KA-BAR for self defense?

[Hoplophile]

First of all: No, I cannot buy a pistol. I can't buy a pistol. A pistol is a thing that I cannot purchase. I am under 21. I cannot purchase a pistol because I am under 21 and this is a reason that I cannot purchase a pistol. If I did have a pistol, I could not carry it. This is because I am under the age of 21, an age where you can drink beer and carry guns, but not rent cars or get social security. I cannot buy a pistol. I cannot carry a pistol. I fully intend to buy a pistol when I turn 21. I fully intend to carry a pistol when I turn 21. This is my "better than nothing" option.

With that out of the way, I wanted people's opinions on carrying a sizable fixed blade for self-defense. I can't carry it concealed, but it's fine to openly carry it in my state. I doubt a KA-BAR is going to scare anyone who doesn't already know what it is, and even then, I'll probably just look like a redneck, there are plenty around here.

And I know how to use it in a fight. I've had many, many hours of instruction on knife-fighting. I have witnessed many knife fights. I have been a participant in more knife sparring than I care to relate. Most of my training was with a sizable fixed blade, usually a (poorly) ground-down KA-BAR. I am very confident in my own ability to subdue an attacker or attackers with a knife. That said, I've never been in a real knife fight, so you may laugh at me when I end up stabbed horribly during some mugging gone awry. Or, more likely, shot.

So, has anyone else here ever done this? Thoughts on it? Best way to carry one openly? How did you draw it quickly? Leather sheath, or kydex? My town's not so bad, but there are some sketchy parts of town that I don't like to walk about unarmed if I don't have to.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, if you're going to tell me to just get a handgun, read the first paragraph of this post several more times.

 

[1911 guy]

KA-BAR TDI knife.

I think I understand that you can't carry a handgun.

Anyway, buy a TDI knife from KA-BAR and if at all posible, go to TDI. If you take the class, they include the knife and a practice knife in tuition. Tactical Defense Institute is located in West Union, Ohio, the knives can be either mail ordered or found in a lot of gunshops now that they're getting popular. I've had mine for a few years, it's easy to carry, just the right size and very lightweight. Quite a few folks don't even notice it if I wear a dark colored shirt.

 

[notorious]

I miss my KaBar. I sold it a few years ago when moving and I wanted to clean out my drawers. I still have a Cold Steel SRK and a few machetes as fixed blades.

However, if you must go with a fixed blade, get a Cold Steel. You can't go wrong with them. They have a real nice Bowie knife with updated features like a double finger tang. The recon tanto is also not bad. Quality is not cheap.

If you want a good, cheap fixed blade, you can't go wrong with a KaBar but I've also seen some good Bowies at Big 5. I am very partial to the Bowie knife.

Did you ever consider a blunt weapon? The thought of cutting someone is just bad... also, you should know... don't ever bring a knife to a gunfight.

Tell me again why you can't get a handgun? You can drink beer under 21? In CA the drinking age is 21.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Just

stay out of the bad parts of town.

 

[notorious]

Sometimes you just can't avoid the bad parts, especially if you work there or live there... or in the case of a 21 year old... your girl lives there and/or you just want to go there because your mom tells you to stay away from there.

 

[Thin Black Line]

With that out of the way, I wanted people's opinions on carrying a sizable fixed blade for self-defense. I can't carry it concealed, but it's fine to openly carry it in my state. I doubt a KA-BAR is going to scare anyone who doesn't already know what it is, and even then, I'll probably just look like a redneck, there are plenty around here.

You're really set on a Ka-bar. Good knife. The only times I regularly carried
a fixed blade was in the field while hunting or on deployment. Otherwise,
it's always a folder. This just seems to work better when I'm among people
in formal suits, with my family in Church, or cycling, hiking, swimming, sitting
down in a restaurant or for a movie or most anything else.

Check your state's laws when it comes to blade length on folders, too.

Your town must have some kind of strange sub-cultural thing going on with
knives right now. This seems to come up in places. Have people there been
watching too much "Sons of Anarchy" or "Deadwood" or something?

 

[sean m]

I would suggest a tool that can be used as an impact weapon that is non discript, such as a led minimag flashlight.

The knife while an effective weapon it will elevate the situation to lethal levels rapidly, plus in many locals the carrying of a large fixed blade concealed or otherwise will draw the attention of others which is something you do not need.

 

[Corporal K]

+2 on the Cold Steel. Excellent blades at reasonable prices.

Consider an ASP too and/or pepper spray. You'll have an easier time in court than you will if your defensive tool is a blade. Perception, unfortunately, in the eyes of a jury or a DA is reality.

