Under $20 knife for general use/SD --Sportsman's warehouse only

Esav Benyamin said:
You need to know your trainee. My sister was a weightlifter. She decked a guy in the street with one punch. Knife? Spray? Why bother?
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That guy must feel ashamed lol. Was she a oly weightlifter or a powerlifter? what was her total?

I would suggest pepper spray aswell, you don't want to get close to the attacker, if you're a 100lb girl, and you get close enough to a 200lb male, you're going to be easily overpowered even with a knife.
 
also, what if the attack occurs in a confined space?? what if a woman is sexually assaulted in a parked car, or an elevator?? blasting pepperspray that is meant to hit someone 20 feet away in a tiny confined space isnt gonna work out to well.

some of you guys who have wives or gfs, give them a magic marker and tell them to pretend its a knife and you are an attacker trying to overpower them. see how that goes.
 
3mptin3ss said:
also, what if the attack occurs in a confined space?? what if a woman is sexually assaulted in a parked car, or an elevator?? blasting pepperspray that is meant to hit someone 20 feet away in a tiny confined space isnt gonna work out to well.

some of you guys who have wives or gfs, give them a magic marker and tell them to pretend its a knife and you are an attacker trying to overpower them. see how that goes.
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I've done that before, emptiness :) Smelled pretty fruity after :D

Overall, she did better than I would have thought. 4/6 times (front approach) she would have cut me up pretty well, even swinging wildly (marks on hands, forearms, shoulders, back, face, and neck). But 2/6 I disarmed her with 0 marks or 1 shallow mark. One of those 2 ended up going to ground, with me mounted with possession of knife (and that was round 5 when she already was adapting and refining her own strategy). Neither of us have formal training of any kind. For me, that 1/3 chance that the attacker disarms and may (as I did) get control of the knife is unacceptable. In addition, it was a marker, so I don't really know how deep the cuts/thrusts actually would have been and if it would have been enough to stop a dedicated attacker, crazy/drugged out attacker, or pissed off attacker. I don't think I would have stuck around or persisted, but who knows.

And these test runs didn't take into account actually drawing a folder (had her keep marker cap on, she had to remove it before/while being attacked so she could use the pen, maybe it's somewhat similar?) or approach from the back or side (tried a couple with rear approach, got hammerfist stabbed in the quad in one, and the other she couldn't get the pen cap off before I made her drop the pen. She did however, immediately kick the pen away :thumbup::D) or strikes by the assailant (obviously, I was only grabbing her). I don't know how many guys/girls can actually draw and open a folder into a firm grip quickly under stress; I'm not entirely confident I'd do so 100% of the time. I keep trying to drill it so when I need to actually draw it under stress...the chances I fumble the knife are at least lower.

I'm not an expert or instructor, I don't KNOW what the best defense tool is. I only vote for the knife if you are prepared and are able to effectively use it. I've been doing research myself trying to find better options than a knife for my gf (until she really learns how to use one from a professional instructor). So far the safest i've come up with in my opinion is impact weapons like kubatons and OC spray (stream, not fogger, decreases chance of blowback and more suitable for use in confined spaces). Safety in this context, means safe in the sense that if the tool got taken from her, her attacker couldn't use it against her lethally because she pissed him/her off (though i guess an argument could be made for the lethality of kubaton). Right now, I'm thinking the best option might be OC spray while retreating (if you have room to retreat); if attacker deflects or she misses and he closes in, then ditch the spray and kubaton the crap out of him until she can get away. But I'm still learning, so that might change.

I just don't want to take that chance with my gf by giving her a knife and consequently a false sense of security and a more fatal backfire risk (until she really learns how to use one from an instructor). Hell, I don't even know how to use a knife expertly (and would love to do a formal training...when i have the time and money :(), so whatever I get for her, I'm getting one for myself too; and the knife is only going to come out if I perceive myself to be in mortal danger.

On a lighter note, I was forced to stand next to this dude on the train the other day that absolutely reeked. I think perhaps I'll just start showering once a week to keep would-be assailants at bay. :D Don't know if my lady would take to that idea though..... Perhaps I could convince her to lift weights like Esav's sister, that way she can just punch people out and be MY bodyguard :)
 
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rksoon, great post. Good for you for doing the marker drill, and great summary. Seems like it led to some solid conclusions.

Mrs. and I need to do those drills sometime.

Back OT, it's totally worth picking up a Byrd/Dozier for EDC (non-SD) utility, the reason we all carry knives anyway. Separate from the knife issue, it sounds like you and she are making good progress on SD, and looking to get some good training.
 
Thanks Tradja! Yes, I'm trying to find something for the both of us to do. Just some basic and practical self-defense. The problem is always finding something near enough, finding time between work and school, and then paying for it all. :( Ah, it's fun to be young and have no money :D

Good luck knivesandguns with whatever you choose! :D
 
rksoon said:
I've done that before, emptiness :) Smelled pretty fruity after :D

Overall, she did better than I would have thought. 4/6 times (front approach) she would have cut me up pretty well, even swinging wildly (marks on hands, forearms, shoulders, back, face, and neck). But 2/6 I disarmed her with 0 marks or 1 shallow mark. One of those 2 ended up going to ground, with me mounted with possession of knife (and that was round 5 when she already was adapting and refining her own strategy). Neither of us have formal training of any kind. For me, that 1/3 chance that the attacker disarms and may (as I did) get control of the knife is unacceptable. In addition, it was a marker, so I don't really know how deep the cuts/thrusts actually would have been and if it would have been enough to stop a dedicated attacker, crazy/drugged out attacker, or pissed off attacker. I don't think I would have stuck around or persisted, but who knows.

