Defensive Fixed Blade Suggestions

[Scandi Grind]

I am thinking about getting a dedicated defensive edc fixed blade, and possibly getting a custom made, so the door is pretty wide open for what type of blade it can be. Obviously the most important thing is that I know how to properly use it regardless of the design, so I may want to choose something that is commonly taught by martial arts instructors maybe?

In general I was leaning toward something with a very positive blade angle and a wharncliffe blade. I'm not sure if a hawkbill would be better, I just tend to shy away from them because I don't like sharpening recurves.

Karambits look cool, I was considering having a wharncliffe karambit made, but it has always seemed to me that a karambit would be harder to learn to use than a forward facing blade. That leads me toward something like Spyderco's Swick, or the Ka-Bar TDI type design. Don't know if having a finger ring is better or not.

So the direction I'm thinking at the moment would be a design similar to the TDI, a handle with a full grip, and a short blade about 2.5 in. in a wharcliffe shape.

I'd be curious to here from somebody who has some self defense training experience with fixed blades, while this blade could be used for things other than defense, that is the design goal, so this isn't just for fun and I want to choose something effective for a serious job. Anyone have any solid advice to provide?

[MacLaren]

Mr. Michael Janich could answer you best.
I've no idea....

[Naperville]

I only buy knives for self defense, and I have thousands of hours of martial arts training.

Buy a Spyderco Native Chief or an RMJ Raider Dagger for the streets.

Buy the following for the home. This is good.
https://www.traditionalfilipinoweapons. ... ginunting/

I've dabbled in around a dozen martial arts. I've been involved in the Filipino martial arts of: Inayan; Bahala Na; SLD, Serrada - Largo Mano - Dequerdas; Mata Sa Bagyo Eskrima; Defensor Method; Headhunters(GAT); and others.


Material on the Filipino Martial Arts schools that I have been involved in:

INAYAN
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... an+eskrima
https://www.youtube.com/@InayanSchoolofEskrimaKnoxville
https://www.youtube.com/@InayanEskrimador
https://youtu.be/ylqeti5u22Q&list=PLkG7iPP4BfFkOOi2QZvlsmdjSmQLpQ2Nt&index=46

BAHALA NA
https://www.youtube.com/@masterkirkbahalana4921
https://www.youtube.com/user/375Bagumbayan/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/multistyle77/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/saucy15/videos
https://youtu.be/hoqAZlNrPj4

MATA SA BAGYO
https://youtu.be/3HaBvXZLFas&list=PLkG7iPP4BfFmKTun8x8krL7yjTvNK73Vd

DEFENSOR METHOD
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... sor+method
https://www.youtube.com/@filipinokalieskrimaacademy2777

HEADHUNTERS - Garimot Arnis Training | GAT
https://youtu.be/EIZQMs5eWQU&list=PLkG7iPP4BfFnZqBe4hfJaGelmbMnPiCkc

[mikey177]

Ka-Bar used to make the TDI/Hinderance wharnie fixed blade. It's discontinued, but you might still be able to find one in the secondary market. Blade length is longer than the 2.5 inches you mentioned, but I would consider that a good thing for SD.

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Ka-Bar-TD ... ife--21668

[MacLaren]

A fixed Yojimbo would be nice....I absolutely love hollow grinds.....especially wharnies
Only reason I suggest this is beacuse the Yojimbo is from Michael Janich

[mikey177]

^ Perhaps check out the Ronin 2 then. Here it is compared to a Bradford Guardian 3 wharnie.

[MacLaren]

^ Perhaps check out the Ronin 2 then. Here it is compared to a Bradford Guardian 3 wharnie.
ronin2 vs guardian3 wharnie.jpg

There ya go

[akapennypincher]

I am not Knife or Kind self defense expert. So I will make no recommendation of brand or type. My Uncle missed me Karbar, ki did n to question his wisdom as Uncle Sami's perfect.

