folder for art student?

Knife for self defence is a really bad idea without training. I have recieved training from my father who was and officer in the ERG (riot squad within the prison system) and extensivly trained in dissarming and also using knives. While I feel very confident in that I have the ability to use one for self defence it would have to be the very last resort. Not only does it open you up to a lot of legal issues but if you don't know what you are doing the knife can quickly be turned on you. If its self defence you want, look at some pepper spray.
 
If you ever used a balisong or a hawkbill in NYC and the police arrived, you would be charged with a major felony. On an impresssionistic basis, they would see that and just go, "Oh my!"
 
I've also read in the knife law section, in NYC the knife also must not be auto, assisted or "flickable" (gravity opening). Please correct me if I'm wrong

Another vote for SAK
 
AussieKnifeNut said:
Knife for self defence is a really bad idea without training. I have recieved training from my father who was and officer in the ERG (riot squad within the prison system) and extensivly trained in dissarming and also using knives. While I feel very confident in that I have the ability to use one for self defence it would have to be the very last resort. Not only does it open you up to a lot of legal issues but if you don't know what you are doing the knife can quickly be turned on you. If its self defence you want, look at some pepper spray.
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I'd also pair the OC spray with a decent pair of running shoes and the ability to sprint 100m fast and run at least a mile or two at a decent pace. I doubt most attackers are in peak physical shape so if you can spray and outrun them that's always preferable to trying to use a knife.
 
Fanglekai said:
I'd also pair the OC spray with a decent pair of running shoes and the ability to sprint 100m fast and run at least a mile or two at a decent pace. I doubt most attackers are in peak physical shape so if you can spray and outrun them that's always preferable to trying to use a knife.
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What if you're hauling a bunch of school/art supplies?

http://selfdefenses.com/forcespray/NYSpraylaw.html

"self defense sprays" in NY State and NYC must comply with this law:
The New York State Self-Defense Spray Law - Penal Law 265.20
Requires special labeling and control of sales. In order to purchase this product the law states:

• You must be over the age of 18.
• You must have no history of felony convictions or assaults.
• Product must be purchased from an authorized dealer, pharmacy or gun dealer.
• You must complete a form with your name, address, birth date and signature.


REMEMBER

• You can’t bring a spray from another state into New York.
• You can’t buy it online.
• You can’t give it to a minor.
 
razorsdescent said:
You are correct in many ways, but I tend to avoid getting frisked by the police. Its worked for me, and I do not engage in illegal activities nor do I bring unnecessary attention to myself. On the other hand the fabled 911 speed dial is a great way to notify the authorities of where to pick up a body. I've spent alot of time in urbanized areas doing security and in general being in bad or wild parts of town, these are my opinions. I don't advocate for anyone to do anything against the law or that they themselves are not comfortable with.

I live with police officers and am friends with others and they generally make snap calls on whether they feel this person is a threat or if their intentions are mundane. I would rather have the "freindly knife" than the the dork ops deathmatic 5000. Again this is just my suggestion. The lanyard doesnt have to be above the pocketline it just aids in grabbing the knife, nothing grey about that.

Also the last thing I want is to turn this into a practac mall ninja rambo fest.
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It's the SuperNinja Disembowler 5000, the one you are talking about is out of the current price range.v:D

All kidding aside, I understand what you are saying. It's just tough for a novice to carry and use a knife for the first time. Iagine being told that they might need to depend on that item to survive in a life and death situation. It creates self doubt and tht is can be a bad thing too.
 
flatliner762 said:
hey everyone, i just found out a close friend of mine got accepted into the Pratt art school in NYC so i thought i would get her a good knife to help her out. i was thinking a folder around $150, very sharp, durable, and can be used for self defense(im alittle worried about her walking around NYC for the first time)
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I paint and sketch a little and I keep a toolbox with all my brushes and things; the knives I use most for artwork are palette knives and retractable razorblades. Otherwise a SAK or multi-tool can come in handy...

Does she even want a folder? If not, whatever you buy may only end up in a drawer somewhere, so I wouldn't go too expensive if you're set on the idea. I'd recommend a little Victorinox Classic with funky/cool scales or maybe a Rambler. A Spyderco UKPK or Dragonfly might also be a good affordable option.
 
Fanglekai said:
I'd also pair the OC spray with a decent pair of running shoes and the ability to sprint 100m fast and run at least a mile or two at a decent pace. I doubt most attackers are in peak physical shape so if you can spray and outrun them that's always preferable to trying to use a knife.
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Never been hit by OC spray but I have seen people hit by it and it doesn't matter how fit they are, they aren't going to put up much of a chase.
 
So knives that lock in the open position are not allowed, that does not make a lot of sense. Can someone explain this.
 
My parents went to Pratt back in the 1930s and my brother and I sponser art students in their memory. In those days you used a knife to cut matt boards and my father was a expert at that.Now they have gadgets to do it .everyone had a knife to sharpen pencils but now many use mechanical ones.
I agree with others about defense -always be aware of your surroundings.I don't know the present situation there .
I would think a Wharnecliff would be a useful blade for an artist .You might ask her in a year when she knows more of her needs.
 
