How important is a knife?

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DeepSouth

DeepSouth

Random Guy
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Heart of Dixie (Ala)
First off I am not allowed to carry a firearm at work, that is the main reason I have begun debating the idea of carrying a 'defensive' type of knife. I already carry a pocket knife, a three bladed Case, not hardly a back up weapon by any means. If I did decide to carry another knife it would be exclusively for defensive purposes. I would continue to carry my old Case to use as a tool, as I am not the type to keep a knife sharp, and a dull knife wouldn't be what I would want in a defensive situation.

Anyway, I'm just not sure how important a knife really is, the inconvenience of yet another ___oz's in my pocket's is not thrilling, not to mention it would have a clip on it that would inevitably get it lost rather often I imagine, it has happened to me in the past, and then the price of replacement.

I just keep thinking, 'If I really need a knife I'm in real bad shape'.........'Im a pretty good sized fellow, so if it really gets to "hand to hand" I can likely get free and get away'..........But the other side of me say 'You NEED something'

Honestly the only reason this issue ever came up to me was because of the Nov issue of 1st Freedom.(I think) They sited some 'stats' in reference to where a weapon was used to thwart an attack, the work place was second. It bothers me that is the only place I am unarmed. But with that said I really don't work in a "hostile" environment. It is an industrial Plant, obliviously not accessible to the public. But I know the "You never know when, where, who, ETC. ECT so you should always be armed"

So just help me out, how important do you think a strictly defensive knife is in your every day carry?

Thanks
DS
 
Seeing how I have used a knife in defensive situations: A knife is very important, but
knowing how to use it is paramount.

I carry 2 knives.
 
I carry one every day. I think it could be very important. Some places with my work carring a gun is not a option.
 
A gun is not the only solution the self defense problem lends itself to and having as many options as possible in solving this type of problem can be critically important.

When you can't carry a gun another tool in the tool box is a pretty smart idea. Guns, sticks, knives, etc. can also support one another in solving the SD problem.

It is best to know how to use each tool at least adequately though and it is vitally important that you have the will to use them.

The stick is a better alternative to the gun, but it may not always be practical to carry one. A knife is very easy to carry and just like the saying "The best gun is the one you always have with you." the knife is one of the few tools you can actually always have with you.
 
Check your local laws about what's legal for a knife. It varies quite a bit from place to place. Some cities allow all folders four inches or less, and some have laws limiting blades to 2.5 inches. I carry a knife but I do abide by the laws in my city. Keep it in the pocket and use a more harmless looking Swiss Army Knife or mini-tool around the office to keep from scaring people. Keep it in the briefcase. Pepper spray and a loud whistle are good non-firearm tools as well.

This site helps. I have different knives that I carry in different places to be legal.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife.pdf
 
What hso says.

There are a number of places that I go where a firearm is not allowed, but I can get by with a "tactical folder". I have benefited from having one on me when somebody mistook me for an easy mark.

It's not that hard to have a decent folder in your waistband or pocket; certainly more comfortable than most firearms this side of a kel-tec p32.

I'm partial to Emersons (production) for folders and Polkowski (Al's) for fixed, FWEIW.
 
I carry a Keshaw Ken Onion 1550ST folder. (everywhere I go)
It's got the The 'Speed-Safe torsion bar' a one hand operated knife like the ones the US customs tried to get outlawed recently. It's semi serrated. I use it all the time at work and at home, so if I needed it, well I would be able to use it because I DO USE IT regularly. The blade is only 3 3/8", but as I got a little older, I learned why smaller knives are frequently better.
 
Couldnt hurt anything right? I always carry my cold steel recon. It stays sharp because i cut everything with my case. I would recommend Cold steel. If i cant carry a gun Im gonna carry a good knife for SD.
 
I dont know about carrying it as a weapon, its usually on my hip everyday. I carry a fixed blade Schrade with a two and a half inch blade, its not an expensive knife, but it's size is very handy.
I have a nice woven paracord lanyard with a large clip on it to attatch it to my belt, when doubled over and attatched to itself it fits nicely around my wrist.
I guess it could be defencive in a pinch, but a broken broom handle would be alot more intimidating and effective to defend myself.
I don't carry a folder anymore. My work can be hard on knives at times and I have had a folders lock break and come back accross my fingers, once is all it takes.
 
