Hello, newb to knives but not guns

Not sure your location but from checking state to state while traveling, keep in mind that many state laws (re: knives) are written in such a way as to deem knives legal to carry just so long as they are not carried with the "intent" to do physical harm to anyone., ie: used as a "weapon"...

"Intent" creates a gray area in the law, so remember that it behooves you not to ever carry a knife as a "weapon". If you carry a knife as a weapon, (even for self defense), it creates the "intent" which opens up a legal gray area...

Just food for thought, carry a knife as an intended tool and not a SD weapon...
If, god forbid, you ever find yourself in a really bad way, it is perfectly ok to use a "tool" in order to defend yourself...
 
Badhammer said:
Has this self defense theory ever been put to the test? Just seems that if two people are fighting over one gun, letting go with one hand while you reach for a knife, get your hand on the knife, draw and or deploy the knife then actually use that knife all the while your opponent has two hands trying to get the gun seems a little hopeful.

If you can't keep or regain control with two hands then going to just one better be lighting fast and effective. Maybe shoving your thumb in his eye socket but pulling a knife, again I have my doubts. Also seems like it would be easier to pull your BUG. Even if you miss just the discharge of that gun could change the dynamics in your favor.
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I am assuming you have chosen a knife as a backup tool and not a backup gun. The theory is sound, obviously depending on you being able to judge when the appropriate time is to draw your knife. Atleast it is sound enough that it is being taught all over the place. Nothing is 100% foolproof or ideal. Truth is I have never been in this situation, thank god.

However as your hand is around the grip of the firearm generally you will have a more secure grip. So there could be opportunities to stab.
 
Lapedog said:
I am assuming you have chosen a knife as a backup tool and not a backup gun. The theory is sound, obviously depending on you being able to judge when the appropriate time is to draw your knife. Atleast it is sound enough that it is being taught all over the place. Nothing is 100% foolproof or ideal. Truth is I have never been in this situation, thank god.

However as your hand is around the grip of the firearm generally you will have a more secure grip. So there could be opportunities to stab.
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Did some research and did find some videos where this does seem a viable option though it perhaps more so if both individuals were on their feet and the handgun was in the holster. I also got the impression that a karambit or fixed blade was preferred over a more standard folding knife.

My initial post was based more along the lines of being on the ground with the handgun in hand. In that instance I still feel using a knife could be more problematic/less successful than going for the eyes or some other vulnerable area with the free hand.
 
If you choose to carry a gun great, I hope you have quality and continual training. If you carry a knife great. If you choose a knife based on a role as self defense get a fixed blade, if you must get a folder get something waved and carry it on your off side. I would strongly suggest, if you are serious about this, get proper training as well as force on force training.
 
Don't consider a knife for self defense until you've been trained IMHO. I use mine as tools. To cut things that need to be cut.
 
Forget the knife as a "backup".
Your better off with the extra mags (preferably no less than two) and a backup pistol or revolver, with spare mags or speed loaders, as required.

To quote a line from the book
'BLACK FRIDAY' (Jan Stryvant)
"Claws are nice, but you can't kill someone across the parking lot with them."

If you have not done so already, I would also advise you to get some good Class 3 or 4 body armor, and wear it whenever you leave home.

When I carried, I had a .45 ACP in a small of the back holster, a 9mm in a shoulder holster, and a .380 in a fannypack, plus at least two spare mags for each. (none of my pistols were high capacity)
Yes, I also wore body armor and a jean jacket.
The convenience store we had was in a "bad neighborhood". The corner we were on was where the territories of four warring gangs met.
Company policy was "When you are on company property, you will be armed."
 
Badhammer said:
Did some research and did find some videos where this does seem a viable option though it perhaps more so if both individuals were on their feet and the handgun was in the holster. I also got the impression that a karambit or fixed blade was preferred over a more standard folding knife.

My initial post was based more along the lines of being on the ground with the handgun in hand. In that instance I still feel using a knife could be more problematic/less successful than going for the eyes or some other vulnerable area with the free hand.
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My assessment of a karambit is that m
3fifty7 said:
If you choose to carry a gun great, I hope you have quality and continual training. If you carry a knife great. If you choose a knife based on a role as self defense get a fixed blade, if you must get a folder get something waved and carry it on your off side. I would strongly suggest, if you are serious about this, get proper training as well as force on force training.
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Definitely a fixed blade for self defense!

