Why don't more people use the P'kal for EDC?

[worshipNtribute]

Is there something I'm missing? It's on my purchase list of knives I've always wanted but never got a chance to play with and I'm really close to buying the p'kal or a streetbeat. The big advantage (and probably the reason I get it) with the p'kal is the fact that I can carry it everywhere since its legal to have a folder but not a fixed blade. But why don't more people use it as EDC? Seems to be an awesome s/d knife, but is that its only purpose? I can't justify carrying two knives on me, and I can't justify carrying one knife only for self defense.

 

[Planterz]

It's an extremely specific knife for use with a particular form of knife fighting that few people train in. Perhaps you didn't notice, but it's intended to be held with the edge up, something few of us even consider doing, let alone train in. There are probably advantages in holding a knife this way, even for the untrained, but I'm not the one to explain them (although I'd assume it has a lot to do with attacking the gut and femoral arteries). It's a specialized knife, and specialized knives typically need specialized training, like the kerambit. And generally speaking, the more specialized a knife is, the less useful it is for general use. Of course, like any sharpened slab of metal, it will have its usefulness. Myself, I love hawkbill knives for utility purposes, but the specific grip of the P'Kal limits its utility for regular cutting.

All that makes it an uncommonly carried knife.

The Street Beat is a fantastic knife. I absolutely love the way it fits my hand. I've been very close to getting one myself for a while now. If it were only .5-1.0" longer, I'd have one already. But it's a very different knife than the P'kal, intended to be used very differently.

 

[worshipNtribute]

Hey Planterz - thanks for the response. I know the p'kal is meant to be deployed in a reverse grip with the edge facing inwards, but it can be used in a normal grip as well. It just seems odd that no one ever uses it for EDC (from what I can see). I feel as though a knife that can be used normally but also has the ability to be used in a bunch of other grips would lend itself well to people that want an EDC that can also be used for s/d.

As for the streetbeat - damn michigan laws. I'd love to be able to EDC it. It'd solve all of my problems.