Small knife blade style for self defense

Wow. Surprised I'm raising quite a discussion here. Probably because this is not so easy to answer. Thanks for all your input.

Tonyccw:
So thats pretty much what I thought initially: Straight for stabbing at very short distance and hawksbill for slashing. Is a claw still good enough for stabbing or is a straight good enough for slashing? Or, more important, is any of those two not suited at all for one of the tasks?

Nick:
Tried to find out about current legal issues in Germany. Quite confusing cause there were some changes last here and half of the info refers to something outdated. I think it is illegal, but anyway I intended to rather wear it when traveling (which unfortunately even more complicates that legal stuff).
Do you have a link to that Hideaway thread in MesserForum?

Bob:
Actually it was one of your posts popping up in google-search that brought me to the hideaway (along with a couple of threads involving Frontsight and some other guys).
Hawksbill edge might get stuck, right. But with two fingers available for pulling one should be able to get it free anyway. Outward curve will probably make good cuts but has less penetration, does it? In addition hawksbill and straight will probably support going deeper. Pity that I don't have any clue about that.

J.Davey:
I was close to buying SPOT or LaGriffe when I came across Hideaway. I prefer that it's overall size is even smaller. I also have to give it to Frontsight that with two fingers holding it the knife can't turn while your fist is open. Did you handle a Hideaway yet?

Ed T:
Had a look at it. Without fingerhole or a handle supporting a good grip I think an amatuer like me will run a high chance to lose the knife in-fight.
 
Aqua, think about the blade length of the Hideaway, the penetration depth. I would think it doesn't matter if you get the straight or the claw. They are too similar, too short to matter as far as digging in to a vital body part. The most dangerous action would be to slash the neck or some similarly vulnerable area for blood vessels near the surface. For that kind of work, even the curvy would get the job done.

But straight and claw would both do stabbing and slashing to a very similar extent, because the short length, very positive grip, and extremely sharp edge would overwhelm the slightly different mechanics of edge geometry. The hawksbill gets its peculiar effect by sweeping into material as you pull, but this mini hawksbill will have cut through its small arc of attack before this effect matters.

It becomes a matter of aesthetics -- which feels right to you, how you move your hand in an attack or a defense. I think I would reflexively throw a punch, so the straight would seem to be in line with that.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
The hawksbill gets its peculiar effect by sweeping into material as you pull, but this mini hawksbill will have cut through its small arc of attack before this effect matters.
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Thats an argument. Sounds like you know what you're talking about.

Nick:
Thanks for the link. I'll certainly have a look at it.
 
*cough*getsome training*cough*

There are many good instructors in germany; I don't know where you are located, but "it's the software, not the hardware"-S.S.
 
I hesitate to respond to this type of thread, but let me offer an illustration. I carry a BM Mel Perdue, bayonet point, 3”, as sharp or sharper than a razor of ATS-34. As far as a small knife being defensive think of a 3” deep gash from left lower rib to right lower rib or from ear to ear. The fact that you wouldn’t see that little blade coming at you makes it a little more disconcerting.
 
Piney said:
The fact that you wouldn’t see that little blade coming at you makes it a little more disconcerting.
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That's in line with Bram Frank's concept of the Gunting and Fred Perrin's La Griffe, both knives with excellent grip and short blades. They're not for dueling. They're for getting the job done and getting out.
 
I'm surprised nobody has suggested it, but why not look at a Shivworks Clinch Pick= there's even a good DVD for learning some of the techniques that are used with the knife. I agree, though, that its the mind which is deadlier than any blade, but a knife doesn't hurt.

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
Not to sound patronizing but rather than looking for the ideal self-defense knife, the majority of your effort and money is probably better spent learning how to use a blade in combat by taking a MA specializing in bladed weapons: JKD, kali/escrima/arnis, modern knife fighting arts, etc.

In the skilled hands, any good well-made knife is lethal. In unskilled hands, they are also lethal...to the user!

That said, IMO a good fixed blade (doesn't have to be made out of state of the art steel) with a quick draw sheath.

In a folder, I would go for an Emerson Wave model since it will deploy (arguably) faster than an automatic. But at some risk since it may not ALWAYS deploy properly if the wave doesn't catch the inside of your pant pocket properly.

"Pant pocket properly"...Say, is that an aliteration?
 
There were some posts suggesting I go get some training in self-defense techniques using a knife.

Ok, ok, ... agreed agreed agreed... :)

An optimum solution would be to get the best suited training and the best suited knife. Currently I'm optimizing on the "hardware" rather than the "software". Training would of course make sense, but in my opinion it makes most sense with the knife you intend to use. So I started with choosing the knife. Don't know when (and if - I'm afraid) I'm going to spend time on lessons.

I even don't very much like to discuss on flesh penetration and ripping (there was some other thread on how knives get a bad reputation this way). But in the end, you should only decide to draw your knife for SD if you're willing to use it. And then it's for flesh cutting and ripping I'm afraid.

Although: I don't share the opinion to try using it lethal. There has to be some comparativeness between threat and countermeasure. STOOOP: CALM DOWN. I can already hear you say: A real fight will be way to chaotic to have a choice. Yeah probably. However, I will try to stick to that attitude.

BTW: I hope with my comments above we're not gonna drift away from the bladestyle topic... :)
 
The comments (on use) relate to blade style. You can't order a knife in complete ignorance of what you might use it for. But I agree that you don't have to slice up everyone who threatens or offends you. Just understand that the knife is only for situations so serious that your opponent's well-being is no longer an item of interest.

The Hideaway is a self-defense knife. It is not a combat, fighting, killing machine. Of course it can inflict fatal damage, especially if you are trained and do intend this. But under normal circumstances, it is best suited to slash and hurt, then turn and leave. For this you need awareness training more than martial arts.

But deploying a knife without any real training is like driving a car without any practice, either. You will be legally responsible for the results. Protect yourself.
 
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