Fixed or folder for personal security (Work travel)

[CWL]

I don't think it wise at all to want to carry a concealed fixed blade in Mexico or the rest of Latin America (or even the USA). Getting popped with a weapons charge is going to cost you big time south of the border.

If you still want to, do as suggested by Marcinek and buy a cheap knife locally. If you ever have to, you can just drop it and walk away.

Personally, I think you should think through what's in your tool bag and add items that can be used in a pinch, like a good wrench or ball peen hammer.

 

[marcinek]

Personally, I think you should think through what's in your tool bag and add items that can be used in a pinch, like a good wrench or ball peen hammer.

The added benefit of that is that what's in your tool bag is easier to justify. You whack somebody with the ball peen that's in your toolbag, then most likely you wont be considered having carried that ball peen with the intent to hurt someone with it. Its a work tool.

Like it or not, stick somebody with that fixed blade you are thinking about carrying....and you are going to have to justify having carried the fixed blade, or you were carrying it with the sole intention of hurting somebody with it (same as in the US). All of a sudden you are in a big "intent" and "perception of intent" mess. And I wouldn't want to get involved in one of those in the good old U S of A, let alone some foreign country.

 

[Edwood7]

In Mexico, daggers are very illegal, and its mostly the use and intended use that turns a knife in to a weapon in the eyes of a judge down here.

I have seen guy thrown in jail on weapons charges over a screw driver. Carrying with intent to comit a crime.

The judicial system down here is a mess, if any of you do land in a tight spot south of the border let me know, I have gotten more than a few fellow members out of trouble down here.

 

[marcinek]

I have seen guy thrown in jail on weapons charges over a screw driver. Carrying with intent to comit a crime.

Precisely my point! Well put, sir.

 

[Georgia Guy]

I think he understands the legality of carrying in foreign countries he was just asking what type of blades do we recommend.

 

[Safety3rd]

I think he understands the legality of carrying in foreign countries he was just asking what type of blades do we recommend.

Pretty much.


It's not like I plan on walking around town with my knife in my hand or stabbing the first person that looks at me wrong. I'm 31, 6'1 230lbs former Marine and I used to moonlight as a bouncer in Atlanta. I can take care of myself. If I ever had to injure or kill someone with a knife I would worry about the consequences then as it would have to become a clear self defense situation before I ever pulled out a knife or gun.

I have checked a knife in my luggage to Panama, Colombia, Mexico! And all over the U.S. and Canada. I have never had a problem nor do I expect to. And if the situation called for me having to ditch my knife, I would rather have to ditch a knife I could depend on than have to use one I couldn't.

The more I look at 3" fixed blades the more they all seem to be neck knives and I had one before (eskabar) and gave it to a buddy. And when I see the larger fixed blade knives the more I realize they would spend most of their time in my suitcase.

I'm back to thinking about the bedlam and the cqc8. They're roughly the same size and they have the same blade material. The Emerson is lighter but the benchmade has the better lock. Anyone used both? How to they carry iwb?

 

[Georgia Guy]

Bedlam all the way. You get a super aggressive blade and a glass/skull crusher on the hilt. Even if you can't get an auto the axis can be just as fast or faster.

 

[nbrown_303]

+1 for the Emerson CQC 8. Its is a great knife, really solid, and if i ever found myself in a situation where i had to use my EDC blade as a defensive tool, i would hope that day i was carrying the CQC 8. It has good belly to the blade, and the blade gets thicker at the tip. The whole blade is actually a really thick slab of 154cm. Its got the wave which if you get comfortable with waving it open would be very useful in a SD situtation. The ergonomics of the handle is the best of any knife i own. When you have it in your hand, it is not going anywhere. As for the liner lock, i know a lot of people have complaints about them but i have had zero issues with mine, its very solid. And most importantly for a knife, it is a great EDC tool. i have carried mine a lot since i got it and used it pretty hard, and its stood up to everything so far. The only thing that you might find an issue with is that its not the thinnest knife, its the same width as a Paramilitary 2. You could carry it IWB but i carry it clipped to a pocket. If you must have a really thin knife check out the Spyderco Police 3. It is the thinnest knife i own, and it has a really large blade.

