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Why do most people like pocket knives?

blade man said:
If he's never carried (or tried to carry) a pistol then he has no idea. I build holsters, and a small, subcompact is incredibly easy to conceal under just a t shirt. Hell, I can hide a 1911 under a t shirt with no problem, it's completely dependent on a proper holster and belt.

I also build Southern Comfort style sheaths (under Mike's tutelage and with his permission), and while I can build a sheath that will let you conceal a 10" blade with little difficulty, I personally find the pistol more comfortable, and I'm not carrying a subcompact.
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He has no idea what he is talking about.
 
Knife laws in Europe, are they not also extremely restrictive? Just curious. Switching gears, should I chose to carry my Glock 26, I wouldn't even notice it's on me.
 
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LakanDula said:
Am I really the only one that prefers being armed with a combat knife/bowie knife? Whenever people talk about self-defense, I always see "pocket knives". In my State (Indiana), it's legal to carry combat knives concealed or open. Same with Doug Ritter's Knife Rights movement, all I see is pictures of pocket knives.

I mean I get that they're small and easy to hide, but I don't know of they'd do the job against a big scary dangerous predator or big angry guy......the pain inflicted could only encorouage 'em to go after you more.

Let the record show, that while I've been into blades ever since 2005, I haven't really gone into the "collecting" and "self-defense" aspect until about February of 2015, so I'm fairly kinda new to this. So, someone shed some light on this?
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Pocket folder is more concealed. In my country, carrying any knife is legal but here isn't much knife culture. If someone has SAK or small Case it's mostly totally ok but if you carry big folder or fixed blade in city you're weird guy or psycho. I carry fixed blades around 5" but in free time. And for self defense in CQB baton ASP/ESP is better than knife.
 
I carry a knife or three as tools. For self defense, I have a very nice walking /hiking stick/staff, and a large can of Grizzly Bear Repellant.
 
blade man said:
If he's never carried (or tried to carry) a pistol then he has no idea. I build holsters, and a small, subcompact is incredibly easy to conceal under just a t shirt. Hell, I can hide a 1911 under a t shirt with no problem, it's completely dependent on a proper holster and belt.

I also build Southern Comfort style sheaths (under Mike's tutelage and with his permission), and while I can build a sheath that will let you conceal a 10" blade with little difficulty, I personally find the pistol more comfortable, and I'm not carrying a subcompact.
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I owned and occasionally carried a CZ-75 9 mm in the 90s, with only 12 rounds in the magazine and one up the chamber, as I noted the magazine spring set considerably over time.

I then also occasionally carried a Browning 7.65 mm, but this time in the pocket, because it was too small for belt carry. It was not big but it felt very heavy, even in a coat pocket.

A revolver would be much worse to carry, because the cylinder fattens it: I have never owned revolvers so I don't claim to know, but they are worse for inside-the-waistband carry than pistols for sure.

The CZ-75 is all steel but, considerably slimmer than the Glocks, and most others that are the rage these days. I did try a holster and it only worsened its bulk: In the end what I used to make it easier to take was a bit of foam padding, which also kept the sweat away (though being thicly painted in black enamel, it didn't rust).

I never stopped feeling utterly ridiculous carrying this artillery around. I could never forget for a minute I was carrying it, while Lile's "Mission" is like a long feather you can't help forgetting you have it...

So even having the experience with only all steel guns, I doubt lighter guns would be any better.

Gaston

P.S. Biggest hassle with the CZ-75 was the entire plastic "handle scales" were each held by one single screw, and had to be replaced with more rigid wood panels, fortunately those were offered as an option even back then.
 
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Gaston444 said:
I owned and occasionally carried a CZ-75 9 mm in the 90s, with only 12 rounds in the magazine and one up the chamber, as I noted the magazine spring set considerably over time.

I then also occasionally carried a Browning 7.65 mm, but this time in the pocket, because it was too small for belt carry. It was not big but it felt very heavy, even in a coat pocket.

A revolver would be much worse to carry, because the cylinder fattens it: I have never owned revolvers so I don't claim to know, but they are worse for inside-the-waistband carry than pistols for sure.