 

[mercop]

Get an Emerson La Griffe and a few extra sheaths. Figure out the three best ways for you to carry it all the time. Not much to learn about using it, just learn to deploy it under different conditions. Then a Spyderco Endura as well as the trainer. Then you will have something to carry if you go places where fixed blades are prohibited.

I have to disagree on the ASP, they are illegal in many places, deploying one takes space and attracts attention. I am a huge fan of hte Kubaton, or flashlight used as a Kubaton however. My favorite EDC impact weapon is the Todd Foster Coin Sap
http://www.mercop.com/docs/bag9.htm

I also have no confidence in OC.

 

[jpatterson]

Forgive me if you knew this and your state laws are different, but in many states you can get a handgun via private sale and in many more states you can open carry at 18. I am 20 and have bought and traded several handguns already thru face to face sales.

Again, if you already knew this, sorry.

 

[hso]

Stick trumps knife and sticks rarely have any restrictions.

Being under 21 you might feel out of place with the preferred stealth impact weapon, a cane. That's understandable. Of course there are many reasons for a young man to walk with a cane. Sport injury being the most common. Hiking being another. Perhaps even a full sized umbrella. But, there are plenty of alternatives to a cane that are a bit smaller and far more inconspicuous.

Anything from a forearm length dowel or piece of tubing in a messenger bag to a minimag light. Take up softball/baseball and carry a glove and bat. Toss a breaker bar with lug socket beside the seat of your car. Take up billiards and toss a pool cue in the car or in you messenger bag.

Considering the variety of inconspicuous "sticks" out there you have a huge range of options in having a stick at hand at almost any time.

Lacking that, what state are you in and have you checked the laws on carrying a folder as well as the laws on carrying a fixed blade?

 

[jjohnson]

*sigh*

Okay, what you're trying to tell us is that you're not going to be carrying concealed.

If you're not into martial arts, so you're not going to be adept with nunchucks or any of the other effective 'stick' weapons, that leaves you with a knife.

IF you've decided that, the Ka-bar is a good choice. The shorter one is pretty handy and a bit easier to conceal. There aren't many things you can do with a 7-inch blade that a 5-inch blade can do.

Knives used for self defense are almost as dangerous for you as they are for your opponent If you get some martial arts training, you can get a real leg up, particularly if you study in one of those that includes knives. If all you're going to do, though, is carry it and not practice, just remember that's still a lot like carrying a pistol and never practicing. Don't let a weapon give you any false confidence.

The best thing to do is avoid armed conflict. Remember that if you ever draw a weapon, you're already in over your head.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

What state is it? You might be able to open carry. I'm not sure, but I think that in both Indiana and Michigan, you can buy from a private seller at 18, and open carry.

 

[hatchetbearer]

Marine MP's and staff sergeants are issued Ka-Bar's As part of their TO gear, impractical to put a bayonet on an M9. So if the finest fighting force in the world uses them, why can't you?

if you wanna know how to use it properly, with a free 13 week training course, i got my recruiter's number on standby.

 

[X9ballX]

kbar for self defenses?cops in my area complained when i had mine on my belt. i keep mine slanted sideways.anyways in a knife fight kbar is great. good metal alright design but you might want to talk to your local police officer about city ordinance an maybe even state law. i dount most state laws forbid wearing a kbar but i know many cops will complain.

 

[conw]

This post rubs me the wrong way. You're an expert at knife fighting, and you come on here to ask...what? If a Ka-bar will do the trick?

Of course it will. It's sharp, and a decent-sized knife. But I'm having trouble buying that you've had formal training in knife-against-gun, knife-against multiple attackers, etc.

There are better options, IMO. Why not get a smaller but similarly priced knife (Like the Ka-bar TDI) and carry horizontally on the belt, then subtly reveal it by tucking your shirt at any sign of LEO interaction?

A knife isn't really that great a defensive weapon. Works awesome against unarmed attackers, but you're probably not justified in using it then. Doesn't work so great against a gun past 1 foot, and even then not much ability to stop. Doesn't work so great to stop another knife, and what are the chances of that anyway?

Why not carry a metal waterbottle (or a plastic one, Jshirley ), a small kubotan, and/or a walking stick instead? You'd be justified using one of those to escape from an unarmed attacker, and would stand a better chance of stopping an armed attacker. You could still carry the knife as a LAST last ditch, plus knives are just good to have on hand for a variety of reasons.