As a way to show he is "doing something about crime," the current DA has re-interpreted the NYC knife law to mean any locking knife that can be opened with any type of centrifugal force - "spydie-dropped," for example - is a "gravity" knife and therefore illegal. Never mind that you have to go through all kinds of attention generating gyrations and end up with the blade between two fingers. It does not make sense, and Knife Rights has taken the city to court over it. It's a problem.

Jordan
 
No, lockable knives are permitted in the 5 boroughs of NYC. The only problem is that the folding knife you carry can not be opened by centrifugal force. Almost all lockable knives can be opened by centrifugal force. Grabbing the handle or blade and swinging it out to open is what the Police are looking for. My Spyderco UKPK can be opened in this method and it is a slipjoint. SAKs don't open well in this manner because it is very difficult to grab the blade and swing the handle out. A slipjoint with a strong spring would also be very difficult to open in this manner. Folders must be fully concealed which means no pocket clip hanging out of the pocket.

IMHO people need to stop giving the advice that a knife should never be used as a self defense weapon. Anything you have on you or near you at the time of an attack would make a suitable self defense weapon. Whether it's your handgun, your knife, a rock, or your keys, these would all make a suitable self defense weapon to fight off an attacker. You don't go head to head with an attacker unless it is absolutely necessary. You don't go out on the street alone and look for trouble with nothing but a knife in your pocket. You don't try to fight off a mugger that only wants your money with nothing but your pocket knife. If someone attacks you though and you can get to your pocket knife and get at least one slash in, it should give you at least a moment to run and get the hell out of there. My advice is to always try to avoid trouble, if trouble can not be avoided and you need to defend yourself then you do whatever is necessary to do so.

NYC laws make it almost impossible for you to defend yourself which is why I always suggest walking with groups. Hell, even if you aren't part of a group and you see a group of people walking in the same direction as you just stay close to the rear of the group and you should be fine.
 
Back to a good knife for an art student, I'd recommend a Higonokami, or traditional Japanese work-style knife. They can be had with damascus blades for around the $150 price, or for lots less with san-mai carbon steel blades. Aside from the fact that they are non-locking, the wharncliff-like tip and extremely hard steel make for great knives for most art work. Plus they just look cool, with the Japanese writing on the sides.
 
Don't worry about her using a knife for self defense here. In fact, as others have said, don't do it at all for legal reasons. While a lot of out-of-towners think we are rude because we don't say "good morning" with a smile to everyone we meet on the street here, we aren't always out for blood like they say we are in the movies, either. Just practice being safe and staying out of those situations.

Anyway, art student? Generalizing of course, wharncliffe on a multitool if anything. Corkscrew and bottle opener mandatory. Art in NYC, you are not going to be needing much else :p
 
I think a knife an artsy type of person might appreciate is the Spyderco Leafstorm!
 
AussieKnifeNut said:
Knife for self defence is a really bad idea without training. I have recieved training from my father who was and officer in the ERG (riot squad within the prison system) and extensivly trained in dissarming and also using knives. While I feel very confident in that I have the ability to use one for self defence it would have to be the very last resort. Not only does it open you up to a lot of legal issues but if you don't know what you are doing the knife can quickly be turned on you. If its self defence you want, look at some pepper spray.
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I have to disagree like I stated previously, you don't need training to use a knife effectively. I've also trained with knives and taught people how to fight with knives. Training gives you a better understanding of vital organs tissue musculature etc. where you can more efficiently stop your aggressor. It also
Teaches you how to disarm and manipulate a knife wielding aggressor. But to assume that an everyday joe blow has that type of training as well and could take your knife from you is absurd. knife fighting is very dangerous and like I'd tell any of my students, its opportunistic in nature, just because you know how to disarm someone doesn't mean it will work. I've proved this time and again. the other guy who tried using his training ended up with a lot of red on him from my training knife. improvise, adapt, and overcome
 
Art student in new york with a budget of 150. I would recomend you get this friend a small keychain victorinox and a medium/large victorinox. The small keychain one for no excuse to not have one and the medium/large for when this friend will be working.
An art student in new york will need knife, scissors and maybe a reamer for work, bottle opener and maybe a corkscrew for college alcohol consumption.
So a classic or tomo for the small and whatever you think would suit for the larger one.
 
I would get her a Spyderco Chokwe.
It's beautiful, artistic looking, unique, and over all just a great knife.
I think it would do great in her surrounding.

Or just grab her a non-locking Orange Wharnie Spyderco Urban.
 
Yojimbo 2 if she can carry that in NY. Not all places in NY are off limits. The Yojimbo 2 looks more like a tool than a defensive knife. It has the same kind of blade shape as an Xacto knife, only much larger. It looks less menacing than many other tactical knives out there, yet the design of it, as with most wharncliffs and hawkbills, allow you to put a lot of force behind the tip. It would also make for a great utility knife. It looks utility.

spyderco-yojimbo-2-knife-c85gp2-large.jpg


~about 110 bucks.
 
Get her a pink esee izula and wrap the handle for her in paracord. A paracord handle wrap is slightly artistic, no?
 
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