The CZ-75 is all steel but, considerably slimmer than the Glocks, and most others that are the rage these days. I did try a holster and it only worsened its bulk: In the end what I used to make it easier to take was a bit of foam padding, which also kept the sweat away (though being thicly painted in black enamel, it didn't rust).

I never stopped feeling utterly ridiculous carrying this artillery around. I could never forget for a minute I was carrying it, while Lile's "Mission" is like a long feather you can't help forgetting you have it...

So even having the experience with all steel guns, I doubt lighter guns would be any better.

Gaston
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Well, at least you somewhat gave this as your opinion based on experience. Thousands of Americans who have the right to and do in fact carry a gun everyday completely disagree with you. I don't even notice my Glock 26 on me right now :thumbup:
 
With the right size pistol, right holster, and a proper gun belt a carry gun will more or less disappear. A crappy holster and a Walmart belt can make carrying much more uncomfortable and noticeable than it can be.

Personally, I'm too small of a person to comfortably carry a 10 in blade. The ESEE 4 i had (4in or so blade, 9-10 overall) was fairly troublesome to conceal comfortably.

Everyone is different.
 
Bobby3326 said:
Ok so people should break the law (since many states have laws preventing concealment of a fixed blade) and conceal said fixed blade oppose to open carry legally or carry a pocket knife...great advice [emoji57]


Lol did you really say your go to blade is a 10" hollow handle?
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He's Gecko45
 
Gaston444 said:
I still think the way a 17 ounces handgun is shaped makes it way more unconfortable to carry in a way that is concealed with your jacket off. It will print through a wool shirt, while even a fairly big knife will print, but a lot less.

I don't often carry a 10" hollow handle, as the handle is not optimized for a low outside print, but it can be done easily when you want to keep boredom at bay...

The issue is not that a handgun is better for self-defense, but I notice no one advocating carrying a handgun also advocates wearing a bulletproof vest, even though the vest is less trouble and makes a lot more sense... Also, outside the US, where I am, carrying a handgun is way more potential trouble than it is worth.

Quite frankly, I have trouble imagining a practical-minded American like Andy Rooney carrying a handgun: I think he would wear a vest first...

In Russia I notice many people carry handguns, even rifles, for defense, but they are usually kept in the vehicle and never carried about on the person... On the person is really a step beyond, even for Russians...

The problem with carrying handguns on the person is not that it is stupid per see, but that it looks stupid... Carrying a huge hollow handle concealed I agree may also look stupid, but that I do for fun... I actually carry other styles of fixed blades when I feel like it, and even if people around me were to know, they would not be as shocked as they would be by an actual handgun...

As for the comment that if people had carried handguns in Paris they would have survived better, maybe indeed they would, but it wouldn't be Paris anymore, and I'm sure they would all rather keep their city the way it is...

Gaston
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Gaston - i don't want to argue with you as your mind seems to be made up, but you are just wrong on this. Carrying a handgun of the right size under the shirt, inside the waistband is perfectly comfortable and it doesn't look stupid as nobody sees it. I have been doing it for years and years, first with a j-frame revolver and then with the smaller 9mms. I definitely understand that you can't carry where you are, but to say a knife conceals better is just wrong.

On a more snarky note, not sure why Andy Rooney would be the measure for practicality.
 
While I love well made hollow handle knives and they can be extremely tough I would not use one with a saw back for anything except in the woods. Horrible for a self defense knife besides being ridiculous to conceal in my drawers. Stick that in something with bones and meat and its there your not pulling it back out without a serious struggle.

I can easily carry a concealed full size service pistol with no problem or discomfort, its called proper holsters and belts, not sticking it in the waistband of my pants with some foam.
 
