Would you consider a Caly 3.5 good for SD ?

[chipdouglas]

40 year-old man here. I like the overall design of the Caly 3.5, the leaf shape and FFG and the low carry wire clip - I think it looks somewhat classy. Clearly, chances that I have to use a knife for SD are very slim - I have some training with knives (I have trainers). I don't spend lots of time training, but I do train on the basics on a fairly regular basis. I usually train and carry Enduras. One cannot go without thinking of the legal side of things IF he/she found himself/herself involved in a SD situation - for this exact reason, I do not want to carry knives that reek of self-defense.

To me, the Caly 3.5 looks like a good candidate to some extent - it pretty much looks classy, carry well as it as compact, has low carry wire clip, leaf shape blade design and is FFG - it seems to has just about everything I like and need.

That said, would it be a good choice as I've never owned or handled one so far ?

[mikerestivo]

Well, there was a well-documented incident in which a man fought off a cougar that was attacking his son, that happened in Colorado this past year. He used a Caly 3.5 to do it.

[Blerv]

Sure if you're comfortable with it and your training.

Its minor flaws might be the deep carry and prominent choil grip (thin neck). The Stretch might be a consideration too.

[Donut]

I think it is a good choice. It won't perform the best out of the bunch for doing damage, but it will do well and the thinness behind the edge should make it work a little better.

Some people argue that the best knife for the job is the one you have on you. If you want to carry it, I think you can make it work.

[chipdouglas]

It won't perform the best out of the bunch for doing damage

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know what other knives you're referring to above.

[defenestrate]

If it's the knife you are most comfortable and familiar with, it will likely be the best for SD purposes for you as well. Of course, that is in general, and performance would vary based on technique, your own proficiency with said technique, etc. Some blades are better designed for SD based on whatever the designers envisioned. For example, the wide wharnie blade on the YoJimbo knives are great for slashing accurately as every point on the blade will line up if you point the knife straight - a variance in depth of strike will effect the depth of cut, but not so much the location. The narrow pointy shiv-style blades preferred by SouthNarc are better for quick stabbing as they have less resistance for quick stabbing motions.

Best option is to practice openings and slashes/stabs on a training rig/dummy of some kind with a knife you like, and carrying that knife. I have some personal preferences based on my fondness of certain types of self-defense methodology, but they won't work for everyone.

[chipdouglas]

If it's the knife you are most comfortable and familiar with, it will likely be the best for SD purposes for you as well. Of course, that is in general, and performance would vary based on technique, your own proficiency with said technique, etc. Some blades are better designed for SD based on whatever the designers envisioned. For example, the wide wharnie blade on the YoJimbo knives are great for slashing accurately as every point on the blade will line up if you point the knife straight - a variance in depth of strike will effect the depth of cut, but not so much the location. The narrow pointy shiv-style blades preferred by SouthNarc are better for quick stabbing as they have less resistance for quick stabbing motions.

Best option is to practice openings and slashes/stabs on a training rig/dummy of some kind with a knife you like, and carrying that knife. I have some personal preferences based on my fondness of certain types of self-defense methodology, but they won't work for everyone.

I've never owned a Caly 3.5 yet, but I like that knife overall - I'm trying to find out whether it offers a pretty good purchase - I think that it does from what I've seen so far.

[Blerv]

Choil knives favor a thumb-up (saber grip). Locking the thumb downward (hammer grip) offers more lateral strength. It really depends on what you feel most comfortable with though.

Ballistics don't make the defense tool, application does. Something like a Yojimbo2 offers superior geometry but it's not a math problem. Namely everything else is:

* Decision to use lethal force as only option
* Deployment (easier said than done)
* Everything until one person stops attacking

The situations when using a knife (or gun) is the most prudent path are few and far between. Avoidance and your brain are more valuable.

If it was me I would carry the knife for chores and a small can of pepper spray. Work on striking and when you get to the age where it's less effective practice with a cane :) .

[Fred Sanford]

To answer the original posters question, Yep. I think the Caly 3.5 would be an excellent SD knife. I think anything about that size will do just fine as long as you have been carrying it and using it and have the muscle memory down. I realize about all the training stuff and the fact that you shouldn't use it unless it's a last ditch thing.


The only reason I wouldn't want to use something like a Yojimbo as a self-defense tool against someone else is this: Even if I am completely in the right, I would imagine that if prosecuted it wouldn't be good that the knife I was carrying was designed with SD as it's main job.

[chipdouglas]

To answer the original posters question, Yep. I think the Caly 3.5 would be an excellent SD knife. I think anything about that size will do just fine as long as you have been carrying it and using it and have the muscle memory down. I realize about all the training stuff and the fact that you shouldn't use it unless it's a last ditch thing.


The only reason I wouldn't want to use something like a Yojimbo as a self-defense tool against someone else is this: Even if I am completely in the right, I would imagine that if prosecuted it wouldn't be good that the knife I was carrying was designed with SD as it's main job.

My thoughts exactly.

[wvguy8258]

I haven't handled the caly 3.5.

If you want to avoid legal issues, a rescue is great at slashing. My undercover SD is a salt 1 with serrated blade that is less than 3". It came yellow, which is benign, and I dyed it to a deep green. It is serrated, which is "scary", but can be had in plain edge. I'd think a blue colored delica would be great for SD and also fly under radars. Too bad we can't get a stretch in orange or something.

