Interesting topic.
I was mentored to read people, places and things, and by doing so, I would prevent situations.
Instilled in me, was to not have to go to gun, knife or anything.
In fact my lessons, included not having a gun, or knife, and dealing with "set ups".
I was born in '55, mentors had been there and done that, and they wanted me to never , ever, think anything I had on person was going to keep evil away, or take care of evil if it showed up.
I am so grateful, to them, for passing this mindset to me, and others like me.
Each person, male or female, from being a kid, to older, has to access themselves, in activities of daily living (ADLs).
Where they go during the day, type of environment, any restrictions, and other factors.
For me, I was born into a hi-risk environment.
Back then, one was not dressed without a pocket knife, and kids took knives to school.
That knife had better be sharp, and the pivots oiled, because the Principal, school nurse, teachers would ask to see a boy or girls knife.
Re: Self Defense.
For me, I carried non locking , carbon steel pocket knives, some small fixed , and handcuff keys.
I entered the First Grade with these in 1961.
Oh I had my very own guns, and it fine to bring them to school for Show-n-Tell, but I am a First Grader.
We did not have "permits" to carry guns back in the day here.
If I screwed up and did not read a signal early enough, and then it got to what SouthNarc calls "3+1" then as a kid, six years old, I was going up an adult.
It did matter if a lady or gent, I was going up against someone bigger and stronger than me.
IF they got me, and tied my hands, and feet, or used hand cuffs, then my self defense tools, included, but not limited to, the knives and handcuff keys, accessible from hands in front, hands in back.
These lessons started when I was about 3 years old, same age I shot my very own .22 revolver.
Now, while I had stuff on my person, what was around , and what could I use?
It might be best to go into full bore squirming brat, and kick that gear shift , stalling a manual, or the few automatic transmissions.
It was suggested my mouth would be taped or gagged, but if not, scream , cuss, and yell Rape!
Even back then, yelling fire which got folks attention, did not get attention such as "rape" , or " I broke my arm", or believe it or not "My puppy got run over!"
I don't care how cold some folks are, a kid breaking a bone, or a puppy getting hurt, or run over, gets attention.
I was shown parts of the human body, and also those of animals.
Doctors and Veterinarians were part of the Mentors, as were nurses.
I saw folks/animals being fixed up, and I saw dead people and animals too.
Bullets, sharps, hangings, burns...showing a kid what did what and why this happens.
Self Defense:
Age 5, Grandma was still alive, and I had not entered first grade.
Hen & Rooster small pen knife with carbon steel blades is what I used when grabbed, and it was opened with one hand, and I went from the inside of arm down to wrist, and the adult male let go of me ....I ran like the wind, zigging and zagging, as he had gun too.
Moving targets are harder to hit, and I was making distance to cover, not concealment, cover as I was taught.
Case Barehead Slimline Trapper with CV blades , accessed with one hand, used strong hand ( right) is what I used.
I was grabbed, I had to walk down a "frame of death" as mentors called it, and despite doing everything correct, evil showed up.
If I had not been using a holster, I could have used the gun.
I screwed so much on this deal, it is unreal, Lady Luck showed up.
This guy was BIG, and here I am not yet a teenager.
I did not have what "they" thought I had, I was being the decoy, so someone else that did have, could go safely.
I have not room to do much, and I am up against another vehicle using my legs and he punched me square in the gonads.
I went down.
He literally threw me into a van of the day, across the seat and I could not leave via passenger door, as it was blocked by a building.
Things were not going good against this one guy, and then the second one , popped up from out of sight and grabbed me from behind around the neck.
Damn gun is in that stupid holster I knew better, still I could not get the gun.
Trapper was accessible to my hands and first guy had a gun, but we were in close quarters, so, heck, I gotta do something, even if wrong.
I have an arm around my neck, still I sliced under rib cage and from my right to left and opened this "gut " up through a cotton "work shirt", like a mechanic,or Cop wore back then.
Gun went off, he raised it and fired two shots.
Guy behind me, startled, relaxed his hold, and was letting go, when I got my arm b/t me and arm and cut, downward...
Engine was running, reached over with the first guy holding his guts, and pulled gear shift down, and turned the wheel and the van moved, as soon as I had room , I was out the door...van eased and stopped hitting the other side of alley, I later found out, I was gone...
Dry mouth, I could not speak, scream, nothing, but I could run.
After Action Report is what they call it now, still there was discussions on what I did right, what all I did wrong.
I share that simply because, I have always been at risk, and always have been in setting I cannot have a gun, or a knife.
I was under age 21 and we had no "gun permits" back then.
Judges, and Cops said for me to carry a gun, as they did others.
My first concealed carry if you will, began when I was in the 3 grade.
I had been wagging a gun with me, but mine were not small enough to conceal, so I was given my own, to conceal better for a kid my size.
Oh yes, a snub nose with a shirt worked, but something better suited to me, was done up.
We did not have all the locking knives back then, we just learned to use a pocket knife ( slip joint) , and pocket knives and fixed were what one does.
Lessons included, "physical items will give one a false sense of security, and allow one to get complacent about picking up signals".
Knives are just one tool in the tool box, not the tool.
Folks go on about topping off mags, carrying two guns, hi-cap guns, extra mags, knives, more than one knife...
For me, I cannot carry any of these now, in some settings.
I used to , in Judges chambers, courtrooms, airports, and even in a "gov't" building.
Drive onto a Military base and let in.
Onto the grounds of a prison, or some-such.
Before I was 18 or 21, and we did not have permits.
Still, back then, there were settings I could not.
Today, forget doing lots of stuff I used to!
TSA got my hand cuff keys.
Random check, and I was not even in the secure area.
Mine I had fashioned to look like keys to a silver chest, or diary.
They did not buy the idea these were cabinet keys.
If you see a set of gold plated hand cuff keys, they are mine.
I have nothing against new knives, and methods.
Actually some of the new stuff, is really old stuff, re-discovered.
One of my defaults of character is, I care.
I care about folks, and this gets me into all sorts of trouble.
I cannot have folks get hurt, because they put stock solely into physical things, and therefore become too confident, which leads to being complacent, and then they do not catch a signal , which if caught early enough, would prevent having to defend.
I am carrying a SAK Classic, that needs sharpening, for those interested in what knife I really am carrying.
Yes, the Peanut is gone.