A waved knife is the only folder that is adequate for self defense. And even then it is BARELY adequate.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Pick the best utilitarian everyday cutting tool for you ,and practice some self defense with it.
You're already carrying what is almost always dead weight in the form of your firearm since you hopefully will never need it, and you don't need more dead weight in a knife that could be useful.

A good general utilitarian blade will most often be sharp and thinly ground with a good tip, this will be great for everyday utility and as good as anything else in an unlikely self defense role if it's quick to deploy / draw.

I may be way off on this, but it would seem to me that an item you handle and use every single day would be so familiar to you that when the adrenaline hits there may just be less chance of you fumbling and dropping it or something.

Since you seem to have chosen some already utilitarian blades, you need to make sure you actually use it as often as possible as a cutting tool.
Its the best way to get familiar with it so you don't drop it.
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This is good advice. I like to practice taking my folder from my pocket, opening and closing it in the dark.
 
afishhunter said:
Forget the knife as a "backup".
Your better off with the extra mags (preferably no less than two) and a backup pistol or revolver, with spare mags or speed loaders, as required.

To quote a line from the book
'BLACK FRIDAY' (Jan Stryvant)
"Claws are nice, but you can't kill someone across the parking lot with them."

If you have not done so already, I would also advise you to get some good Class 3 or 4 body armor, and wear it whenever you leave home.

When I carried, I had a .45 ACP in a small of the back holster, a 9mm in a shoulder holster, and a .380 in a fannypack, plus at least two spare mags for each. (none of my pistols were high capacity)
Yes, I also wore body armor and a jean jacket.
The convenience store we had was in a "bad neighborhood". The corner we were on was where the territories of four warring gangs met.
Company policy was "When you are on company property, you will be armed."
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Most confrontations don’t take place from across the parking lot. (If you have that distance I suggest you use it to run)

The ugly truth that many in the “only a gun is suitable for SD” camp don’t want to admit is that most civillian crime based encounters happen within bad breath distance. Few people are getting into running gun battles 50m away from eachother.

This is by design. Any criminal worth their salt won’t let you know you are being attacked until they are right ontop of you in a position of advantage.
 
afishhunter said:
Forget the knife as a "backup".
Your better off with the extra mags (preferably no less than two) and a backup pistol or revolver, with spare mags or speed loaders, as required.

To quote a line from the book
'BLACK FRIDAY' (Jan Stryvant)
"Claws are nice, but you can't kill someone across the parking lot with them."

If you have not done so already, I would also advise you to get some good Class 3 or 4 body armor, and wear it whenever you leave home.

When I carried, I had a .45 ACP in a small of the back holster, a 9mm in a shoulder holster, and a .380 in a fannypack, plus at least two spare mags for each. (none of my pistols were high capacity)
Yes, I also wore body armor and a jean jacket.
The convenience store we had was in a "bad neighborhood". The corner we were on was where the territories of four warring gangs met.
Company policy was "When you are on company property, you will be armed."
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Did you live in Venezuela at the time?
 
Sonnydaze said:
I've carried a concealed firearm since 1987. I carry a gun that goes BANG every time.
I was a firearms dealer for a long time, and an enthusiastic handgun owner since 1959.
For the last eight yrs or so, I've been heavy into knives, but have never seriously considered using one for defensive means.
Without special training in knife-fighting, I'd be a big loser.
I cut with knives...every day...and carry a fixed and a folder every day...they are tools to use, IMO.
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I would assume you carry a revolver? I just don't get excited about these tupperware guns with 20 rnd mags. I think lots of guys watch to many movies.
 
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Ramg66 said:
Hello, I am an experienced firearm packer, I have been carrying conceal since 1993. I have just started carrying a knife as a backup weapon. I can't believe I just started just now, I always thought, why would someone bring a Knife to a gun fight? No disrespect. But I met a conceal carry person who told me a knife is a perfect backup in case the gun fails or just can't do the job 100% of the time. Made sense to me, now I am addicted to Knives, I have purchased the Spyderco Para 2, ZT 0350, Benchmade Griptilian and the Spyderco Delica4 as a backup. Yes I said backup, now I don't have to carry an extra magazine, and I have a choice of a gun or a knife to control the situation. Anyway, damn I'm addicted now. Any advice will be appreciated, what do you think of my first knife collection?
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Welcome to the forum.
It looks like you’re off to a decent start with your collection.

