Best self defense knife in NYC?

auspx said:
In NYC that hideaway knife will probably be considered a "push dagger" and that's illegal to carry. The Boker Subcom isn't necessarily a bad idea but I'd rather have the largest blade I can legally carry. The NYC authorities love to label every knife a "weapon" or "dangerous knife" so what do you think is better for self-defense?
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Technically, I believe that would be 4 inches. But try claiming that a knife just under 4 inches was not intended to be used as a weapon. The HAK utility style is not designed to be used or penetrate like a dagger. They have other, more sinister looking styles for that. ;)

Emperor Bloomberg doesn't believe that the peasants can be trusted with sharp pointy things. So I don't really have the best answer for your question. However, that Vic Rescue Tool is very nice! I've been thinking about getting one for me, the wife and my dad for awhile. Nice idea.
 
Fixed blades under 4" are legal in NYC, but what about carrying a folding knife open as if it was a fixed blade?
Would this be illegal?
Perhaps that Victorinox Alpineer isn't so useless for self-defense after all.
 
Any sheath you use to hold the folder open will make it look like you're carrying it with malicious intent. It is theoretically better to just carry it out of sight and out of the way of a quick frisk IWB, a small folder like a Delica4 or a UKPK.
 
I have lived in NYC almost all of my life. I have also lived other places but NYC is my home.
As a teenager (a long time ago) I carried a 2.5" folding knife with two blades. I was stopped three times with that "legal" knife. The first time the officer looked at it and tossed it back to me. The second time I was taken in the police car to the station and after being questioned by a desk Sgt. I was given the knife back and sent on my way. The third time the officer looked at it and said to his partner ... "this looks dangerous" put it in his pocket and sent me on my way. Nowadays I carry a 1" spidy on my key ring ..... and sometimes a Leatherman multi tool with a very sharp serrated blade ......... and sometimes a 2 7/8" Dozier fixed blade on my belt. As I am of an age that is invisible to most law enforcement, I am never stopped. I feel about using a knife for self defense the same way I feel about a gun ....... don't take it out unless you are prepared to kill someone or something. In NYC if you carry a knife for self defense I recommend that you keep the name of a good criminal lawyer on your person. Oh, don't forget that these days almost everywhere you go you will have to go through metal detectors ...... and any kind of knife is a no-go.

Bouvier
 
bouvier said:
I feel about using a knife for self defense the same way I feel about a gun ....... don't take it out unless you are prepared to kill someone or something. In NYC if you carry a knife for self defense I recommend that you keep the name of a good criminal lawyer on your person. Oh, don't forget that these days almost everywhere you go you will have to go through metal detectors ...... and any kind of knife is a no-go.

Bouvier
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If I'm not mistaken in New York it's illegal to kill in self defense. But you may injure your attacker(s) as long as you don't use disproportionate force.

However the point of carrying a knife for self defense is that the presence of the knife in the hands of a potential victim may be enough to convince the thug that this one isn't worth the trouble. It may not work all of the time but it's better than nothing.

I don't understand how anyone could be against that. And to me it's not a matter of choice. Soon I will have to take evening classes and I will be going home at about 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. That's when the scum begin to come out. I don't carry cash but so what, it could actually make a mugger angry that I don't have anything worth taking. I know people who have been robbed not so long ago in the new "safe" NYC. So for me not carrying a knife is not an option.
 
please read section 35 of the NYSPL as it defines when you can use force up to and including deadly force. You can use deadly force to prevent an attemted murder, arson, rape, robbery and murder also burglary of a residense that you have custody of. A month back I posted the article that told of the story of a train conductor on his way home who was attacked by four would be robbers who stabbed him, when he pulled his own knife he was able to stab three attackers killing two....he was not charged.....
 
