Knife for the GF

W

Wasz

Joined
Oct 2, 2002
Messages
353
Ok my girlfriend is a college student at an innercity college. Shes not a knife person and shes not real keen on my knife "habit". However she told me about when she was out one evening with a friend some random guy came up to them and was rambling for about 5 seconds then walked away. She was a little shaken i guess but nothing too bad in any case i told her i would get her a little knife to have on her just because. I want to get her something small no more than 2.5 inches that way if someone sees her with it its not an issue. I'm also really trying to find something with a color handle. So far im thinking Salsa? I know that its not really going to be much good for defense and ill explain all that to her and about the legality of using a knife against someone etc but mostly I HAVE A CHANCE TO CONVERT HER!!! so give me some good suggestions while i have an opening.
 
calypso jr. it's got enough length for SD, but will really excel as a utility. Under 3 inch too.
 
Kershaw Scallion for a small one, or a rainbow leek if a little larger is ok. The Scallion's come in colors and she would thing the raibow leek is pretty. Main reason is the flipper opener. If your girlfriend has much in the way of fingernails, some knives may not be too easy for her to open quickly.
 
Got the g/f a Spyderco SS Dragonfly.

Pros:
- doesn't look particularly offensive (her friends think it's 'cute'; it's very small, shiny, and looks like some sort of jewelry)
- handles very well for its size (very secure in grip, works particularly well with smaller hands)
- has an opening hole (easier to hit than a thumbstud)
- is riveted together (low maintenance)
- is a lock-back (lock reliability, ease of maintenance)
- is lightweight, slim (slimmer than most (all?) FRN models), small (easily carried on the person, though this may not be a significant factor if it's clipped to a bag or in a side-pocket of a purse; however, the Dragonfly is still inobtrusive)
- has a very useful bladeshape for misc. tasks, along with a full flat grind that makes for an incredible cutter
- fairly low cost and is Spyderco quality and backed by their warranty, along with a very good stainless steel

Cons:
- the knife was pretty tight, and it took some practice to get it to where she could open and close it with ease, one-handed
- it's a quality, modern knife; it took a while to get all of the things we take for granted into her head regarding maintenance, usage, and knives in society.

She now carries it everywhere either IWB (when she has no pockets)/RFP with a little cell-phone strap as a lanyard. I lent her one of my tac knives to handle for a few weeks, just to get her used to handling and using knives; she ended up acknowledging that they are pretty useful things to have around, and I taught her the general rules regarding knife carry and use.

And now I have a very understanding g/f who recently bought me a Pacific Salt at a knife-shop in Kyoto. :D

On another note, there are probably other knives that fit the general criteria I was looking for, but the SS Dragonfly seemed the best fit overall. I also gave her a user 705; she still carries the Dragonfly over it. It was also a knife that I liked (and I get to handle it all the time now ;)); I bought it along with a few other knives for myself including a Calypso Jr.
 
My girlfriend carrys a SS Dragonfly aswell. You can even have it engraved. I totally understand that you MUST size the opportunity to make her a knife nut :D, however, as SD tool I would rather recommend an ASP baton...how about giving her both?
 
My standard suggestion for this situation: A stainless steel handled Spyderco cricket.

It's small, cute, and so uniquely shaped that people see "cute" or "sexy" before they see "knife". It's also extremely easy to carry (when closed, it's a thin oval--no pointy corners) in a pocket, waistband, or bra.

And the reverse-S blade shape makes up for its short blade in a self-defense situation.

And it's fast and easy to deploy with a "Spyder-drop" (draw the knife by the opening hole, and "snap" the handle down into your palm).

I've never known a woman who didn't like the cricket.
 
The stainless steel cricket is a great little utility knife. I carry one in a pocket notebook cover.

For self-defense, a small knife in the hands of someone without serious training is a disaster making itself happen. Pulling the knife could turn a rambling drunk into a life-threatening assault.

Batons are generally illegal and rarely would she bother to carry one.

Pepper spray, on the other hand, is usually legal, and it's certainly a better way to slow down an opponent, giving her time to leave the area. You can get it in small cans or even pen-sized keyring dispensers. *fsssssttt!*

But get a her a small knife, too! :)
 
My wife didn't like the Kershaw Chive I got her at all. She didn't like the assisted opening and felt it was dangerous. I removed the torsion bar for her and then she liked it. Even though she has that Chive in her purse now she has always carried a Mini Pal from Cold Steel on her key ring. She uses that for everything. Either one of these seem to fit the bill for a woman that isn't necessarily a knife person. I thought she'd really take to the Chive. It seemed to me to be a great pocket razor but she still prefers the CS MINI. I think she only carries the Chive because I gave it to her. I never see her use it.

Since all of this there have been several other knives come out with a knife that a woman may find user friendly. The Schrade Simon is a great knife if you can still find them. The little lanyard clip like what comes on a carbiner is pretty neat and they are very useful and inconspicuous to carry.

For what it is worth. Get her involved in the knife you choose. We bought a stun gun for my sister-in-law for self defense in Memphis Tn. where she had been mugged twice and sure enough she got mugged a third time and when she attempted to use the stun gun she ended up stunning herself and the thief got away with a good feel and her purse. Make sure she is comfortable with what you get her.
 
ahhh many more options. truthfully im not giving it to her for sd i mean i know a lot better than that, but i am almost certain that having a knife around will show her how useful it is thanks for the options keem em coming
 
Given a 2.5" blade limit, and even a passing interest in self-defense, I agree with your first instincts 100%. Get her a Spyderco Salsa in her favorite color and don't look back!

