When was the last time that you NEEDED one hand opening?

[EyeDog]

Has anyone here actually ever needed a weapon for self defense? Not including miliitary or police.

As a civilian, for me...not yet. I just turned 70 and carry two knives as urban carry knives.

Here's my philosophy -- at 70 I am more likely to get assaulted than when I was 30. I carry a light duty pocket knife in my pocket--a Benchmade Pardu 530 with the clip removed. If I need a light duty knife I can use this in public without frightening the natives. In a pinch it could be an SD last ditch.

But I also carry a CRKT James Williams samurai blade Hissatsu. I treat it as if it were a concealed handgun. It does not EVER come out unless I intend to use it with lethal force. I also own the No Ken but I would have a harder time explaining to law enforcement why I was carrying it.

The Hissatsu is NOT an EDC utility knife. It has only one real purpose. SD. I am a Vietnam veteran with a fare amount of SD and knife training. But at 70 I am no knife fighter and have not used those skills for ages.

However, I have taken some SD classes locally and some private knife SD sessions.

Here's the bottom line. SD starts with where you park your car, where you walk, your attitude when you look at strangers and a host of other rather common sense things.

So the best answer to your question is: You don't need an SD weapon until you need it.

Here's the Hissatsu.

 

[tray999]

About 10 years ago before I retired from law enforcement, I responded to a suicide call and when I got there the victim was still hanging from a belt and I grabbed him with one arm to release the pressure and cut the belt with the other hand. Thank goodness I had my CQC7 with me that day......

 

[G.Moll]

I need it the most when im fishing and rigging poles. Its so much easier to be able to open the knife one handed. Then again people have been toting slippies fishing forever so I guess I dont really need it

 

[Alnamvet68]

Never...I've never wanted to be seen opening a folder one handed lest others think my name is Tony and my girl is Maria, and I'm a member of the Jets gang, and Officer Krupke is looking to haul my hiney off to jail, all while "I Feel Pretty" is playing in the background. I'm a low key, below the radar, nap of the earth type of flyer.

 

[AddictedToGear]

It helps when you are holding something else in your hand which can happen quite a lot. The one handed opening and closing really does help to me.

 

[Comeuppance]

Honestly, given that one-handed opening is an option, I really see no benefit or positive to two-handed-operation knives. It's just slower and more inconvenient. For appearances' sake, I suppose it is less startling to others when someone two-hands a nail-nick knife - but you still have a knife and people will still notice that. I don't know if most people would see a Manix or a Case trapper as any less threatening than the other. To many, a blade is a blade.

I do not, never have, and don't see myself ever carrying a two-handed-opening folder outside of some unforeseen requirement to do so. There is no benefit that I can see, and too many negative aspects. Why would I, when there is a vastly more convenient, speedy, and simpler option? I suppose if I had any attraction to the old-fashioned 110 and Case style knives, I might then see at least a reasonable tradeoff, but those are really just not my bag. I eschewed the SAK for a Leatherman Wingman because I can fully operate the tool with one hand (bracing the handle against my thigh if I need to open it and access the pliers).

 

[Gingerman]

Is it a felt need, or a physical attack?

 

[Ken44]

I don't need a one handed opening knife very often, but I usually have one on me.
I always have a traditional knife on me as well since they cut better and feel better in hand(IMO anyway).

About the only time I prefer a modern one hander over a traditional is when I'm trout fishing.