Twice.
Knife-Benchmade 330 carried clipped in my shirt pocket.
First time was a couple years ago in downtown Las Vegas in the alleyway between Fitzgerarlds and Lady Luck, ~ 5:00AM Vegas time,,~8:00AM Ohio time which is why we were up amd moving at that hour. My wife and I were about 20 feet into the unlit alleyway when some guy comes out of the shadows and starts in with a hard luck story. At 5:00 AM, we were all alone except for him. Nothing real dramatic though. As it became clear all he wanted to do was distract us long enough to do some sort of kick or punch or cut and grab my wife's fanny pack, I put myself in between him and her. He beat feet when I drew my hand up to my shirt, where it was plain I carried a knife of some sort there. The 330 is plainly a knife to someone that knows what the top of a clipped knife looks life, otherwise it's not very clear what it is. That plus another couple appeared about 50 feet away.
A few things about this:
1.) I didn't expect trouble, but I't wasn't totally unexpected. I guess you could say I was in condition "off white"
. My mind was more on the Elvis slots and free Bloody Mary's than it was on getting mugged.
2.) I very much looked the part of a middle aged tourist. Slot cards hanging from the neck, tub full of nickles, wife the same,,the whole bit. If it came down to his word against our word, no contest. All I had to do is what I did. Drop the BM into my pants pocket. Being middle aged, fat dumb and happy looking can be a distinct advantage. What it boils down to though is if you look, act and dress like a banger, expect that to compound things. More so if you go it alone. 2 is always better than 1, especially where word against word applies.
3.) I avoided trouble, I didn't extricate myself from it. Huge difference. Plain and simple, things worked out for me(us) and didn't for him. Take away the sudden appearance of the other couple, or add another BG and it's a different ballgame.
4.) Adding to the above, I didn't have to draw to make it effective, but I was 100% prepared to do so. I'd far rather spend my time explaining my actions to officer friendly, than visiting my wife in a hosipital,,, or worse.
5.) The whole episode happened with incredible speed. From his first appearance, to when he turned and ran must have lasted 30 seconds. At the time it happend though, it seemed like it was taking an hour for him to give me(us) his hard luck story. Having been in deep kimchee a couple of other times, that whole time stands still feeling told me I(we) was (were) in trouble,,,big trouble. My wife on the other hand commented later that the young man was talking fairly fast, and acting "impatient", because he ran (actually walked fast) away without waiting for our response.
Sorry to be so long winded here. It really reads a lot more melodramatic than it actually was. I really think that a show of force goes a long way towards making a BG rethink you as a target. I'm not talking about flashing steel or anything as drastic as that. Simply showing you are ready, willing and able to resist, and quite possibly inflict some damage makes you less of a target is all. Actually pulling on someone is a different matter. If it comes down to that, you better have all your ducks in a row. This isn't really a "I pulled on the guy and he ran away" story. It's a , "Hey, I'm going to be more expensive target than I'm willing to bet you're willing to pay for" story.
The second time is similar, except for the time of day, location and actions,and I was by myself. Same basic thing though. Possible BG, agitated and nervous, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt w/the hood on in 75 degree weather, asked for a smoke. My hand went to my shirt pocket, he spotted the BM and ran. Maybe scared, maybe just too high or drunk. Whatever. Bottom line, I as a fairly well dressed business person, and he dressed as a banger or a kook, presented something he didn't quite expect.
Knife-Benchmade 330 carried clipped in my shirt pocket.
First time was a couple years ago in downtown Las Vegas in the alleyway between Fitzgerarlds and Lady Luck, ~ 5:00AM Vegas time,,~8:00AM Ohio time which is why we were up amd moving at that hour. My wife and I were about 20 feet into the unlit alleyway when some guy comes out of the shadows and starts in with a hard luck story. At 5:00 AM, we were all alone except for him. Nothing real dramatic though. As it became clear all he wanted to do was distract us long enough to do some sort of kick or punch or cut and grab my wife's fanny pack, I put myself in between him and her. He beat feet when I drew my hand up to my shirt, where it was plain I carried a knife of some sort there. The 330 is plainly a knife to someone that knows what the top of a clipped knife looks life, otherwise it's not very clear what it is. That plus another couple appeared about 50 feet away.
A few things about this:
1.) I didn't expect trouble, but I't wasn't totally unexpected. I guess you could say I was in condition "off white"
. My mind was more on the Elvis slots and free Bloody Mary's than it was on getting mugged.2.) I very much looked the part of a middle aged tourist. Slot cards hanging from the neck, tub full of nickles, wife the same,,the whole bit. If it came down to his word against our word, no contest. All I had to do is what I did. Drop the BM into my pants pocket. Being middle aged, fat dumb and happy looking can be a distinct advantage.
What it boils down to though is if you look, act and dress like a banger, expect that to compound things. More so if you go it alone. 2 is always better than 1, especially where word against word applies.3.) I avoided trouble, I didn't extricate myself from it. Huge difference. Plain and simple, things worked out for me(us) and didn't for him. Take away the sudden appearance of the other couple, or add another BG and it's a different ballgame.
4.) Adding to the above, I didn't have to draw to make it effective, but I was 100% prepared to do so. I'd far rather spend my time explaining my actions to officer friendly, than visiting my wife in a hosipital,,, or worse.
5.) The whole episode happened with incredible speed. From his first appearance, to when he turned and ran must have lasted 30 seconds. At the time it happend though, it seemed like it was taking an hour for him to give me(us) his hard luck story. Having been in deep kimchee a couple of other times, that whole time stands still feeling told me I(we) was (were) in trouble,,,big trouble. My wife on the other hand commented later that the young man was talking fairly fast, and acting "impatient", because he ran (actually walked fast) away without waiting for our response.
Sorry to be so long winded here. It really reads a lot more melodramatic than it actually was. I really think that a show of force goes a long way towards making a BG rethink you as a target. I'm not talking about flashing steel or anything as drastic as that. Simply showing you are ready, willing and able to resist, and quite possibly inflict some damage makes you less of a target is all. Actually pulling on someone is a different matter. If it comes down to that, you better have all your ducks in a row. This isn't really a "I pulled on the guy and he ran away" story. It's a , "Hey, I'm going to be more expensive target than I'm willing to bet you're willing to pay for" story.
The second time is similar, except for the time of day, location and actions,and I was by myself. Same basic thing though. Possible BG, agitated and nervous, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt w/the hood on in 75 degree weather, asked for a smoke. My hand went to my shirt pocket, he spotted the BM and ran. Maybe scared, maybe just too high or drunk. Whatever. Bottom line, I as a fairly well dressed business person, and he dressed as a banger or a kook, presented something he didn't quite expect.
