everywhere and can be bought cheaply (or shoplifted; at some discount stores it's common in the tool section to see occasional empty utility knife packages on the rack).

Other very common stabbing or cutting weapons on the street, besides regular knives, include awls, screwdrivers and, in some areas, hidden razor blades between the fingers used when slapping the face.

Jim
 
Once again pepper spray is for when facing a low threat, Knives and guns for life threating times. They are not interchangable.

Knives can also be carried more often than guns. I have carried guns for over 20 years,life memeber NRA ,own my own range etc. I can't carry a gun at work can you? or at my kids schools, which I'm at almost daily for games, practices etc. I workout daily but my Glock pulls my shorts down so I clip on a knife.

Love guns but to carry one 24/7, you must be a law breaker,liar,or homebody.

Sorry for the off topic rant.
 
Although i bought mine for utility, the new Benchmade Mini Presidio might be a really good self defense knife. It has a fairly large and very grippy aluminum handle. It's blade is just under 3" and the handle would provide protection if used in a thrusting fashion. The downside is that it is a fairly heavy and thick knife for its size.

The Spyderco Native, along with the Scorpius should be considered and the old Delica is a very pointy son of a gun that would be useful in a nasty situation also.
 
Thanks for all of the blade suggestions guys. Looks like nothing has been released yet that surpass what I already have for my needs. Until maybe the new redesigned Lil' Temperance is released many, many moons from now. I appreciate the help!
 
I have to agree with some of the others, if you take SD seriously, as you should, you should look into getting a concealed weapons permit and a good gun, looks like you're in PA, I'm pretty sure CWP's are doable (gettable) there. A knife is no substitute for a gun, and even a gun needs good training behind it to be used effectively. Frankly, I don't care what knife I have on me, if I didn't also have a gun, I'd feel pretty much unarmed.
 
I'll agree on a few points, and disagree on as much as I can ;)

I dunno where in NY yer from, but here in TX it is relatively easy to carry a gun "24/7" as you say. One of the local Sheriffs actually made news suggesting Teachers pack guns if they want to at school. You can also carry in a vehicle without a permit.

I don't carry 24/7 because, as you know, it's a pain. However, I do not leave my house without a PPK. I take it off when I sleep and let my Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull take over the self defense duties then(and for travel if I don't have a long gun).

Pepper spray is surprisingly effective at a long distance - far greater than knife distance. I have a bottle of Federal Mark 4 and one of the smaller Fox versions(both are larger than 2 ounces). I have seen them work well on both people and animals out to 20 feet. But I don't carry them - they are in my trucks.

Knives are easier to carry than guns. I am always with a knife no matter where, except maybe the air terminal. I usually carry an Extrema Ratio Fulcrum 4.25" on the back of my hip because folders take too long to get into action, and are too short, or flimsy when in action. If I need to, the ER has a nice heavy pommel I could whack someone with without having to stab them if I didn't want to use deadly force. No folder, even a Strider or Sebenza can effective be used to pommel, or break glass, etc.(I operate a 10 ton rollback recovery wrecker, and occasionally have to break glass - and yes I could carry a gun if I wanted to to work, and have brought some just to show the boss because he likes guns).

A 3" self defense knife is better than nothing. But I would say that if you could carry 3" of folder, then 3.5" probably won't make you any more uncomfortable, and it opens up hundreds of more options. Why bother with 3? If you wanted a knife for defense, I would suggest an Emerson Commander waved folder. Damn impressive build and very fast into action.

I often carry a 16" collapsable aluminum ASP baton in a pocket, front or back. It weighs less than 1 lb, and it is 6" when collapsed. When in the back pocket, most think its a flashlight if they spot it because it is roughly AA Maglite sized. In some stats it's not legal, though(like CA and likely NY). I have used it twice for defense and swear by them. No one knows what it is when you whip it out, and it telescopes and attacks in one swing. And you get 16" extra added to your reach. This allows you to take the offense in any knife situation. Yes, I have used it to knock a knife out of someones hand.

OK, now MY rant is off ;)

WYK

Lone Hunter said:
Once again pepper spray is for when facing a low threat, Knives and guns for life threating times. They are not interchangable.

Love guns but to carry one 24/7, you must be a law breaker,liar,or homebody.

Sorry for the off topic rant.
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I would recommend some good running shoes over a knife fight any day. I can add one piece of advice. Pick a knife that fits your hand, and can be opened quickly without any thought. Stay safe!!
 
I definitely agree with you guys mentioning you can't beat the feet. Run, run like the wind if possible.

For everyone mentioning guns, no worries, I have a CCW. I also have a few fine concealable handguns (Sig, Ruger, Glock, S&W) that I have trained with. IWB, strong side carry is my personal favorite. Otherwise the Airlite Smith's can ride in a pocket holster when walking the dog with shorts on. Also, I have plenty of fine quality larger folders that I carry when the law allows, like in my home state of PA.

I put the limit @ 3" due to the fact that I travel to certain places that have 3" blade length limits on folders (Wash. DC, Richmond, VA, etc). As has been known to happen , I was bitten by the "want new folder" bug. I was just wondering if anything new has been released that would rival the Lil' Temp, Nomad, Yojimbo or Small Sebenza. Nothing else has really caught my eye so it looks like I'll be waiting until the new redesigned Lil' Temp is released. That sounds like a long time down the road.

As for a knife not being a good self defense tool, I disagree. Sure beats teeth to the throat and thumbs dug in the eyeballs when the SHTF. :D

Thanks for all of the suggestions. All have been duly noted. As usual, some great suggestions from the Bladeforums crew.
 
...and bringing up the rear, my suggestion for an X-model Taser. They are a lot more concealable than are the M-series and will take down big bad attitudes fast.
Without killing anybody most of the time, unless your target falls into a swimming pool. :) or down stairs. :) :rolleyes:

They are not cheap, but ya pays for what ys gets.
 
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