..............sd?

casey1 · #1

So i hear some about self defense knives on here from time to time. i used to be into that kind of stuff. now what i'm wondering is this: wouldn't only 1 out of say 100 confrontations require you pulling out a knife? And even then wouldn't a delica or even non-locking UKPK be enough to scare 99.9% of people off after that? Just a thought... because i used to think of SD qualities as adding value to a knife and now all i look at are ergos and steel for the most part

The Deacon · #2

IMHO, it's first a question of one's mindset. There are those who feel the need to carry a weapon, train with that weapon, and make a point of carrying that weapon religiously. For those folks a purpose-built weapon is the most logical choice. Then there are those who, rightly or wrongly, feel safer just knowing they have a knife with them. For them, something they're comfortable carrying is the best choice. It may no do the job, they may not know how to use it effectively, but, like the rabbit's foot on a keyring, or the small tattered square of their childhood security blanket tucked in their wallet, at least they'll remember to carry it and take comfort in knowing it's there.

Dr. Snubnose · #3

Hard to say...It might even be a 1 in 10,000 confrontations that you might need to pull a knife...Would a Delica work or a UK Pen knife be enough...It might be...would they scare away a would be attacker bent on doing you bodily harm...I doubt it very much....Knives are not for scaring off people...it doesn't work that way in a SD situation,,,you are more than likely to scare off sheeple people using a Delica to cut a thread off your shirt.....That being said I suggest you carry one dedicated fighting knife (whatever that might be) (the larger blade up to 7" the better)...FB beats folder on the draw and I wouldn't cut anything with that blade ever....just keep it sharp make it easy to access, practice flow drills and the like with it or if you have a training partner, use a trainer...and keep and EDC that knife for the 1-10,000 chance you might need to save your life or the lives of your loved one with it for SD....Doc :)

marcdurant · #4

Unless you're a bouncer, bartender, policeman, etc, you shouldn't ever see 100 confrontations in your lifetime. Besides, talking your way out is almost always the better option. You're only justified in using your knife if you think you're in mortal danger, at which point your assailant is probably not easily scared off. Pulling a knife in self defense without training... I'm not sure I'd recommend it. So yeah, self defense doesn't have to be a factor for most people.

On the other hand, some of us do train with knives for self defense, at which point it's silly to carry a knife that doesn't serve your training. There are also active duty military, police, etc on the forum, for whom their knife is a very real line of defense. So for those people, SD can be the most important or only purpose of a knife.

Note that even a delica is a perfectly suitable SD knife once you've had some training. There's a reason there's a trainer available for it.

I started evaluating my knives for SD purposes when I started training for it. Before then it was an abstract concept at best.

Blerv · #5

A knife is a tool which can be used for defense. There are specifically designed knives for defense (some of which are poor tools for anything else).

There are varying factors of using any tool for defense. Analyzing the threat as requiring lethal force is a book in itself. Training and methodology (Doc's specialty) and the overall effectiveness based on a number of biological/psychological factors and even stupid luck.

I carry a knife as a tool. Going into more dangerous places, like downtown on Friday night, I carry a larger one that is very sharp. It's never Plan A but closer to Plan G. Plan H would be pretty close to dying. Lol.

I wish people spent more time worrying about "survival" than "SD". It seems society puts those those two letters closer to the ideal Roman warrior mindset. All roads don't lead to Rome these days.

Minibear453 · #6

Sure, maybe only 1% of confrontations require a knife. However, I probably get into 100 confrontations a year. :p (depending on what you mean by confrontations. I'm taking it as heavy disagreement/arguments.)

Also, unfortunately, most humans only have 1 life. Thus, however minuscule that chance is, you still prepare for it, correct? For example, everyone has airbags, however, car accidents are.... somewhat rare, and the serious ones are even rarer. Attacks are probably just a little less rare than airbags. So you prepare for a SD situation just in case, like how you have a airbag just in case.

And also, last time I checked, a knife is made to cut. It will work well in SD, regardless of the knife. The qualities I look for in a knife are also the ones that are needed for SD, although it is not because of SD that I look for them. Things like a strong lock, decent length, good edge, and a point, all these are very useful for my daily life and such. So yea. I buy my knives for EDC, but they can all double as SD.

jossta · #7

If I get into a confrontation that escalates to the point where I feel I need to pull out a knife, it's gone way, way, WAY too far for me to just want to scare someone, and I hope to god I have one that locks (very probable sine mine are all either fixed or locking).

Blerv · #8

In modern society we see FAR more car wrecks than physical confrontations (not including sports). It's easier for folks to negotiate a fight than a cell-phone equipped driver!

I would LOVE to see the real numbers but your chance of using your airbags or bumpers are probably hundreds of times more likely.