You may have misunderstood my comments. Let me clarify. I am not against armed defense of one's life. When you choose to use a weapon, be it knife or gun or whatever, it is important to understand that you may have to inflict mortal injury. In the heat of conflict it is impossible to predict your own actions ... or the actions of others. Though you may think you will only inflect a minor wound to an assailant, if that person bleeds to death or dies for any reason associated with that wound you will be charged with a felony. It will be up to others to decide if you acted correctly and most of the time the persons deciding will be law enforcement ..... police and an Asst. DA. Your fate will be in their hands. Not to mention that you have to be the kind of person who is willing to take a human life. A lot of people behind bars who said ..... I didn't mean to kill him ......

For the record .... I have had a Concealed Carry permit in NYC for many years and have only stopped caring a firearm because I got tired of lugging it around. Over almost 30 years I never drew my hand gun. There have been times when it might have been warranted but I applied the first rule of self defense ....... Escape ..... Run away ...... Avoid the need for combat and to kill someone. On one occasion I was held up by a person with a knife ......... With my hand on my pistol in his view I gave him my watch ....... had he come at me with the knife I would have killed him ........ but for the price of a Timex I saved his life.
 
As a life-long New Yorker, I agree with Bouvier 100%. Bad guys usually travel in packs.To take out your folder against this , can result in you being cut up with your own knife.Use your best weapon, your brain.
 
tom19176 said:
please read section 35 of the NYSPL as it defines when you can use force up to and including deadly force. You can use deadly force to prevent an attemted murder, arson, rape, robbery and murder also burglary of a residense that you have custody of. A month back I posted the article that told of the story of a train conductor on his way home who was attacked by four would be robbers who stabbed him, when he pulled his own knife he was able to stab three attackers killing two....he was not charged.....
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He wasn't charged with weapon posession? What kind of knife was it?
 
The press stayed away from the details of knife type. I asked around CSU in Mahattan through a friend and it seems that it was a 3" fixed blade sheath knife. That is the word at least and he carried it in his pocket. The victim had a prior arrest for a similar incident over ten years ago, where he also killed someone trying to rob him, but the grand jury did not return a true bill ( therefore no indictment) so it was deemed self defense back then too ( although the DA had considered present it to another grand jury with a slightly different charge). This time around, one of the two "robbers" who were killed was alledged to possibly be a Good Samartian that was looking to help the victim, however the alledged Good Samartian was homeless and may have actually been the look out for the three younger guys who were involved. As always every one has different details, but these are the facts I heard from a few different sources and I did ask around on this one as I too was curious as to the knife. The perps used a kitchen steak knife fully serrarted.
 
auspx, sorry I did not answer your question, but to date he has not been charged, and most likely will not be; the wounded attacked has been charged with robbery, attempted murder, and possible murder charge if they can prove the one death was a Good Samaritan ( which he likely was not). Last I heard the third member of the robbery team is known but not in custody yet.....
 
I really like the my Spyderco Street Beat. It has a blade length of about 3 1/4"and an overall length of just over seven inches. Fits nicely on the belt, sheathed, and is flat and is easi;y hidden under the bottom of a shirt or jacket. Would this be a problem to carry in the city? I also carry a small Fox Labs OC (having lived in Philadelphia for a few years). In a defense situation the OC spray would be the first thing to come out, the Spyderco is a last ditch - just in case tool. Plus, I use it as a pocket knife.
 
For self defense, especially at night, consider carrying a good quality, small but hefty metal flashlight. I assume flashlights are still legal in New York City?
 
Michael Bolton said:
I really like the my Spyderco Street Beat. It has a blade length of about 3 1/4"and an overall length of just over seven inches. Fits nicely on the belt, sheathed, and is flat and is easi;y hidden under the bottom of a shirt or jacket. Would this be a problem to carry in the city? I also carry a small Fox Labs OC (having lived in Philadelphia for a few years). In a defense situation the OC spray would be the first thing to come out, the Spyderco is a last ditch - just in case tool. Plus, I use it as a pocket knife.
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The problem with most Spyderco knives is that they can be flicked open. If you can flick your knife open either by holding the handle or holding the blade by the thumbhole, and the knife locks open, then it's a "gravity knife" in NYC.
 
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