Feel free to ignore all the experts on self defense, from your post I thought you wanted to talk about knives.
 
Thank you all for the warm welcomes and advice, I have to say I apologize for coming across as using the knife only as self defense, if that was the case I would not have added the Delica 4 to my rotation. I could have worded things a little different. My friend who is a serious survivalist recommended I take the little key chain knife off my keys and pack a knife with a clip in my pocket (I use my tool a lot as a cutter), I just wanted to point out that after I started looking into a EDC knives I became addicted.

I have not picked a favorite knife yet, as I am barely getting started (received my delica 4 today). What I like most is I don't even notice I have them in my pocket even the ZT 0350, the only time I notice them is when I pick up my pants and it's still in my pocket. For the ones that recommended the ZT 0452CF 0562CF and 0560 blew me away, as I am really taking a serious look at these.

Thanks again, also I wanted to add, I have never had to use any defense weapon of any kind, ever! My last fight was a boxing match when I was 19 (I'm 51). I walk away and avoid any confrontation.
 
Bladegunner said:
I would assume you carry a revolver? I just don't get excited about these tupperware guns with 20 rnd mags. I think lots of guys watch to many movies.
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carry a 10mm glock 20 when out in the jungle and swamps. cause we have bears and big caliber revolvers are great but heavy and low round count and bulky and hard to draw quickly since we dont have open carry down here unless fishing basically. can open carry on my own property but its just easier to keep concealed so when i step off property im not having to disarm and such. Tupperware 10mm 15 round mag solves those problems. so maybe not exciting but works and works well. luckily worse ive had to do it put down a destructive and aggressive boar on one of my properties and 10mm does that well enough. no movies on that one, just problems with big acreage.

for the op ...smatchet. beats a folder everytime.:)
 
Hickory n steel said:
Pick the best utilitarian everyday cutting tool for you ,and practice some self defense with it.
You're already carrying what is almost always dead weight in the form of your firearm since you hopefully will never need it, and you don't need more dead weight in a knife that could be useful.

A good general utilitarian blade will most often be sharp and thinly ground with a good tip, this will be great for everyday utility and as good as anything else in an unlikely self defense role if it's quick to deploy / draw.

I may be way off on this, but it would seem to me that an item you handle and use every single day would be so familiar to you that when the adrenaline hits there may just be less chance of you fumbling and dropping it or something.

Since you seem to have chosen some already utilitarian blades, you need to make sure you actually use it as often as possible as a cutting tool.
Its the best way to get familiar with it so you don't drop it
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I think calling a gun dead weight is a very Naive statement. From someone who carries a gun daily I don’t think you know what you are talking about and I’ll leave it that.

No for the op welcome to the forums lots of useful information here also a lot of misinformation. I don’t thing as a knife as a weapon or a back up to my firearm. And even if I did not carrying extra mag because I have a knife it’s just silly. Now to each their own but thinking a knife is there because a firearm you owned failed well In would work more on the firearm you don’t trust and see failing you in a SD situation then. I mean acknowledge the threat, decide to unholster your weapon, decide the situation is so bad you have to fire your weapon, realizing your weapon has failed, drop weapon deploy knife.
If I was you carry a weapon you trust and are familiar with and Cary a knife to cut stuff. Either way good luck and enjoy the forums.
 
gonebad395 said:
I think calling a gun dead weight is a very Naive statement. From someone who carries a gun daily I don’t think you know what you are talking about and I’ll leave it that.

No for the op welcome to the forums lots of useful information here also a lot of misinformation. I don’t thing as a knife as a weapon or a back up to my firearm. And even if I did not carrying extra mag because I have a knife it’s just silly. Now to each their own but thinking a knife is there because a firearm you owned failed well In would work more on the firearm you don’t trust and see failing you in a SD situation then. I mean acknowledge the threat, decide to unholster your weapon, decide the situation is so bad you have to fire your weapon, realizing your weapon has failed, drop weapon deploy knife.
If I was you carry a weapon you trust and are familiar with and Cary a knife to cut stuff. Either way good luck and enjoy the forums.
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Maybe taking up space would be a better choice of words.

A gun is carried in the hopes that it'll never be needed. It's there for a reason, but you can feel better about the weight / space something takes up when you use it all the time.
 
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