Best edc with potential SD role blade? (poll)

[Nemo3000]

I would had vote for the Ladybug...
You would be surprise how my serrated hawkbill LBK can be an effective EDC/SD companion... Easy to use for the prepared mind.

[Wolfie677]

At the risk of sounding contrite, IMHO the best one of these knives for SD is the one that you will actually have with you. Everyone is different, and as such your EDC system needs to be evaluated to see what you will carry comfortably EVERY DAY.

People have made tons of great points already, but in my mind it comes back to the EDC role. What can you carry comfortably and use every day AND defend yourself if you need to. My main EDC right now is the Native. I chose this knife because the front choil and the ablity to hold the knife in a deep rear position (almost pistol grip) mimics my main Tactical fixed blade, the Blackhawk Tatang. (A Michael Janich design)

Having trained quite a bit with the Tatang the move to the Native was natural and it made sense. The light weight makes it a natural EDC. (I'll be buying a Native 5 as soon it is available)

Plenty of great points on this thread concerning the SD role (and training for it) but one that I think is essential to remember is what markg said about escalating a situation. For my style of fighting, I think a two and a half inch blade is plenty and that is well under the legal limit in Texas. Know your local laws, know when it is legal to draw your weapon and what constitutes defense. Having studied this doesn't mean you will always apply it, crazy things happen once the fight or flight mechanism kicks in and the adrenaline starts flowing, but putting the idea in your head of what is and isn't legal ahead of time might save you litigation in the long run.

I used to work in law enforcement. If you shoot your firearm or use your blade, even if you are in the right, expect to be arrested. At least until the situation is sorted out, which may not happen until court. Know your laws ahead of time, try to abide by them and be able to clearly explain to the officers why you did what you did.

Lastly, If you feel like you are being pushed around on the scene (sadly it does happen, there are bad cops out there unfortunately) shut up and wait for your lawyer.

[jackknifeh]

Self defense for me brings to mind dogs. I have been threatened a few times by dogs. Once it was a mother doberman who only wanted to keep me away from her puppies. She was a very serious mother. I was happy to oblige. I have never been threatened by a person. Either way though it seems the answer to a SD weapon is one to do as much damage as possible to the assailant. The goal is to get the assailant to stop assailanting. They have to either drop or back off. So if you are using a knife and they actually do attack, start and keep stabbing and cutting until one of the above happens. You are fighting for your life after all. I am speaking as someone who has absolutely no experience, only a little common sense (hopefully).

Now, like Wolfie said, that is probably the beginning of your problems. We don’t live in the movies. I’ve been in driving situations where I see a potential accident situation. I have thought I’m in the right. Ok fine. Even if I get in an accident and no one is hurt you still have to deal with your car being in the shop for days and other inconveniences. Even the best of bad situations is not good. My attitude is this this: NEVER fight, but if you have to fight, NEVER fight fair. Fair fighting is stupid unless you are in a sporting event. Do you think your assailant is worried about fighting fair? I'm sure he has a rule book in his pocket.

Jack

Jack

[mobi]

Of these three i would choose the caly 3.5 as it is a lockback, i do not think the compression lock positioned on the back of the handle right where your thumb will be working/pressing is safe at all.

There are quite a few youtube videos showing people manipulating various compression lock spyders demonstrating how "easy" the lock is to close i dont want it to be easy to close the lock on a MBC folder or anything other than a very light duty edc.

[Nemo3000]

Of these three i would choose the caly 3.5 as it is a lockback, i do not think the compression lock positioned on the back of the handle right where your thumb will be working/pressing is safe at all.

There are quite a few youtube videos showing people manipulating various compression lock spyders demonstrating how "easy" the lock is to close i dont want it to be easy to close the lock on a MBC folder or anything other than a very light duty edc.

But the compression was developped with MBC in mind.
From the Lil Temperance to the two incarnation of the Yojimbo...
It's not an easy lock to jammed just by holding the handle IMHO.

[Wolfie677]

S My attitude is this this: NEVER fight, but if you have to fight, NEVER fight fair.

