- Joined
- Feb 27, 2005
- Messages
- 8,278
Sole purpose is as a defensive knife to be carried appendix-style IWB.
Before we begin:
1. The reason for a defensive knife is that Minnesota state law defines a dangerous weapon as a firearm or any 'device designed as a weapon and capable of producing death or great bodily harm.' We don't have a ton of case law on this, but existing case law seems to fall on the line that while any knife is capable of producing death or great bodily harm, knives are not legally dangerous weapons unless they are also 'designed as a weapon.'
This is important because my employer's policy mirrors state law in forbidding dangerous weapons on campus, and because state law forbids carry of 'dangerous weapons' on school property, and I now have school-age children. So I'd like to have a defensive tool that can be legally carried and backed by a solid argument that it is not a 'dangerous weapon' under state law.
If it were not for those two things, I would simply rely on firearms 100 percent of the time.
So it is very important that the knife in question neither appear to be a fighting or combat knife nor be generally marketed or sold for that purpose.
2. I am only considering stainless knives under about 8" in length.
3. My budget is about $230, and I also have to pay for an aftermarket sheath out of that, as few factory fixed blades come with an acceptable sheath, and it's even rarer to find one set up for IWB carry with a pull-the-dot belt loop.
4. Ideal goal would be something like a Spyderco Street Beat with a clip point blade and a guard or deep choil for retention and avoiding having my hand ride up on the blade edge. Only problem with the Street Beat for this purpose is that it is marketed more as a 'tactical' knife.
5. Top contenders right now are all BRKT knives:
A. Bark River Adventurer II in 20CV: Major concern is grip shape versatility.
B. Bark River EDC in Elmax: Major concern is that the grip might be just a little crowded for comfort.
C. Bark River Gunny in Elmax: Major concern is price wouldn't allow for a sheath purchase right away.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Before we begin:
1. The reason for a defensive knife is that Minnesota state law defines a dangerous weapon as a firearm or any 'device designed as a weapon and capable of producing death or great bodily harm.' We don't have a ton of case law on this, but existing case law seems to fall on the line that while any knife is capable of producing death or great bodily harm, knives are not legally dangerous weapons unless they are also 'designed as a weapon.'
This is important because my employer's policy mirrors state law in forbidding dangerous weapons on campus, and because state law forbids carry of 'dangerous weapons' on school property, and I now have school-age children. So I'd like to have a defensive tool that can be legally carried and backed by a solid argument that it is not a 'dangerous weapon' under state law.
If it were not for those two things, I would simply rely on firearms 100 percent of the time.
So it is very important that the knife in question neither appear to be a fighting or combat knife nor be generally marketed or sold for that purpose.
2. I am only considering stainless knives under about 8" in length.
3. My budget is about $230, and I also have to pay for an aftermarket sheath out of that, as few factory fixed blades come with an acceptable sheath, and it's even rarer to find one set up for IWB carry with a pull-the-dot belt loop.
4. Ideal goal would be something like a Spyderco Street Beat with a clip point blade and a guard or deep choil for retention and avoiding having my hand ride up on the blade edge. Only problem with the Street Beat for this purpose is that it is marketed more as a 'tactical' knife.
5. Top contenders right now are all BRKT knives:
A. Bark River Adventurer II in 20CV: Major concern is grip shape versatility.
B. Bark River EDC in Elmax: Major concern is that the grip might be just a little crowded for comfort.
C. Bark River Gunny in Elmax: Major concern is price wouldn't allow for a sheath purchase right away.
Thanks for your thoughts.
