knives for self defense? is it mental?

lol R4R :D

re: OC spray the size of a bic lighter.

that itty bitty thing? let's you and someone go at it, and you try to hose em down with that 1.5 oz
NO power behind it, windy day loser chemical device and see what happens. Knives dont care about
losing pressure or windy days, and they don't need to be reloaded!!!

OC should be a suppliment to either a knife or a firearm, a less then lethal option, but a suppliment nontheless
and definitely not a "go-to" when heading out and needing some back-up.
 
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Yeah, pepper spray is fine, but when the wind is blowing - watch out!

I went outside to test a can I've had for a while and there was a little breeze blowing.

I got a whiff of it for my efforts and it wasn't pleasant, I can attest to that.

I guess its not a bad choice for women, but my wife carries a ParaMilitary most days.
 
J_Curd said:
If you could carry a gun would you? Because I PROMISE you a can of OC spray is easier to carry than a gun. Same for a flashlight.

Both OC and flashlights come in packages as small as a BIC lighter or smaller these days, I assure you they arent difficult to carry.

Can't never could do anything :)

A knife is better than nothing...best of luck.
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No I probably wouldn't, like I said, my lifestyle doesn't warrant it and so i would end up not carrying it. Same thing with that little lighter sized pepper spray and 6 of 7 days of the week it's windy here, so that would be almost useless. I use my edc folder everyday though, so it gets carried everyday.
 
The way I look at it is.A knife has two uses,I carry my knife for it's priority function,which is utility work.But if need be,it can also serve as a self defense tool.It would have to be a very dark and gloomy day indeed for me to have to use it as a defense tool.God forbid...
 
frontline29 said:
The way I look at it is.A knife has two uses,I carry my knife for it's priority function,which is utility work.But if need be,it can also serve as a self defense tool.It would have to be a very dark and gloomy day indeed for me to have to use it as a defense tool.God forbid...
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Amen. Knives are tools first and weapons second. But IMO knives are not good for primary self defense weapons. Yes a knife can be used as a self defense weapon, but so can keys/flashlight/pretty much anything you have with you.

If anyone truly wants a self defense weapon then I suggest investing in a gun. Knives can be used for self defense, but they aren't always the best tool for the job. I really think when the term "self defense" gets added to a knife description it's just a marketing ploy same with "tactical".
 
I had these thoughts too. I say to myself I don't carry for SD, but I can't
help but to feel a little more secure when it's on me. However, I think a lot
of what people here and experienced Martial Artists say does hold a lot of
weight and that is: If you are not trained using a blade in a high stress
situation has a very likely chance of working against you. I believe this because
I've cut myself just practicing a fast draw in the comfort of my own home! LOL!
Funny here, but would really work against me in a tight spot. For that reason
I've considered getting some training more than anything just for my passion of
knives and wanting to know everything about them. But could be useful one day
as well if worse comes to worse.
 
Having a military and police backround I've seen a lot of fights and a lot of victims. These days the probability is your going to run into a gun but don't underestimate the value or deadly potential of a blade. I've probably seen more stabbings than GSW. The people that say a weapon is more dangerous to the person carrying it are sheeple talking about sheeple. Carrying a deadly weapon is a huge responsibility that includes doing the training required to become proficient withthe weapon and street wise in the tactics of close quarters combat. I carry a glock md30 but I always carry a blade or two as backup. In close a blade can cause more damage than a pistol and a lot more messy. walk softly but carry as big as you can all the time.
 
Look, if someone could pull a knife from your hand in an attack, they could damn sure do the same if you had a gun. My primary focus in defending myself is to escape. If I can run away, I'll do so. If I need to punch my way out, fine. If the deck is really stacked against me, I'll pull my knife and use it to cut my way to safety. I'm not going to knife-fight. I'm going to escape via my knife.

I'm also of the opinion that knives should be felt, not seen. If the situation does not require immediate use of the knife, you have no business brandishing a weapon.

A gun is a powerful tool, but is not as good as a knife at close range, assuming both individuals are well-trained. Also, if you miss a shot and hit a bystander, you WILL face civil and criminal prosecution. Hell, even if you just shoot the perp, you will face legal examination. The attorney of the other party, or other party's family, will examine whether or not you could have escaped, instead of shooting the bad guy. The rest of the trial could go badly for you, and land you in a place where you won't have a gun or a knife. So, in my opinion, the gun only holds an advantage in an environment where you can shoot someone and not have to face legal repercussions, i.e. a battlefield, which is the very environment it was designed for. Any other place, I'll stick with my knife, and use it only as an extreme, last resort method of getting my ass to safety.
 
mlanghornes said:
Look, if someone could pull a knife from your hand in an attack, they could damn sure do the same if you had a gun. My primary focus in defending myself is to escape. If I can run away, I'll do so. If I need to punch my way out, fine. If the deck is really stacked against me, I'll pull my knife and use it to cut my way to safety. I'm not going to knife-fight. I'm going to escape via my knife.

