Push daggers for EDC?

D

DangerZone98

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Dec 7, 2019
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Let’s get this outta the way first, push daggers and other double-edged blades are illegal in some areas. Always check with your local laws first.

Now onto the topic! I’ve never owned push daggers before, but I’m curious if they have practical uses outside of self-defense? I mean, if it was your only option, I suppose you could use it to open boxes and cut across package binding. Is it worth considering as a non-tactical fixed blade EDC or should we stick with more conventional knives?

Eyeballing it, here are some cons I can see:
- less tip control compared to fixed blades of similar length
- awkward for first time users
- may be uncomfortable for larger hands

And pros:
- concealability or discretion? (Again, check with local knife laws)
- two edges, so flip over when one side gets dull
- lightweight?
 
Your pros are so minor I tend to think the cons pretty significantly outweigh them (and not all push daggers are double edged and some regular blades are). Similar critique on the weight. Push daggers are great for concealment and stabbing with high retention but not optimal for much else. “Bent” knives like a Watson Archangel or Spyderco Ayoob gave you some of the pluses with less significant drawbacks.
 
Gonna generally agree with Burke, on this one: push daggers are too optimized for a thrust to be used in the sort of draw cuts that general-purpose use mostly makes up. Legal issues aside, they're just not set up for the way most people use a knife.

I guess you could get used to using one if you tried, but most people don't seem to be interested in taking the time.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Let’s get this outta the way first, push daggers and other double-edged blades are illegal in some areas. Always check with your local laws first.

Now onto the topic! I’ve never owned push daggers before, but I’m curious if they have practical uses outside of self-defense? I mean, if it was your only option, I suppose you could use it to open boxes and cut across package binding. Is it worth considering as a non-tactical fixed blade EDC or should we stick with more conventional knives?

Eyeballing it, here are some cons I can see:
- less tip control compared to fixed blades of similar length
- awkward for first time users
- may be uncomfortable for larger hands

And pros:
- concealability or discretion? (Again, check with local knife laws)
- two edges, so flip over when one side gets dull
- lightweight?
Click to expand...

They are illegal where I live, but hypothetically if I could EDC one I still wouldn't. I don't see them as being very practical for daily cutting tasks, if anything they pose only more obstacles, especially the double edged dagger type.
The handle is awkward and just not suited for anything but thrusting things. The 2 edges I see as a detriment also, because it stops you gaining extra power and control in your cut stopping you from applying pressure to the spine of the knife with your finger or thumb.
It's a really bad choice for daily general cutting tasks, because it wasn't designed for that, that's what you get when you use something designed as a weapon.
 
I agree with the other posters. Push Daggers are designed for one thing, which they do really well. But, they aren't much good at anything else. Terrible ergonomics for EDC type cutting chores.
 
Sure, you could EDC a push dagger but it's not really designed for utility use.

I imagine it would be a bit awkward for most tasks.
 
Friend of mine got one recently, I did ask him how it's like and his response was that he wouldn't EDC it even if it was legal, simply because it's not very practical. It'd be a chore even to split a sandwich with it he said...
 
I've got a couple of push daggers that I bought as "curiosities."

Wouldn't consider them suitable as EDCs; only as back up knives to use for SD but I prefer my Pika karambit for that.

Still carry a "normal" folder as an EDC.
 
The handle can sometimes fit a bit better on your body because of the shape. So if you have a handle digging in issue. You could fix that.
 
I have carried a Safemaker III from cold steel many times.

Compact, single edge, plenty of belly. Short enough to palm, and lay a finger on the spine while cutting boxes open. Would also work as a skinner in a pinch.

I don't carry it much any more. Partly due to the sheath. The T-handle, combined with grippy material means it likes to jump ship, and fall on the concrete....many times....


If there were a better retention design, I would carry it more.
 
you probably could carry one of the small single edge cold steel ones for light edc tasks like opening boxes and other things, they are pretty cheap so no harm in trying it if you really want to try it

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Great for fighting / SD .

"T" shape makes for easy , compact, comfortable, low profile carry concealed .

Fast draw with strong/ secure grip and simple , intuitive use as a weapon .

Can use for utility in an emergency , but you'd probably want to carry another knife to use in public anyway .

Social /legal problems of any DE dagger type knife .
 
Don W said:
D DangerZone98 Esee has an Izula push dagger that may be more useful for EDC tasks.
Click to expand...

I've held and folded one.bit was on my list for a long time until then.

Very thick design. Overly obtuse grind and edge.

If I were to find one at a great deal, I would purchase it, and do a full regrind on my 2x72.

I've done a blended convex zero edge on my SafeMaker III, and it is wickedly slicey now.

tJy5Kmq.jpg
 
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