Thoughts on VERY small knives for defense

Hey folks, I just want to get your thoughts on empty hands and small knives. Here's the twist

If you were attacked with a syringe, would you change your empty hand strategy?

If you had a scalpel, would you change how your knife technique?

Bear in mind that these two tools are light and fragile on the lateral stress side.

Me? I'd probably not want to go grabbing a syringe and would stick to largo range while
using a scalpel.
 
From what little experience I have with defending against blades without anyhting in my hands. I would want to stay way the hell away from the syringe. Are we taling about a hospital scenario? Are these medical waste or fresh out of the package? If the attacker hides the syringe in his fist it would be pretty hard to see until it was too late wouldn't it? I'm not sure what I would do. Go for a very quick eye-Jab on both counts with the intent on removing his sight. I would try to do something that will severely hamper his movments or induce a lot of pain do distract him like a knee or groin stike. I guess since you said scalpel you want this to be a medical situation. Because a box-cutter is basically the same thing. Maybe clarify a bit? I can sya though that my primary objective would be to hamper his movements making him easier to disarm or at least isolate him/her from bystanders he might harm or me. Am I on the right track by your opinion Smoke?
 
Justin, this is more a strategy and opinion question than scenario. I think your answer is fine, beats catching a blade blindfolded with your teeth!
biggrin.gif


It wouldn't necessarily be a hospital situation as you might meet Mr. Crackhead with syringe on the street. The disease factor is definite and what I think makes the syringe dangerous is a)disease factor and b) it's fragile as compared to an icepick. It might bend and/or break and that shaft is so small to monitor, well it'll cut and poke at least once. Kinda makes you want to evaluate ones hands vs knife strategy a little.

Using the scalpel, well you don't have to work in a hospital to have one. This just adds to discussion about small blades, this time a lot more handle to blade ratio. I have a fairly new plastic handle model, so no real lateral strength. Maybe include those Exacto hobby knives too. I wouldn't try a strip disarm as I would with other blades myself.
 
I hear Ya, Smoke.
I thought about it a bit more and I think the best bet would be to control the weapon hand rather than focusing on disarming. Unless you disarm by rendering the limb useless either broken or numbed or whatever. Since it is so small he would have trouble scoring a cut on you while you are holding his arm. To clarify I mean that with a bigger blade say with and endura or even a larger fixed like a cheap hunting or army knife he could squirm around and still inflict small cuts. If the blade is infected or rusty this could be a problem. I say get a good grip on his wrist and start administering strikes with the feet. Stomps or whatever. Just to keep it simple andnot too martial arty. I like the post Smoke makes for good thinking. Has this ever happened to you? I remember scalpels in biology and my father is an artist so those exacto knives were always in plenty around the house. Nasty cuts those things give. You also meet the occasional person who can hide a razor in his or her mouth. That's a whole other kind of scary.
 
I never could stick a razor in my mouth. There are also some uncircumsized prison folks who can hide a razor in their nether regions.

justin, I don't the razor hiders are that much more dangerous. A jaw strike (jab or uppercut) or hand check could ruin their draw. However, it's a concealment issue. Montel Williams once did an entire show on girl on girl violence, the razor in mouth type attacks.

He asked for ahem eh "razor control"/settle with words not ambushes for the teens. Among the girls, face slashing was a psychological attack. Make a girl ugly, take away her spirit and such.
 
A very short blade can be hidden behind the index finger and create a very nasty cut in the face in a surprise attack.

Apart from that - I feel a short blade can sometimes reduce my flexibility in a fight - and the advantages of having it in the hand are not worth it.

An important part of the work done with the knife is not just slashing/cutting/stabbing - it's about wrist locks and so - and a very short blade not only doesn't have these abilities - it limits your options with your bare hands.

Just my 02.
 
Smoke, I agree with you about the face punch a guy I know was sitting in the train when somebody came up to him and sked for the time. As he was looking down he saw the guys hand go to his mouth. So he punch him in the mouth and all he saw as the train doors closed was blood coming out from between this guy's fingers clapped to his mouth. The post was more designed to address the eventuallity of small blade use. Like an airplane or somewhere where you wanted to carry a blade and so had to pick the most innocuos and harmless looking knives. That was sort of my thinking. Also having a small blade increases the chance of it being felt before it is seen. Also a good concept.
 
Incidentally I just got the knife that was made for Steve Gartin and his teachers. It's available from www.keenedgeknives.com and is prett nice for being so cheap also a very nice training version. I would like to get the handle redone in micarta cord wrapping just ain't my thing. Also maybe a different sheath it's an issue for concealment. But for 80$ you get a trainer and the knife and they are both hand made? You can't go wrong.
 
Justin, how about you're on the way to the airport and run into a crackhead and his girl with a razor on the way to the airport? lol

The Keen Edge deal sounds good as many folks have been waiting for a Pukulan review. I'm waiting for the affordable kerambit trainer from someone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top