Idiot carrying a knife.

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And the idiot is me! For the past 6 months I've carried a 3.5" Gerber EZ-Out with the cool finger holes. Dropping it into my pocket this morning I reflected on why. "If I am attacked I might need it", I originally thought.

Well, I have absolutely zero training in edged weapons. I'm probably more likely to cut myself than an attacker. Plus, if held up at gunpoint, I sure am not drawing a knife. So basically, I'm either going to get into a knife fight, which I have no clue on tactics, or cut an unarmed man, which would not be looked on favorably in liberal MD.

Plus, here in MD our knife laws are cloudy, but with the anti self defense attitude of LEOs I doubt I could convince them that a 3.5" knife with 3 triangular finger holes and a pocket clip is being used to cut open packages.

So basically, until I get some training on knife self defense I think I'll stick to the OC spray (I have a Leatherman Micra for really opening packages :D ). And write some more to my state reps about shall-issue (every little bit helps!).
 
"I'm probably more likely to cut myself than an attacker"

Nope. YOU are not the idiot...I am.

did the same thing- I have a CHL, and I carry/practice regularly. Figured everybody I saw at various classes had a "tactical" folder clipped to their pocket, I should too.

Bought one, practiced opening it one-handed behind my back and bringing it forward with a vigorous motion. About the fifth time...zip, right through my outer thigh. About five inches long, half an inched deep. Mostly fat, but I did get some meat.

Knives are like guns- if you have no idea what you're doing, and you're playing the fool...you can hurt yourself surprisingly quickly.

Least you had the good sense to realize that before you dinged yourself.
 
zip, right through my outer thigh. About five inches long, half an inched deep.
Click to expand...

Sweet Jeebus! At least you tried to practice, I just figured I'd magically know what to do if and when the time came....

And yep, it was seeing everyone at the range with that tell-tale clip that made me get the durn thing.
 
There is always a price to pay. In Karate I got hurt a lot more than in any bar fight.
Knife fighting was taught by a Mr. Yas, 3rd dan. His training was painful, his request for 500 sit-ups, which nobody could do, ridiculous, and the whole training was just extremely hard and painful.
It left me confident, though. A confidence I could convey and that saved me
many fights.

Go on training, pay the price for preparedness and it may come in handy, or still be good sport.
 
Knife handling skills can be esoteric, but simple familiarity seems to be what you lacked.

Carry, handle and use a small tactical (by that I only mean one-hand opening) knife all day, every day, and look for opportunities to quickly draw and employ it. I carry two or three, because I can't predict which hand will be available during an attack. A 3" blade is not really inferior to a 3 1/2" blade, and looks a bit more innocent, like a "common pocket knife" which is a tool, not a weapon. Carry it (them) concealed, no need to look cool 24/7.

An untrained motivated person with a knife will do a lot of damage in a hurry, while a confused beginner puzzling thru a stack of knife-fighting videos & books will still be deciding which grip to employ. Just stab and cut as much as you can, as fast as you can, but only if you can't run away. You won't be getting into any knife fights against your will. But you might have to cut yourself free from an attacker, you might have to injure someone to escape, and you might have to open a package. Or convince someone to quit struggling for possesson of your gun.

But if you enjoy learning about knife combatives, I recommend starting with the works of James A. Keating and Michael Janich, but you can make it as complicated as you want. And a $40 drone (dull, red practice knife) like a Spyderco Endura or Delica gives you a safer way to practice, while making a pretty good letter opener.
 
Umm, there's a reason they make practice blades out of rubber, wood or soft plastic.

I know we all have to start somewhere, but you don't practice your draw with a loaded gun when you're just starting out, right? Not ot be too harsh, but didn't you first hear about not playing with sharp, pointy things, in . . . kindergarten?

Then again, I got a [smaller] scar like yours sort of the same way.:D
 
Once you've been cut, you learn to respect the knife. (Paraphrase of a Charles Manson quote.)

This is very true.
 
Actually this is kinda funny. So I never cut myself with it cause I never practiced, but I figured I before I put it away I would run a Q-Tip in it to clean out the pocket lint, etc.

Yep, my hand slipped and I got a small nick.:rolleyes:

But, I think I will get some training. My GF has some sword training (cool!) so she's interested in taking a class together....
 
Whilte instructions like books and videaos are good, I believe FOF practice to be better, even with carrots, if you can find a motivated partner.

Don't let your knifehand be cut! That's the first thing I'd go for.
 
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/md.txt

It looks like your 3.5 inch folder would be perfectly legal to carry in MD.

Training is essential in learning how to use a knife offensively and, more importantly, defensively. They are not the same. Just stabbing away over and over again is the approach taken in prison to murder someone and would certainly be pointed out as such if you went to trial.
 
"you don't practice your draw with a loaded gun when you're just starting out, right?"

nope- but only because, having been in the army, I had some sense that firearms were dangerous.

Much in the same way that naive shooters will scratch their heads with the muzzle of their weapon...I had no respect/fear of the blade.

"hell, I shoot guns, this thing don't go bang...how dangerous can it be?"

I'd never been cut before, and never appreciated just how fast the blade will zip through jeans/flesh/meat. Not like a knife through butter- more like a knife through jello.


