Posted on 06/28/2019 9:46:23 AM PDT by w1n1
We have all heard of never bring a knife to a gunfight. True, but depending on the situation knives do have the advantage over guns in short range fights. Knives do have their disadvantages as well, nothing is perfect. Having a knife as a backup to your pistol should be a part of your every day carry. Sometimes, getting to your pistol isn't always that easy when you’re caught in close quarter and have to do some hand-to-hand and getting the knife out was easier.
f you decide to carry a knife with the intent of using it to defend yourself or your family then be prepared for the harsh reality of a knife fight. Here are some things to consider when getting a self defense EDC knife. You want to weigh these factors: concealable, ease of use, and legality.
Concealable/Easy Access
The school of thought is if you want the knife concealed then position it out of sight out of mind. What we get is people clipping their folded knife to their pockets for the world to see.
The other thing is common sense, hiding a three inch folding knife is easier than a full size 6 inch blade Kabar. There are some sentiments that people say you should hide the knife until the exact moment you strike them with it. Thats up to you.
Ease of Use & Carry Position
This covers a cross between having a knife in your pocket or clipped inside at the appendix or anywhere on the pants or garment. So which position is the best for you to access?
Think of economy of motion, how many layers of clothing will you need to peel in order to get your knife out. We’re not going to go deep into this, because its all about choosing a position to store that knife. Then, run it through some hand-to-hand drills and see if you can get to your knife quickly. Thats going to be your answer. We can go on and on why the appendix is the best to go with. But, what if you attire is a 3 piece suit and its what you wear at your corporate job.
Here's a short quick list of folding knife and fixed blade.
Spyderco P'Kal - Spyderco claims that the name P'Kal comes from the word "pikal," spoken in the Philippines. It means "to rip," and that’s exactly what this knife is meant for. The P'Kal's edge is along the inside of the curve. This gives it great power for pulling cuts.
Fox 479 Black G10 Folding Karambit - This tool has been field tested in the most extreme climates by some truly hardcore people, and has proven itself time and time again to be of the highest quality. Whether you need a utility knife to open boxes and clamshell packaging or a reliable self-defense tool to open a can of whoop ass.
Gerber Ghoststrike - You can hide this knife anywhere then strike when you need to. The sheath can clip onto your belt, or it can attach to the included neoprene wrap to hide on your ankle. Also, unlike some knives on this list, you can rotate the sheath for horizontal carry.
Cold Steel Defender Push Dagger - Cold Steel, Incorporated was founded in 1980. This dagger is by far the easiest to use if you’re not a trained knife fighter. The motion used is similar to punching, which utilizes gross motor skills not the fancy Filipino slice combo angle 1 and 2. Read the rest of best knife for self defense.
Used to be a Gerber fan, but seems the quality went downhill....
A bigger one then your opponent has.
I still like this one.
The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbairn%E2%80%93Sykes_fighting_knife
The Ontario Knife Company has good folders for very cheap one would normally pay double for, found on amazon like most of them.
Cold Steel has many nice tools.
Don’t go anywhere normally without two blades, and walking/running carry a small fixed blade on thick wide belt.
Finnish puukko. Scalpel sharp from the factory. Disembowel from sternum to pubic arch in one stroke. First move a horizontal draw across forehead..blood blinds instantly.
Gurkha tested. Gurkha approved.
Ditto.
Bigger caliber works all the time ...
I think any good quality blade with a sharp point would do.
I read the book about Bull Simons rescue of American employees stranded in Iran. He chose a team and trained them. The knives he chose were Gerber versions of the Sykes Fairbairne. Not the long bladed ones.
Simons had a lot of real life stabbing experience and Fairbairne even more.
I had a friend who was an Army Ranger and highly decorated in Viet Nam. I once looked him up on the internet and he was the real thing.
I once asked him what kind of knife he used and he said a simple Kabar tho a lot of them did use the Gerber.
Whatever you can get your hands on RIGHT NOW
Yep— wear it concealed under long sleeve shirt with the forearm scabbard. Triangular blade— razor sharp- a stab wound does NOT close up— the “stuck pig” effect.
Fairbain and Sykes were police in Shanghai in the Imperial police. Knew ‘rough’ fighting situations in many a dark alley.
I switched to a Kershaw SV30 Blur from the Fallkniven PXL I was carrying as it’s much lighter and frankly I am not nearly as concerned about beating it up (too expensive and pretty to bang up). Current one gets used a LOT and is stropped almost daily, sharpened weekly and will probably need replaced in a year but it’s been worth every penny.
Knives have saved my life more than a time or two and those of various friends and family members as well, be it self defense or removing themselves from wrecked cars, construction accidents, etc.
Keep a few Gerber EVO in various formats as throwaways, loaners, checked baggage knives, etc. Quality definitely down but for 10-15$ they aren’t bad
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