First blade, some questions

[Bergeron]

Hey ya'll, I recently joined the folding knife community. I just got myself a CRKT Point Guard in 3.5". I intend for this to primarily be a defensive knife for daily carry, but I know next to nothing about knives.

It appears that I will need to get a sharpening device, I have heard many good things about the Lansky. Where would be a good place to locate one? I am also unsure of how sharp the knife should be. I have heard that the blade should not be very sharp, but rather the point should be as sharp as possible. Then again, I have heard others state that the opposite is true.

As I intend for this to be a defensive tool, it occurs to me that I should learn the proper usage of the folding kinfe. Are there any martial arts that teach soley the knife as a weapon, and what are my chances of finding such instruction locally?

Now that I've got all the questions out of the way, I have to say that this thing is a really neat tool, and I have enjoyed fondling it. I did not think that knives would be that interesting, but I must say that my previous views were incorrect, this knife is fun! I wish that there were various things around my apartment that needed a good cutting!

 

[vitiaz]

Try here,

http://www.martialbladecraft.net/

Mike is a great teacher, he may be able to refer you to someone in your area. Check is new schedule...he does teach 'road classes'.

Hope this helps.

 

[Guyon]

Let me start by saying that you want to think of knives defensively only as a last resort. Knife fighting, like all close quarter fighting, is ugly business, and I'd much prefer to be the smart one who remembered to bring a gun instead. By all means, unless you're a member of our Special Forces, definitely think about turning tail and running before you pull out a knife in a defensive situation. Over on Bladeforums, posters revel in fantasies about knife fights without thinking about the very gritty reality of this kind of combat. I suspect many of them are teenaged boys.

A sharp knife is a safe knife. The sharper, the better in my book. As long as you handle it with care, a knife kept shaving sharp will give you better service and prevent you from cutting yourself unnecessarily because of slipping or multiple passes on the object you're trying to cut.

I'd look at three sharpening systems: Spyderco Sharpmaker, Lansky, or Pro-Edge. I like the Sharpmaker, but that's mainly because it's the one I use and because it works well for me.

Congrats on your new purchase.

 

[Drjones]

You're going to hate me for this.....

www.bladeforums.com

Stick around there for a bit and you'll suddenly accumulate LOTS of sharp things!

-Don't overlook the Spyderco Sharpmaker. It comes with an instructional video, and is probably the best all-around for many reasons. (Portability, ease of use, just to name a few) Do a search at BF and you'll see why it's so great...

-REALLY, REALLY rethink the knife as a defensive weapon. A blade should be only a last-ditch tool for defense for many reasons, some of which I will list:

-Proximity. You obviously have to be VERY close to a BG to use a knife, which means he is close to you, and can harm you too.

-Diseases. Blood. Mess. Cutting someone is not by any means a "hands-off" job. It is messy and gross, and do you REALLY want some wacko, druggie scums' BLOOD all over you???

-Effectiveness. I'm not an expert on SD by any means, but how quickly could you REALLY neutralize someone using only a knife?

-Deterrence. A blade has nowhere NEAR the deterrent level of a .45.

-Multiple attackers. Again, a blade will just not be as effective as a firearm or other tools in the case you face multiple attackers.


Just my opinions. Maybe look into a baton for SD. Pepper spray even. I'd take either of those over a knife most any day.

Stay safe.
Drjones

 

[SteelyDan]

Another good source of information is:

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

Once you start checking out these sites, you'll probably want to find a good loan officer for that inevitable second mortgage. Knives are just as addictive as guns, and it's a lot easier to justify those $60 purchases than those $600 ones.

 

[Bergeron]

Thanks for the instructional replies. Considering what has been said about the Sharpmaker, I think I'll have to check that out. The local gunshop carries a bit of Spyderco supplies, so hopefully they will have it.

I would like to say that I agree completely with both of ya'll as a knife as a poor defensive instrument. I firmly belive in the martial art of "Nike-fu", retreat at maximum speed in the face of a violent encounter. I have thought very heavily about the knive as defensive weapon. I am a twenty-year old full-time college student, and as such, am forbidden from carrying any of my guns concealed by both my age and the fact that 90% of the time if I'm not at my home, I'm on a gun-free college campus. Hence, the only weapons allowed to me are knives, the sprays, tasers, and other non-lethal devices.

My sister carries the pepper spray. I've had her hit me with it to see what it would be like. It burned, a lot, I could not open my eyes without a massive amount of pain, but it was not incapacitating, and if someone's close enough to hit them with the spray, chances are they could still grab you and inflict bodily harm. Like I said before, I really like the idea of retreat whenever and however possible. The further I stay from an encounter, the safer I am.

But, it is not possible to avoid and/or retreat from every single encounter. I almost had an experince like that. I don't ever want to be that kind of situation again. If I stay alert and aware, I probably won't. But, if I am, and I can't get out of it, I want to have something other than my fists and feet to effect my foricible escape. With any kind of luck, the only task my knife will ever be called upon will be to open the occasional box. I very much hope that will be the case. But if it's not, I would like to survive to see the next day.

But, back to the lighter side of things, what is a good angle to sharpen to? I notice that my knife is not shaving sharp, and it seems that I will have to correct that. I would prefer (I think) a reasonably sharp blade that is durable over a razor edge that decays quickly.

I'll defintely check out bladeforums, but will keep an eye out for any 15 year old future "Black Tactical Ninja Operator" types.

I can definetly see myself eventually aquiring more sharp things. They are fun!

 

[Drjones]

Bergeron:

You should look into a collapsible baton.

Be VERY careful of the legal issues: In CA, carrying a firearm w/o permit is a MISDEMEANOR, while carrying a baton of any sort is a FELONY!

A baton is far more effective than a knife.



Drjones

 

[Guyon]

Bergeron,

There was a knife sharpening thread on this forum just a while ago: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3147

 

[jar]

You made a great choice. My Point Guard is one of my very favorite knives.

 

[Gray_Fallen]

-Effectiveness. I'm not an expert on SD by any means, but how quickly could you REALLY neutralize someone using only a knife?

-Deterrence. A blade has nowhere NEAR the deterrent level of a .45.

Quickly enough. Dead is dead... if you havent another option, take what you can get. This is what good training is for.
Not having another option can be as simple as not being able to get your gun out in time.
Yes its not "bang" and they are dead... but, a knife is a very, very, deadly weapon. And can be so in the blink of an eye. Study how street criminals and prison inmates do people with a knife, and how fast it can really be. Its fast. Now, I know in defense you cant attack like a criminal, you cant ambush... but you can still terminate quickly.

With a knife, I dont think your enemy (attacker, whatever) should see the knife. They should feel it before they see it. Brandishing, trying to intimidate, is a bad idea with a knife (or a gun for that matter). If worse comes to worse, dont give them time to look at it. Like all "kissing distance" combat, you have to move fast and hard, with anger and determination to WIN at all costs.

That said, yes a knife is a last resport, but so is any deadly force weapon.
I think even if you have a gun and carry it all the time, you should carry at least one defensive knife and be trained in how to use it. Someone trying to grab your gun, should have something else on their mind when you peel their arm with a sharp blade. Or if you are taken by surprise and dont have time to get that gun out and into play.
Knives are important weapons... and very effective.

The suggestion of Michael Janich is a good one. He also has out some books and video's.
I reccomend James Keating also, www.jamesakeating.com ([email protected]), he runs Combat Technologies and has out several video's and also teaches courses often. I really like his methods and his way of thinking. He is really on-top of the game, knows his stuff and is an intellengent, nice guy as well.

The Point Guard is a nice design, been thinking about getting one for awhile.