 

[Edwood7]

What i like about the Bedlam is its fast opening; you can even flick it open with one hand. I pull my knife and flick it open in a reverse grip almost as fast as I can pull my Blackhawk kalista fixed blade from almost the same position. Plus if for some reason you can open your knife in time or you just want an impact weapon, the skull crusher end on it is just a nasty option that the Bedlam gives you.

I may be getting an Emerson Persian in a few weeks; the Bedlam is my first tactical folder, I love it but I have heard nothing but good things about Emerson knives, and I think the Persian blade shape is just exactly what I like in an offensive knife.

 

[marcinek]

Bedlam all the way. You get a super aggressive blade and a glass/skull crusher on the hilt. Even if you can't get an auto the axis can be just as fast or faster.

Yep. There certainly shouldn't be any "intent" concerns with a "super aggressive blade" and a "skull crusher."

And I am talking about what kinds of blades I recommend. Blades that won't get you locked up for carrying.

 

[marcinek]

If I ever had to injure or kill someone with a knife I would worry about the consequences then as it would have to become a clear self defense situation before I ever pulled out a knife or gun.

Just out of curiousity, if you are going to worry about the consequences after an SD event, then why choose a knife over something more "effective"? It sounds like defending yourself in the actual situation is the most important concern for you.

 

[Cold Kill]

Mace or a stun gun would be the best for a true SD option. If you do insist on a knife, I would look at a smaller neck knife. Keep it very sharp, and it will work as well or better than a larger blade. A smaller knife would also be easier to justify as tool, not a weapon. Or you could go with a hammer, like somebody else said, it would be the easiest to justify as a tool.

 

[Safety3rd]

Something more effective like what? A knife is easier to carry. I can go for walks or for a run outside and still carry a knife. I'm not going to go walking around carrying a hammer, I'm not going to tuck screwdrivers in my pockets, and I think I might have issues with mace or a stun gun in my luggage when I'm traveling.

Never on a knife forum would I think there would be people telling me not to carry a knife!?

I'm just looking for a recommendation of another knife to carry in addition to the one I already do. Preferably something more suited to the task with a better lock and not stainless steel handles. Something with good edge retention and with a good sheath.

 

[marcinek]

Never on a knife forum would I think there would be people telling me not to carry a knife!?

People here aren't going to suggest something they think is a bad idea. Even if it involves a knife. Knife juggling? No.

Some people, myself included, think carrying a dedicated self-defense knife is, unfortunately, a good way to get tossed in jail.

 

[Safety3rd]

People here aren't going to suggest something they think is a bad idea. Even if it involves a knife. Knife juggling? No.

Some people, myself included, think carrying a dedicated self-defense knife is, unfortunately, a good way to get tossed in jail.

If that's the case then why carry any knife at all? Do you EDC a knife? Any knife you carry becomes a self defense knife the minute you decide to use it.

I've never had the police randomly check me for a knife or a gun, and I always have at least 1 of them with me. I really don't believe carrying a "SD" knife will land me in jail anymore than gentlemans folder or a small hinting knife if the only time it's seen by the police is if I had to use it to save my life.

I understand your opinion. I just disagree. This thread isn't about if I should or shouldn't carry a knife, I'm passed that. I'm just trying to figure out which one I should get. If you have a suggestion for a quality EDC blade that looks non threatening but is very effective, I would love to hear it.

 

[Noctis3880]

What i like about the Bedlam is its fast opening; you can even flick it open with one hand. I pull my knife and flick it open in a reverse grip almost as fast as I can pull my Blackhawk kalista fixed blade from almost the same position. Plus if for some reason you can open your knife in time or you just want an impact weapon, the skull crusher end on it is just a nasty option that the Bedlam gives you.

I may be getting an Emerson Persian in a few weeks; the Bedlam is my first tactical folder, I love it but I have heard nothing but good things about Emerson knives, and I think the Persian blade shape is just exactly what I like in an offensive knife.

You haven't been listening.

My 2 beefs with the Emerson knives I've owned are:
1) Brittle blade. I've snapped the tips off both my Super CQC-7's and had to regrind both. And the tanto was touted for having strong tips. Some people say it's a side effect of the heat treat and the "good" steel is underneath. Funny how other makers don't have that problem using steels that are 3-5 Rockwell points harder.
2) Fast liner wear. It moves fast. The lockup is early and sticky at about 20% brand new, and both were at 60-70% when I sold them months later(occasional carry and light use).

