What is the purpose of a knife if you CCW

KevinAbbeyTech:
If I had to preform a tracheotomy with a .45, it wouldn't go well.

But seriously, a knife and a gun just aren't in the same ballpark.

Different situations, different needs, different tools.

It's that simple.

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LOL That's just classic..

I think my office staff would be quite upset if I used a gun to cut out an ad in the newspaper.

.45ACP is terrible for cutting my steak.

.45ACP is terrible for cutting my steak.

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But then it might help cooking some of the more rare parts if you shoot at it close enough.

A knife is quite useful for day to day tasks. I find it considerably more useful than a firearm. I've carried a pocket knife since I was in the 2nd. grade. It becomes part of you. I can't say that about a firearm but I suppose it is possible. I'm just not there yet. Knife gets used every single day. Gun almost never gets used.

But then it might help cooking some of the more rare parts if you shoot at it close enough.

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but i like my steak rare. rare, as in trying to crawl away.

Well, I can think of a couple of reasons off the top of my head that knives have the advantage over firearms (may have already been mentioned):

1) Knives are pretty much silent. (yes, you could get a suppressor for you gun, but still not as silent as a knife)
2) Knives don't run out of ammo. (just make sure you get a good knife so it doesn't break...that means you probably need to look somewhere other than Wal-Mart).
3) Knives are a utility tool just like your firearm is: they each have their place. And a knife's place is to cut, stab, shave, etc. which a firearm can't.

And most importantly:
4) I have yet to see someone whittle with a firearm...though that would be awesome...


Personally, I CCW and carry a knife so I can cut things open. My knife is simply another tool and there are jobs it is far more suited to than my CCW is.

Let me jump in with a semi-related question. I carry a multi-tool as opposed to simply a knife and I use it daily. I've been considering a lock blade knife but I'm concerned that it might be redundant. I can't imagine a situation in which I'd choose a knife over a gun for SD (assuming,of course, a gun was available).
So would another knife be a waste of pocket space?

I was noticing that everyone that CCW has a knife. What is the purpose/theory for carrying the knife?

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It's for when you're all out of bullets and are too stupid to run.

It's for when you're all out of bullets and are too stupid to run.

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It's when you're too stupid to get out of it in the first place and have to fire enough shots to run out.

The knife makes a good general tool. The gun is pretty purpose built.

Before concealed carry was available to many of us, carrying a knife was better than carrying nothing. Never had to use it, but it got close a couple times.

As mentioned by numerous fellows here. A knife is a tool. Yes it can be used for self defense, esp. in FUT situations. My knife is used to open packages, cut string/rope, cut out coupons, scrap out splinters, etc. A old friend of mine used to say that if a man didn't have a knife on him he was no damn good. His view on this was due to self reliance and the ability to take care of himself in any situation.

I know of a certain undercover narcotics officer who prefers a knife to a gun.

He has taken a knife to a gun fight and won, several times.

He explained to me his (somewhat gruesome) technique of letting his opponent grab the blade, and cutting off their thumb on the draw back.

Kind of makes me shudder.

Why would anyone grab the blade of a knife?

Notorious, that is actually a very good point. A knife can be used to shield your gun to prevent someone from grabbing for it. A blade is something that is very difficult to take away from someone barehanded, far more so than a firearm, because you cannot grab hold of the exposed part of a blade. Effectively it is a physical contact deterrence.

In the past I carried a Leatherman with me at all times. This particular Leatherman has an external locking blade approximately 4" in length (and as many people know, new Leatherman blades are razor sharp). If anyone asks, it's a tool, and its other functions can easily justify this. What most people do not know, however, is that I always sheathe it in a very particular way such that, when drawn from the left hip, the knife blade is always on top and to the right. This means that I can quickly draw it with my left hand and flip the blade open with my right in one smooth motion. The knife is always available and can be deployed without even looking at it.

I can't bring myself to acquire a "Leather Man." I keep thinking of the old SNL skits, and burst out laughing.

He explained to me his (somewhat gruesome) technique of letting his opponent grab the blade of the knife, and cutting off their thumb on the draw back.

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Unless he has a good story to back this up, I call BS. You gotta be pretty drugged out to attempt a knife grab by the blade. This ain't the movie 300 with that big monster grabbing Leonidas' sword out of his arm by the blade.

Unless he has a good story to back this up, I call BS. You gotta be pretty drugged out to attempt a knife grab by the blade. This ain't the movie 300 with that big monster grabbing Leonidas' sword out of his arm by the blade.

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This was an error on my part, I ment to say "grab the knife", not "grab the blade".

Like I said, he was an undercover narcotics guy for the Tulsa Police department.

I new about him, because my dad used to be an officer with the Department Of Corrections.

There you go, that makes a lot more sense... sort of. Any idiot who tries empty hands against a knife deserves to get cut, unless he is Steven Seagal, in which case, he can do whatever he likes... or Chuck Norris, in which case he would just roundhouse kick you into the next century.

I personally carry two knifes on me at all times.

One is a pocket clip: Kershaw Chive 1600.

I didn't know if I would like it at first, but it is easy to open one handed, and holds an edge for a very long time.
I bought it because it was an assisted opener made of carbon steel.

The other one is a four inch lock back folder that my Grandpa Bill gave me for Christmas the year before he died.
I should probably stop carrying it in favor of one that wouldn't make me sad if I lost it.

Kershaw is a great company. I carried one of their Ken Onion customs forever until I went to a cheapie that I wouldn't mind losing.

Great to cut the jugular veins of an attacker . Practice the art of Petiki Tirsia Kali.

"knives are handy for any number of things besides defense. need rope cut? using a gun is difficult."

What he said.

My toolbox starts with my knife. I don't carry a handgun everyday but my knife I do. Days I have forgotten it are rough.

"I just got a mental picture of Julia Child demonstrating a Glock as a food preparation tool."

Or Dan Ackroyd demonstrating Julia Child's blade prowess. (Sorry.)