Going to buy a pocket knife... Thoughts?

B

bnknf

Joined
Mar 4, 2015
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Extra: I've been looking at various knives for a while, or rather filling my Amazon wishlist with a whole bunch of them whenever I see something that catches my eye. But now I'm in a situation where I may actually need one, both for daily-tasks (much more of those are coming my way) and possibly self-defense (going to less 'civilized' areas).

Note: I'm from Eastern Europe, so I'm going to ship it from ebay.co.uk or amazon.co.uk (so these are good for price-reference).

My budget: I'd prefer it to be up to $60, but I'm willing to go up to $100 or so, if the quality difference would be certainly worth it (I make $300 a month, so I prefer cheaper, unless it's actually worth it - see below).

What I'm looking for: I need a practical and comfortable to hold item that is sharp (and stays that way for more than 5 minutes), non-slippery even if your palm is sweaty (say on a sunny day) and that stays fixed and isn't going to close on my fingers. What I'm not looking for is a brand name or something shiny to show off. I like the idea of semi-auto safe folding mechanism (you push a knob down and forward using your thumb), and since I may need it for self-defense, I dislike the idea of a slow manual fold. BUT keep in mind that I've only touched my dad's old low-quality cheapo soviet-made manually-folding rusty fishing knife, so my idea of 'slow manual fold' may be... Exaggerated. Oh, and I'd like it to be around 3in (or longer), anything shorter than that seems... Short. Even 3in seems a bit short-ish, but it's okay.

Feel free to ask any questions that may help you help me to choose a knife.
 
See if you can snag a Large Cold Steel Voyager in AUS8. Very strong lock and opens plenty fast enough. They're discontinued and should be inexpensive, but it does have a 4" blade, so you may want to make sure it's legal where you're going.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
See if you can snag a Large Cold Steel Voyager in AUS8. Very strong lock and opens plenty fast enough. They're discontinued and should be inexpensive, but it does have a 4" blade, so you may want to make sure it's legal where you're going.
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It's good for where I'm from, which is where the self-defense part comes in (mostly).

I didn't even think about that - laws. I assumed that a pocket knife would be legal pretty much everywhere, especially countries that are generally associated with freedom, like Norway or Denmark. I'm going to to go to Norway through Denmark and Germany, so I have to consider the laws of all of these countries, two of which seem to absolutely forbid any kind of assisted-opening knives or anything longer than 2.5in (Denmark and Norway). To be honest, I don't understand such laws, but hey.

My legal reason would be that I walk around the woods (or going there), but what if I'm in the city? Can't bring it then. I'm not sure whether or not I could 'circumvent' those laws by telling that (which would be true on most days). Then again, I doubt they would pat me down or anything unless I was doing something illegal, so as long as the knife stays in my pocket, I should be perfectly fine?

I've no idea about how it may work, so some comment form someone who's been in such situations would be helpful. I find any knife smaller than 3in (especially 2.5in!) to be incredibly small and pretty much useless except for opening a letter.

So anyway, is there a possibility of getting into trouble if I was to not show the knife to anyone unless I'm in the nature (woods, rivers, mountains, smaller cities with woods nearby, etc.) and such in countries where it is forbidden (Norway, Denmark)? Couldn't show any knife in public anyway, I presume...

P.S. I really love the "Cold Steel 29TLC Voyager Large," by the way.

@Kirssig12 Cold Steel Recon 1 seems pretty neat too, but I'd go with Voyager instead.

@cchu518 Spyderco Endura4 seems great as well, but I'm quite in love with Voyager since I saw it!
 
Denmark is going to be tricky; from what I understand, it's illegal to either own or have in one's possession a knife capable of one-handed opening.
 
Yalius said:
Denmark is going to be tricky; from what I understand, it's illegal to either own or have in one's possession a knife capable of one-handed opening.
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Same goes for Norway I think. Unless you have a reason for it (say... I'm on my way to the woods; if that would work). I'm planning to stay longer in Norway and I'd like to see more of Germany. Denmark - I'm likely to just pass it. Although, of course, staying for a few days would be nice, but I could go those few days without a knife, I suppose.
 
