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Best Defensive Folding Knife?
- Thread starter fulloflead
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
The comments about mindset and the like being the most important attribute are true. If I think about things that are truly likely to make a difference in my survivability, mindset, aggression, skill, etc. are at the top.
But is it really true that the choice of knife is so unimportant as to be not worth the discussion? If you imagine yourself to always be starting with your knife in your hand, then perhaps. But in real life, getting the knife in your hand is hard. Anyone who has done real pressure-testing of the draw can attest to this -- if your buddy is charging at you winging punches, getting that knife out is extremely difficult, and a small edge (no pun intended) in deployability can make the difference between "living" or "dying" in the drill's scenario. For me, that dictates the most important features of a defensive folder:
- It must be highly carryable -- not so heavy or thick or long as to be uncomfortable -- so I have one on me
- It must be carryable in a place that's easy for me to grab
- Most importantly, the opening mechanism must, to the highest extent possible, help ensure reliability of opening even when I'm tired and full of adrenaline and my minor muscle control is seriously compromised (e.g., I just fought off an assault empty-handed and now I'm drawing for my life).
Through experiments with my group, a big wave is a true advantage in the above scenario. When everyone is relaxed, thumb stud or hole or wave or whatever doesn't matter. When we raise the stress level in the drill, people start missing studs and (to a lesser extent) holes, but the wave opening works, and even on a blown opening the partially-waved blade can be easily flicked.
Which brings me to my choice of folder: the waved Endura 4. The waved Endura 4 has other important attributes, such as solid construction, great edge geometry, a secure handle, and a very reliable lock. But the consistency of opening makes it the top choice for me.
What I don't think matters much in a purely defensive folder: blade steel, minor changes in blade geometry, handle comfort, etc. However, since most people use their defensive folder as an EDC as well, a good steel and practical blade shape should always be considered.
But is it really true that the choice of knife is so unimportant as to be not worth the discussion? If you imagine yourself to always be starting with your knife in your hand, then perhaps. But in real life, getting the knife in your hand is hard. Anyone who has done real pressure-testing of the draw can attest to this -- if your buddy is charging at you winging punches, getting that knife out is extremely difficult, and a small edge (no pun intended) in deployability can make the difference between "living" or "dying" in the drill's scenario. For me, that dictates the most important features of a defensive folder:
- It must be highly carryable -- not so heavy or thick or long as to be uncomfortable -- so I have one on me
- It must be carryable in a place that's easy for me to grab
- Most importantly, the opening mechanism must, to the highest extent possible, help ensure reliability of opening even when I'm tired and full of adrenaline and my minor muscle control is seriously compromised (e.g., I just fought off an assault empty-handed and now I'm drawing for my life).
Through experiments with my group, a big wave is a true advantage in the above scenario. When everyone is relaxed, thumb stud or hole or wave or whatever doesn't matter. When we raise the stress level in the drill, people start missing studs and (to a lesser extent) holes, but the wave opening works, and even on a blown opening the partially-waved blade can be easily flicked.
Which brings me to my choice of folder: the waved Endura 4. The waved Endura 4 has other important attributes, such as solid construction, great edge geometry, a secure handle, and a very reliable lock. But the consistency of opening makes it the top choice for me.
What I don't think matters much in a purely defensive folder: blade steel, minor changes in blade geometry, handle comfort, etc. However, since most people use their defensive folder as an EDC as well, a good steel and practical blade shape should always be considered.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2007
- Messages
- 220
That 20 dollar switchblade that shady looking guy on the corner sells.
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2002
- Messages
- 3,376
well said, joe. now, if I might add my own 2 cents.
I use a knife every day at work (commercial fisherman). I happen to carry an atlantic salt on the boat and open it one handed and two handed, and I've even used my mouth in a pinch. off the boat, I carry a waved endura 4. I carry it in the same place I carry the salt at work. it is absolutely second nature for me to draw and open a spyderco knife from my usual carry position using the thumb hole one handed or using both hands. with the wave, I can draw and open the knife even faster, and with even less forethought. its just out of pocket and in my hand.
granted it is a different knife, but the endura and atlantic salt have similar enough handle shapes, the same clip configuration (tip up) and the opening hole, that they are interchangeable when broken down to their base parts.
I have drawn the knife under stressful situations and I know for a fact that when you are under pressure, especially in a situation that could be potentially fatal, you AREN'T going to be thinking clearly, just doing.
if you don't use the knife daily for mundane cutting chores, practice drawing it and opening it. when you have it down, practice drawing and opening it under stress or distraction.
my suggestion for the best defensive knife is the one that you have on you when you need it, and that you use enough every day to make it second nature.
The time worn addage that a folding knife is a poor defensive weapon has been disproven time and time again by actual life experiences. just watch the news. tell the dead robbers in atlanta that folding knives are poor defensive weapons. or the dead gang member in boston that attacked the harvard student and was killed with a spyderco military. or the dead college wrestler that was killed with a spyderco endura when he beat up a guy for trying to help his girlfriend.
carrying a fixed blade in many places is illegal where a folding knife may not be. the definition of dirk, dagger, stilletto, and bowie is a gray area at best in the courts. a good strong lock gives higher end folders comparable strength to a fixed blade with more options of carry and by doing so, ensures that you will have the knife on you when it is needed.
peter
I use a knife every day at work (commercial fisherman). I happen to carry an atlantic salt on the boat and open it one handed and two handed, and I've even used my mouth in a pinch. off the boat, I carry a waved endura 4. I carry it in the same place I carry the salt at work. it is absolutely second nature for me to draw and open a spyderco knife from my usual carry position using the thumb hole one handed or using both hands. with the wave, I can draw and open the knife even faster, and with even less forethought. its just out of pocket and in my hand.
granted it is a different knife, but the endura and atlantic salt have similar enough handle shapes, the same clip configuration (tip up) and the opening hole, that they are interchangeable when broken down to their base parts.
I have drawn the knife under stressful situations and I know for a fact that when you are under pressure, especially in a situation that could be potentially fatal, you AREN'T going to be thinking clearly, just doing.
if you don't use the knife daily for mundane cutting chores, practice drawing it and opening it. when you have it down, practice drawing and opening it under stress or distraction.
my suggestion for the best defensive knife is the one that you have on you when you need it, and that you use enough every day to make it second nature.
The time worn addage that a folding knife is a poor defensive weapon has been disproven time and time again by actual life experiences. just watch the news. tell the dead robbers in atlanta that folding knives are poor defensive weapons. or the dead gang member in boston that attacked the harvard student and was killed with a spyderco military. or the dead college wrestler that was killed with a spyderco endura when he beat up a guy for trying to help his girlfriend.
carrying a fixed blade in many places is illegal where a folding knife may not be. the definition of dirk, dagger, stilletto, and bowie is a gray area at best in the courts. a good strong lock gives higher end folders comparable strength to a fixed blade with more options of carry and by doing so, ensures that you will have the knife on you when it is needed.
peter