No knife that size is going to be good for SD, especially in the hands of someone without training, but the Salsa's grip makes it less prone to disaster than anything else I've seen with that small a blade. And the same ergonomics make it an outstanding utility knife. Plus, it really is kind of cute. :)


If you decide not to go with the Salsa, I know more than one women who carries each of the following and swears by it:

1) Spyderco Jester or Ladybug
2) Kershaw Chive (preferrably in the rainbow-finish)
3) Spyderco Mouse or Blade-Tech Mouse

--Bob Q
 
CRKT M-16 Compact. It has a shiny ti finish on the blade. It is very light weight and small. The flipper makes for great action. Easy to carry Oh so sexy.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
The stainless steel cricket is a great little utility knife. I carry one in a pocket notebook cover.

For self-defense, a small knife in the hands of someone without serious training is a disaster making itself happen. Pulling the knife could turn a rambling drunk into a life-threatening assault.

Batons are generally illegal and rarely would she bother to carry one.

Pepper spray, on the other hand, is usually legal, and it's certainly a better way to slow down an opponent, giving her time to leave the area. You can get it in small cans or even pen-sized keyring dispensers. *fsssssttt!*

But get a her a small knife, too! :)
Click to expand...

I agree with the above. A knife is great to have handy. but it can be taken away and used against you, especially if you have little or no training.

That said, her best defense is walking with one or more friends, but you could still get her a knife, just warn of all the above.
 
Getting her anything other than a fixed blade would be silly. If the intention was to get her knife for self defense, you gotta go fixed blade. Can you imagine your girlfriend snapping open a folder under pressure? Can you imagine her spending the time it would take to get comfortable with opening a folder while being attacked?
Go for a small fixed blade that she can attach to loop inside her handbag. Then either give her or get her the training necessary to know when and how to use it if needed. I agree fully with Esav Benyamin, a knife in hands of the untrained can be very bad indeed (pepper spray is just as bad and can have the same effect on a rambling drunk.)
 
For someone with minimal training, IMO the best choice is something like a La Griffe, Spyderco Spot or Hideaway. They would also be good for someone who is trained. I don't have a Spot or Hideaway, but the La Griffe is so small and light you won't know it is there until you need it and it is difficult to take away. If she wants a pretty knife some of the custom La Griffes look really nice.
 
You should also consider a small SAK or multitool with scissors, like the Victorinox Ambassador or Leatherman Squirt S4. She may find the scissors at least as useful as the blade.

Then get her into a good self-defense class. She had a situation that concerned her, so now is the time to talk to her about it. There are some classes that are intended specifically for women. After the class, she can make her own choices about which defensive tool to carry, and more importantly, will know whether and how to use to it.
 
I almost suggested the SPOT myself, but my experience has been that very few non-knifenuts will actually carry a fixed blade except on special occasions. The first consideration in getting someone a first knife has to be finding one they're willing to keep with them. I'd rather have a friend carry a Jester than keep a SPOT on their night table...

And I strongly second the earlier recommendation about pepper spray. I like the Fox Labs keychain container for their 1/2 oz spray. The ASP Keychain Defender is also an excellent choice.

--Bob Q
 
There's always the Hideaway! :)

After careful discussion about what she would like, and likely use, I got my ex a 6" Marttiini filet knife for her purse. Her other self-defense concepts are similar in impact. Do not mess with that woman.
 
I would suggest the CRKT Point Guard. My girlfriend is getting one the next time I have a pass...
 
Pepper spray is good as a deterrent and a distraction, but no one should believe the ads claiming an extremely high success rate. I believed it when I sold the stuff, but even then I cautioned people that they should still have a back-up like hand-to-hand skills and/or a firearm or other weapon. I don't think anyone here believes pepper spray is as effective as the ads say, but I'd just like to point that out if anyone not familiar with the topic is reading this.

The foundation for self-defense should be close-quarters combat, whether unarmed or with weapons. Pepper spray is more useful when used with firearms skills. Just using it like you are spraying a bug is not a good idea. Get off line fromt he attacker while you are spraying and put yourself in a position to defend or attack.

The problem with women's self-defense classes is that many are pretty bad and will not really cover effective weapons. I took a self-defense class in college (I needed PE credits) and the class was 70% women, so I guess it was sort of a woman's self-defense class, but the material was watered-down Karate. The only woman in that class who I think could have defended herself was one who was in the fire department. She was far stronger than the guy in the class who was a bodybuilder. Much of what I've seen in these types of classes and is that they teach a watered-down martial arts and only teach a little awareness if they teach it at all. There are good ones, of course. Some can be very expensive and some will be more reasonable. You can ask the question on www.selfdefenseforums.com and get pointed in the right direction.

Get the video "Safe in the Street" by Mark Macyoung and possibly some of his books. "Real World Self-Defense" by Jerry VanCook is an excellent book. I've found that books and videos like these are very important parts of self-defense training and often cover things not covered in classes. Classes are still important since they will teach you how to move, but you still will need self-study.

In my experience, people totally unfamiliar with knives, meaning they don't really use them and also have not been brainwashed against them, usually don't see much of a difference between fixed blades and folders. The main distinctions are usually size and style.
 
shes done kung fu for years i know its not self defense and really wont help her much also the knife isnt for self defense. also she was out with a friend which we talked about before she even left and she wont go out without at least one other person with her i will look into the peper spray though, it is a good thought seeing as she shouldnt be anywhere where she cant get to safty or other people quickly even if it only affords a distraction. she is always close to campus which is actually encorpurated into the city. there are always police around the campus or the area surrounding it. basically she gave me the go ahead to get her a knife and shes around the campus a lot so i want it to be small so sheeple wont get scared and something that will appeal to her as a girl so "cute" little knife is a great thing to get her. i intend to explain to her fully that the knife isnt for protecting herself although that is how the subject came up that time but i still want to get her one becuase its a chance to turn her to my side
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top