So my buddy wants a new knife, help us decide:

[David45]

I think some sage advice has been given in this thread. I’ll summarize and add a touch or two.

Never leave home in shoes you can’t run in.
Never engage in a physical altercation that can be avoided.
Know your state statute on justifiable use of deadly force.
Know your limitations and don’t get sucked into something you haven’t been extensively trained to handle.
Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
Never forget you gun.
A push dagger might be of help if you’re already in physical contact with your foe.

 

[iareconfuse]

The only option for self defense... The Cold Steel Voyager XL of course. If you're going to get a knife to fight for your life, go big or go home!

Actually might be better to go home tbh.

 

[sabre cat]

Only the dumbest, or cheapest, defense lawyer couldn't destroy that argument.

I agree but, it's not the defense lawyer I'm worried about. I'm more worried about the members of the jury and how they often make decisions based on emotions and ignore facts. Not all the time, of course, but more often than you think. Lawyers are fully aware of this and they use it to their advantage. So do politicians and the media. Why give them the chance to screw it up?

I remember being on a case where one woman on the jury decided the defendant seemed like a "nice" man and that he would not hurt a fly. Immediately, the other women followed her lead. They made the correct decision but did it while ignoring facts and evidence.

 

[Cosmodragoon]

Only the dumbest, or cheapest, defense lawyer couldn't destroy that argument.

Sabre cat's observations are valuable here. To make a more fundamental point, wouldn't it be better if your lawyer didn't have to deal with that in the first place? In the legal world, which involves legal shenanigans, technicalities, the emotions and biases of juries, and whether or not the judge is having a nice day; a clearer path is a better path.

An important parallel is that you shouldn't load your defensive CCW with Black Talons, R.I.P., or other ammo sold with particularly dangerous and edgy marketing. Don't put skulls, the Punisher logo, or Zombie stuff all over your defensive CCW either. However cool it seems at the time, it might not be if you are ever unlucky enough to need it.

 

[sabre cat]

I would be much more concerned that lethal force was fully justified in self defense .

My state licenses guns for civilian SD CC , so how can any knife be worse ?

Personally, I question why your state has the right to issue a license so that you can carry to begin with but, I won’t take this any further.

I agree with the first part of your comment though.

 

[Brawny]

^^^ good points

 

[Rich Davis]

If I feel the need I have a Fox karambit in my right pocket and a PM2 in my left. I also have been professionally trained and practice regularly. I would hate for someone who has no clue to try knife defense going in blind to try these. They would be better off with a defense cane which I'd like to learn to use.

 

[Rezarf]

The Yojimbo is the one I'd pick on that list. It is the ugliest knife I have ever owned, but I have sold two off and bought a third so I guess it has a place in my rotation now. It feels amazing in the hand and would be devastating in an a violent usage.

 

[bolabeenz]

Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
Or, sting like bee then float like butterfly.

 

[Hackenslash]

I would be much more concerned that lethal force was fully justified in self defense .

My state licenses guns for civilian SD CC , so how can any knife be worse ?

Only the dumbest, or cheapest, defense lawyer couldn't destroy that argument.

I can see a clever prosecutor showing the jury some of the CS marketing films with carcasses hacked in twain...then remind them that the name of the knife is "AK47"...and the facts of the the case are no longer pertinent. It doesn't even matter if the the video is deemed inadmissible; what has been seen can't be unseen. You're kind of ignoring the power of the human mind to form bias. "Black Knife Syndrome" is just as real as "Black Gun Syndrome">

I think Cold Steel product names and marketing strategies can add a layer of complication to the legal business of anyone using one of their knives for "self defense".

 

[craytab]

If you lose an opinel at a restaurant are you qualified to even defend yourself with a knife?

 

[sabre cat]

If you lose an opinel at a restaurant are you qualified to even defend yourself with a knife?

Sure. Who are we to dictate how someone defends themselves?

Besides, everyone will lose or misplace a knife at some point.
Haven’t you?

 

[pinnah]

Sure. Who are we to dictate how someone defends themselves?

In a democracy? Fellow citizens. Otherwise I want a Vulcan on both of my cars and suitcase nuke to keep the hoards at bay. Nothing wrong with a little radioactive assured mutual destruction to build a civil society.

