[Glamdring]

I am looking for sugestions on fixed blade knifes and carry techniques that would allow fast draw and attack from concealment.

Have handgun and good folders, but looking for something that would be a bit faster into action. Also want to try some Iado techniques with.

[CRridermike]

i sometimes carry my Gerber Gardian back-up. it is a "boot knife" but i carry in the center o my back or on my side. its has a double edged blade about 3.75" long and has a "composit" sheath. good knife! i've seen them for as cheap as 30 bucks.

[JShirley]

I think carry of fixed blades for defense is ill-advised for most people.

I believe the sole exceptions are those whose job legitimately calls for a sheath knife.

John

[SapperLeader]

Only time I carry a fixed blade knife for ccw is when Im in a area where firearms are prohibited, but knives are not. There are precious few places like that. I usually carry my CRKT Ryan B in a iwb strong side position. The factory sheath is just ok, and I need to invest in a better leather one. If you get the training(at least some), I think a good fixed blade will beat harsh words any day.

[1911Tuner]

A Cold Steel Mini Tanto...carried upside down between belt and
body (Sheath has a belt loop on both sides...or at least mine does
to allow for over or under belt carry)

Puts the grip at your fingertips, and can be positioned edge back for a quick and discreet ice pick/draw-cut presentation as it clears the sheath. Takes a little manipulation of the velcro retaining strap for easy release, but it works and is easily hidden by a T-shirt.

If you get caught with it, the charge and penalty will be the same as with a concealed firearm...Not sure if your CCW will cover a knife. Some jurisdictions may...others may not.

Luck!

Tuner

[hso]

You can carry as large a knife as fits your height IWB with a good sheath. Mike Sastre, who is ~5'8", carries a 12" Bagwell Bowie this way in one of his River City Sheaths sheaths and does it in shorts! I don't advise shoulder holsters and exotic rigs. I have found that the boring IWB to work best for me.

I don't advise carrying anything day in and day out with a blade length over 7 inches and usually go with 5 for convenience, but whatever fits.

Regardless of how you carry a knife the critical thing is to get training on it. If you are not going to get trained, and practice, practice practice, then you pretty much want a slasher and you won't need a large one to match your skill. The Spyderco Temperance, CRKT Kasper/Polkowski Companion, and similar knives will do fine.

WRT legality - http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/609/66.html doesn't specificly prohibit carry of any knife except switchblades. You may fall prey to the interpretation of a "dangerous weapon" as anything that is intended to cause death or great bodily harm. Regardless MN seems to have a Pistol Carry and not a general weapons carry system so the carry permit wouldn't extend to anything other than handguns.

You may want to consider getting an ASP and some training as well.

[Don Gwinn]

Only time I carry a fixed blade knife for ccw is when Im in a area where firearms are prohibited, but knives are not. There are precious few places like that.
Well, there's the state of Illinois. ;)

[SapperLeader]

"Well, there's the state of Illinois. "
Sorry Don, I should of clarified. In Virginia, there are few places I can carry a knife but not a gun. DC wont let me carry anything, and im still trying to puzzle out md's knife laws. Im scared to be caught with a folder in MD . DC, its a pen and my wits, and thats all, so if it wasnt for that pen Id be barely armed at all :)

[loandr.]

Strider "MV" on the weak side, drawn in reverse grip will buy you time and distance...with proper footwork TO DRAW what you SHOULD be fighting with in the strong hand....your pistol!!! :-) Just my .02
Loandr.

[Mac Attack]

Of late, I have been carrying my Phil Hartsfield Kozuka at the 2 o'clock position tucked into my waistband. My Hartsfield has a neck sheath that works great for static-line carry. simple, comfortable and easily accessible.

[loandr.]

;) yeah yeah,....... make me jealous.
Loandr.

[Glamdring]

AFAIK MN state law doesn't limit fixed blades knifes, except by intent.

Some city laws do.

My CCW instructor lives in the worst city in the state for CCW and related laws and has had contact with LEO more than once while carrying. He also likes knifes. They haven't hassled him over knifes once they knew he had a CCW.

Anyway I carry the knife when I carry a gun (I don't go places where I can't carry with exception of Courthouse or such to get Lic renewals). I don't expect anyone to see the knife as a weapon unless I have need of it.

I am looking at fixed blade knifes to maybe replace my folders (I carry a Spyderco Endura and Native).

I look at self defense as balance of Speed and Power. Empty hand response is quickest and also weakest and most of my practice with empty hand techniques is designed to give me time/distance to draw and USE a more powerful weapon.

Drawing a folder is much faster for me than drawing a gun from concealment, I believe a fixed blade would be much faster than the folder. And that is why I am planning to get a couple of fixed blades and practice with them to see if they are fast enough to be worth the switch.

BTW I am not looking for large knifes, that would be for true open carry IMO.

[Mac Attack]

...They haven't hassled him over knifes once they knew he had a CCW...

I have been told the same thing by a LEO. They figure if you went the distance to get your CCW then you are okay.

Fixed blades are quick to get into action and sturdy as heck when compared to folders. I had been carrying a folder of some sort for years prior to receiving my first Hartsfield. Now all I carry is my Hartsfield! One option that people forget are Emerson Knives Inc. knives with the wave feature. The wave feature has to be the biggest advancement in edged weapons since the pocket clip and thumb hole (all created by Spyderco). A knife with the wave feature deploys just as quickly as a fixed blade yet offers the comfortability of a folder. With practice, you can get a waved knife into action as quick as it takes you to pull it from your pocket.

[Don Gwinn]

I use a Folts Mantis quite a bit. The sheath was really designed for neck or belt carry, but with the belt clip removed it's fantastically flat. I don't know if Alan thought this out, but it rides perfectly in my hip pocket with the grip staying just out of sight. Reach almost into the pocket and it's in your hand.

[Denko]

I have been thinking of the benchmade nimravus for this application.They make several versions and the sheath looks good also.