Fixed blade or Folder ??

Pillowtalk · Jun 1, 2009

What do you gentlemen think about the difference between fixed blades - vs - Folding blades ??

Let us (for the sake of argument) say you were going to use the blade in a self defense situation.

You are forced to use the knife to stab (perhaps repeatedly) an opponent !!

What are you going to choose out the two options ??

Just out of interest, what do you all make of this folding Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn ??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blBPdqTGwOc

Any-one notice an issue with this folder ??

PT

gull wing · Jun 1, 2009

Sorry, can't help, I use knives for working, not sticking people.
I do know this however, a folding knife will not cut anything as long as it's inside the handle. A fixed could cut thru the sheath and into you.

razorsdescent · Jun 1, 2009

i have abuddy that carries 2 gerber gaurdians with him wherever hegoes and the older i get and more experienced the more i prefer fixed blades.

marcinek · Jun 1, 2009

The issue I see with it is that your hypothetical stabee has to be within arms length for you to use it.

Got any close quarter combat training? If not, I recommend some pepper spray and/or running shoes.

A.P.F. · Jun 1, 2009

marcinek said:
The issue I see with it is that your hypothetical stabee has to be within arms length for you to use it.

Got any close quarter combat training? If not, I recommend some pepper spray and/or running shoes.

Read Marcinek's statement...twice. A knife is a tool. A Glock 20 is for self defense.

Andrew Colglazier · Jun 1, 2009

I do and have carried both. I have fixed and folding dedicated self defense knives. They each have their places and niches, but I prefer a fixed blade if I can get away with it.

Andy

talontwo · Jun 1, 2009

The older I get the more I return to fixed blades; for me they are the better tool. And I sure agree with A.P.F.; the last things you want to bring to a knife fight, is a knife. Unless you have been trained and practice often, when you are that close, you've already lost. With at least a 9mm, you don't have to get close.

Greg

mdauben · Jun 1, 2009

Pillowtalk said:
What do you gentlemen think about the difference between fixed blades - vs - Folding blades ??

If I was forced to use a knife for SD, I would prefer a fixed blade all things being equal. Of course, all things are not equal. There are times and places you can get away with carrying a folder that you could not with a fixed blade, plus folders are usually easier to carry than a concealed fixed blade in a useful size. Even if you are somewhere that open carry of a large sheath knife is acceptable large folders are often easier to carry on a daily basis.

Just out of interest, what do you all make of this folding Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn ??

I've handled one and it seems a solid, well designed and built knife. I would suggest handling one of you can before buying, as "feel" can be very subjective. For example I generally find thumb stud knives to be more clumsy to open than Spyderco thumb holes, but that is probably more an issue with the size and shape of my hands and thumb, than any objective superiority of one system over the other.

Any-one notice an issue with this folder ??

Like a few other posters have suggested, your training is probably more important than the particular knife you chose, and indeed training may modify blade choice.

And especially for an untrained individual in a SD situation, running is the best defence of all! :thumbup:

Pillowtalk · Jun 2, 2009

gull wing said:
Sorry, can't help, I use knives for working, not sticking people.
I do know this however, a folding knife will not cut anything as long as it's inside the handle. A fixed could cut thru the sheath and into you.

OH-MY !!
I knew this thread would attract the 'spiritually advanced' among us.
YAWN..........

You call a knife what you wish, tool, weapon or whatever (gift even)
My pal Indy (Sikh) was in the Para's (UK) for over 5 years.
In 2003 (elements of) his regiment were sent Afghanistan.
He took the Bagram air base http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/C-130_Hercules_at_Bagram_Air_Base.jpg

His boys got in-to some heavy S!HT & real up close fighting, those Afghans did not want to give up the only supply route for that part of the country !!

Long story short, his SA80 MKII got a stoppage (woops) & he had to use his knife to defend him-self - until he popped a frag-grenade (that fukced a few of them up) after getting to cover.

Ask Indy whether his knife is a tool or a weapon ??
His is now on PSD for Blackwater & always carries a double edged dagger style, up-side down from his webbing - & has fukced off the SA80 MKII & uses a Bush-master M4 & a heavily modified AK.

Honestly, some people !!
You are one of those "guns don't kill people, people kill people" types yes ??

Jaw breaking YAWN !!

PT

Pillowtalk · Jun 2, 2009

mdauben said:
If I was forced to use a knife for SD, I would prefer a fixed blade all things being equal. Of course, all things are not equal. There are times and places you can get away with carrying a folder that you could not with a fixed blade, plus folders are usually easier to carry than a concealed fixed blade in a useful size. Even if you are somewhere that open carry of a large sheath knife is acceptable large folders are often easier to carry on a daily basis.

Like a few other posters have suggested, your training is probably more important than the particular knife you chose, and indeed training may modify blade choice.

And especially for an untrained individual in a SD situation, running is the best defence of all! :thumbup:

I have dome some MMA & Indy has shown me a few knife fighting techniques (he was a Paratrooper - one down from the SAS)

So running will not be on my agenda !!
Plus I look like this - http://picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17083674
So you run if you want, I have warrior blood in me (Norse men, ancestry).
Plus I could probably lift two of you, with-out breaking a sweat !!

