Thread: Need a Knife

If you are going to use a knife for self-defense, the most important thing to have is serious training. Don't carry a knife for self-defense unless you have spent the time and money to take a serious, in-depth combat knife course. The course should last a couple of months and won't be cheap. Don't think you can just buy a neat knife and carry around with you and you'll be ready to defend yourself with it. Unless you actually know what you are doing, pulling a knife in a self-defense situation actually makes you more likely to be hurt or killed than if you didn't have the knife at all. It's incredibly dangerous, much more dangerous than using your bare hands or just trying to run away. You are quite likely to end up getting slashed/stabbed with your own knife. If you don't have the needed training, don't carry a knife for self-defense. Also, be intimately familiar with your state's knife laws. In many places the carry of knives is actually more restricted than the carry of handguns. All told, if you really want to carry a deadly weapon for self-defense, a pistol is a better choice. It is much easier to use effectively, it is much less dangerous to you, and it is likely to be subject to fewer legal hassles.

That said, a good self-defense knife will have a blade profile suited to effective slashing, as well as a tip suited for effective stabbing. It should have grip shaping that allows for a strong, positive "saber" grip. The blade should be thick enough to have the necessary strength to stand up to the stresses of hard slashing and stabbing.

And just to repeat: Get serious training, or don't carry a knife for self-defense.

EDIT: And thinking that a big scary knife might end a confrontation just by it's appearance is probably like thinking that racking the slide on your pump-action will scare off a burglar: Silly, unrealistic, and possibly dangerous.

Originally Posted by Syme

If you are going to use a knife for self-defense, the most important thing to have is serious training. Don't carry a knife for self-defense unless you have spent the time and money to take a serious, in-depth combat knife course. The course should last a couple of months and won't be cheap. Don't think you can just buy a neat knife and carry around with you and you'll be ready to defend yourself with it. Unless you actually know what you are doing, pulling a knife in a self-defense situation actually makes you more likely to be hurt or killed than if you didn't have the knife at all. It's incredibly dangerous, much more dangerous than using your bare hands or just trying to run away. You are quite likely to end up getting slashed/stabbed with your own knife. If you don't have the needed training, don't carry a knife for self-defense. Also, be intimately familiar with your state's knife laws. In many places the carry of knives is actually more restricted than the carry of handguns. All told, if you really want to carry a deadly weapon for self-defense, a pistol is a better choice. It is much easier to use effectively, it is much less dangerous to you, and it is likely to be subject to fewer legal hassles.

While I appreciate your insight, I carry knives for self-defense as an option. I agree that haphazardly pulling out a knife if you feel you're in danger is a dumb move, even if you're trained in the usage of it, and I also agree with the notion that being trained in knife usage is a huge benefit and marginalizes potential self injury.

But if you're going to tell me that being untrained and having a knife on you has zero benefits, I feel as though you're displaying a degree of elitism and/or cynicism. The flaw with your argument being entirely cohesive in every situation is that you have a choice in pulling the knife in the first place, and you still have the option of running after it's been pulled. Unless you're fighting superman who uses his X-Ray vision, there's no possible way for another individual to know you even are equipped with one in your pocket. Judgment is key to using any deadly weapon, and without it you can become injured by just about anything, screwdrivers, pens, etc (firearms as well).

Anyway, don't take this reply as an argument to your points as it's not, because I agree with what you're saying in the vast majority of situations. I just felt as though I had to defend myself from patronization.

Originally Posted by Syme

That said, a good self-defense knife will have a blade profile suited to effective slashing, as well as a tip suited for effective stabbing. It should have grip shaping that allows for a strong, positive "saber" grip. The blade should be thick enough to have the necessary strength to stand up to the stresses of hard slashing and stabbing.

Thank you for your information.

Originally Posted by solecistic

I think the whole "hyuck I need a gun for self defense" argument is really ridiculous as a general rule, but it's nowhere near as retarded as "hyuck I live in Philly I need a big knife."

I'm not sure I've ever read a more ignorant statement from you before, given what Killuminati had just posted prior to your reply.

Originally Posted by Anonymous D

I personally wouldnt carry a knife for self defense, becuase if the other person has a gun, you are basically fucked. Dont bring a knife to what could be a gun fight.

If the other person has a gun, you're fucked from the get-go unless you have a gun yourself. Having a knife folded in your pocket has no bearing on the outcome of that situation.

Originally Posted by faesce

While I appreciate your insight, I carry knives for self-defense as an option. I agree that haphazardly pulling out a knife if you feel you're in danger is a dumb move, even if you're trained in the usage of it, and I also agree with the notion that being trained in knife usage is a huge benefit and marginalizes potential self injury.

But if you're going to tell me that being untrained and having a knife on you has zero benefits, I feel as though you're displaying a degree of elitism and/or cynicism. The flaw with your argument being entirely cohesive in every situation is that you have a choice in pulling the knife in the first place, and you still have the option of running after it's been pulled. Unless you're fighting superman who uses his X-Ray vision, there's no possible way for another individual to know you even are equipped with one in your pocket. Judgment is key to using any deadly weapon, and without it you can become injured by just about anything, screwdrivers, pens, etc (firearms as well).

Anyway, don't take this reply as an argument to your points as it's not, because I agree with what you're saying in the vast majority of situations. I just felt as though I had to defend myself from patronization.

I'd agree that simply carrying the knife can't hurt, since you do of course have the choice of whether to use it; I was just saying that, generally speaking, for an untrained person, pulling a knife is more likely to worsen the situation than to improve it, so it can be generally viewed as counterproductive and ineffective as a self-defense measure. Obviously this isn't true in EVERY situation, but since you can't know in advance whether or not a given situation is one where pulling your knife will help or hurt you, it's best for untrained people to stick with the rule of thumb that it's always a bad idea, because that rule will hold true in most cases.

Originally Posted by Shinysides

Where would one go about finding one of these combat knife training classes? I've never heard of this before and would be seriously interested. I'd rather carry a knife than a gun on a day to day basis.

Yellow pages and Google are probably the best way to find one. Look for non-firearm self-defense classes, especially knife self-defense classes or those that advertise as including knife or counter-knife techniques. I've never taken such a class (I'm lazy and just rely on my CCW), so I couldn't provide any recommendation more specific than that. It might also be a good idea to join some self-defense forums and talk to people to make sure that the class you choose is known as a reputable one with an instructor who actually knows what they're talking about, since there's a lot of BS out there when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm sure if you joined the right forum, there would be members who could help point you to good classes in your area.

Originally Posted by Syme

I'd agree that simply carrying the knife can't hurt, since you do of course have the choice of whether to use it; I was just saying that, generally speaking, for an untrained person, pulling a knife is more likely to worsen the situation than to improve it, so it can be generally viewed as counterproductive and ineffective as a self-defense measure. Obviously this isn't true in EVERY situation, but since you can't know in advance whether or not a given situation is one where pulling your knife will help or hurt you, it's best for untrained people to stick with the rule of thumb that it's always a bad idea, because that rule will hold true in most cases.

thumbsup

edit: and no, killuminati is actually really dumb irl. anybody with intelligence wouldn't be so cruel as to invite me into their garage to smoke from the most amazing bong ever and then bounce to philly leaving a void in my heart left from the illadelph smoke