A knife is handy to have anyway. I carry a Benchmade 530. It opens boxes, unwraps plastic-wrapped goods at work, strips wires, removes splinters, shaves that annoying spot I missed at 5:30am but notice at 9:30 while at work, and so on. Occasionally I even use it in the kitchen. If I ever had to use it in a defensive situation, I don't have any training but it's become an extension of my hand. I'd rather have a pistol on me, but if it was life and death I know I'd have that knife out before I even thought about it.
 
Make sure the work place rules/agreements do not prohibit knives. There may be a blanket "no weapons" policy, in which case you may have to defend your choice of knife...
 
Mant years ago I was working as an RN in an emergency room in the inner city. In scrubs there is no place to carry much, plus the policy was no weapons of any kind. Got me thinking about things like chairs, IV poles,bandages scissors, and the every day objects around me.

Improvise, adapt, overcome.
 
While my workplace has a 'no weapons' policy, knives are used at work quite regularly as tools. I carry my Spyderco Native as a work knife. I have a waved Spyderco P'Kal I carry for back-up to my Glock 26 in my left pocket. I also have a Cold Steel Voyager X2 I carry often.

I normally carry my G26 appendix carry, and at work move one of my knives to that position since I'm used to reaching there for a weapon. I actually prefer a good knife to a pocket pistol as a back-up weapon because of the damage they can do at contact distance.
 
I just had a really bad experiance with that locking folder. Once the lock gave and came accross my fingers,...hey, never again. I just dont think they are as strong or as safe and it only took that one time to convince me.
You can find a nice fixed blade in a size that works for you if look.
Try this, get a nice small/medium sized fixed blade put it right over your pocket and slip the sheath inside the pocket, adjust your belt. I usually go to work in a polo shirt and leave it untucked and no one knows it is there.
I know there are good folders,..look at the price, they better be good...LOL.
There is no way that a folder can be as strong as a fixed blade though.
 
A knife is just like any other defensive tool- knowing how to use it effectively is the critical thing. Otherwise it's just more junk to carry around that gives the owner a false sense of security.

A hint: Carry it in your waistband with the clip under your belt. That'll help keep from losing it.

lpl (a lightly modified Benchmade Mini AFCK linerlock fills that role for me, though it's no longer in production as far as I can tell. And yes, I have formal training in using it.)
 
Your right Lee if your not careful you can put somebody's eye out.:p I've always carried a knife but after meeting some people over the last 8-10 years who know how to use edged weapons. I realize its a kitchen utensil to me. A knife would be my fourth choice behind firearm, flashlight, defensive cane. But this order is unique to each of us.

Jim
 
I'd rank a good knife higher on the "must have" scale than a gun. You can't butcher an animal, cut rope, improvise shelter or open things with a gun, and those are all things that a good defensive knife can still do. And they're things that a defensive knife should do. If you expect yourself to use it under stress, you need to use it all the time so that it becomes second nature.

I carry a Kershaw Blur and/or a Ka-Bar TDI on me all the time.
 
There's an old Viking saying:
"A knifeless man is a lifeless man."

Usually not as true today, but I have heard some bad stories from people who needed a knife badly and didn't have one.

I carry two.
 
Workplace Violence

It almost happened to me at work. I was set upon from behind while I was sitting at my desk. Never saw it coming. Reflexive response was to turn into attacker and draw blade. Fortunately for everyone the miscreant was so startled by the turn of events that he fell over a fax machine and went down hard. Never had to draw the blade. Witnesses thought I had knocked him down.
I've never had any training and I had never used a knife for defense before. I surprised myself that I went to it without hesitation. Scares me to think about how much trouble I could have been in if the aggressor hadn't back pedaled so recklessly.
 
I generally avoid any knife that's marketed as "tactical"....to me that's a potential liability if it ever goes to court either criminal or civil.

If I carry a knife, it's a liner-locked, thumb stud opening knife, of medium length (I like 3.5" blades). Something commonly availible and affordable, but spot-on reliable. To me, that's the most prudent choice for defense.
 
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