How many of you are living in the US right now (& are planning to stay ??)

Pillowtalk · Jun 2, 2009

razorsdescent said:
i have abuddy that carries 2 gerber gaurdians with him wherever hegoes and the older i get and more experienced the more i prefer fixed blades.

Thank you - this was the kind of realists/honest answer I was looking for.
I agree BTW fixed blades for this job are the way to go !!

This is a knife forum, & some people here are just full of this notion that a blade is for whittling Wood, or removing some screws when you can't find your leatherman multi-tool

MORE JAW BREAKING YAWNING !! FFS.............

PT

Andrew Colglazier · Jun 2, 2009

I just can't wait to read more in this thread.....

Andy

Pillowtalk · Jun 2, 2009

Andrew Colglazier said:
I just can't wait to read more in this thread.....

Andy

I feel the same way !!
What side of the fence are you on BTW ??

I have to say that I was taken aback by that first comment about the use of knives - the History of the homo-sapien (over the last 400,000 years) not one of the subjects you majored in, HUH ??

PT

Hawkings · Jun 2, 2009

Andrew Colglazier said:
I just can't wait to read more in this thread.....

Andy

Dammit and I actually had other thing to do to day, then watch this tread and eat popcorn

Pillowtalk · Jun 2, 2009

mdauben said:
If I was forced to use a knife for SD, I would prefer a fixed blade all things being equal. Of course, all things are not equal. There are times and places you can get away with carrying a folder that you could not with a fixed blade, plus folders are usually easier to carry than a concealed fixed blade in a useful size. Even if you are somewhere that open carry of a large sheath knife is acceptable large folders are often easier to carry on a daily basis.

My fixed blade of choice ATM has a leg strap & the blade is only 3.5 inches, long enough for it's intended destination !!

mdauben said:
I've handled one and it seems a solid, well designed and built knife. I would suggest handling one of you can before buying, as "feel" can be very subjective. For example I generally find thumb stud knives to be more clumsy to open than Spyderco thumb holes, but that is probably more an issue with the size and shape of my hands and thumb, than any objective superiority of one system over the other.

I can see the benefit of the Thumb peg (E-Z out), if you are in a tussle with some-one & only have one hand available, then yes the E-Z out option is a good choice.
Other than that I see no use for them other than concealment TBH.
As with most things in life, it is very subjective & this just happens to be IMO

We all like knives !! I personally don't care what you use yours for, I would appreciate the same courtesy.

PT

Pillowtalk · Jun 2, 2009

Andrew Colglazier said:
I do and have carried both. I have fixed and folding dedicated self defense knives. They each have their places and niches, but I prefer a fixed blade if I can get away with it.

Andy

Thank you for not being a pussy about this very REAL possibility, & talking openly about the WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE !!

You may not be aware, but the UK has an epidemic of knife use in our teenage ASBO 'untermenchen' population.

These little chav's are using them also, there is none of this waving a knife around some-ones face in the vain hope of it being a deterrent.
These fukcers are stabbing each other on a daily basis !!

I also love Guns - but this is a knife forum, so, YEAH !!

Eight Trigrams · Jun 2, 2009

So running will not be on my agenda !!
Plus I look like this - http://picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17083674
So you run if you want, I have warrior blood in me (Norse men, ancestry).
Plus I could probably lift two of you, with-out breaking a sweat !!

lol. For some reason a Right Said Fred song popped in my head suddenly. Couldn't tell you why.

You may not be aware, but the UK has an epidemic of knife use in our teenage ASBO 'untermenchen' population.

These little chav's are using them also, there is none of this waving a knife around some-ones face in the vain hope of it being a deterrent.
These fukcers are stabbing each other on a daily basis !!

Uh... o.k. Life's tough for the underprivileged Aryan ubermenschen in England these days I take it.

Well to answer your question, I've never run into a concealed fixed-blade sheath that could deploy as quickly as I can deploy most Spydies, BMs and the ilk, so for purely self-defense purposes I'd go with that. I think that as far as what I'd consider an effective SELF-DEFENSE tool (as opposed to killing tool), knives are pretty low on my list. Not easy enough to induce disability or shock with them. I'd much rather defend myself with a gun, a good sap, pepper spray, a piece of rebar or even a sturdy stick. The knives I carry in my pocket, while they may LOOK threatening, are only intended for

whittling Wood, or removing some screws when you can't find your leatherman multi-tool

But take this with a grain of salt. I'm no ex-SAS self-defense guru, and I've never gone on a "chav"-stabbing spree. I'm an American. We're a peaceful people.

Maikutis · Jun 2, 2009

Why don't you ask you SAS buddy, Indy (Sikh) who was in the Para's (UK) for over 5 years. You two could (talk) about knives as tools (and killing) and maybe tell him where you put your pants so he could help find them (or take more pictures).

Maikutis · Jun 2, 2009

One more thing, it looks like you're vicariously reliving your friends experience as a warrior, even going as far as to claim being a warrior yourself through blood lines. That's weird dude.

Good for your buddy. But if you want the warrior title, sack up and join or sit down and let him finish his stories at the bar. He earned them.

Lycosa · Jun 2, 2009

The pocket clip folder is just sooo easy to carry.