edc for a college gal

ahgar said:
spyderco native, delica or an alox scaled sak. for defense you should either get her some pepper spray or a stun gun. unless she is skilled with a knife for self defense she would probably get it taken away and used against her. I'm dealing with this same problem with my daughter. later, ahgar
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But she wouldn't get a stun gun taken away from her? :confused:


-Jeffrey
 
SilverFoxKnows said:
She might be more likely to use the pepper spray than a knife against some drunk frat boy who doesn't know what "NO" means. She won't have to worry about killing him but that should give her time to kick him in the jimmy and beat feet. I've never known a girl who was mugged in a parking lot but I've known far to many who were the victims of date rape.

Just food for thought.
Frank
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Eat more, then, bubbala. You're skin and bones! ;)

I thought date rape was most likely to happen while the two people involved are at a party, usually drunk to some degree, and he takes things farther than she consents to go. Is that really a time when she's likely to have her pepper spray close at hand?

-Jeffrey
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
I would suggest checking to see if knives are even allowed on campus at all.
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Why? Because you don't think people should insist on their right to carry a knife -- the most basic tool known to man after the blunt object -- just because some pansified school administration has said No?

I mean really? Are you saying that if he checks into it, and the school bans carry of any knives whatsoever, he should just accept that his sister is S.O.L. and has to tough it out being totally without blade?

Is this how easily knife enthusiasts and rights-defenders roll over? :jerkit:

Makes me sick.

Who GIVES A CRAP about whether the school doesn't like it? Tell her to carry it a little more discreetly. Don't tell her not to carry a knife at all!

Who the hell has to know she has a knife? And are the people with whom she associates likely to rat her out to the school's authorities? :rolleyes:


-Jeffrey
 
How about a Kershaw Chive? I bought one for my Wife and she clips it in her purse next to her CMG Ultra Infinity flashlight.

That is something else to consider getting your sister. A GOOD small flashlight!
 
Ok, if you think I'm being paranoid about making sure it's not prohibited, take a look at this old thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=373630
(Getting kicked out of dorms for a wooden letter opener found during inspection)

Things aren't the same as they were when I was a kid. I could have had a sword hanging on my wall and they wouldn't have cared as long as it wasn't a fire hazard (hot-pot)
 
I recently purchased two Boker SUBCOM Folders for my daughters.

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The blade is only 1-7/8", but its shape makes it seem larger. Also the contoured handle makes it far more effective as a defense tool than other small folders like the Benchmade Benchmite.

Place a buck or two on the clip and you have a discrete defensive tool.
 
Few people have either the skills or mind-set to use any lethal weapon, either knife or firearm, nor are they willing to acquire training.

I'd recommend:
- A discussion about situational awareness - recognize dangerous situations and avoid them whenever possible.
- Pepper-spray in the purse at all times.
- Pepper-spray in the hand, prominently displayed, in any dangerous situation.

Buy two identical aerosol pepper-spray dispensers. Use one for practice to familiarize her with the range and dispersal characteristics of the dispenser - the other one in her purse, available at all times.

Pepper sprays are effective. Users are more likely to use them without pause, simply because they know they're not going to kill someone. They are the best combination of simplicity, concealability and ease of deployment.

Hope this helps!

Edit: Here's a good site, including typical dispersal patterns fro various dispensers: http://www.udap.com/defense.htm
 
Good lord, knives can't be kept in a drawer in a college dorm?

Aren't college students adults?

Are these universities or mental hospitals?

/rant
 
thanks for all of your great leads and opinions everyone;>)

she already carries pepper spray on her keychain (which she's accidently discharged already;>), so i'm picking up this b-day present as more of a "handy-carry-in-case-you-need-it" tool. like any of us can attest, a good knife at a moment of need is worth more than it's weight in gold. (i've actually had to gut someone's deer once with an 1 1/4" SAK. i'm still waiting for my merit badge for that one;>)

i did buy a folder (which i will surely covet;>), but i'm going save forum strife by not disclosing which brand/model.

thanks again everyone for all your help!!!

-scott
 
peacefuljeffrey said:
Why? Because you don't think people should insist on their right to carry a knife -- the most basic tool known to man after the blunt object -- just because some pansified school administration has said No?

I mean really? Are you saying that if he checks into it, and the school bans carry of any knives whatsoever, he should just accept that his sister is S.O.L. and has to tough it out being totally without blade?

Is this how easily knife enthusiasts and rights-defenders roll over? :jerkit:

Makes me sick.

Who GIVES A CRAP about whether the school doesn't like it? Tell her to carry it a little more discreetly. Don't tell her not to carry a knife at all!

Who the hell has to know she has a knife? And are the people with whom she associates likely to rat her out to the school's authorities? :rolleyes:


-Jeffrey
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A person needs to be smart!And because one of our memebers here got kicked out when the College did a search of his room. I would hate to see that happen. One needs to be discreet, so you know what you are dealing with.And it is good to KNOW the policies of the campus; information IS power. This guys knife was sitting on a table. If her school has policies like THAT, it would be good to know, so she CAN keep her knife hiddden so THAT doesn't happen. I just mean to be smart. I wish I could remember the screen name of that member. Does anyone remember that?
 
Very similar question, so I'll post on this thread. I'm interested in getting my (petite) wife a small lockback knife. I initially thought of this as a last-ditch self-defense option, in conjunction with pepper spray; I'm still interested in it being something that could be used for self-defense. However, realistically, it is most likely to be used for general utility purposes.

