what do you consider a true tactical self defense folder?

The folding knife that has seen the most tactical use by US Soldiers, police and bikers and criminals is the Buck 110.

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Throw on a cheap aftermarket thumb stud and you've got a great cheap folder with a pommel.
 
tirod3 said:
The use of a small folding knife in the chronicles of self defense comes to one conclusion - it's a rare thing, and a poor choice....
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All very true. Thanks for saying it so very frankly.

By far the major use of a knife by military and by paramilitary law enforcement (SWAT teams, etc.) is not for offensive attack or for defense; it is for utility. They cut things, not people. But, that is very much part of "tactics" as well.



In the 4" folding knife, about the only criteria worth discussing is having training, and a knife with a reliable lock.
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For self-defense, training is essential. And that leads to one more criteria, in my opinion. To be considered as a self-defense knife -- which some people would call a "tactical" knife -- a knife must be accompanied by a functional (i.e. it folds and opens a locks and has all of the features of the live knife) trainer. Without the trainer, you can't do the training and so you don't have the other criteria.

Unfortunately, very few knife manufactures and even fewer custom makers offer trainers. Those who do will tell you that they sell very few.
 
Cold Steel Black Talon. Absolutely wicked blade. Can't see if for an edc but for carrying when I am on my scoot going out on the highway, it is the one I'll take with me. keepem sharp
 
Self defense with a knife? Folding knife? :jerkit:
Er... whatever... :D

I would choose an Spyderco Endura Wave Fullserrated :cool:
Because:
- opens quicker than any other folders (even the autos)
- has spear-like blade for nice piercing
- serrations should rip through the skin, muscle, clothing etc... even if are not razor sharp
- handle gives very good grip in conditions

my 2 cents...
 
Emerson waved folder.
 
If you really want a knife for SD go with a blade 4" or longer. Check out the CS Voyager line if you want an affordable and formidable "SD" knife. I can't imagine a better folding knife for SD than a 6 inch clip point Voyager. Just the sight of it should make most attackers crap themselves.
 
deermaster said:
just wondering what you think makes a folder a good self defense/tactical knife? what other knives than the obvious, like the benckmade 710, spyderco military and police g10, fit in this catagory? i really want a police g10, but its kinda pricey for me, so i was looking at the composite JYD 2 and the lahar. are these really tactical knives? what others are out there in the 50-80$ range?
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A fixed blade is best for self defense. Still, IMHO, a good defense folder should have:
choils for hard stabs,

an opening and closing mechanism that can be used with or without gloves,

handles that decrease slipping,

a lock that can stand up to torques; via at the handle or blade

Some that fit, to me anyway, are:

Spyderco Endura 4, PE
Spyderco Delica 4, PE
Sebenza, Classic
Emerson HD-7
Byrd Cara CAra
BM Grip
 
Good self defense knife: anything sharp in the hands of a highly trained person.

Not good self defense knife: anything in my middle aged, overweight hands.
If it comes down to a knife fight, I'm in big trouble.
 
Unfortunately, in many locations, anything other than a knife "designed to be carried in the pocket" could be considered illegal and a "concealed weapon". No problem unless you're caught....but that pretty much limits one to a folder (non-automatic, but I think assisted opening is OK) for self defense. I haven't seen any interpretations or test cases in NC but I guess that means a 2" neck knife is illegal. Bummer.....I carried a Spyderco Endura as a boot knife until I lost it in a relocation. I just sent my SOG Aegis Tanto to my son-in-law (along with a MOD Nightwing) but he didn't receive it before deployment to Afghanistan. Hope I'll get them back.....So I'm down to a Kershaw Zing flipper.
 
This has been discussed and discussed... but... I think the handle is much more important than the blade. Grippy, in-your-hand handle, to me, is more of a determinant of possible success in SD then clip vs tanto, flat vs hollow, liner vs backlock, etc. Someone above mentioned the Shallot... while I think that is a terrific cutting machine, I would not want to rely on its slippery handle for a self-defense event.

So, I'd echo the Endura, anything cord-wrapped, and I happen to really like the Packrat and Avalanche, but again, more for its G10 handle as much as anything else.
 
diamdave said:
This has been discussed and discussed... but... I think the handle is much more important than the blade. Grippy, in-your-hand handle, to me, is more of a determinant of possible success in SD then clip vs tanto, flat vs hollow, liner vs backlock, etc. Someone above mentioned the Shallot... while I think that is a terrific cutting machine, I would not want to rely on its slippery handle for a self-defense event.

So, I'd echo the Endura, anything cord-wrapped, and I happen to really like the Packrat and Avalanche, but again, more for its G10 handle as much as anything else.
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good point, i too would avoid slippery handles for any knife that is to be carried for self defense.
 
IMO, balisongs are the best defensive folders. Already they are a impact tool and once flipped open (pretty darn fast) it is pretty close to a fixed blade.
 
stevekt said:
I would say a good self defense folder would have a pocket clip for easy access, it would be a one hander for rapid deployment, it would have a solid lock, it would have a grippy handle that could be held in various positions securely, it would have a blade shape that could be used for both slashing and thrusting, and it would have a butt end that could be used for smashing.
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+1:thumbup:

i, personally, do NOT carry a folder for SD. if i did, Stevekt's check list is EXACTLY what i'd look for when selecting one.

totally disregard the appearance or marketing angle of the knife. i bought a knife for a friend that's perfect for SD, but is marketed as a "camp knife".
 
I see both the Endura and the Ti-lite seem to be on most people's short list..

I'm curious... both having a 4" blade length, which one you think would be a better SD piece?
 
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