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I had a native when i was in school.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
I need help finding a self-defense pocket-knife
- Thread starter arcanem4
- Start date
Hold on a minute, I think most of our present company can agree that if an individual is determined to do harm, harm will be done. Colleges are not designed like prisons or military outposts, nor should they be to accomodate the one-in-a-million wack job. I've been in schools that are full of cops and security cameras, and it does nothing but create an atmosphere of fear and hostility. The teachers unconsciously see students as potential killers, and the students feel like inmates. In the end, it only exacerbates the sort of unstable personality that it tries to contain. I fully support measures such as parking-lot patrols and call-for-help buttons, but give the security guys a break for being only human.
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Arcane: Before choosing a blade for a perceived need of self-defense, you should first understand when it is lawful to use. One who produces a knife against another who has no lethal weapon becomes the aggressor subject to charges and penalties that can alter the rest of your life. If you have not already done so, listen, learn, and research before deciding.
All fair points and I fully agree. It is as you said: skill and training provide defense. And if one does not know how or does not have the will to use a weapon, then the weapon should never be carried. It's of course true that in some cases just displaying a weapon is enough to deter an attacker, but it's equally true that sometimes it will only piss them off and make them call your bluff.
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why not have it? end of thread.
mmmotorcycle
Captain Slow
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It doesn't have a point. If Spyderco made a SE Waved Endura I'd opt for that.
Ditch the knife, carry a sword... nobody will wanna piece of you while your walking around with a 4 foot sword slapped to your hip... unless they have a 5 foot sword... thats a thinker...
Just remember to periodically whip it out and swing it around, yelling and running in circles just to remind everyone that you have it and aren't afraid to use it.
Keep in mind if questioned about it say its not a weapon, its a utility sword that one has gotten me out of trouble on campus quite a few times.
Just remember to periodically whip it out and swing it around, yelling and running in circles just to remind everyone that you have it and aren't afraid to use it.
Keep in mind if questioned about it say its not a weapon, its a utility sword that one has gotten me out of trouble on campus quite a few times.
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Some views like letting others protect you have some validity and is being trained to protect yourself.
But if a weapon can be carried in the face of a percieved threat, then it makes sense to do so. If you produce a weapon, the assilant might also produce a weapon but then they might not. A weapon could escalate a situation but it could also prevent an attack.
Its a bit like saying don't defend yourself because they might be a black belt or don't run away because they might be a champion runner but you don't know that. That sort of thinking would result in you standing there to be assaulted or killed without doing anything to prevent it. I'm sure the police would be happy with that, it makes their life less complicated but you're the one who's injured or dead.
My thinking is if you cut your attacker, there will be enough DNA to catch him.
But if a weapon can be carried in the face of a percieved threat, then it makes sense to do so. If you produce a weapon, the assilant might also produce a weapon but then they might not. A weapon could escalate a situation but it could also prevent an attack.
Its a bit like saying don't defend yourself because they might be a black belt or don't run away because they might be a champion runner but you don't know that. That sort of thinking would result in you standing there to be assaulted or killed without doing anything to prevent it. I'm sure the police would be happy with that, it makes their life less complicated but you're the one who's injured or dead.
My thinking is if you cut your attacker, there will be enough DNA to catch him.
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I have been a college professor for fifteen years and a lifelong knifenut. I say that you should really lean towards utilitarian and legal knife carry while in a college environment. On campus, good judgement and good behavior on your part will remove 99% of all potential for a violent confrontation. Avoid excess alchohol, avoid all drugs, keep your hands off women you know are dating others, and stay away from known jerks, and you will have a pretty easy time of time. Of course, there is always the potential mugger or nutcase, but that is so random that you can only make the most general plans.
I have done martial arts for a long time and "Black Belts" are nothing special. Just means someone has done something for at least five years and pays their membership fees. You really don't need to worry about coming face to face with a real life NINJA WARRIOR.
I have seen 60 year old women with black belts that could do less than yell if ever need be. I have also seen kids around the age of 12 with "Black Belts", martial arts has become very commercialized and is now very detached from a fighting art, it is very rare to find a dojo that actually teaches self defense.
Sorry, just one of my pet peeves about the "Black Belt Karate Master!!!"
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If you are allowed to carry a knife on your campus, carry one but make it one that will be useful in your every day life. If you are concerned solely with self defense buy a pepper spray Pepper spray is usually considered a non lethal response and can be used to get yourself out of more jams than a knife. It will probably be more effective too. Remember that awareness will be your best weapon.
ps get yourself to a basic self defense class too!!
ps get yourself to a basic self defense class too!!
You might be surprised to know it can be equally frustrating to be the target of assumptions, especially if they happen to be baseless. And I think most posters in this thread aren't aware of any qualifications required to enter the discussion, so perhaps you could enlighten them. Remember, friends, only use argument from authority if you know your authority is bigger than theirs.
