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best folder for self defence
- Thread starter boris01
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Good question. In all my years of carrying a knife daily I have never once had to pull it to defend myself. And I live in a country with one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world.
That said, a fellow I know who is highly knowledgeable and very well trained in the art of self-defence did find himself in a position of having to draw his knife - a Spyderco Civilian - in self defence. Despite his experience, in the heat of the moment, he fumbled the knife getting it out of his pocket. Lucky for him, the threat didn't materialise and he walked away unharmed.
However, the next day he made a kydex sheath for his Civilian and from that day on carried it open like a fixed blade.
Moral of the story: if you're serious about using a knife in SD, buy and train with a fixed blade, not a folder.
That said, a fellow I know who is highly knowledgeable and very well trained in the art of self-defence did find himself in a position of having to draw his knife - a Spyderco Civilian - in self defence. Despite his experience, in the heat of the moment, he fumbled the knife getting it out of his pocket. Lucky for him, the threat didn't materialise and he walked away unharmed.
However, the next day he made a kydex sheath for his Civilian and from that day on carried it open like a fixed blade.
Moral of the story: if you're serious about using a knife in SD, buy and train with a fixed blade, not a folder.
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for SD i like what i edc either a emerson custom CQC13 or a spyderco Ti ATR, imho with the proper training a spyderco gunting would also be pretty good, but not for the novice it requires training, same with the k'bit, it too with the right training would be ok,
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It could also be argued that the moral is to train with a folder, not a fixed blade, to build the muscle memory so you don't fumble the deployment under stress.
Plus, in the USA at least you can get away with carrying a folder in areas where you will get hassled by the police if you got caught carrying fixed blade. I have heard that many juristictions treat a concealed fixed blade knife the same way as a concealed firearm, so if I need a CCW permit I'll carry the firearm, thank you.
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The situation would be such a rare occurrence where I live and work, I never really thought about it. As long as the blade is a decent length and has a sharp tip, it really doesn't matter.
I usually carry a large Sebenza, which would do just as well as any knife in a novices' hands, I'd imagine.
If it were my priority to walk around with a folder for SD, and I'm not sure why anybody would go that route, I guess I would either pick something like a Spyderco Civilian, and something long and pointy like the Police model. Both of those seem like they would work a lot better than big, clunky folders with wide, thick blades like the ZT 301. They look dangerous and all, but I'm sure if you held one next to a stainless, serrated Police, you would quickly see which would cause more damage in a shorter timespan.
I usually carry a large Sebenza, which would do just as well as any knife in a novices' hands, I'd imagine.
If it were my priority to walk around with a folder for SD, and I'm not sure why anybody would go that route, I guess I would either pick something like a Spyderco Civilian, and something long and pointy like the Police model. Both of those seem like they would work a lot better than big, clunky folders with wide, thick blades like the ZT 301. They look dangerous and all, but I'm sure if you held one next to a stainless, serrated Police, you would quickly see which would cause more damage in a shorter timespan.
A beltsword---they'd die laughing
You know it's shit when you're laughing so hard it takes you three times through the demonstration video to notice the lady showing it off is topless. True story.
Anyway, I'd go with a fixed blade, but if I had to carry a folder it would be a Benchmade 670S.
Ti-lite has some nice little aditions built in tha can come in really handy in a fight i got mugged on a bus about two years ago and it got ugly really quick he had some cheap ass hardware store bargain bin folder and was pressin the dull side to my neck and when i got out the wallet with the other hand i got out the ti lite unopened and opened it on the back of his belt and got him in the back a few times than ran like all hell still have the knife sittin on my bedside table
lol I'm putting in question the truthfulness of this story...
I have a Ti-Lite too as an SD knife. I don't think the wave function on the Ti-Lite is as good as the Spyderco implementation. The clip grips too hard against the pocket, so it's hard to grab the knife out without it pulling your pants up with it, the quillion is very rough on the pockets, the knife rides very high... I prefer to use the flipper. I think quickly taking the knife out and flipping it is faster and puts you in a safer grip than pulling it, using the wave, and then having to readjust your grip.