Would advise that you be careful to obey laws of the region you travel through, or you might end up staying much longer than is agreeable.
 
Sonnydaze said:
Would advise that you be careful to obey laws of the region you travel through, or you might end up staying much longer than is agreeable.
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I see... I suppose then I'll be limited to small manual-fold knives. The kind of knives I've always frowned upon. They're just too small in my opinion.
 
If you're going to carry a knife for self defense you should seriously consider taking some self defense courses and learn how to use it first.

Someone strong enough to overpower you without a knife is probably going to be able to overpower you with one. Also, a lot of those criminals who prey on tourists work in pairs/teams so good luck fending off two attackers.

It's quite possible you'd scare away most of those types but it's frequently said among gun/knife enthusiasts that if you pull out your weapon you'd better be prepared to use it.

I say get an SAK, something with a caplifter and corkscrew. Think about the fun times, not the scary ones! That's what travel is supposed to be about, right?

I carry a whistle for self defense and sometimes a very bright flashlight with a strobe mode.
 
justsomedude said:
If you're going to carry a knife for self defense you should seriously consider taking some self defense courses and learn how to use it first.

Someone strong enough to overpower you without a knife is probably going to be able to overpower you with one. Also, a lot of those criminals who prey on tourists work in pairs/teams so good luck fending off two attackers.

It's quite possible you'd scare away most of those types but it's frequently said among gun/knife enthusiasts that if you pull out your weapon you'd better be prepared to use it.

I say get an SAK, something with a caplifter and corkscrew. Think about the fun times, not the scary ones! That's what travel is supposed to be about, right?

I carry a whistle for self defense and sometimes a very bright flashlight with a strobe mode.
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I have taken some self-defense classes, but only the basics, as it was a 'trial' and the trainer liked me for my "improvisational skills" or however it'd translate. As for mental preparation, I'm ready to use anything at my disposal to stay alive and get away with as little harm as possible coming my way.

My logic behind carrying a knife for self-defense: I already (why - I don't know) look intimidating (good number of shady-looking individuals around here seem to get out of my way, which amuses me), so pulling out a knife in front of two guys wanting to take my camera equipment should scare them off. And if not, I wouldn't flinch using it for a surprise attack the second one of them is in my reach. If I'd quickly stab one pretty much anywhere, the other one would either flee or it'd turn into a fair one-on-one fight.

Anyway, going back to fun times, I googled SAK and I was still leaning towards https://www.swiss-knife.com/en/swiss-army-knives/victorinox/victorinox-hunter-pro.html hahaha; though you probably mentioned the classical red-plastic-case knife with a bunch of useless *cough* I mean very useful tools with a big cross on it. Nothing wrong with SAKs, I just dislike clutter, and I only need a knife, perhaps scissors and pliers at most, but that'd be stretching it pretty far. I really don't need anything else and it'd just piss me off by taking more space than needed.

Isn't there a better option than a SAK that I could carry in my pocket in the aforementioned countries, though?

Oh, and to extend my sentiment above: if it was legal, I would carry a 12mm sidearm at all times. That'd make things much easier in any situation: pull it, immediately shoot one's foot, the guy screams and bleeds while the other one flees the scene. And you walk away unharmed with a certainty, and your stuff stays in your possession. Who knows, maybe the next time he'll try to rob someone, he'll think twice. Unfortunately though, guns (and bigger than useless-sized knives apparently) are illegal for the people who may need them to defend themselves against those who carry them illegally for the purpose of using them against those who can't defend themselves for they fear of the authorities who can't always defend them.
 
bnknf said:
I have taken some self-defense classes, but only the basics, as it was a 'trial' and the trainer liked me for my "improvisational skills" or however it'd translate. As for mental preparation, I'm ready to use anything at my disposal to stay alive and get away with as little harm as possible coming my way.

