If a person is buying a knife with the intent on fighting with it, A fixed blade is IMO the only logical route. Whoever/whatever you're fighting isn't going to just stand still and let you stab/cut them, and factoring in bones, stabbing between ribs, while the said "opponent" is moving and trying to fight back and/or disarm you, moving parts in a folding knife become much more prone to failure under those kinds of stresses, even the toughest locks aren't foolproof especially when twisting and side to side pressure is added to the stress it has to endure..... Not to mention, any folding knife needs to be first deployed, before deploying the blade, even automatics and otf's... That split second could be the difference in a hostile situation where "violence of actions" is key... Emerson's are nice because when drawn properly the blade engages itself, but still, it has to be drawn properly, otherwise, its just like any other folder, and that split second could cost you... Coupled with all those internal moving parts and potential failure points, a folder is a horrible option for intended fighting over a full tang fixed blade, one piece, blade is deployed, no failure points, no moving parts, no additional draw time. Sure a fixed blade can break, but if your breaking a quality fixed blade, chances are a folder would not have fared much better...
There are a ton of good options out there for fixed blades, I'm partial to the Darrel Ralph 18xray because I own one, and it does feel good in the hand ergonomically speaking, it's a robust blade in154cm which is a tough steel, the blade length (just shy of 6") is enough to penetrate deep and wreak havoc on vital organs, (like collapse a lung), but not so big it is a bulky hassle...
It was designed as a fighting knife.
Only thing I would recommend is buying a kabar tdi clip for it, (they are compatible with each other), the mollie compatible plastic clip that comes with the sheath isn't my favorite, but otherwise it is a great knife...
I've been in my share of scuffles over the years, between older brothers and running with a pretty rowdy bunch in my youth, fisticuffs and bar room fights were not uncommon, spent time in the army infantry as well as the county clink, but while i prefer not to fight these days, (I'm certainly not getting any younger), and I'd much rather bring a gun to a knife fight, if I had to fight with a knife, (and while I'm no expert, i actually do have some former training in hand to hand knife combat), that one would be my choice at the moment...
The one on the bottom left.
The middle, bk15 would be a good option as well, but a more practical or concealable kydex sheath might be in order as opposed to the standard "tactical" nylon sheath that comes with kabar's.
I might add it is very similar to a terzuola cqb military design, another by another great designer you may want to check out.