So that said, maybe an Endura w/ Emerson Opener.
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My acquaintance is very well trained in edged weapons, that was my point. Training is not infallible. If that was the case, there'd never be any casualties in battle. Shit happens in the moment that no amount of training can prevent. Tunnel vision, hearing loss, time slowing down - stress plays havoc on the mind and body.
So the only way to avoid it - other than more training - is to simplify the presentation process as much as possible. Extracting a fixed blade from a sheath is a simpler process than extracting and opening a folder.
As far as the law is concerned, well, that's obviously something you want to stay on the right side of. No sense in risking arrest by carrying an illegal weapon. I still think though that even a small fixed blade is preferable to a large folder. If your main reason for carrying it is SD that is.
So the only way to avoid it - other than more training - is to simplify the presentation process as much as possible. Extracting a fixed blade from a sheath is a simpler process than extracting and opening a folder.
As far as the law is concerned, well, that's obviously something you want to stay on the right side of. No sense in risking arrest by carrying an illegal weapon. I still think though that even a small fixed blade is preferable to a large folder. If your main reason for carrying it is SD that is.
It could also be argued that the moral is to train with a folder, not a fixed blade, to build the muscle memory so you don't fumble the deployment under stress.
Plus, in the USA at least you can get away with carrying a folder in areas where you will get hassled by the police if you got caught carrying fixed blade. I have heard that many juristictions treat a concealed fixed blade knife the same way as a concealed firearm, so if I need a CCW permit I'll carry the firearm, thank you.
i've experimented with probably the best fixed blade for edc the bud nealy pesh kebz and amoeba, and a al polkawaski companion, any of the three is imho among the very best edc FB's, with good sheaths ( a neccessity & all dont have them) and imho its just a lot more hassle vs a good folder.
why?
*carrying a FB dictates my dress, gotta have my shirt out or a jacket, cant always do that, & though legal to carry openly i aint gonna do it, too "cowboy" looking and my girlfriend would make fun.
*it just isnt as comfy, even when ya dress right.
*the sheaths clip tends to scuff furniture and car seats, not good,
i agree its really a better idea vs a folder, easier/quicker to draw, but its just a lotta hassle imho, and the odds of one of my folders failing is loooowwww imho (spyderco Ti ATR and a emerson custom CQC13) & i do practice drawing and deploying the things.
but if folks wanna pack a FB, good for them, but i do understand why some dont, shoot i spent ~$800 wanting to carry like that and wanting to like it, never happened though lol.
but i do carry FB some, mostly in the winter.
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My thoughts exactly. I have a couple of fixed blades that are ideal for self defence BUT they usually get left at home... why, because its a lot more of a commitment to carry a FB than a folder.
Which is why I don't take the knife as self defence weapon thing all that seriously anymore. Sure, as a last ditch weapon fine, but primarily they are a tool, not a weapon. Thats why I choose folders that can do both comfortably. Best examples of this type of blade is the Emerson CQC8 or Spydie Military. Benchmade 710 another one...
Personally, if you're going to carry a FB, why not carry a pistol? Its the same kind of commitment, but you'd be much better off IMO.
There just aint no substitute for a folder on a daily basis, unless you live in Alaska or some such place.
And the last thing you want is your GF making fun of you
Which is why I don't take the knife as self defence weapon thing all that seriously anymore. Sure, as a last ditch weapon fine, but primarily they are a tool, not a weapon. Thats why I choose folders that can do both comfortably. Best examples of this type of blade is the Emerson CQC8 or Spydie Military. Benchmade 710 another one...
Personally, if you're going to carry a FB, why not carry a pistol? Its the same kind of commitment, but you'd be much better off IMO.
There just aint no substitute for a folder on a daily basis, unless you live in Alaska or some such place.
And the last thing you want is your GF making fun of you
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The problem with a fixed blade is that in some places it is illegal. Laws are often strange and there isn't much logic behind them, so each jurisdiction you go to needs to be studied, there isn't any sort of continuum.
