OT: Self defense for a dainty gal.......

CAVEDWELLER

CAVEDWELLER

Joined
May 5, 2003
Messages
230
I know alot of HI forumites are married or have young daughters, so maybe you can help me out. My wife's Wal-mart moved into a newly built Supercenter and now, per management, they can't park near the front of the store. Employees have to park in a designated area more than 100 yds from the store front and she works the evening shift also. So you can imagine my worry for her safety.

She won't and can't carry a gun, I'm not a big fan of pepper spray, so that leaves blades. What do you guys suggest for a knife? Obviously she can't carry a 20" Sirupati, so I'm looking for something that she can carry either on a key chain or in her purse, but not raise alarm with shoppers if they see it (thus getting her fired).

She also has no defensive training, she has no desire or time and we can't afford it. I need some basic cut here, here, and here to stop an attack type stuff to show her. I know the pressure points are good places to slash, what else is there that will stop an attack. Thanks for your help!
 
Hi,
Lady I trained carries a Emerson Le Griffe,it's a small hawkbill that can't be taken away(use your computor & you will find a description)!Wish I was in your area could teach her the Gunting & she would be set!If there is anything I may do to help please advise,evenings,post Kukri4302, need more info on this HI Forum & I will get back to you !
THE SAINT! :cool:
 
A non-offensive, almost cute knife is the Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) Delilah's P.E.C.K.

It's a smaller version of the K.I.S.S., fits on a keychain and if you're smart...;) you'll get the one with 24K gold on it. :D

Here's a pic:

CRK-5520G.jpg



There's also one in black and gold:
(in all these pictures, the Delilah is the 5520 series)

CRK5520GK.jpg



Another picture showing all the 24K Gold series KISS & PECK:

24K_KSPK.JPG



They also make a "in the dark" version with a non-reflective coating that makes it very sheeple friendly:

KISSDARK.jpg



Also, check out these threads:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=168601

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162597

Dan
 
First line of defense..never get caught alone. Walk out to the car with someone else and look out for each other. I know that being trained and having a knife that isn't supposed to be able to be taken away sounds good, but the reaction of a gang on drugs is very different and some of the most popular drugs out there cause people to be able to withstand even several gunshots and keep moving. I think that management should address the need for secutity in the parking lot at shift changes. Maybe she could bring it up. Just an opinion from someone who's been there and done that.
 
I dated a girl for years that was tiny. Scraped by at the 5' tall mark and about 95lbs (no offense to anyone this small meant). I got her a Emerson Le Griffe (can be hard to find now)for self defense. Simple, small and brutally effective...kind of like her. Anyway. I have a couple of the Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) Delilah's P.E.C.K. which while I agree with pendentive is a nice sheeple friendly knife, and a great EDC, I would not have faith in it's style of lock to keep the blade open if (Lord forbid) it had to be used in self defense. I say this because I have had the blade close on a finger durning normal use once. CRKT also some small fixed blade that go by K.I.S.S that are not bad. I am a big fan of CRKT by the way greast folders for the money. Most important thing that she can have for self defense is a good pair of shoes and the sense to use them.
 
I agree with Feth and Mr. Clifton, the La Griffe is probably the best knife for her. I also had a CRKT KISS close up on my finger, which is why I'm not fond of folders. I have a CRKT Bear Claw that I may give her, it's the poor man's La Griffe, but I boogered up the point when I dropped it on the concrete at work. Mamav, she usually walks out with the pharmacist, but there are days when she has to walk alone.
 
Cavedweller:

She should hose her assailant(s) down with OC "Black Belt In A Can" first. If they are among the .01% who will not be left flopping like a minnow on a hot dock by this, then she can commense whittling on them with one of the knives mentioned. Many court appearances can be avoided with this approach.
 
Originally posted by cliff355
Cavedweller:

She should hose her assailant(s) down with OC "Black Belt In A Can" first. If they are among the .01% who will not be left flopping like a minnow on a hot dock by this, then she can commense whittling on them with one of the knives mentioned. Many court appearances can be avoided with this approach.
Click to expand...

I've heard alot of negatives about pepper spray. Plus she's gonna be outside in the wind. I don't want it coming back and getting her.
 