Here are the parameters I have in mind. First, it should be small, slim, light, and unobtrusively purse-carryable--I'm thinking a blade with a maximum length of 3 inches. Reason for this is to make it comply with municipal ordinances in most cities she's likely to be in. Second, it must not have been designed as a weapon--again, municipal ordinances at work here. One facet of that is that it shouldn't have names like Applegate, Fairbairn, Keating, Janich, Ayoob, AK-47, et al. inscribed on the knife. Another facet of non-"weaponhood" would be that it would help for it not to look too barbarically-bizarre and threatening.

Again, though self-defense is what made me start thinking of this, it's likeliest to see use as a general utility knife--so I'd probably avoid formats like a CS Spike, etc. Also nice if it's not too wicked looking--which is one reason I'm thinking an HAK or LaGriffe or whatever might not be the ticket. Black color might be a plus, just because the odds of someone noticing it go way down.

At the same time, grippy-ness is something I think is very desirable; especially if the unthinkable happened and she had to use it for self-defense (or, slightly less unthinkably, she had to use it to clean a fish or something), it would be good if it were very hard to have it either slip or be forcibly removed from her grip.

Spyderco's Delica 4 is obviously a strong contender on all counts--though only in the "Volcano" grip version, as slick stainless would be too easily dropped, I think. I've also taken some interest in whatever Byrd might have along the same lines--probably the Meadowlark with the non-metallic handles--because I envision the possibility that this knife might get misplaced once in a while, and I'd be happier shelling out for a $20 replacement than a $45 one. (On that subject, what's the conventional wisdom on the cheapest seller of Spyderco/Byrd products?)

What say you? Anything else anyone would recommend? She's handled and briefly used a Spyderco Native, and likes that; I'm just interested in weighing the other options.
 
Spyderco Civilian>> no question about it :D Whoops!!! I forgot this is a lady we are talking about here. OK then I guess she could go with the Matriarch or Spyderhawk :eek:

Seriously I think a yellow handled Spyderco TASMAN plain edge or serrated :cool: . The yellow handle had political correctness aspects to it and the H-1 steel will be a bit easier for a girl to keep sharp ;) .

If Hawkbills are not to her liking then I would go with a Spyderco Dyad Jr.>>> now go get that degree :rolleyes:
 
I have thought about this and I would go with the Spyderco Spin or, if you can find one, one of the colored scale Spysie Salsas. I have both a Spin and the blue scaled Salsa. The Spin is great for offices and such as it is so small that people almost never noioce it and, when they do, they think that it is "cute." I like the blue Salsa as it is just about as people-friendly a knife as you can find that is big enought to do real cutting tasks.
 
i think for ur sister u might consider something of a smaller stature with some kind of multi functional sheath that she can clip to something, so she doesnt leave it behind. Nothing beats a push dagger and the cold steel safe keepers and peacemakers are good examples of a quality knife that offers good uses in utility and self defense and if she was attacked its easy to conceal and retain and requires little training to use. along with the crkt claw knife offers great retention and cutting capabiltiy
 
I would disagree with the Spyderco Cricket, especially if you are thinking about self-defense. It's a great cutter, yes, but it would be impossible to hold onto and its not made with a piercing tip, which is really what you're concerned about in a self-defense situation.

I would highly back the recommendation for the Waved Delica :thumbup: and the HAK Why? The Waved Delica is small but not wimpy, it should easily fit into the itty-bitty pockets that they put on girls' pants, easy to draw in a stressful situation, 3" blade (usually legal and unintimidating), great for utility as well.
The HAK on the other hand is good if you are concerned about lack of training and reluctance to use deadly force in a date-rape situation. Personally, I have no sympathy for guys that try that sort of thing and could care less if they were gutted (and I'm sure you probably have similar feelings, she being your sister and all) but you don't want there to be a hesistation factor for her. It's small, so theoretically she could just get them in the thigh and run; it is also literally effortless to retain, no muscles involved; and as for ease-of-use, well, anyone can make a fist. I think also as a fixed blade you don't have the worries that you would have with a folder, and Frontsight (the maker) has made an effort to design a number of carry options especially for girls.

As for laws and rules and legality, I think as knife knuts we all want to be responsible with our equipment, and I completely support TKC in her statement.:) That said, however, I find that LEO types are MUCH more forgiving about girls carrying knives and MUCH less likely to give girls a hard time for carrying them. Maybe it's because there's isn't as much of a tendency towards "mall ninja" behavior? I dunno.:o So that's something to think about.

The BM Minigrip is also a favorite among girls.
 
I gave a Leatherman PST II to the daughter of an old friend when she graduated college, and he tells me she loves it, uses it all the time for all kinds of things. Small enough for pocket or purse, and just what many of those dorm life emergencies call for.

A knife is a poor choice for self-defense under almost any circumstance. For an untrained female, pepper spray is many times better. Multitool + pepper spray and she'll be able to handle a variety of "situations".
 
What does everybody think about a Byrd Meadowlark with G10 handle? Not the most innocent looks, but very grippable, configured so as to be useful for general-purpose cutting, small enough that it's not too threatening, and cheap enough that if she ends up forgetting it's there and getting it confiscated at some checkpoint, it's not too much of a blow to replace.

I agree, also, that simply arming up a non-combative individual in the hopes she can defend herself is not wise. And I agree that pepper spray is a very good idea--even if only because it is good coverage for that dangerous gray area of low-intensity conflict, where recourse to more-permanently-damaging weapons is more questionable.

I like the push-knife idea, especially for retention--but I think that it'd be too mentally easy for third parties to regard as a weapon for this particular situation. (For me, with a CCW permit, it's a different matter altogether.)
 
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