I'm also of the opinion that knives should be felt, not seen. If the situation does not require immediate use of the knife, you have no business brandishing a weapon.

A gun is a powerful tool, but is not as good as a knife at close range, assuming both individuals are well-trained. Also, if you miss a shot and hit a bystander, you WILL face civil and criminal prosecution. Hell, even if you just shoot the perp, you will face legal examination. The attorney of the other party, or other party's family, will examine whether or not you could have escaped, instead of shooting the bad guy. The rest of the trial could go badly for you, and land you in a place where you won't have a gun or a knife. So, in my opinion, the gun only holds an advantage in an environment where you can shoot someone and not have to face legal repercussions, i.e. a battlefield, which is the very environment it was designed for. Any other place, I'll stick with my knife, and use it only as an extreme, last resort method of getting my ass to safety.
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The part in red is wrong. I've never spoken to a self-defense trainer/firearms instructor who would recommend a knife over a firearm. A practiced individual knows retention techniques. As many others in this thread have mentioned, a clear winner in a knife fight is hard to discern...you WILL get cut up no matter how much a BAMF you may be.

The part in blue is pure fail as well. Ever heard the adage "I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6"? It's your responsibility to know the carry laws in your state if you choose to CC a weapon. It's your responsibility to practice and train with your firearm. Furthermore, if my or my wife's life are at stake I'll do what I have to do and suffer the consequences later.


The underlined portions in your post are blanket statements and not entirely true. If you reside in a liberal mecca then perhaps you are required to attempt escape prior to defending yourself. I myself live in a free state; if someone enters my home for nefarious purposes I have every right to shoot them dead.

ETA: mlanghornes I see you reside in Texas...you guys have some of the best stand and defend laws in the nation. It would behoove you to learn them. FWIW, I'm not trying to bust your balls nor am I an advocate of looking for trouble. I do NOT want to end up in a gun/knife fight. As I've gotten older I've learned to avoid places where trouble may be lurking...some amount of situational awareness pays major dividends as well.


ETA2: To answer the OP, I carry a pistol IWB for defense. My folding knife is for more everyday matters.
 
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mlanghornes said:
A gun is a powerful tool, but is not as good as a knife at close range, assuming both individuals are well-trained. Also, if you miss a shot and hit a bystander, you WILL face civil and criminal prosecution. Hell, even if you just shoot the perp, you will face legal examination. The attorney of the other party, or other party's family, will examine whether or not you could have escaped, instead of shooting the bad guy. The rest of the trial could go badly for you, and land you in a place where you won't have a gun or a knife. So, in my opinion, the gun only holds an advantage in an environment where you can shoot someone and not have to face legal repercussions, i.e. a battlefield, which is the very environment it was designed for. Any other place, I'll stick with my knife, and use it only as an extreme, last resort method of getting my ass to safety.
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Quite uninformed and out of touch.

Being alive is a prerequesite to facing legal proceedings. That is quite preferable over the alternative.
 
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Okay all I know about knife fighting.........
Years ago there was an outfit by the name of Johnny Ek that made fighting knives for our military (maybe they still do) and they gave you a little pamphlet "Your Silent Partner" with the knife.
Here's what you do in an eye to eye duel- throw dirt in the other guy's eyes/face and stab him in the stomach, then cut his throat. If he is trying to fight and is waving his arms around try slashing a biceps muscle to put that arm out of commission then its the stomach/throat routine. If he is skilled in the martial arts and takes the knife away from you- you are in bad trouble. If the throat cutting bit make you queasy buy a gun- knife fighting isn't your thing.
If you get into a fight- what do you know about your opponent? Is he a martial arts expert? Does he have a gun you haven't yet seen? I like the mace/pepper spray idea.
The "Silent Partner" book claimed that the ideal knife has a double edged, 7" blade and no guard. I would say in today's military where there is a weight/bulk trade off that's good. If you're a civilian then such a knife should have a full tang but no scales- so that it is flat0- then keep it in a sheath fastened to the calf, under your pants. If you have to carry a knife in a pocket I would see if your state allows switch blades. In most cases it may be illegal to buy a switch blade but not illegal to own one. There are kits you can buy, etc to make one. In a fight you may be panicked and not operate a thumb knob correctly, the auto knife is definitely the way to go.
On the military issuing knives. In a lot of cases these knives are used by scouts to take out sentries, etc- a stab in the kidneys then cut the guy's throat.
Have you ever seen photos of knife wounds- really bad. I agree with the run if you can advice- no one wins in a knife fight, everybody is going to get cut up.
Like I said- that pepper spray/mace sounds pretty good.
The big Bowies of the frontier. I think that era probably saw the highest development of fighting knives we will ever see but in those days you could go around toting that hunk of steel. Those massive Spanish Navaja knives tucked in a belt or sash and under a coat- pretty good as well. I love those knives.
I carry a knife as a tool, if I was backed into a corner I'd use it but If I feel I'm going into a dangerous area I carry a gun.:cool:
 