Stupid on my part- hope others will learn from my error.
 
didn't you first hear about not playing with sharp, pointy things, in . . . kindergarten?
Click to expand...
Never did go to kindergarten, but I did learn not to run with scissors and all that from my mother. She was also the one who gave me a knife for my 5th or 6th birthday. I'd had a couple of knives before then, but this was my first "good" knife. Fixed blade, six inches of laminated steel, literally sharp as a razor. No injuries, at least nothing that required stitches... until I was over 20 years old. I was cooking breakfast during a hunting trip, using that same knife, when it suddenly slipped. Note how the inanimate object here takes on a life of its own: The knife slipped. Not "The idiot cut himself". :D
 
always carry a knife

of some sort.
thanks to Jim,I always carry a huge folder.
I have used it to cut boxes as well as
cut a rag off this guys motorcycycle on a busy street
(it got caught in his chain)
you made need it to cut a seat belt at the next accident scene
you happen upon.
everyone needs a knife
 
I carry a CRKT 3.5" folder that is quicker in my hands than some switch blades i've seen. I could carry a switch blade if i wanted to, being an EMT, but liked mu manual folder better than the automatics i had seen. I Only reason i carry it is for utility. Having to remove the occasional clothing from a trauma victim if i don't have scissors handy. If i needed to use it for self defence i could do so quite easily, but it's still my last choice for self defence, albeit only option besides OC because of my age.
 
Where i work we were given a gerber multi tool as a attaboy for safely working so many hoursand such, well somebody cut himself the first night,when he tried to unlock the handle to put the blade away:eek: sliced his hand up good took a few stiches.
 
"I'm either going to get into a knife fight, which I have no clue on tactics, or cut an unarmed man, which would not be looked on favorably in liberal MD."

You forgot one possibility - two or more unarmed attackers. Cutting an unarmed man who is with others trying to kill you is legally very different from cutting an unarmed man. Of course, going up against multiple attackers with just a knife is not something I would recommend but when you have no other options you have no other options. The same goes for a knife-on-knife fight. If you have no other options slash away. You may go to jail as HSO said, but that's better than dying.

Also, just using a knife to open packages and such once in a while will help you get accustomed to the feel of it and could help in a fight. But by all means look into some training.

Jeff
 
Everyone should be trained in striking and grappling arts. What if you don't have your knife, gun, or other weapon? The best defense is a layered defense. Your bare hands are the last layer.
 
I have been carrying a pocket knife for as long as I can remember. My grandfather started giving them (the Case XX type) to me around eight years-old. Started in with lock blades around fifteen and now I have two Benchmade (mini griptilian and gent's folder both axis locks) pocket knives – in all this time I have never even thought of using one in a fight. But now thanks to this thread, I've started thinking about it. My first thought is “I'll do myself and injury I won't be able to explain.†The rest of my thoughts all run in the same direction. I guess I'll stick with using them for work and pleasure. Pleasure is defined as being at a small child's birthday party, “Does any one have a knife to open this cord, plastic, etc?â€
“Yeah, I do.â€
“Figures, grandpa would have a pocket knife, he's so old school.†And I just grin.

For the idiot with a knife portion: Back in my twenties I used to carry a switch blade and not a small one, overall length was about eleven inches open. When working at a customer's location, I pulled it out to trim some wires my other hand being full. When it opened one of the secretaries screamed. I dropped it and it landed point down on my shoe, emergency room visit, seven stitches to the muscle and tendon, five skin stitches and two days off work. After that I put it away... It was an injury that was hard to explain.

Michael.
 
MichaelJay,

If West Union, OH qualifies as southern Ohio, you are in luck if you seek defensive knife training! Also, top quality firearms training and an integrated unarmed program too.

www.tdiohio.com

John Benner and his crew offer a top-notch integrated defensive skills program including two one-day knife classes. Benner is the epitomy of a gentleman. You will definitely not be disappointed if you get the chance to train with him.

For those not located near John's place, I can also reccomend mobile classess offered by Insights Training Center and, of course, the OPS. Other trainers that I have experience with and reccomend include Legion Consulting and the Spyderco Martial BladeCraft program taught by Mike Janich.

www.insightstraining.com
www.legionconsulting.com
www.opstraining.com
www.martialbladecraft.net

NOTE: Edited to make sense!!!
 
Last edited:
Paul,

I have been to TDI for handgun one training. I was scheduled twice for handgun two and my employer scheduled me to work both weekends. Now I will have to wait till next year. All vacation days are used up :-( Yeah, weekends count against vacation.

They're a great group and I learned a lot. I especially liked having time between classes to practice what was taught and make it a part of my standard gun discipline.

My wife wants us to take the cane class - now that would be interesting.

Michael.
 
MichaelJay,

I don't know if you saw this post: http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37524 but it's a review of Level IV & V Handgun at TDI. Andy Stanford & I went up there in June.

Very solid group of guys and gals. We'll probably be back in 2004 to take John's CQPC course. The idea of a silat-based unarmed program coming form the middle of nowhere in Ohio just strikes me as the strangest thing, but I've heard excellant reviews about it from some friends and students who have taken it.

Kevin Martin is the primary instructor for the cane class and he's also one of, if not the main guy, main guys behind the knife curriculum. I havne't gotten the chance to meet Kevin yet, but I'm looking forward to that as well.
 
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