Unless you're getting an Emerson with a wave, your Bedlam will likely prove superior in all aspects.

Something more effective like what? A knife is easier to carry. I can go for walks or for a run outside and still carry a knife. I'm not going to go walking around carrying a hammer, I'm not going to tuck screwdrivers in my pockets, and I think I might have issues with mace or a stun gun in my luggage when I'm traveling.

Never on a knife forum would I think there would be people telling me not to carry a knife!?

I'm just looking for a recommendation of another knife to carry in addition to the one I already do. Preferably something more suited to the task with a better lock and not stainless steel handles. Something with good edge retention and with a good sheath.

Like a gun forum, both of us will advise you not to do something illegal, whether you think you'll get caught or not. I can certainly foresee issues with mace or a stun gun given that both are more heavily regulated than knives.

You might appreciate the ability to pass off your knife as a tool rather than weapon in a courtroom.

 

[marcinek]

If that's the case then why carry any knife at all? Do you EDC a knife? Any knife you carry becomes a self defense knife the minute you decide to use it.

I've never had the police randomly check me for a knife or a gun, and I always have at least 1 of them with me. I really don't believe carrying a "SD" knife will land me in jail anymore than gentlemans folder or a small hinting knife if the only time it's seen by the police is if I had to use it to save my life.

I understand your opinion. I just disagree. This thread isn't about if I should or shouldn't carry a knife, I'm passed that. I'm just trying to figure out which one I should get. If you have a suggestion for a quality EDC blade that looks non threatening but is very effective, I would love to hear it.

I do EDC a slipjoint. And yes, any thing becomes a weapon if you use it in self defense. It's just that, sadly, people view different self-defense tools differently. A rock you pick up and bash somebody in SD with is viewed diffrently from some black coated Stabinator with a bunch of pointy bits sticking out of it and skulls on it that you used in SD. It's all about perceived intent. I don't like it either, but it's true.

Effective and non-threatening knife? I say go with the "local" kitchen knife suggestion I made a while ago.

If that's not "SD" enough...I do like that Bedlam a lot. Nice looking knife.

 

[samid]

Effective and non-threatening knife? I say go with the "local" kitchen knife suggestion I made a while ago.

I have absolutely zero experience with such situations but... if one does get questioned by the law about a knife, it seems to me that it might be easier to explain a folder or even a small fixed blade in your pocket than a local kitchen knife. "Why are you carrying that knife?" - "I always have it in my pocket, it's a handy tool/a present from my wife/whatever" sounds more convincing to me than "I always go around with a locally purchased kitchen knife". I could be wrong of course.

 

[marcinek]

You may very well be right right, samid. It's a tough issue, which is my "problem" with the whole SD carry knife concept.

That said, I don't want to continue to sidetrack Safety's thread.

 

[puukkoman]

You haven't been listening.

My 2 beefs with the Emerson knives I've owned are:
1) Brittle blade. I've snapped the tips off both my Super CQC-7's and had to regrind both. And the tanto was touted for having strong tips. Some people say it's a side effect of the heat treat and the "good" steel is underneath. Funny how other makers don't have that problem using steels that are 3-5 Rockwell points harder.
2) Fast liner wear. It moves fast. The lockup is early and sticky at about 20% brand new, and both were at 60-70% when I sold them months later(occasional carry and light use).

1) That's silly. Emerson's 154CM is certainly not brittle. I use my EKI knives HARD at work: really leaning on them to cut heavy/thick stuff, cutting wire, smacking the edge against hard surfaces (steel plates), scraping, prying, twisting... My Emerson edges have never chipped, only rolled; and have easily been straightened back out with a couple swipes against a round screwdriver shaft. Now, S30V from Spyderco, for example? That's a different story. Chips and nicks all over. No biggie, though; they're tools, not show-cars. Sharpen 'em back up and keep moving.
2) If you'd kept them longer, you would have noticed that they weren't wearing out, but wearing in. As with most liner locks, there's a break-in period wherein the liner engagement "increases" as you use the knife. Once they're past the initial movement, they don't move much farther.
Note: my primary work knives are a 7B I've had since 2004, and a 13 I've had since 2005, and they're still going strong.
Hope this clears up some misconceptions.