Defending yourself with a knife!?

[delta1]

Pretty much agree with the general consensus, here. If you are not willing to and/or don't need to kill, don't carry a knife for self defense. Same with any deadly weapon, and at close range the knife is the most deadly I can think of (excluding mad bombers). And with any weapon you choose to carry, you should train with it until it is second nature to use.

[Synaesthesia]

In general, so I'm told, people don't have the level of judgement it takes to know when it's necessary to use a knife.

 

The only people who should carry knives are those who have the least defensive need for them (being the most highly trained and physically fit). Those who could most benefit from them are most likely to get into trouble with them and therefore shouldn't bother carrying them.

 

Have I got it right?[/b]

[steveb]

You could say the same thing about people who carry guns and we all know how well that is working out.

[tommarker]

In general, so I'm told, people don't have the level of judgement it takes to know when it's necessary to use a knife.

 

The only people who should carry knives are those who have the least defensive need for them (being the most highly trained and physically fit). Those who could most benefit from them are most likely to get into trouble with them and therefore shouldn't bother carrying them.

 

Have I got it right?[/b]

 

I have a few problems with that statement, but I'm not sure where to begin...

 

There are plenty of people with a valid need for self-defense who are either unable to own a gun, can't afford one, etc or are unable to legally carry one in most environments. For them, the knife is a good choice.

 

If you need to respond to lethal force, you need to be prepared to use lethal force to end it. Someone who REALLY wants to kill you may not be stopped with a fancy lock. I'd rather have a Swiss Army knife than nothing in this case.

 

The whole argument about having a knife making you more likely to use it doesn't hold water outside of paranoia, IMHO. I've carried a pocketknife with me since I was about 8 years old (almost 20 years), and have been in my share of fights and disputes. I've never pulled it out in those cases. There have, however, been cases where I was 100% ready to use it if necessary, to the point where it was palmed in my hand while evading a situation that I walked into. Even though I didn't use it, I was glad I had it, even though I was shaking afterwards.

 

Now if you DO choose to carry a knife, I would highly suggest getting some training, and practicing a lot on your own to prepare yourself to deal with such a high stress situation. It is not a talisman used to ward off danger, and flashing it in a fight may just get you killed... don't expect the "Crocodile Dundee effect."

[thaiboxerken]

Good points, Tom.

 

Also, one can use a knife without using the blade. In the case of a folding knife, you can simply keep if folded and use it as a palm stick or fist pack. You can also use a sheathed knife to smack a person around, or help with locks and breaks.

[tommarker]

Excellent point. I would not want to get hit with a pocketnknife re-inforced hammerfist or a ridge hand to the jaw/temple area.

 

Bram Frank has developed the Spyderco Gunting for these types of situations. There are several sharp ramps and points on the handle to assist in nerve strikes and locks. There is also a ramp on the back of the blade that can be used to catch on the person's arm which causes the blade to open, resulting in a nasty slash. I'm not an expert, but Gunting fans are everwhere, and it's not hard to find an expert, real or otherwise

 

It's not my cup of tea, but the Gunting is probably THE sharpest knife I own. I personally carry a Kershaw Talon or a Spyderco Endura wherever I go and they both get a good utility workout as well.

[delta1]

In general, so I'm told, people don't have the level of judgement it takes to know when it's necessary to use a knife. The only people who should carry knives are those who have the least defensive need for them (being the most highly trained and physically fit). Those who could most benefit from them are most likely to get into trouble with them and therefore shouldn't bother carrying them. Have I got it right?[/b]

 

Well, no. First off, most people can tell when they need to use deadly force to defend themselves. The courts and lawyers might like us to think differently, but almost anyone has more sesnse than those sorry buggers.

 

Second, if it is a life and death situation with a larger or more visciouse opponent, I think an equalizer is a good idea. Knives, especially in trained hands, can definately tip the scales in your favor.

[delta1]

You could say the same thing about people who carry guns and we all know how well that is working out.

 

Not sure what your point is, and I'm not going to get into a debate about whether an inanimate object is good or evil. But I will say that, for a lot of infirm or weaker people, a firearm is an excellent self defense tool- IF the person who carries it trains with it!!! Just buying one and thinking it will protect you is as foolish as assigning intentions to it (good or bad)!

[Synaesthesia]

Just a quick note for clarity; I too have a problem with the statement I made. It seems right and it seems wrong to me.

 

In defense of it, I would point out that the legal ramifications are very important. If I panic and over-react, my life could be ruined if I maim or kill somebody with a utility knife. If the perception of the judge has it, I'll get nailed with a criminal record for having a self-defense weapon. The chance that I'll ruin my own life is in many many cases greater than saving my life in the case that no possible alternative to a knife exists in that situation!

 

Basic legal considerations prevent me from carrying a self defense knife, so this is all academic. Percepjitsu and Runfu are my primary modes self-defense.

 

[When Canadians get cornered by physically superior attackers, we have but to wonder about the chances that a police car will happen by.]

 

delta1,

 

John Stuart Mill... *grabs an unread anthology of Mill*

[Shorinryu Sensei]

[ I'd rather have a Swiss Army knife than nothing in this case.

 

I can't help it. When I read this, I envisioned tommarker pulling out his Swiss Army knife..fumbling through the various blades...

 

"Spoon? ..no...Nail file?...Maybe....bottle opener?...Nope..."

 

It's early and I need more coffee...sorry.