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I think a knife is a vital component to any self-defense setup, but as others have said, training and practice with a blade is very important in the event you ever have to deploy it. I have carried Cold Steel knives for years, but I am now really into Grayman knives.

I do agree that you might want to consider carring one knife for utility and daily use, and a second for self-defense. These days I have a leatherman tool on my belt that takes care of my daily needs but like to carry a second blade for "emergency". I like a fixed blade. I carry pistol strong side and knife weak side and practice knife with both hands equally. I figure if I am every pinned up and cannot access pistol my left hand has it's own option.

Picking a knife is probably more personal a decision than picking a pistol as there are so many choices for so many different styles. I think too much is made of blade length. A 5.5 inch blade is great, but some serious damage can be inflicted in seconds with a straight razor. Remember, if you are in a fight, slashing motions may be more effective than thrusting motions depending on the situation, and deploying a folder may be tough under extreme stress, so you want to keep that in mind when picking a blade. Check out http://www.graymanknives.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. They are expensive, but worth it in my opinion. Good luck in you search.

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll probably get an auto first but I suspect I will buy more down the road.

karder,

The Grayman knives are gorgeous, but I saw no autos.

Presumably, they don't make them...?

Have you taken formal knife fighting classes?

If so, can you share some of what they're comprised of, i.e., average course length, what's involved, etc.

Thanks!

After reading this post, maybe I will get a more tatical knife to carry concealed. There may be a time when I wished I had a decent Knife in a life threatening situation. I learned a lot about knife here today! Thanks everyone!

Been carrying a Kershaw Junkyard Dog for a lot longer than I thouhgt I would considering the size and weight. Some one mentioned weight and blade strength as desirable features. Junkyard certainly has that. A composite steel blade marked a Galyean Design. The blade flips open due to weight. There no springs so it should be legal in jurisdictions where auto or even assisted-opening may be questionable. Holding it closed in your fist would be like hitting some one with a roll of nickels. got it on line from A.G. Russel in Ark.

Abraham wrote:karder,

The Grayman knives are gorgeous, but I saw no autos.

Presumably, they don't make them...?

Have you taken formal knife fighting classes?

If so, can you share some of what they're comprised of, i.e., average course length, what's involved, etc.

Thanks!

I don't think Grayman are doing any autos.

My knife experience consists of 20 years of martial arts background in Aikido and Iaido. I am no Navy Seal by any means, but have had a lot of exposure with edged weapons. I have also been involved in a few dozen seminars on knife fighting techniques, but I was not instructing, just demonstrating (usually as the bad guy getting taken down by the instructor) and as an assistant circulating among students on the mat.
The seminars can be very helpful depending on who the instructor is. The ones I have been at were usually one or two days and consisted of about 8-16 hours of instruction, theory, and technique with a lot of mat work. The training will typically be unarmed defense against an attacker with a knife, knife on knife, knife on improvised weapon such as a cane, and so forth. Then lots of practice with other students while the black belts mingle to help with technique. I would highly recommend trying a few. The tone of the seminar will often depend on the experience level of the students. If it is a class for experienced students the subject matter will contain a lot more offense. Entry level classes often deal mostly with defending against the blade. At least that was my experience.

One or two seminars won't make an expert, but will give the participants a healthy respect for a blade and will change the way they approach a confrontation where a knife might be involved. For instance, if I think a knife might be involved, I won't be!

SRO1911 wrote:quick question about the law changes - does it specifically delete autos or are there any other changes? I have a rather pretty gold class BM Balisong - - I do not ever see myself carrying it, its too pretty to use, but I could imagine pairing it with the quintessential BBQ rig for a special occasion...

Lots of changes:

http://www.southlakechl.com/2013/06/18/ ... er-1-2013/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most of these are minor. Autos are legal, but still subject to 5.5 inch blade rule. CHL class time decreases for new students. Used to be able to only draw your weapon if you are facing "deadly force". Come Sept. 1, sounds like you can show your weapon if met with just "force" (I interpret as force that could lead to serious bodily harm as opposed to just "death").

Thanks. And this goes back to equin's question that I am very late replying to:

This is interesting info. For a newbie with no blade experience, what kind of blade is best for SD? A fixed blade? Also, how would it be easier or faster to draw a blade for SD in a close-encounter (less than 21 ft) than it would be a handgun? Or I'm guessing a self-defense class and practice would help with that? Are there any SD classes that focus on using a knife? Most of the ones I see advertised are handgun SD classes, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong place?