At times I like to vary my EDC, and have found a fixed blade to not be any more difficult to carry than a folder, and not more likely to get in the way. I've not had any special sheaths made, so these are just using stock sheaths.
Here is a list of what I carried (that worked well) over the years, though for the past 12 years I've mainly carried folders:
Valor Wallet Knife- This is a small Urban Pal like pushdagger but double edged. It came with a pocket sheath and was easy to draw and replace. The quality was typical of Parker and similar companies in the 1980s. Even with a double edge I found it useful for opening boxes.
Cold Steel Urban Pal- This came in a key chain sheath, and was almost as good at deployment as the Wallet Knife. The thick chisel grind didn't make it very useful for utility, but it could still be used that way.
Cold Steel Ready Edge- Another key chain knife.
CRKT Stiff Kiss- I carried this as a neck knife, and it worked well.
Livesay Woo- Also a neck knife, much better quality than the Stiff KISS.
The limiting issue with the neck knives is that they take longer to deploy than tactical folders if wearing a t-shirt or polo shirt tucked in. An untucked shirt, a sweater or sweatshirt, or a dress shirt won't pose any problems.
Boker A-F Bootknife- All I did was put the knife and sheath in my pocket, just like a pocketknife. Some sheaths, this being one of them, will be compact enough for pocket carry and allow you to disengage the knife with thumb pressure, so all you have to do is reach in your pocket, press down on the sheath while pulling up the knife, and continue pulling it out of your pocket. The only problem is that a folder clipped to the same pocket would get in the way until you get used to it.
This is the one I'd recommend if someone wants to carry a fixed blade with a stock sheath for self-defense, assuming a double-edged fixed blade is legal in your area.
I carried the full-sized A-F a few times and it was bulky with the stock sheath.
I've found that pocket carry is the best and easiest way for me to carry a fixed blade. It seems to be more popular these days since more pocket carry fixed blades are available than even a few years ago.
At times I like to vary my EDC, and have found a fixed blade to not be any more difficult to carry than a folder, and not more likely to get in the way. I've not had any special sheaths made, so these are just using stock sheaths.
Here is a list of what I carried (that worked well) over the years, though for the past 12 years I've mainly carried folders:
Valor Wallet Knife- This is a small Urban Pal like pushdagger but double edged. It came with a pocket sheath and was easy to draw and replace. The quality was typical of Parker and similar companies in the 1980s. Even with a double edge I found it useful for opening boxes.
Cold Steel Urban Pal- This came in a key chain sheath, and was almost as good at deployment as the Wallet Knife. The thick chisel grind didn't make it very useful for utility, but it could still be used that way.
Cold Steel Ready Edge- Another key chain knife.
CRKT Stiff Kiss- I carried this as a neck knife, and it worked well.
Livesay Woo- Also a neck knife, much better quality than the Stiff KISS.
The limiting issue with the neck knives is that they take longer to deploy than tactical folders if wearing a t-shirt or polo shirt tucked in. An untucked shirt, a sweater or sweatshirt, or a dress shirt won't pose any problems.
Boker A-F Bootknife- All I did was put the knife and sheath in my pocket, just like a pocketknife. Some sheaths, this being one of them, will be compact enough for pocket carry and allow you to disengage the knife with thumb pressure, so all you have to do is reach in your pocket, press down on the sheath while pulling up the knife, and continue pulling it out of your pocket. The only problem is that a folder clipped to the same pocket would get in the way until you get used to it.
This is the one I'd recommend if someone wants to carry a fixed blade with a stock sheath for self-defense, assuming a double-edged fixed blade is legal in your area.
I carried the full-sized A-F a few times and it was bulky with the stock sheath.
I've found that pocket carry is the best and easiest way for me to carry a fixed blade. It seems to be more popular these days since more pocket carry fixed blades are available than even a few years ago.
stabman
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If someone said "Yes", would you believe them?
If they were telling the truth, how many different opponents would they have had to face before their ideas were valid(seeing as alot of assailants suck at attack)?
And why would someone who HAD been in such an altercation want to open themself up to the possible ramifications of advertising the fact(since such encounters are often in legally tricky situations)?