Self Defense Knives?

[Cyborg13454]

I'm about to be going out of the country for 3 months and would like a good self defense knife just in case. So I was just wondering what everybody here thinks would be good for that. And I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place, I didn't know where it should go.

[flashlife]

Kinda depends on where you're going, and what their attitudes/laws toward knives are. You don't want to get locked up outside the USA...or even inside it !

On the safe-side: probably a one-hand opening folder with a 3 inch blade...a thumb-stud or hole opener. A locking blade is a plus and probably not too risky, although some countries (UK ?) have laws forbidding lock blades.
Also, I'd not rely on the assumption that if you have to use it, they'll forgive an "illegal" knife just because it was 'self-defense'. Britian has locked up several folks who used weapons in legit self-defense cases. Something that doesn't look too 'aggressive"' or too 'mean' or too 'weapony'.

I'm thinking an AGRussell Featherlite: http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/a_through_d/a_g_russell_knives/folding_knives/a_g_russell_featherliteclip_point_blade_with_aus8_ steel__1.html

I have one in AUS-8 steel, opens and closes very fast, one-handed, not overly 'scary looking', holds a razor edge forever, very light (1.5oz), thin, very pocketable.

edit: also affordable - $35 + shipping. :)


JMH

[RoadFish]

Depends..... where are you going and what is your experience fighting with knives? You can get in a lot of trouble pulling out a knife and I don't just mean legal trouble!

[Boogerball]

I say lrg. classic sebenza







in before "tool not weapon"

[Cyborg13454]

well I'm going to south africa and I have looked up knife laws there before but now forgot them so I'm gonna do that again.

And I don't have any experience fighting with knives but I do have training. And it would also only be used as a last resort.

[Parker]

Cyborg, I took an Entrek Jag with me to Mexico in a Sharpshooter kydx IWB sheath (Insider)

The knife was with me 24 hours a day literally - I swam, ran, hiked, ate, shat and slept with it.

The knife is 440C steel and has a tanto point - I normally despise these, but i figured if I had to extricate us from a freshly wrecked vehicle, I preferred a little extra beef. Besides, in a tropical environment, the lack of penetration from a tanto would not be as much an issue as it would be in a colder climate.

The blade is about 4 inches, the overall about 8.25. The IWB sheath was affixed to my belt with a simple piece of cord and I use it now for running and other wet activities.

The knife and sheath ran me about $115 including the knife, sheath and shipping.

I also took with me a CRK sebenza, a Bark River Classic Lite Hunter (IWB kydex) and a SAK of some sort.

I would really recommend the fixed knife over the folder - it has less parts to worry about, hides well in tourist or business garb and is more reliable to be open if you need it.

My immediate introduction to Cancun was the van driving us to our destination going North instead of South, then pulling into a dark parking lot for us to "change vans." He pulled into a completely dark lot instead of the well-lit Pemex gas station. The comfort introduced by a serious piece of steel over a folding knife which may or may not lock open in what could easily become a serious event cannot be overstated. I'm sure this was all on the up and up and they had a good reason to use the dark lot. Just like I had a good reason to let them get a look at the knife in my belt as we changed vans.

Find a good inexpensive fixed knife with a fairly low-maintenance blade and take an SAK as a daily chore knife. Entrek or Bark River get very high marks, as would a RAT Cutlery four-inch blade.

[unsub]

A knife makes an excellent close quarters weapon.
It is the choice for self defence in most every country but the US.
A handgun is not any better in a fight where the people are less than 20 feet away because a man can move 14 feet from a standing start in 1 second.


An excellent book to learn about knife fighting techniques is Kill or Get Killed.
It is a US Marine core manual so it is available free on the net at StevesPages.

I like a fixed blade with a single edge and occasionally a sharpened clip with a really secure handle and lanyard for a concealed fighter. You can carry a quite large knife hidden if it lays flat. I have a Cord wrapped Spyderco Mule I use as well that is a wicked hide out fighter.

A good sharp chefs knife can also make a great fighter and looks more improvised.

[Cyborg13454]

so how do you prefer to carry a fixed blade concealed(ish). just wondering and gathering different opinions to make my choice

[Parker]

I tend to carry IWB, SOB/ behind the strongside hip, kydex with a little p-cord loop around your belt to hold the sheath in place - given a dark handle and a dark shirt, I don't really get odd looks for this anywhere.

Also, if your mode of dress allows for it, IWB, just behind your belt-buckle, use P-cord to fashion a loop or leash to hold the sheath there as well. This works well under a sweatshirt, jacket or long sleeved shirt.

Both are fast and easy to access.

If you need to shitcan the rig, you slice the cord off and toss the entire package in a hurry.

You can also tuck an 8-inch or so package of knife in your front pocket in the sheath if need be. Lighter fixed blades lend themselves to this well, with something like the Entrek as described, you need to be wearing a tightly cinched waistband or a belt.

And if you get really in a fix, you can even carry this knife concealed and ready in a magazine, newspaper or inside a glove. These last bits are entirely telling if discovered and you will be incarcerated for it, as nobody goes to harvest crops or open mail like this.