Jack nailed it. We don't live in the movies. Thankfully where I live, I have the right to draw my knife to defend myself and my family for various reasons and I know exactly what those reasons are. I can't imagine myself being in a situation where I drew my knife to harm someone without doing in viable self defense. (To do so would mean I was the aggressor or had escalated a situation, two things I hope I am smart and calm enough to avoid.)

IMHO the best EDC blade for self defense is the one you will always have with you, it's that simple. As to using it, if you can avoid the confrontation do so at all costs. If you have to fight, don't fight fair, fight to win.

[The Mentaculous]

Wow, sure seems not many people like the cali3.5.




problem with training is its hard to tell the legit places from scams, just like most martial arts 'schools' around here in orange county california. What a joke.

Guess im left with videos and slashing at thin air

Actually, the Caly 3.5 has been extremely well-received and I haven't really heard many, if any bad things posted about it. However, it's not really a "tactical" style knife compared to the Para or Superleaf..for example, it is mainly designed to use a choil grip and feel like an extension of the hand. It's a perfect EDC, and while it definitely hasn't gotten the attention of the Para 2, it deserves every bit as much IMO. It's certainly not made for S/D though, but with some training, it could be employed. It's a phenomenal EDC though, and the amount of edge and grip versus the compactness/ease of carry is possibly the best of any knife out there.

As for MA schools...any school is better than none--but here are a few things to look for to identify an honest/qualified school: Find out the lineage and research it. If they have legitimate backgrounds in an established martial art or system, then you should be able to trace back the lineage of instructors. Also, be wary of schools that ask you to enter a long-term contract for lessons. Good schools usually will let you try out something like a week of lessons for free--at very least, they will let you observe a class or 2 and meet the instructors before making a decision. Also they will let you pay for only a month of training at a time, so you don't get trapped paying for lessons you don't want. I'd strongly recommend that you look around, and take advantage of free "trial" classes etc, until you find a school you like. And as I said, a little research will clearly identify a school as legitimate if you can find solid info on the instructors/lineage.

You'd be surprised by how many schools are out there..just cause something might look dumpy, having a tiny strip-mall space to use and basic advertising etc. doesn't mean they don't have world-class instruction. I really don't think there are as many "scam" schools out there as you might think--and even the schools that aren't at the cutting edge or aren't particularly effective will still give you a HUGE advantage over no training at all. Listen to everything they say, and don't accept it blindly, but take it with an open mind. Also, you can use video's like Janich's as a reference point, and if something seems way too impractical or seems to have a dogma, keep searching. I think you'll be surprised at how quickly you can find a great school with extremely knowledgeable and courteous instructors./

[Plinko]

Depends on your "style".

For me, it's a serrated SpyderHawk Salt, (in black FRN for stealth), held in reverse-grip. Reason being, the SpyderHawk is big enough to be menacing without feeling like a brick in your pocket, and slimmer/lighter profile than most other recommendations. The easier it is to carry, the more likely you'll be to have it on you when you need it. The serrated blade tears through clothing and skin with more devastation than a straight blade; bleeds more and harder to stitch up. The blade shape is not as useful for EDC tasks, (those duties fall to the PE Ladybug Salt on the keychain) but it dominates in the SD role.

[Blerv]

If you can't discern by research which schools have good reputations and instructors you can often ask around on the various martial arts forums.

I would steer clear of schools that try to force blade curriculum into their non-blade arts. Karate and Tae Kwon Schools for example, there is no historical reason why they should be doing any knife work. FMA/Indonesian culture on the other hand are blade cultures and have been so for hundreds of years. Bonus points to any of these schools who believe in training knife sparring.

Check out some Kung Fu schools that incorporate a ton of knife, Escrima/arnis/Kali, Silat, Systema, Krav Maga, and even fencing.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 635AAPpV9r

Remember that there are just as many bad schools as good ones (probably more-so). Just because the teacher is a grizzled tattooed Silat practitioner doesn't mean:

1.) He is good
2.) He can teach

Look at how good his/her students are. If they all suck then I would go to another studio.

[Nemo3000]

Just a lil link from my old friend Marc McYoung about SD:

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/knifefighting.html

Words of wisdom...