I carry concealed and have for almost 10 years. Guns, and knives too. A Sig 938 or a Kahr PM9 in a crossbreed mini tuck is as comfortable as a pair of all cotton boxer shorts, and that's what I carry most (the guns, no the boxer shorts lol). I also will go up to a Glock23 (my all time favorite weapon) or even a Sig 229, but that's rare. The Kahr gets the most time because I am very accurate with it and its light and 100% reliable. I found carrying a ZT 301 around in my front pocket more of a burden than carrying the Kahr r Sig, both small and thin. With a good belt, holster, and well picked compact gun you will have next to no impact or hinderance in your daily activities and you will have a much better option than a 10" fixed blade jammed in your pants. Good luck dealing with an active shooter or multiple attackers with a blade. And an experience fighter with a Spyderco Dragonfly will have you carved up into steaks before you can say "cute knife buttercup". Knife fighting is very ugly, bloody, and not something anyone would ever want to be part of. Anyone who buys a big knife and thinks they have protection without training is going to have a very bad day when that knife is taken away from them and used against them and probably others.
 
I agree with you on that. I have several folding knives that i edc but I wouldn't bet my life on them if an attacker came at me or if I was out hiking and stumbled across a momma bear with her cubs. I don't EDC a fixed blade knife but if I know that I'm going into a rough neighborhood, I'll throw my USMC kabar or my Ontario Marine Combat in the door pocket. I don't really like guns all that much. Just my opinion. If someone wants to carry a gun, that's fine. I just choose not to carry. Having a knife makes me feel a little bit safer, and since it's technically not concealed, there's no issue. If i'm heading out into the woods, unless hiking in a small county park, I'll thread my Ontario Raider Bowie (a 10" long, 1/4" thick bowie knife) onto my gun belt and head out, or, if I feel like carrying a little less weight, I'll carry my kabar or my Ontario Combat.

I would love to EDC a fixed blade but I try to err on the side of the cautiousness. I try to EDC knives that look like tools, not so much weapons. No tanto designs, no fancy tactical crap, I even try to shy away from carrying my assisted opening knives. I daily carry a Spyderco Tenacious and I can open that thing faster than my assisted opening Kershaw's, but I can also open it very slowly as to not be intimidating.
 



Carries comfortably, doesn't feel like artillery, and I don't feel silly. You are extrapolating how you feel to apply to everyone. Don't want to or didn't like carrying? Great. Not everyone has had the same experiences as you or feels the way you do.

Again, quality gear makes all the difference. A cheap or bulky holster, or shoving foam in between your body and the gun, is probably going to lead to a negative experience.
 
If you are going to use a knife for self defense a good first rule to follow is to conceal it up until you use it - do not show the knife until contact is made. A pocketknife with a razor edge works much better for this than a big knife - these are called combat knives for a reason. For many people and many reasons a handgun does not fit the bill for self defense. In the actual real world, small and vulnerable people such as females and elderly are often the victims. Only Stabman pointed out the tremendous effectiveness of a knife against a potential rapist. Running is great, guns are great, but those who predate on human victims often trap their victims, or use the advantage of physical strength or numbers to attack. Chemical defensive weapons are a good first step, but often fail against drugged or psychotic attackers. It may be that a knife is a tool first, but for self defense a small knife can greatly even the playing field against a stronger opponent. Knife vs knife sounds a bit crazy unless you train a lot. As a direct answer to the OP, a pocket knife beats a combat knife hands down for most street confrontations because you can use a reverse grip thus concealing the blade until you use it, and speed beats mass in the world of the blade.
 
Dr Rez said:
Firearms like a 2 inch snubby don't have any other purpose but defense...
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On the flip side of that certain knives are restricted to a single purpose as well. Firearms in general have several uses.

Two sides of the same coin.
 
If you're ccwing a firearm it's purpose is self defense, it's not a tool like a knife.

You're not carrying a glock encase you need to shoot open some boxes during the day, or to shoot your Apple into smaller pieces at lunch, or to shoot off that annoying string hanging off your shirt. When out and about carrying a firearm its for a God forbid situation arises where you must protect yourself, your family, or those around you. Sure when hunting it's a tool to provide food, but that's not what's being discussed here.

A knife however is a tool that you can open boxes with, slice up that Apple at lunch, or whatever other task that presents itself during the day.
 
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