Very interesting! To me, my blades are for utility, but it sure feels good having a very sharp Spyderco Military in my right hand inside coat pocket... Even if someone graps you right hand, it takes me just over a second to deploy the knife and be in a very strong position to do a lot of damage.
I have had a knife pulled on me twice.
First time was in a local pub, that has something of a 'rep' foe being full of... you know the sort.
Well this was when I dod not carry a knife and was not a certified KnifeKnut. I was only 17 at the time. Well I was backed up into a corner near a round table, my mates were on the other side of the pub and it was a typically heaving Saturday night. A chap moved up behind me as I was ordering a drink. The next I know is that I have turned into him causing him to drop his drinks. I appologized right away and began to mumble about buying him a drink, when I caught the look on his face. I knew right then that he was going to smash me one in the face. I jumped back onto the table and he missed my throat by about a foot or so. I was very confused why he had swung a fist like that and then saw the Stanley knife in his hand. I did the only sensible thing, I rolled sideways of the table and ran for the door, I ran like a bastard and hailed a taxi, round the side of the pub, got in and left in a hurry. I puked my guts out later and had the shakes. What if he was faster and followed me? What if the taxi was not there and I was then trapped in a dark sidestreet with no one about? Well today I would still have ran, but if corned he would face a razor sharp Military and a Matriarch hidden and ready for action. Teach him a lesson for pulling a blade for no god damn reason. I got lucky that time, I won't get caught out again like that. I now generally avoid the 'bad' pubs, I am not a coward, but you can't take back your life when in jail or when you are six foot under. I am now far more 'aware' of stuff going on around me than before. If I feel something is 'up' I walk. I have done this several times in the past couple of years and I feel it was the right thing to do.
The other time was a couple of years later. I went to the local off lisence to get some beers for a party at a friends house. On the way out with a bag of Buds, a chap came out from an alley and proceeded to pull a cheap looking pocket knife of about 3-4 inches. Well I had been camping that day and still had my 9" Meula bowie knife on my side. I pulled back my coat showing him the large knife in the sheath and said... well it was rude and he ran away in a hurry. I left rapidly as well.
I take no pleasure from any on the above, it is scary and not nice. But there we go, I have yet to hurt anyone with a knife and plan to keep it that way. If I thought otherwise I would not carry a knife for any reason. I don't think a knife makes me a MA but I know that as a last ditch defence it is better than my finger nails.
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Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto
A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