Like karder's, my experience has been lengthy, not so much with recent classes or seminars.

First, I want to address this: “Also, how would it be easier or faster to draw a blade for SD in a close-encounter (less than 21 ft) than it would be a handgun?”

I want to repeat the Clint Smith quotation: “The only purpose for a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should have never laid down.” Add to that: “Two is one. One is none.”

Your firearm is always your primary weapon. IMHO, for defensive purposes, you should never carry a rifle or shotgun without also having a handgun on your side; and you should never carry a handgun without having a defensive knife at hand.

The stats I mentioned earlier were from NYPD SOP9, a study that included over 6,000 individual officer-involved shootings. In cases where distances could be adequately determined, officer hit-percentages at distances less than 15 yards were:

• Contact to 3 feet: 38%
• 3 yards to 7 yards: 11.5%
• 7 yards to 15 yards: 9.4%

Fully 65% of the officers who felt there was impending danger prior to the actual encounter had their handguns drawn and ready.

The short answer is: deploy your handgun if you can do so...with assurance and accuracy.

You cannot necessarily deploy your blade faster than your handgun...nor should you. It depends on the circumstances.

In most cases your firearm will be on your strong-side hip or slightly behind it. I’m also okay with appendix carry. Less so with shoulder holsters, and absolutely hate small-of-the-back carry. Here’s why:

We shoot at the range, even IDPA. But our practice seldom includes bad guys charging us from five feet away.

I’ve taught folks who said they would never let a possible assailant get that close to them. I challenge them to go through a normal day in an urban environment and count the number of people who come within five feet of them. They always lose count, but it opens their eyes.

Just like we have to trust other drivers to (basically) stay in their lanes, we have to trust most people we encounter to be harmless. If we really stayed in Cooper’s Code Yellow, we’d have our hands on the grips of our guns all the time. If you’re walking across a parking lot and see a guy with his pants down to half-staff, you won’t do a “tactical” roll and come up behind a Ford F-250 simply to avoid him coming within a few feet of you.

Again, this is not about in-the-home, or about rural property.

Outside the home in a major metropolitan area, threats are unlikely to present themselves at distance. A bad guy ain’t gonna stop and announce at seven yards away that he’s gonna rob you.

He—and probably a partner—will close on you, being very affable and simply asking for the time, or for directions, or for a couple of bucks for gas.

Parking lots are the number one locations for violent crime.

The whole point of the blade discussion—and I think Pecos can relate—is that if an event becomes a physical altercation, job one is to protect your gun.

If a guy bum-rushes you and pins you back against the hood of a Camry, odds are you can’t get to your handgun. If you could, it would be a weak draw and might be easily taken away.

Knives, especially folders, are usually carried clipped in a front pocket. I’d suggest that be high in the offhand pocket.

Why? Because if you carry your gun strong-side hip or appendix, you can protect it by clamping your arm over it and using the blade in your off-hand to disable or fend off your attacker long enough—far enough—to deploy your firearm.

That’s the purpose of a blade: to fight back to your handgun.

I carry a Kershaw Clash everyday which has served me very well and like all Kershaw's it has a razor sharp edge. It's big enough for SD work if necessary but for everyday tasks it is wonderful. If it were legal I wouldn't mind carrying my Ka-Bar every once in a while but alas it is too big.

Ka-Bar & TDI introduced their line of knives that are specifically designed for firearm retention. I tried it & just couldn't get comfortable with it. I just prefer a more standard fixed blade @ 8-9 o'clock or hung from my belt & tucked into the front of my back pocket.

Skiprr,

Great information.

Especially the tip on violent crimes and parking lots. While I generally keep my head on a swivel in parking lots, I'll be even more vigilant.

Would you elaborate on:
"Knives, especially folders, are usually carried clipped in a front pocket. I’d suggest that be high in the offhand pocket."

I haven't a clue where the offhand pocket is located? I'm probably the only who doesn't know...

Thanks!

Abraham wrote:offhand pocket

The pocket opposite where you are carrying your firearm...right hand draw, your knife would be clipped to the inside of your left front pocket most likely.

I carry a SOG. Just because I liked it and it fits my hand nicely. I'd like to try an auto though, when I get the chance.