Good fighting Knife

[Barry the Bear]

What is your opinion on a good fighting style blade with a max blade length of 5.5 inches. I know it ain't ideal but that's the max we can carry in TX.

 

[sgt127]

I've carried one of these for about 5 years.

http://www.dozierknives.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105

What's your budget?

 

[rcmodel]

Who you gonna fight?

At best, even with some serious training and experience.

It's hard to tell the winner from the loser after a knife fight.

rc

 

[Bobson]

You mean fighting as in going toe-to-toe with another guy who's also armed with a knife? Not sure anything with a 5.5" blade really qualifies, and I sure as heck wouldn't want to try it. Probably better to buy some running shoes.

Now, if you mean a defensive knife that would help get a stronger attacker off of you before he does serious damage, there are several great options with varying styles. I won't go listing them yet just in case that's not what you want.

 

[MaterDei]

In fairness to the OP, he did say fighting STYLE. I suspect he means a combat or tactical knife.

Barry, hard to give suggestions without knowing your budget.

 

[hso]

fighting style

What style are you trained in? You're training dictates the best style of blade.

 

[Elkins45]

This is my fighting knife:


This is my backup:



This is my backup to that:



That's a waved Spyderco Endura in case you are curious. I can't see how anyone could comfortably carry a 5.5" fixed blade knife except perhaps in a horizontal sheath. My belt would start to look like Batman's.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Up to about 150 bucks looking for a fixed blade. I'm not "trained" in any style I'm not a wannabe commando, just want a good defensive knife that is not situated to mainly hunting which is all I have. I don't intend to knife fight anyone just looking for something fairly decent that I can carry on my person here in my state.

 

[Sav .250]

For my part, I`d just check all the manufactures of specialty knives and others types to see what they have. That way you would get all the details.

 

[M-Cameron]

for just a good, all around hunting knife, that would serve pretty well if pressed into service as a defensive knife........a buck 119 or 118 would be a pretty solid choice.....

 

[Elkins45]

Buck 118 or 119
One of the ESEE knives
Ontario Pilot's survival knife
Fallkniven F1 or S1 (>$100)
Entrek Javalina
KA-BAR USMC short
Ontario RAT, Ranger or Spec Plus

There are a lot of really good choices for <$100.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Digging both the ontario Ranger and Entrek javalina thanks!!!

 

[Elkins45]

I have a Javalina and it is awesome! Entrek is essentially a one-man production line making what would otherwise be considered custom handmade knives.

Ray Ennis (Entrek) has a series of videos showing him making a knife from start to finish. If you watch it I can almost promise you will buy one of his knives.

 

[CZ9shooter]

Who you gonna fight?

At best, even with some serious training and experience.

It's hard to tell the winner from the loser after a knife fight.

I find responses such as this a little disturbing. When someone asks about which AR to buy nobody jumps down their throat with "who you gonna shoot, who's army, what about training?"

I would have thought that firearm enthusiasts realize that a tool can be used well outside of the role it was originally designed for.

 

[lobo9er]

Fixed or folder?

 

[Barry the Bear]

Fixed or folder?

Fixed.

 

[AK103K]

These are three of my favorites.

Gerber Mk II



Gerber MK I



British issue Fairbairn and Sykes "Commando" (with a Bradley "Mayhem")



These days, I normally have the F&S and Bradley along. The Gerbers have become hard to come by, and are now quite collectable.

You can pick up a British issue F&S, new in the wrap on EBay for about $85.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHN-NOWILL...386151?hash=item235dca2ca7:g:GR4AAMXQUmFSpzwK

 

[Officers'Wife]

We have one around here that is a bit longer than that in a modified dagger style that Dad called a "Fairburn" or "Fairborn." It's main use is scraping the insides of vacuum pipes so it gets traded around a lot & sharped often.

My cousin regularly carries a "Case Boot Knife" that is similar but with a different style grip.

Either would make a good slashing/stabbing weapon if it was called upon for that chore. However, I will give you the same advice my late uncle saw fit to inflict on myself, my cousins and siblings. - The first decision you make in a knife fight is if you can outrun your opponent.

 

[CZ9shooter]

I have an Ontario SP1. It is one heck of knife though at 7 inches. Thick tough 1095 steel. The SP2 is of similar design but right at your 5.5 inch limit. The top swedge did come somewhat sharp on mine. I sharpened it to a fine edge. This may or may not be legal for you to carry though. My SP1 is mostly just for show. The primary edge was quite obtuse from the factory as well.


SP1:



SP2:

 

[Bobson]

Contrast the recommendations in Post #11 (mostly knives designed around wilderness survival and hunting), to a list of knives designed around defensive application:

- ShivWorks Clinch Pick
- Spyderco Street Beat
- Spyderco ARK
- CRKT Folts SPEW
- Ka-Bar TDI LE

These knives are all smaller than your 5.5" blade limit, but these are defensive knives in the most legitimate use of the phrase. They're much easier to conceal, and faster/easier to employ if you're on the losing end of a potentially deadly scuffle.

Arnold Schwarzennegar wants a fighting knife. You want a defensive knife, even if you don't know it.

 

[AK103K]

I want an offensive weapon, gun or knife. I understand that "defense" is a reason for things we might carry, but once it comes down to using them, defense has nothing to do with it.

 

[Bobson]

I want an offensive weapon, gun or knife. I understand that "defense" is a reason for things we might carry, but once it comes down to using them, defense has nothing to do with it.

If you want to get analytical, every weapon is, by nature, offensive. A shield is defensive. Body armor is defensive.

Calling it a "defensive" knife doesn't make it less effective. OTOH, arming yourself with a 5.5" blade and calling it a fighting knife, while having zero skill or training to use it effectively, could lull a person into a false sense of security.

 

[sgt127]

If you're trying to stay within Texas law, double edged is out too. Seriously though, any well made 5 1/2" single edged knife is a pretty formidable weapon. Even if its primary design is utility, hunting, skinning or anything else.

 

[lobo9er]

KaBar. Buck 119. To many to list. A simple Mora would be fine easy sheath, little light, but that means you'll actually carry it. I don't think the knife matters that much really. I would avoid carrying overly "tactical" looking knives or goofy fantasy stuff. Just my 2 cents. Buy your self a quality fixed blade that you would use with regularity. And as said before run first. Pulling a knife may carry the seem legal disaster as pulling a gun. Even if you don't use it.

 

[Elkins45]

The first decision you make in a knife fight is if you can outrun your opponent.

Q: How can you tell who won a knife fight?

A: It's the person who bleeds out AFTER they get to the emergency room.