I personally really like my Orion K2 Caper, you could come out reasonably well getting the G10 handled model. CPM154 steel, and I've ground mine down to "scary sharpness" (~12degrees) with success...

The reason a small knife is better than big, and concealed is better than open, is because a knife isn't something you wave about before defending...of course, if you're trained, you know that.

 

[Thin Black Line]

Fixed blade...folder...cane...umbrella....

How about a beer bottle? Or three?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xITVFgxcDIg

 

[notorious]

This post rubs me the wrong way. You're an expert at knife fighting, and you come on here to ask...what? If a Ka-bar will do the trick?

Of course it will. It's sharp, and a decent-sized knife. But I'm having trouble buying that you've had formal training in knife-against-gun, knife-against multiple attackers, etc.

There are better options, IMO. Why not get a smaller but similarly priced knife (Like the Ka-bar TDI) and carry horizontally on the belt, then subtly reveal it by tucking your shirt at any sign of LEO interaction?

A knife isn't really that great a defensive weapon. Works awesome against unarmed attackers, but you're probably not justified in using it then. Doesn't work so great against a gun past 1 foot, and even then not much ability to stop. Doesn't work so great to stop another knife, and what are the chances of that anyway?

Why not carry a metal waterbottle (or a plastic one, Jshirley ), a small kubotan, and/or a walking stick instead? You'd be justified using one of those to escape from an unarmed attacker, and would stand a better chance of stopping an armed attacker. You could still carry the knife as a LAST last ditch, plus knives are just good to have on hand for a variety of reasons.

I personally really like my Orion K2 Caper, you could come out reasonably well getting the G10 handled model. CPM154 steel, and I've ground mine down to "scary sharpness" (~12degrees) with success...

The reason a small knife is better than big, and concealed is better than open, is because a knife isn't something you wave about before defending...of course, if you're trained, you know that.

Au contraire, mon frere. An edged weapon can be lethal to someone with a firearm anywhere within 21 yards. FBI studies and field contacts have shown the average adult being fully capable of closing that distance and getting off 2 killing blows with a knife before the gunman can draw and put 1 good shot on target.

That's why all LEOs are trained to shoot if an aggressor with an edged weapon (or sticking weapons like a screwdriver/icepick/awl/toothpick) runs at you and breaks the 21 yard zero barrier and does not obey the command to stop, drop and roll.

 

[Guero4179]

a Ka Bar is really big. I would look at other cutlery thats faster into action and of course practice.

 

[notorious]

I would get a blunt blue plastic training knife and use it as a bludgeon, I hate blood... there's so many infectious diseases around.

 

[Erik]

There are a variety of convenient, legal (caveat: check your local laws), edged weapon options which, if you are willing and capable, will help carry the day if things go your way.

Note - no specific advise about make and model. Like firearms, it is usually the user, not the thing used.

 

[Big Bill]

Ontario gets a bad rap because of the whole R.A.T. Cutlery controversy. But, Ontario makes some good knives for little money. I especially like their SPEC PLUS models. I really like the SP6.

 

[Maxx409]

I grew up in a bit of a rough area and I started carrying a .38 as a freshman in High School. Never really had to use it (thank God) but I also carried a stillhetto style switchblade. (illegal) quit carrying it because it didn't always open. Then went to a butterfly which was VERY useful and saved my life on more than one occasion and was very comfortable.

Also became a felony to carry in Ca. so I went to a folding locking buck style knife, worked to open with a flick, gravity style. to make a long story, less long. I got Icepicked! Right through the hand and never even saw it coming! Would have taken it in the back, but since it wasn't a new situation for me, I managed to block it and quickly end the confrontation before it got worse.

Carried a wood sheathed Ice Pick until I dropped out of school a few years later. Better check to see if it's legal first in your area.

A slash with an icepick can cut in any direction, up, down, left, right. It's CRAZY light. And as I said before. Quiet. I don't condone violence and have found the safest way to walk the planet is quietly. Also, the loudmouth shooting his mouth off is just advertising he's something that he isn't.

Not worth your time. But in a truely Self Defense situation. A well concealed icepick is hard to beat. Again. Check locally to see if this is even legally an option in your area. And never... under any circumstances.... let anyone know what you have and where you wear it.

Best of luck. Hope you never have to use it.

 

[notorious]

Where did you go to school in CA that you carried a .38 and all those knives? Geesh... I carried a butterfly in HS but it got stolen out of my backpack one day and I never bothered since.

 

[Thin Black Line]

Rock, paper, scissors...

and whip, sword, pistol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anEuw8F8cpE