Fighting knife

I have a Boker Magnum Urban Tànk that is the biggest baddest folder I own. It's 440A, it contacts the scales a bit, its just a liner lock, but its a big ass back pocket knife I can wave open since I removed the thumb disk and it got razor sharp with a little effort, and for SD I don't give a damn about edge retention. Scary folder for under thirty bucks.
That said if I could carry any knife for fighting it would be my cold steel shanghai shadow or Ontario Marine Raider Bowie.
 
Doug C said:
Think about ladders. ;)
Would you rather the rungs be fixed blades or folders ? :D

DC
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Folder, absolutely. They're less likely to be double edged, and they almost certainly have a longer handle than blade, so there's a larger safe area to grab and climb on. Also, the two planks would likely be closer together because most folding knives are smaller than fixed blades, so in case of a failure I can grab the two parallel pieces of wood. Oh, and finally, when a folding knife breaks, it usually breaks near the handle or whatever, leaving one falling sharp. If a fixed blade breaks, it stands a good chance of breaking partway through the blade, leaving two falling sharps.

Zero
 
In a hypothetical knife fight my money wouldnt be on you going up against a knife fighter wielding a fixed knife (could be a 7-9 inch Bowie);)
 
I think it matters little whether the knife is to be used defensively or offensively. A fighting knife remains a fighter regardless of the circumstances that pressed it into that role. The Spyderco Szabo and Benchmade Bedlam are two knives that embrace the 'fighter first' philosophy and do it well. Both handles allow the user to choke back on the handle, extending the reach almost an inch. Ergonomically speaking both blades are orientated forward, thereby always positively presenting the belly in slashing attacks. Both are comfortable in reverse grips and have neutral balances. The lock of any folder would always concern me in a conflict situation but I would trust the axis and compression locks over a good deal of other locks if I had to, knowing that they are not infallible before putting them in my pocket.
 
Trailing Point said:
I think it matters little whether the knife is to be used defensively or offensively.
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I'm going to disagree with you. Offense may require taking a target out of the equation, such as a rare attack with a knife by a member of the armed forces against a foreign target. Cpl. Samuel Toloza was acting offensively when, out of ammunition, he pulled his folding knife and charged the enemy in 2004. Knives used offensively have to be capable of inflicting fatal wounds.
Defensive use requires only forcing the attacker to disengage or be unable to continue the attack. My Spyderco ARK was designed around the idea of an extremely portable, convenient to carry knife that would be large enough to cut an attacker's arm or hand until he was unable or unwilling to continue an attack. Whether the attacker survives the experience is completely out of the question- self-defense only requires that the attack be stopped. As such, any sharp edge could potentially be enough knife for defensive use.

Now, many people have concluded that the best defense is a good offense. I'm not going to say they're wrong, but there is still a potential difference between attacking and defending. One of my HI Kukuris or my S/O Camp Defender would be a good offensive knife, while any sturdy, ergonomic knife could be a fine defensive one.

John Shirley
 
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Great post Spectre! I agree with you whole heartedly. My comment refers more literally to the orginal post - the OP asked for a fighter-folder. In my mind that urges suggestions of folders designed with that in mind, regardless of what presses it into use it is still a fighter, compared to say, a delica that would be a utility knife used defensively if that is what was carried. One of the most common weapons we encounter during/after poacher-arrests are sharpened screwdrivers... I take that as seriously as I would a 7inch bowie.
 
Trailing Point said:
Great post Spectre! I agree with you whole heartedly. My comment refers more literally to the orginal post - the OP asked for a fighter-folder. In my mind that urges suggestions of folders designed with that in mind, regardless of what presses it into use it is still a fighter, compared to say, a delica that would be a utility knife used defensively if that is what was carried. One of the most common weapons we encounter during/after poacher-arrests are sharpened screwdrivers... I take that as seriously as I would a 7inch bowie.
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Yeah, Id certainly take a sharpened screwdriver seriously.
Sadly very effective.
There is a reason, that the 'Besh Wedge' knife has a point shaped the way it has (like a screwdriver).
 
My carry... I am confident I could fight effectively with this pair.

 
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