DCDesigns · #9

I would never consider using my knife as a first option for SD. Thats what guns are for silly.

gbelleh · #10

Yeah, SD with a knife is a last resort backup to a backup as far as I'm concerned. But, it is still a consideration. I haven't had to draw a weapon yet, and hope I never do. If I ever end up using a knife for SD, things have gone horribly, horribly wrong!

Evil D · #11

Personally i'll take an *** beating before i pull a knife. It would take a real life threatening encounter for me to use my knife as a weapon, and getting beat up is not reason enough to use my knife as a lethal weapon. It's easier to heal from a beat down than to face jail time for stabbing someone. Animals on the other hand, if a dog attacked me i wouldn't hesitate.

jossta · #12

Evil D wrote:Personally i'll take an *** beating before i pull a knife. It would take a real life threatening encounter for me to use my knife as a weapon, and getting beat up is not reason enough to use my knife as a lethal weapon. It's easier to heal from a beat down than to face jail time for stabbing someone. Animals on the other hand, if a dog attacked me i wouldn't hesitate.

^^What he said. However, I would never kill a dog unless it was threatening my child (which I don't currently have). And even then, I would be beyond pissed at the owner of said dog for putting me in that position.

chuck_roxas45 · #13

Evil D wrote:Personally i'll take an *** beating before i pull a knife. It would take a real life threatening encounter for me to use my knife as a weapon, and getting beat up is not reason enough to use my knife as a lethal weapon. It's easier to heal from a beat down than to face jail time for stabbing someone. Animals on the other hand, if a dog attacked me i wouldn't hesitate.

jossta wrote:^^What he said. However, I would never kill a dog unless it was threatening my child (which I don't currently have). And even then, I would be beyond pissed at the owner of said dog for putting me in that position.

The problem sometimes is, how to tell if it's just gonna be an *** whupping or will it go to a real stomping. By the time the *** whupping will go to a real stomping, you might not already be in a position to do anything about it.

Evil D · #14

Well, i've never really been beat down that bad so i guess it's easy for me to say i wouldn't. Lets just hope it never comes to that. I guess if i were getting beat without mercy and there was no sign of stopping, i'd probably do something. I hate thinking about that.

Dogs or another animals...if i'm getting attacked/bit/mauled, something's getting stabbed/slashed in return. I've been down that road with dogs too many times. Once the animal crosses that line and is on you, there's not much else you can do and i'm not just gonna stand there and get chewed on.

chuck_roxas45 · #15

Evil D wrote:Well, i've never really been beat down that bad so i guess it's easy for me to say i wouldn't. Lets just hope it never comes to that. I guess if i were getting beat without mercy and there was no sign of stopping, i'd probably do something. I hate thinking about that.

Dogs or another animals...if i'm getting attacked/bit/mauled, something's getting stabbed/slashed in return. I've been down that road with dogs too many times. Once the car crosses that line and is on you, there's not much else you can do and i'm not just gonna stand there and get chewed on.

I've had a few encounters, once the fists are flying and you are getting grabbed, it's kinda hard to access a weapon without some serious unarmed skills that can give you space. One guy with no training and without a weapon is manageable, two guys kinda( edited:really) hard, more than that and it's a whole 'nother ball game.

Evil D · #16

See i was always told that if you ever pull a weapon in a fight, you better be ready to have it used against you. For that reason, i've never gone beyond bare hands. But then, i've never had to either.

jossta · #17

Yeah, I guess it's kinda the difference between a fight and getting attacked. To me a fight sort of implies mutual escalation, in which case I doubt I'd ever pull one, but if I were straight up attacked, either out of the blue, b/c of a mugging or something I would be more inclined to pull it out as I have no frame of reference for the other person's intentions.

I don't think I explained myself very well, but hopefully you all get the idea.

Dr. Snubnose · #18

Was wondering how this thread got to dog defense and killing animals with knives...:confused :D oc :confused:
as long as we are on the topic...don't know two many people who would want to take on a bear just holding a UK pen Knife....or even a vicious dog for that matter....

Evil D · #19

Dr. Snubnose wrote:Was wondering how this thread got to dog defense and killing animals with knives...:confused :D oc :confused:
as long as we are on the topic...don't know two many people who would want to take on a bear just holding a UK pen Knife....or even a vicious dog for that matter....

I guess that was my doing...i just see my knife as a tool. If i have to defend myself, it's an absolute last resort. I threw animals in there because i'm much more likely to defend myself against a crazy dog with my knife than i would a crazy person. "Self Defense" doesn't just include people.

Dr. Snubnose · #20

I agree but just like people there are ways of dealing with animals without having to dice and slice them...Sharpen your empty hand skills for use against both man and beast then....Doc :D