What knife do you carry for self defense, if any?

The Deacon · #21

Blerv wrote:Yea those things sure look effective. Hope you never have to put it to use. :)

I got to play with one of these the other day. Interesting concept and very robust. Might make sense to replace the head with something better resembling a flashlight. That and grind "Gladiator" off the handle, lol.

My Asp weighs 186 grams, and the Fenix TK15 I carry at night weighs 190, so roughly 7 ounces each. They're saying the Gladiator weighs 630, that's over 8 ounces more than both of them. How long is the Gladiator and does it extend, or is it a fixed length? Can't seem to find that info in the review. Asp is 16" extended, but only 6.25" when closed, so it fits nicely in my back pocket alongside my wallet. I don't have any illusions about my chances of fending off a human attacker with it, but just snapping it open was enough to convince one owner (who didn't appear the least bit concerned when it came across the street to keep his pit bull in his own back yard, so I can at least pray it might give some young punk second thoughts. :o

Blerv · #22

The Deacon wrote:My Asp weighs 186 grams, and the Fenix TK15 I carry at night weighs 190, so roughly 7 ounces each. They're saying the Gladiator weighs 630, that's over 8 ounces more than both of them. How long is the Gladiator and does it extend, or is it a fixed length? Can't seem to find that info in the review. Asp is 16" extended, but only 6.25" when closed, so it fits nicely in my back pocket alongside my wallet. I don't have any illusions about my chances of fending off a human attacker with it, but just snapping it open was enough to convince one owner (who didn't appear the least bit concerned when it came across the street to keep his pit bull in his own back yard, so I can at least pray it might give some young punk second thoughts. :o

So it's 1.3" in diameter and 13.3" long with very thick walls. My brother weighed his and it was about 500 grams or over a pound of aluminum. A normal drop-in and a few batteries would add a couple ounces at most.

Like many lights it really depends though. Making it heavier is easy as it will take any Solarforce (or Surefire) head from aluminum to SS to larger reflector ones.

It doesn't get any shorter which I guess is a good and bad thing depending on how much you are arguing it's a flashlight vs a baton and how much you care about a threaded section being a "weak link". Carrying an ASP in Seattle will get you in big trouble but laws vary of course across the country.

Before that light he put together one of these with a stainless bezel. You can keep adding extenders if you want assuming the LED driver won't mind the extra voltage (3v-18v are available). That or you could always run rechargeable AA's with a sleeve so they don't rattle.

18650 lithium = approx 18mm by 65mm
AA = approx 14 mm x 50mm
CR123 = approx 16mm x 34mm

The Solarforce dummy spacers are 18x65mm size. Oveready makes 18x15mm for a few dollars each.

Something like that is pretty appealing if someone is looking for a dog walking light anyways; one tool to replace two. A Maglite has been the historic choice save for the mediocre performance and 2-4D cells is a very thick grip.

Noah · #23

I don't carry a dedicated defensive knife, I carry an EDC folder that "works" for that. Situational awareness, pepper spray, and an AK when I am at home are my primary defensive tools.

But good folding knives are still my favorite tool on planet earth, you can do so much with one. Even if it isn't my first defensive choice, a good 3.5"ish folder is the single thing I will never ever be without, even at amusement parks and on the water. A million ways it can help you and others, including as a lethal force tool. I am 6 foot but only 150 lbs, not a big guy. I feel much much better having a good blade if I need it than being without. A black Spyderco Tenacious for the last month or so. I carried an Endura for about 3 months and wish I still had it. I've also carried a few Cold Steels, SOGs, and an Ontario RAT 1. Spydercos always win out though.

dragonram7 · #24

Yojimba 2 and massad ayoob.

TomAiello · #25

Noah wrote:Situational awareness...

That's the best self defense tool anyone can carry.

Bladekeeper · #26

Do all pikal have that emblem on the blade never really looked before as we can't get a hands on at least unless you live near Heinne.

KrisOK · #27

Well, if you DO ever need to defend yourself with a knife employ a bit of psy-ops. Cackle maniacally with a big smile on your face as you pull you knife. Then walk TOWARD them.

If I were a mugger and somebody did that to me I'd be outta there!

Bladekeeper · #28

KrisOK wrote:Well, if you DO ever need to defend yourself with a knife employ a bit of psy-ops. Cackle maniacally with a big smile on your face as you pull you knife. Then walk TOWARD them.

If I were a mugger and somebody did that to me I'd be outta there!

Funny you should mention that the human primal instinct is diminishing as we lose the need to rely on it in the modern world .
But if you are in the vicinity of a shark say on a boat your primal instinct tells you this is a dangerous animal and with other predators you feel it in your gut its unmistakable .
I know a few guys that give off this vibe they are not people that behave badly etc , just something inside you says be careful .
If you get this vibe from certain people its best to rely on your gut instinct , a few gents I know in service have no fear and it shows .
A man with no fear is a dangerous man regardless of what he may posses defence wise so again it comes down to circumstance .
I've seen situations with people who have had issues with mental health get very angry very quickly and the strength they have is abnormal .
In any given situation where their condition isn't triggered ect they dont posses exceptional strength a bit like adrenaline but obviously different slightly OT but still relavent to SD.

Random Dan · #29

It's not legal in Illinois but if it was, I'd carry one of these:

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Per-Sev · #30

I carry one of my many combat canes either by Canemaster or my new Raven that is all aluminum powder coated black with grips milled in the shaft and a nice aggressive horn. I do need the cane I am disabled I just like having options and have studied cane technics for 10 years now so I know enough to really hurt someone or to get in a lot of trouble. I also carry my Domino but that's a tool not a weapon also.

w3tnz · #31

Bladekeeper wrote:Do all pikal have that emblem on the blade never really looked before as we can't get a hands on at least unless you live near Heinne.

Yeah they all do, it's the shivworks logo, stamped just the same as any other collaboration model.

Bladekeeper · #32

w3tnz wrote:Yeah they all do, it's the shivworks logo, stamped just the same as any other collaboration model.

Cool I think spyderco should take pictures of both sides when a blade is stamped.
I have the last three catalogues and look all the time never seen it before (the stamp) .
Just coincidence I have a tattoo of two intertwined symbols like this made me look twice when I saw it .
Good enough reason to get it if ever there was one :D .