Do you really think a bali is good for defence?

You can be sure that the attacker's attorney will make it look like he is a boy scout leader on his way to a meeting. They will make you look like the evil wicked person who should give up all their money, and spend the rest of their life in jail.

That is what happens when you have an upside down world, where good is bad and bad is good, and the attorneys walk away rich.
 
don't dis the lawyers, they're just doing their job. its the judge who's to blame for the most part (also based upon what you did)

and bakedpotato: I mentioned that I have a different use for each one. at school I'll usually use the OTF for utility (and it's also a lighter which is useful in science class because my pyro teacher likes to play with fire). the Kubotan doesnt take up much pocket space and is just a good defensive weapon to have anyway (say I got in a fight; I probably wouldn't use it or get in a fight anyway, but if I did I'd like to know that I had the means to defend myself). the OTF tends to screw up sometimes, so that's why the knife function of the kubotan is useful.

outside of school I just have those on me at that point ANYWAY, so it'd be pointless to take them off (and they still serve their purpose). Then I have my user bali for just casually flipping around the house (or for the possible combat situation) and my other utility bali (with serrated edge) which I use for cutting tougher stuff or in the event of an attack, it can be used as back-up or I could go double-bali style.
 
Interesting thread!

My point of view is that the best defense depends on the agressor.
The few times I felt in danger, I took a Cold Steel Master Tanto with me, in a kydex sheath fixed on my boot (under the pant). Invisible, impressive, solid (it can pierce a car door), and with a small guard to prevent the finger to rip on the blade. The Kraton handle glue to your hand, and it's pratical/pleasant to handle.
For the fan of Platoon, the movie, 1 of the lead sergeants has this knife (upside down on his shoulder). The second sergeant has a Cold Steel Push Dagger. It's also an interesting knife, I think.

But in other cases, when I *guess* I won't meet a professionnal knives fighter, the balisong is fine : lighter, smaller, more discrete, can be quickly drawn...
About the intimidation, I agree with you guys; it depends on who is in front of you. A unexperimented agressor will be scared (often, when there's a risk they quit... it's easier to take the wallet of a grandma') by the bright and agressive aspect of the bali. And by the manipulation too. Of course, a guys who knows how to fight with a knife will immediately kick you in the hand when you'll manipulate it and the bali will fly to the dust... it's about judging well his agressor, his state of mind (determined or scary/stressed). Keeping the manipulation (very) short is a good advice I think.

Summary : a Tanto when you go to a battlefield :-), a bali for the street (except very hot streets -- don't go there).

Guillaume

PS: I may have frightened people... I never walk in the street with a knife. It just happened very few times, when I knew I had to go to a place where problems happen frequently.

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www.balisong.net
 
Darth, do you go to public school? We have a "zero tolerance" policy where if you've got any knife you'll get suspended for at least a week. Kubotans won't go over to well, a guy at my school got expelled for having his keys on one. Even a ligher will get you suspended for having drug paraphenalia (sp?).
 
My daily carries are:
98 style Endura (front right pocket)
Spyderco Progrip (left sock inside/left front pocket)
LM Wave in Pockitz
VIctorinox Explorer (right front)
small SAK (left front on keys)
Silver mini-maglite (also in the Pock-Its [perfect kubotan])
BM 42AS (in open top hidden back pocket of Pock-Its)
Within the next month I'll be adding another 42 and some long zip ties.
biggrin.gif

Now I don't carry any of these tools for strictly defense purposes (I mostly carry them because they are my good friends and don't want to leave them behind) although if I could carry a really big knife all the time that would just rock. My Kukri would be a very nice addition to my daily carries I think. What do you think?

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Mykl
Balisong, the folding fixed blade.

[This message has been edited by Mykl Clark (edited 01-23-2001).]
 
Jeez man, I'm sorry to hear that. It must suck knowing that your school has no trust in you
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that and they're uptight and afraid of being judged.

let me guess: you have to wear name tags too.

my school is cool in that we have a pretty good level of respect and trust between the students and faculty. no-one would give a damn at all if they saw me with a lighter. some (few ) would care if I had a knife, but they can't do **** to me if it's under 2.5" (which they are). and I bet only 1% of the entire school body even knows what a kubotan is. I was sitting in the hall today just flipping it around by the keychain and nobody asked or looked twice.

and besides, its New Hampshire: where nothing remotely dangerous ever happens
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Another point about defence.
I think that some ways to carry a balisong can be dangerous in a brawl.

For instance,

- horizontally, on the belt, on the back
=> if you fall backward, you'll hurt your kidney

- in the front pocket
=> if you try to kick, the bali can be in a bad position for your thigh and hurt it

Guillaume

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www.balisong.net
 
That's why you get carpenter jeans. They have this beautiful utility knife pocket right at hand level on the outside of the thigh. Perfect fit for a bali. Not that I'd ever carry it with me outside
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Life often sucks, but always remember: God is good, and arrows are reusable.
A country boy can survive. :)
 
Of course a bali can be used for defense. And of course a bowie is better--IF you could carry it on the street. Its obvious that a Bali takes more skill to use, thats why I like it. A skilled Bali user is a more skilled user than the average. BTW you guys who carry four or more knives are knife nuts to the max!

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wdg123
 
I can and have carried a bowie on the street.

I live in the north where you wear a big heavy coat over half th year
:-)

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I like throwing knives, they're quiet.
 
i carry two bm 42s i think pulling those out at the same time would scare a group of mabye four people away but if they dont so help them if i only had a split second to draw i would draw a balisong because im used to it and i can pull one out just as fast as unclipping a spyderco from my belt and opening it
a bowie does have more reach but try stuffing that in your pants a bowie knife is also too heavy, fighting with one would b like swinging a gold bat at randy johnsons fastball its all bout speed with a knife cause a quik slash or stab in the right place is just as damaging as being struck with a sword, by the time the person trys to move all that weight the lightness of the little blade allows a guy to have already slipped in and cut the other guy in the neck or stabbed him in the heart

thats just some of my rambling
 
Just wondering... What's a kubotan? I've heard of it before and I'm pretty sure I used to know what it is but I forgot.

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"I must not fear, fear is the mindkiller. I will let the fear pass through me. After it has passed, only I will remain..." - Mah di'
 
A Kubotan is a keychain stick, invented by Takayuki Kubota who would also have invented the PR-24 stick (the "tonfa" stick of the policemen).
(photo at http://store.yahoo.com/enjutsukai/kubotan.html).

A Yawara is a pocket stick, with almost the same shape/size as the Kubotan, without the keychain function. It can be used as a punch load.

The interest of the Kubotan comparing to the Yawara is that the stick is more powerful with the motion around the key ring. You can also use the key side to strike, to pressure, or to lock the finger/wrist of your agressor.

Guillaume

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www.balisong.net
 
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