But lest I get too off topic...As far as pepper spray is concerned, one must remember it's not fool-proof, so to speak. In unlucky circumstances it's not difficult to spray your own face, and that might have ugly consequences in a tight spot. I believe everyone agrees with me when I say situational awareness and avoiding trouble is the best method.
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I agree with most of what has been written here. A knife should never be considered a deterent. Merely brandishing a knife to make them go away most often will not work on people determined on harming you. If you pull a knife you must be willing to use it and know how to use it. If you don't have the will or training, it most likely will do you little good.
Also, you must consider the unavoidable adrenaline dump that confrontation creates every time. Adrenaline without training can make any attempt at self defense futile. With the adrenaline thought in mind, pepper spray would work better for the untrained and unexperienced--it has a much lower skill level.
Also, pulling and using a knife, as per most laws, must be justified force as in your life and well being are truly endangered and this level of force defense is necessary.
I was jumped by two 17-years olds in 1999. Both out on furloughs from a juvenile prison. After being sucker punched and punching a hole thru the cheek of one assailant, I backed up 55-feet, blocking punches till my arms were solid bruises. I pulled my neck knife and warned them they were going to get hurt. They continued their assault until one guys hand was slashed (resulting in two surgeries) and the other had been stabbed in the ribs just stiches). They then ran off. Ends up I was arrested, charged with reckless endangerment that resulted in a two day trial, found not guilty and 16-thousand dollars in attorny's fees.
Would I do the same thing in this situation. Emphatically yes. Part of my situation is that as a Biker, I was profiled by the police big time. Also we live in a society that is less that accepting of people that want to defend themselves.
If you are going to carry a knife for defense you must consider a bigger picture and all it contains.
__________________________
Lord help me to be the man
my dog thinks I am
Also, you must consider the unavoidable adrenaline dump that confrontation creates every time. Adrenaline without training can make any attempt at self defense futile. With the adrenaline thought in mind, pepper spray would work better for the untrained and unexperienced--it has a much lower skill level.
Also, pulling and using a knife, as per most laws, must be justified force as in your life and well being are truly endangered and this level of force defense is necessary.
I was jumped by two 17-years olds in 1999. Both out on furloughs from a juvenile prison. After being sucker punched and punching a hole thru the cheek of one assailant, I backed up 55-feet, blocking punches till my arms were solid bruises. I pulled my neck knife and warned them they were going to get hurt. They continued their assault until one guys hand was slashed (resulting in two surgeries) and the other had been stabbed in the ribs just stiches). They then ran off. Ends up I was arrested, charged with reckless endangerment that resulted in a two day trial, found not guilty and 16-thousand dollars in attorny's fees.
Would I do the same thing in this situation. Emphatically yes. Part of my situation is that as a Biker, I was profiled by the police big time. Also we live in a society that is less that accepting of people that want to defend themselves.
If you are going to carry a knife for defense you must consider a bigger picture and all it contains.
__________________________
Lord help me to be the man
my dog thinks I am
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
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What you need is training. If you can afford it, go for it. If not, you can train yourself. I'm talking about hand to hand combat. Simple boxing might do it. Depending on where your school is, you might not need to carry anything for protection. Also, if you are caught carrying a knife, it is not for protection . There are some models out there that would do well in the hands of an experienced person. I own a Benchmade Skirmish and a Spyderco Military, both could be used for good SD. Not by me, I don't have any training. Even using a walking stick, it could be easily taken from me by someone with a little skill and speed on me. Worry about yourself before you introduce a knife into the equation.
Just my 2 bits.
. There are some models out there that would do well in the hands of an experienced person. I own a Benchmade Skirmish and a Spyderco Military, both could be used for good SD. Not by me, I don't have any training. Even using a walking stick, it could be easily taken from me by someone with a little skill and speed on me. Worry about yourself before you introduce a knife into the equation. Just my 2 bits.
Are you kidding?
'a perceived need' I though self-defense was a right!
Am I alone on this. I just read the 'plastic knives should be illegal posts' on another thread. And the 'if you buy it you are as bad as those who make it' posts in that thread.
...Did I miss the thread where forumites agreed to turn off critical thinking skills and logic?
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So let me get this straight - on one hand you say that campus safety provides protection from violent crime, but at the same time they are just a bunch of schmoes who will not get involved in a violent situation?
Sounds like you haven't thought this one through.
It also sounds like you're too young to realize that there are real threats out there. "feeling safe" usually just means you're blissfully ignorant of what can and does happen.
I used to carry a knife for self-defense (Microtech Halo III), until I found I needed to use it for more mundane things like cutting twine and opening boxes. I switched it out for a Lone Wolf, Lobo. I think its a good knife; you have the automatic function but can still open it manually for normal use or if there is a malfunction with the spring. Also it doesnt look like a tactical blade, it looks like an average pocket-knife (if you get the wood scales), so no one has a cow when they see you use it. The auto mechanism is built into the scales, so if campus security gives it a once-over they probably wont even realize its an automatic. It cuts well and is good for everyday use and still works well as a tactical folder.