[KardinalSyn]

If you like it and once you handle it and come to like it even more, I would say buy it.

I had a Caly 3.5 SB some time ago and that was with me through out. The ZDP 189 is also a very good steel and there are reports of knives made with it being abused and still come out shining.

As for SD, I cannot comment. For me personally, I have used sand, sticks and stones to my advantage and feel lucky that I have never had to use a knife (except maybe for show). I think anything with a blade above 1/2 an inch can be used with devastating effect for cutting. With 3.5 inches, the cuts will be deep and serious. I simply dont wanna think about it even.

I wish they would put bushings on the Caly's. It will greatly improve the knife IMO.

[The Deacon]

The Caly 3.5's handle has good ergonomics and its Spyderhole is a decent, if not ideal, size. It's also compact, slim, and light for its size, as well as relatively benign looking. All of which make the type of knife you're likely to carry for the 99.9% of cutting that doesn't involve living flesh, which mean you're a lot more likely to have it with you in the unlikely and unfortunate event such cutting becomes necessary.

[RatDralX]

Any quality made knife (Spyderco :) )can be effective for self defense, so long as you are effective as well.

A well trained dude with a Lava or Dragonfly could make a mess out of an attacker, if it was his day to win.

[zhyla]

I suspect it's about as suitable as any 3.5" blade with a normal blade shape. It's as good as it gets for something you're likely to be carrying on you when something bad happens. I'd much, much rather have a machete with an extra 18" of reach but that won't fit in your pocket nearly as well as a Caly 3.5.

Utility matters more than "tacticalness" for a pocket knife. It's never going to be an ideal weapon but as long as it doesn't preclude slashing and stabbing, it's going to do its job.

[chipdouglas]

I haven't handled the caly 3.5.

If you want to avoid legal issues, a rescue is great at slashing. My undercover SD is a salt 1 with serrated blade that is less than 3". It came yellow, which is benign, and I dyed it to a deep green. It is serrated, which is "scary", but can be had in plain edge. I'd think a blue colored delica would be great for SD and also fly under radars. Too bad we can't get a stretch in orange or something.

I like the idea of a Delica especially the FFG - the Stretch also is a pretty interesting knife - it offers great ergonomics and is light weight etc.

[chipdouglas]

It wouldn't matter if you were in the right unless your state state prohibits carrying knifes as weapons. Frankly, I think people are paranoid and put way too much thought into the legal aspect. IMO, choose a knife that meets the legal limitations of your state/county/country/etc and if you are presented with a situation where you truly think your life is in immanent danger then use that knife to your best abilities to stop the attack.

As for choosing a knife, we could probably be more beneficial to you if you posted the type of style you would be using if put in that situation.

Simple yet effective style - I can't think of a specific style - perhaps you meant : do I think of using slash cuts or stabs ? Clearly, slashes would be preferred, though in an actual DS scenario, which I would think happens in a heartbeat, it might not be obvious to choose not to stab - after all, it is a last ditch effort to save one's life, that is I would never ever use it in a situation where I'd think I could just get by using other SD techniques - I do have decent training using regular SD techniques (martial arts). My idea of using a knife in SD is the same as Michael Janich's - that is creating an opening in order to get the heck away from there. I'll agree that one has to have the muscle memory down alright, cause under duress things can get pretty darn difficult without a doubt. That is why I prefer to keep such training rather simple, yet relatively effective.
I find there are many aspects to consider in carrying a knife for SD purposes - I would think that the blade should probably not be coated and be long enough to act as a deterrent causing the bad guy to flee the scene (that is if one is lucky enough) - the handle needs to provide a good purchase on the knife (generally not a problem with Spydies) and deployment needs to be made easy (again, Spydies having the spyderhole makes it as easy as it gets - though being under duress still can create trouble in deploying such a knife) if one hasn't trained enough for it).

Though I mentioned blade lenght above, one still has to take into account local legislations regarding blade length - the FFG blade of the Delica make it an interesting choice, even though the blade is short - I recall watching a video by Michael Janich where he said that Delicas are great at ballistic cutting - it has a greater handle to blade ratio making for a pretty good purchase on the knife. Anyway, those are things that have already been discussed ad infinitum on these forums (pretty nice forums btw that the Spyderco community forums).

I maintain that it's in one's best interest not to carry a knife that looks too menacing - that said, a menacing looking knife might nip an attack right in the bud though, but I think it wouldn't be in one's best interest if one was to be prosecuted, most especially in an area where knives aren't allowed to be carried for SD purpose - in that case, it'd be best (though not ideal) that one just happened to have his none too menacing looking EDC knife on his person at the time of the scenario.

[Gerard Breuker]

Any good general EDC knife will make a decent SD knife as many of the same qualities apply.
Some models may theoretically have some advantages over others but those are probably just as decisive as the trousers or shoes you happen to wear.

[Donut]

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know what other knives you're referring to above.

Sorry, I saw this a bit earlier, but didn't have time to write out the answer.

Something with a wharncliffe blade will give you a deep slicing cut, a plain edge hawkbill or reverse S will also give you good cutting power. Also, the length of the blade makes a difference. If I have a 4" and 3" blade and apply the same amount of force to both, there is more force transfered to the end of the 3" blade and the 3" blade will dig deeper.

That's what I was referring to.