 

[Velitrius]

One thing is interesting to me.

One of the criteria is that "he likes flippers". But take a look at the list y'all are considering...

Not a lot of flippers in there.

So I'll say the Boker Mini Kwaiken.

 

[DocJD]

I can see a clever prosecutor showing the jury some of the CS marketing films with carcasses hacked in twain...then remind them that the name of the knife is "AK47"...and the facts of the the case are no longer pertinent. It doesn't even matter if the the video is deemed inadmissible; what has been seen can't be unseen. You're kind of ignoring the power of the human mind to form bias. "Black Knife Syndrome" is just as real as "Black Gun Syndrome">

I think Cold Steel product names and marketing strategies can add a layer of complication to the legal business of anyone using one of their knives for "self defense".

If the court allowed a CS video into evidence , it's obviously a "kangaroo court" . It's entirely irrelevant and highly prejudicial to a SD case .

Like showing Michael Myers "Halloween" movies because a machete was involved and they find a hockey mask in your home .

 

[ExtremAddiction]

easy, Paramilitary 2.

 

[Hackenslash]

If the court allowed a CS video into evidence , it's obviously a "kangaroo court" . It's entirely irrelevant and highly prejudicial to a SD case .

Like showing Michael Myers "Halloween" movies because a machete was involved and they find a hockey mask in your home .

You may not be up to date with what's going on in NYC and other places concerning legal carry and use of knives. It's stranger than fiction.

 

[sabre cat]

In a democracy? Fellow citizens. Otherwise I want a Vulcan on both of my cars and suitcase nuke to keep the hoards at bay. Nothing wrong with a little radioactive assured mutual destruction to build a civil society.

Last time I checked, we lived in a republic. As for your desire to arm yourself with Vulcans, have at it. I don't really care. However, our Founding Fathers intent with the second amendment was the right of small arms ownership. I doubt if your suitcase nuke and Vulcan cannons apply.

As for your comment of a little radioactive assured mutual destruction to build a civil society, the concept worked during the cold war. We never were attacked by our greatest enemy, the Soviet Union.

I guess what they say is true. An armed society is a polite society. Although it's not perfect, it worked during the cold war and it's working in places like the State of Florida. Where they still have the rights and freedoms to bear arms. Rights that areas like California, Chicago, and Washinton DC are trying to suppress.

Now that I have responded to your comments, may we please return to discussing something near and dear to us all? Knives.

 

[Lapedog]

The knife as self defense weapon always begs the question: against what?

Fists? Then you could be the one in trouble (depending on local laws etc. - I am pretty sure you can't just stab a threatening person if they are unarmed). A pipe? Inferior reach. A bat? Inferior reach. A hatchet? Inferior reach. A chain? Inferior reach. A firearm? No defense at all.

So a knife is superior to an unarmed opponent. Obviously things change if anyone has training, because even with a knife I am more than likely getting my ass kicked by a well trained military or LEO individual.

It’s superior to certain weapons depending on the range. You wouldn’t be using it in a fist fight because to introduce a deadly weapon to a fist fight will likely only putting you in greater danger.

But if you are jumped by two guys at point blank range and you can create enough space to draw your knife it could save your life. Against two guys who got the drop on you your ass is likely to get tore up anyways.


Up to the courts at that point to decide if it was self defense.

 

[pinnah]

Last time I checked, we lived in a republic.

Democratically elected representative republic (at least in theory).

However, our Founding Fathers intent with the second amendment was the right of small arms ownership.

I don't think there is strong agreement on the meaning of the founders on the second amendment. Pretty sure it doesn't matter, since a) we live in a democracy (in theory) and b) the constitution allows for democratic amendment to constitution (and clarification through law and case law).

Now that I have responded to your comments, may we please return to discussing something near and dear to us all? Knives.

We never stopped talking about knives. The issue here has been first the wisdom and then the right of the OP to defend himself with a knife, gun or whatever he chooses. In response to your rhetorical question of "who are we to say", my response stands... We're his fellow citizens. We collectively through the democratic process of representative government set the terms for what weapons (including knives) people are allowed access to and what they are allowed to use them for.