My logic behind carrying a knife for self-defense: I already (why - I don't know) look intimidating (good number of shady-looking individuals around here seem to get out of my way, which amuses me), so pulling out a knife in front of two guys wanting to take my camera equipment should scare them off. And if not, I wouldn't flinch using it for a surprise attack the second one of them is in my reach. If I'd quickly stab one pretty much anywhere, the other one would either flee or it'd turn into a fair one-on-one fight.

Anyway, going back to fun times, I googled SAK and I was still leaning towards https://www.swiss-knife.com/en/swiss-army-knives/victorinox/victorinox-hunter-pro.html hahaha; though you probably mentioned the classical red-plastic-case knife with a bunch of useless *cough* I mean very useful tools with a big cross on it. Nothing wrong with SAKs, I just dislike clutter, and I only need a knife, perhaps scissors and pliers at most, but that'd be stretching it pretty far. I really don't need anything else and it'd just piss me off by taking more space than needed.

Isn't there a better option than a SAK that I could carry in my pocket in the aforementioned countries, though?

Oh, and to extend my sentiment above: if it was legal, I would carry a 12mm sidearm at all times. That'd make things much easier in any situation: pull it, immediately shoot one's foot, the guy screams and bleeds while the other one flees the scene. And you walk away unharmed with a certainty, and your stuff stays in your possession. Who knows, maybe the next time he'll try to rob someone, he'll think twice. Unfortunately though, guns (and bigger than useless-sized knives apparently) are illegal for the people who may need them to defend themselves against those who carry them illegally for the purpose of using them against those who can't defend themselves for they fear of the authorities who can't always defend them.
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If you have to shoot someone, you don't aim for their foot. You shoot for center mass, and keep shooting until they stop. And you'd have a hard time finding a 12mm firearm unless you carry a collectible Gyrojet rocket pistol.

Even if the fantasy of "winging" an attacker were effective outside of daydreams;(Gravely wounded attackers routinely continue their attacks) you can count the number of people in the world who are skilled enough to shoot someone in the foot during an attack purposely on your fingers & toes.

ETA: Often people who are shot or stabbed do not even feel it when it happens, especially if their adrenaline is going.
I was stabbed all the way through my calf by a bum & I walked 4 blocks before I noticed it. I thought he punched me in the leg. I only noticed it when I did because my shoe was squishing like I'd stepped in a puddle & when I looked it was full of blood.
 
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Why don't you tell us what knives you were stocking up your amazon withlist with. This might help us get a better idea of what kind of thing your into. If your looking for an inexpensive knife, I would consider the ontario rat model 1 or 2. They are not self defense knives but are good quality and reliable. Also look at the lower priced kershaw knives, the spyderco tenacious, resiliance, ambitious line, and if you want to go up to $100, look at the spyderco para military 2.
 
I like very much old style traditional pocket knifes like CASE for example...I personally do not like new "modern" sort of high tech folders of different futuristic designs etc...To me,they all look the same and remind me more of a toys,rather than knifes.So classic,conservative stylish pocket knifes in sort of CASE -thats what would appeal most to me...
 
In my opinion, this is the most important piece of advice you have received. Until you take a list of the countries you will be visiting, and check their knife laws. as well as any additional knife laws in effect in the major metropolitan areas you will be visiting, there's not much useful you can do - everything else is dependent on that information!

Sonnydaze said:
Would advise that you be careful to obey laws of the region you travel through, or you might end up staying much longer than is agreeable.
Click to expand...
 
I can't see a stick being illegal anywhere & a heavy ironwood staff would be pretty effective in a self-defense mode. Also get a Danish legal knife. A Dane on another forum said the following:

"...denmark. The country of the second harshest knife law in the world.

The requirements
The blade length may not be more than 7cm.
You must not be able to open it with one hand.
It may not be able to be locked."
 
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