Whats's a knife for?

USAFSP

USAFSP

Joined
Jul 2, 2000
Messages
2,357
The following is just an opinion, it is not ment to offend. I've been in the tactical gadget era for quite a while. (Military Air Base Defense, and LEO). I've seen quite a few knives come and go. Companies advertising that the Seals use this knife or that knife, or, as used by " Blah Blah " slogans. Who realy knows what these people use? I carry a knife every day at work and at play. I've never used mine as a weapon. It's an Emerson. So I guess if I had to, I could make someone unhappy, if I lunged at them with it. I could do the same thing with a Swiss Army Knife. I guess I'm a slave to fashion too... I must have the knife that is supposed to win wars. What happens when someone dislodges it from my hand, beats my brains out, and steals my knife? As a trained LEO, I find that unlikley, but the normal civilian should ask themselves that question. Good training is always a factor in winning confrontations. I hope that doesn't stir the crowd too much, but I keep reading these posts from people asking about good fighting/offensive knives. Correctly used they are all good. SIGArms knife fighting instructors, stated in the last Tactical Knives Mag that the regular Spyderco Delica or Endura are the best. I hope that no one out there thinks that carrying a certain knife will keep them out of trouble. Thanx for reading my opinion... Be safe...
 
Knives are to make up for the fact that our claws and fangs are pretty useless.
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Knives are for cutting stuff. Some of that stuff may include people. However, I have never found the need to cut people (at least intentionally). Nor do I carry any knife with that purpose in mind.

Plenty of folks do carry knives for self defense however. And that is a legitimate use for a knife. But such a person better be armed with a lot more than just having a scary knife if one expects to survive a knife fight. A persons mind should be their most relied upon weapon.

Some young men do seem to develop a fascination with big scary knives, and have bloody fantasies about using knives in every offensive manner possible. And then they make posts about it. I think that is offensive. If killing folks is your main objective, there are better methods to use than wielding a knife.

If you were a sixteenth century samurai, death or survival by brief and devasting combat with edged weapons was fashionable, and honorable. I don't know if this is still true. But I don't see the need to run around looking for a knife fight.

I carry knives everyday. I like fine tools. I own no weapons except my mind. And that is much more dangerous than Any knife.

Paracelsus
 
"There are no dangerous weapons; only dangerous men."
--Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers

(Yes, the book, not the movie. A sergeant was explaining to a basic trainee why they trained with knives even though in combat they would have all sorts of high-tech weapons.)
 
Training is essential, but you would act differently if facing an opponent with a SAK ibstead of a Randall #1. There are plenty of advantages with the Randall, while the SAK probably offers only concealability. But, any "modern" folder, like a Sentinel or AFCK, is quite concealable and offers advantages over the SAK too. So, a SAK will do the job, but with training a Randall or Benchmade will do the job better.

Also, as far as the questions about fighting knives and such go, this is a discussion forum so what the heck. You may not find much difference between a Delica and a dagger, but it is fun to discuss them, as we are knife nuts.

By the way, for all of you who ask, "What is the best combat knife?", please be a little more specific! What do you mean by combat? An infantry person will carry something different than a Green Beret who needs to do Sentry Removal, and those people will probably have different specifications than those of us in the city. A folder generally is probably reins supreme in the city (kitchen knife murders aside) while those who engage in "combat" in the military will most likely go with fixed blades in the 7" range. Or at least that is what my brain tells me
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"Come What May..."
 
USAFSP You make a great point and I share your view. I also carry knives both at work and at play and I don't carry a knife with the intention of doing someone harm. It would be a VERY rare case that I would use a knife on someone even in self defense. The day may come where I might just save my own life or someone else's by using my knife in a defensive situation, but when (if) that point comes, at least I will have the option of using it or not. Just because I carry a knife doesn't mean that I have to use it as a weapon, but it gives me the option if I ever do need to.

To answer your question, a knife is for whatever you use it for and varies from person to person. In my case a knife is a tool to be used to cut things. Though I have used it for scraping, pushing, sliding things I couldn't use my fingers for. It seems the more I carry my knife, the more uses I find for it. It's such a useful tool, I don't see how people can stand to be without one!
 
Crayola said:
"Training is essential, but you would act differently if facing an opponent with a SAK ibstead of a Randall #1. There are plenty of advantages with the Randall, while the SAK probably offers only concealability. But, any "modern" folder, like a Sentinel or AFCK, is quite concealable and offers advantages over the SAK too. So, a SAK will do the job, but with training a Randall or Benchmade will do the job better.
Also, as far as the questions about fighting knives and such go, this is a discussion forum so what the heck. You may not find much difference between a Delica and a dagger, but it is fun to discuss them, as we are knife nuts.
By the way, for all of you who ask, "What is the best combat knife?", please be a little more specific! What do you mean by combat? An infantry person will carry something different than a Green Beret who needs to do Sentry Removal, and those people will probably have different specifications than those of us in the city. A folder generally is probably reins supreme in the city (kitchen knife murders aside) while those who engage in "combat" in the military will most likely go with fixed blades in the 7" range. Or at least that is what my brain tells me"
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Frag said:
"USAFSP You make a great point and I share your view. I also carry knives both at work and at play and I don't carry a knife with the intention of doing someone harm. It would be a VERY rare case that I would use a knife on someone even in self defense. The day may come where I might just save my own life or someone else's by using my knife in a defensive situation, but when (if) that point comes, at least I will have the option of using it or not. Just because I carry a knife doesn't mean that I have to use it as a weapon, but it gives me the option if I ever do need to.

To answer your question, a knife is for whatever you use it for and varies from person to person. In my case a knife is a tool to be used to cut things. Though I have used it for scraping, pushing, sliding things I couldn't use my fingers for. It seems the more I carry my knife, the more uses I find for it. It's such a useful tool, I don't see how people can stand to be without one!"

Very good answers, guys.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"


[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 07-11-2000).]
 
I'm glad some share my views. I agree that a knife is a tool and is only as dangerous as it's owner. I love to carry and collect them. In my 5 1/2 years as an LEO I've never used one in anger against someone. Now an ASP Baton or CAPSTUN is another story. As a last resort ( if my service auto was taken from me and to stop an assailant, I'm sure I would.) Either fly or die situations. I've seen what even the simplest of blades will do to a body. I don't think that some of these jockeys out there understand just how messy a stabbing is. It's not like the movies. I hope that thoughts of carrying a blade only for fighting stay as that ( only thoughts ). We live in dangerous times folks. Be carefull, but NOT paranoid!!
 
First and foremost, my knives are tools. I like knowing that these tools are capable of protecting my family and me. IMHO, the most dangerous person walking the streets is: ME! 1) the only person that ever cut me is: ME! 2)the only person I am ever likely to cut, stab, or slash is: ME!
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not for diging holes

[This message has been edited by BladeMan (edited 07-11-2000).]
 
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