SlyOne, interesting post. One question - why is is important for the knife to have no scales and be flat, I assume it's for concealment purposes and not for deployment, that true? thanks in advance.
 
deermaster said:
i thought i was big...6'4" 210 lbs....i think i would avoid a fight with you as well:eek::eek:
thanks for the responses, i fell the same way and both of you, avoid it at all costs, and use it only if my life truly depends on it.
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I'm with you...I've been called "formidable" at 6'2" 275#, but I now see that I'm a lil guy :) I carry a knife to cut rope, packaging, food, etc, but I suppose I could use it to cut people if absolutely no other option was available...
 
I was jumped by a pack(don't know how many --it was dark and I was taking a beating) when I was 18 (long time ago) all I knew is I had to do something fast---looked around as much as I could while taking a beating---found the smallest one and cold cocked em(I put everything I had into that punch)--dropped like a sack a bricks---I ran right over him and started running as fast as I could.

2 of them chased me for at least 2 blocks--by then I had enough --slipped the Buck 110 out of my back pocket--turned and faced them ready for anything(pumped full of adreneline)----neither wanted to try me and stopped and went back to where they came from----I closed my knife and kept on running--figuring the rest of em would be along sooner or later.

So never had to use a knife----but it did save my bacon.

Still have a scar by my eye where I got hit with the best I can figure out was a tire buddy.
 
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Some years ago I read an actual account of a knife fight in an old historical reprint of a New Orleans newpaper.

It seems a Frenchman and a Spanaird got into a heated arguement, and knives were brought into play. There was some back and forth damage, and then the Frenchman got his knife into the Spanairds stomach. But at the same time, the Spanaird got his knife into the Frenchmans heart, killing him instantly.

The Spanaird was declaired the winner as he lived almost an hour longer than the Frenchman.

Methinks there's a lesson there someplace.
 
robicon said:
I've never spoken to a self-defense trainer/firearms instructor who would recommend a knife over a firearm.
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There's a few who do, but only in really close.
When practicing disarms, I've had more success against gun than against knife(again, only in really close).
A gun is a great weapon, definitely, but don't get so fixated on it that you ignore its weaknesses, or ignore the strengths of a knife.
Different tools/weapons for different jobs.:)
 
Ryou: The reason I said no scales is that the blade fits a little better against the leg, you can have a regular handle if you prefer it. You can also take the blade/full tang and wrap the tang with cord, rawhide lace, etc to give you a little better grip.
One other thought, if you're facing a really bad situation- multiple people- and running is likely the better option- throw your wallet in a direction where they have to go chase it and run the other direction, hopefully the bad guys will be more interested in fighting over your wallet than getting into a knife fight with you- it may be a good idea to pull out the knife so they realize if they chase and catch you they'll will get cut up.:cool:
 
rookie4real said:
I am not an expert in self defense, but in my opinion using a knife for self defense can have an outcome hugely depending on a particular situation.

First, let’s make it clear that self defense means. It is protecting against direct threat to your life, not your property. If you are being rubbed and asked for your wallet, car, etc, it’s always better to give it away rather than get into confrontation.

Second, you must know that knife by Law is considered to be a LETHAL WEAPON and you can’t legally use it for self defense in a fist fight. You are allowed to protect yourself with a lethal weapon only against other lethal weapon. Just do extensive research on federal and your state laws.

One must remember that knife can be taken away from you by your attacker and used against you. If you are not very strong/quick and have no special training/skills you can bring more troubles on your head. I knew a guy who stubbed the attacker with his own knife.

Can knife be used for a self defense? Sure it can. Is it the best choice? Probably not, a firearm or even a baseball bat will work much better.

But the best self defense is to have a clear judgment, know your limits and think step ahead to avoid possible scenarios of self defense by not going to places where it may become necessary.
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gotta love strip clubs :D


to the Original Poster - the reason for the sense of safety that a knife subconciously provides is the fact that, when the situation get all screwed up, it can effectively keep people OUT of your personal space. it won't keep bullets out and it's not real good for keeping baseball bats out, either, but it's damn good for keeping people off you. this is not a realistic situations, just an example of the effect the different weapons have on the human brain: imagine two men that don't like eachother, 20 feet apart, both holding knives. now imagine those two guys both holding handguns. they are less likely to engage eachother, while holding the knives. the knife protects your personal space and that makes people feel better.

as for the idea of "disarming". NOT ME! i've only wrestled a live blade away from one person, in my whole life and she was trying to cut herself not me. it was very un-nerving because i knew she could decide i was a target at any time and it was actually VERY difficult to get away from her.

as for the "gun vs knife", if the situation allows for it, i will almost always opt for a contact weapon over a firearm.
 
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