Cavedweller,
Bring the bear claw over and I'll fix the tip. I'm thinking the claw would a good thing for her to carry. Sandi has one and I don't think I wouldn't want to try to grab her when she has it in her hand!
God Bless.
Terry
 
From CRKT's website, concerning the Bear Claw:

BEAR CLAW
Designed in Alaska for those times you wish your knife was part of your hand, and prized by bush pilots, commercial fishermen and independent women.


I stand corrected, gentlemen. I had a chance to play with one and I must admit to really liking it. Why didn't I think of this before? :rolleyes:

Anyway, my only gripe would be that it locks up a little too well and I had to really tug on it hard to get it out.

Dan
 
Terry can probalby fix you up with a more lady-like sheath as well as fix the tip...;)
 
It pisses me off that we have to concern ourselves with stuff like this but I think that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I'd go with the caveman's advice. Take the time to learn some tactics with a small blade, get one and have it at the ready.
 
Another knife like the Lagriffe, and CRKT Bear Claw is the Smith & Wesson Badge knife. It's made the same way. I received one just yesterday from a guy on ebay for $12.99 + shipping. He's a good guy to deal with and has another for saleHERE

It's 440C, which is good for stainless. I got it for my sis in law who is a jogger. You can wear it as a neck knife with a chain, or clipped on a belt or pocketbook. Great price on a great little blade.

steve
 
To actually use a knife for defense requires a mindset that most women don't posess unless they have had hand to hand combat training, experience working the street, or been incarcerated.

A much better plan is to make it a rule not to go to the parking lot alone at night, and to NEVER deviate from this rule.
 
Bear Claw- "Anyway, my only gripe would be that it locks up a little too well and I had to really tug on it hard to get it out."

Dan

I agree with pendentive on this one. It is much harder to pull fron the sheath then it should be. I guess they are all like that. I wondered ft was just the ones that i had seen
 
Not to re-state the obvious or previously mentioned, but to add my opinion...

It's not a good idea to hand a woman a weapon and tell her to use it in self-defense, when she has no training. She will forget it's there, drop it, or get it used against her. Further, if she does manage to deploy and attack, if the attack isn't substantial, the predator will get only get pissed and will likely hurt her worse.

Often times men can't succeed with defense, so i'm not meaning to be sexist. It's a matter of your dexterity and reflexes when in the state of shock. Even trained persons can "freeze up".


The best defense for the untrained folks is the buddy system. Give the wife a really loud whistle for her keys, and maybe a kubotan.


I'd think the most-likely scenario your wife will encounter is a purse snatch, and in that case she's better off letting it go. Leave important cards and items and most money at home. Keeping make-up and a few dollars for soda in a purse is all ya need when going to work.

Have her get the night-shift organized. Speak with the store manager and/or bring it up at the next meeting. "Everyone waits, and we all leave the store together". That really seems the most logical thing to me, and this way there's all the stock guys going too. Alternatively, you could be there to pick her up. PITA, but it's what i used to do.

Best of luck to ya's!
 
Originally posted by CAVEDWELLER
I've heard alot of negatives about pepper spray. Plus she's gonna be outside in the wind. I don't want it coming back and getting her.
Click to expand...
You might not want to completely rule out pepper spray yet. Vampire Gerbil of the forums here has this website: http://www.tacticalheat.com/ . He has a review of the Fox Labs 5.3. It is the strongest stuff you can get, 5.3 million S.H.U. instead of 2 million. I think they are also avaliable in a stream instead of spray. The stream is not supposed to spray back at the user in windy conditions. I am wanting to get some for my wife who takes night classes at a university.

I agree with everyone about using a knife like the Le Griffe. I have been looking at the SPOT from spyderco. You might also want to consider a high intensity light. My wife carries a surefire e2e in her hand to the car at night, and a kubaton in her other hand(soon to be replaced with spot:D ). It is good to illuminate those dark shadows. They are also making a TID(tactical impact device, buncha pointy teeth at the end) that goes on the end of the light, good impact device.

Many people have suggested not going to the car alone which is a great idea. The university offers a shuttle service at night which my wife takes advantage of whenever possible. And of course, probably goes without saying, Be Aware of Your Surroundings:)
 
Really good advice from everyone, yes she does have a buddy system, occasionally. I live by the old saying "it's better to have a gun/knife/insert noun here and not need it, than to need it and not have it". I think women are seriously underrated when it comes to how tough they are and their ability to fight back. My wife may look and act like a poodle, but she can turn into a pitbull real fast if you piss her off. Keep the ideas coming.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top