And these test runs didn't take into account actually drawing a folder (had her keep marker cap on, she had to remove it before/while being attacked so she could use the pen, maybe it's somewhat similar?) or approach from the back or side (tried a couple with rear approach, got hammerfist stabbed in the quad in one, and the other she couldn't get the pen cap off before I made her drop the pen. She did however, immediately kick the pen away :thumbup::D) or strikes by the assailant (obviously, I was only grabbing her). I don't know how many guys/girls can actually draw and open a folder into a firm grip quickly under stress; I'm not entirely confident I'd do so 100% of the time. I keep trying to drill it so when I need to actually draw it under stress...the chances I fumble the knife are at least lower.

I'm not an expert or instructor, I don't KNOW what the best defense tool is. I only vote for the knife if you are prepared and are able to effectively use it. I've been doing research myself trying to find better options than a knife for my gf (until she really learns how to use one from a professional instructor). So far the safest i've come up with in my opinion is impact weapons like kubatons and OC spray (stream, not fogger, decreases chance of blowback and more suitable for use in confined spaces). Safety in this context, means safe in the sense that if the tool got taken from her, her attacker couldn't use it against her lethally because she pissed him/her off (though i guess an argument could be made for the lethality of kubaton). Right now, I'm thinking the best option might be OC spray while retreating (if you have room to retreat); if attacker deflects or she misses and he closes in, then ditch the spray and kubaton the crap out of him until she can get away. But I'm still learning, so that might change.

I just don't want to take that chance with my gf by giving her a knife and consequently a false sense of security and a more fatal backfire risk (until she really learns how to use one from an instructor). Hell, I don't even know how to use a knife expertly (and would love to do a formal training...when i have the time and money :(), so whatever I get for her, I'm getting one for myself too; and the knife is only going to come out if I perceive myself to be in mortal danger.

On a lighter note, I was forced to stand next to this dude on the train the other day that absolutely reeked. I think perhaps I'll just start showering once a week to keep would-be assailants at bay. :D Don't know if my lady would take to that idea though..... Perhaps I could convince her to lift weights like Esav's sister, that way she can just punch people out and be MY bodyguard :)
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hey thats a great post. good to see you have a open minded approach to researching self defense. i myself think kobutons are great for self defense, but they require more skill than a knife inmop.

plus, pepper spray is cheap these days, theres no reason why a female cant carry both a knife and a spray.

i just do not put much trust in sprays, as i have been told by multiple law enforcement people and experienced self defense experts that sprays tend to fail a lot and have their own set of drawbacks.

here is a video depicting a police officer in a brutal struggle with a criminal. when he sprays the criminal, the criminals response was " Your going to need more than that."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbyFnrtUtJQ

granted, this criminal is an ex boxer and is very large, probably stronger and tougher than your average person, maybe not the best example, but as you can see the spray didnt even phase him.
 
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rksoon said:
Thanks Tradja! Yes, I'm trying to find something for the both of us to do. Just some basic and practical self-defense. The problem is always finding something near enough, finding time between work and school, and then paying for it all. :( Ah, it's fun to be young and have no money :D

Good luck knivesandguns with whatever you choose! :D
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most of self defense is awareness and common sense. you can pick up a lot from the prac tac sub forum, there are many well respected martial arts and self defense experts on these forums that contribute to prac tac.

may i also recommend this forum
http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/

there are many self defense/martial arts experts and information on those forums.

knowledge is power.
 
svrider3 said:
I think Esav has given the best advise here. You need to be well
trained to consider a knife as SD, if not it's gonna get you hurt, fast.

IMHO, pepper spray and fast foot work is the best way to go.
Spray and haul some ass!!
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Some pretty solid advice right here
 
3mptin3ss said:
most of self defense is awareness and common sense. you can pick up a lot from the prac tac sub forum, there are many well respected martial arts and self defense experts on these forums that contribute to prac tac.

may i also recommend this forum
http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/

there are many self defense/martial arts experts and information on those forums.

knowledge is power.
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Definitely! I agree.

I've been reading up in prac tac, been learning a ton. Thanks for the site rec 3mptin3ss, I will check it out :)
 
nice, dled it. If you have any other recs, feel free to send em my way :D All this stuff makes for great commute reading and contemplation. :thumbup:
 
3mptin3ss said:
hey thats a great post. good to see you have a open minded approach to researching self defense. i myself think kobutons are great for self defense, but they require more skill than a knife inmop.

plus, pepper spray is cheap these days, theres no reason why a female cant carry both a knife and a spray.

i just do not put much trust in sprays, as i have been told by multiple law enforcement people and experienced self defense experts that sprays tend to fail a lot and have their own set of drawbacks.

here is a video depicting a police officer in a brutal struggle with a criminal. when he sprays the criminal, the criminals response was " Your going to need more than that."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbyFnrtUtJQ

granted, this criminal is an ex boxer and is very large, probably stronger and tougher than your average person, maybe not the best example, but as you can see the spray didnt even phase him.
Click to expand...

damn, somehow i missed this post earlier, that video is crazy! That guy got sprayed, shot and pistol whipped and still attacked. scary.
 
FOX pepper spray... this stuff is nasty bad. It's what my wife carries every time she gets in and out of her car. Awareness, caution, common sense, FOX pepper will be enough in most instances.
 
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