Today I cary several knives from time to time, I choose em because how they feel in my hand. Even my little Pen knife has share point, and edge.

Any knife in a defensive situation is better then no knife IMHO.

[RustyIron]

Obviously the most important thing is that I know how to properly use it regardless of the design, so I may want to choose something that is commonly taught by martial arts instructors maybe?

You might want to enroll in some classes. As you learn to fight, you'll discover that some knife characteristics are beneficial, and other popular features make no sense to you. When I suggest "classes," I mean the kind where you sweat, hurt, get bruised, abraded, and sometimes bleed. Watching videos and reading articles in Soldier of Fortune is the fighting equivalent of playing Guitar Hero and thinking you're ready to play Madison Square Garden.

[Naperville]

Obviously the most important thing is that I know how to properly use it regardless of the design, so I may want to choose something that is commonly taught by martial arts instructors maybe?

You might want to enroll in some classes. As you learn to fight, you'll discover that some knife characteristics are beneficial, and other popular features make no sense to you. When I suggest "classes," I mean the kind where you sweat, hurt, get bruised, abraded, and sometimes bleed. Watching videos and reading articles in Soldier of Fortune is the fighting equivalent of playing Guitar Hero and thinking you're ready to play Madison Square Garden.

I bust my tail in all of my ON SITE CLASSES. I worked with Grand Masters, Masters, and Guros exclusively in all of my martial arts. Not only that but if you ask, the instructors will let you train with them out of class. If you are not working, and sign up to 3 martial arts at once(like I did while in a heavy Filipino area like Stockton, CA), and take classes for 6 months and train for a minimum of 10 hours a day, 7 days a week....you can easily fit a years worth of training in and learn advanced topics.

THEN, after dabbling in a dozen martial arts, if you have training partners, you can use DVDs and downloaded videos to continue training. Just stay in contact with the parties material that you plan to train on. You can break down 99% of the material just by seeing it in video. Works for me and I have a huge library of videos that I add too every month.

[Jim Malone]

The Ronin 2. I carry a clinch pick in pikal front center horizontal on a daily base. Can reach it with both hands. other options are Fred Perrin's designs. Or Bastinelli . Have you thought about a push dagger? Very instinctive, if legal.

[MacLaren]

The Ronin 2. I carry a clinch pick in pikal front center horizontal on a daily base. Can reach it with both hands. other options are Fred Perrin's designs. Or Bastinelli . Have you thought about a push dagger? Very instinctive, if legal.

Is this a push dagger Jim?
, nevermind, I googled push dagger and this ain't it.

[Scandi Grind]

Have you thought about a push dagger? Very instinctive, if legal.

I have considered one in the past. I wasn't sure if I would be less comfortable with a blade coming from between my fingers when I am only accustomed to a blade being ahead of my fingers. I could get a similar design with a single edge. It is legal to carry almost anything where I live, but because there are so many states with restricted rights I do tend toward the idea of something single edged and fairly short. Short also because being a very thin individual, I have a very hard time concealing even fairly small fixed blades on me.

[VashHash]

Sounds like you need a swick. It can be used like a push dagger too and you can put it on your pinky and use it like a karambit.

You can also use your thumb over the spine to hide it while holding it.

[Jim Malone]

Swick is also a good option. The fact that you have to wiggle your finger in the hole does makes it slower. But also provides very positive purchase on the blade. You can also use your hands with a swick to open doors, use an o.c. spray or even shoot a gun. Emerson made the la griffe with Perrin. Or look him up on Instagram for a custom. The number 5 "scorpion" from station 9 is also very nice. Wicked point!

[Naperville]

If you're looking for something with a 2.5 inch blade or under I'd look at the Spyderco Native 5 in Maxamet or something from Bastinelli Knives. There are some very aggressive looking Bastinelli Knives that have 1 inch blades and they are tiny.

The problem with anything with a tiny blade at this time is that we are headed into Winter and all people will be wearing many layers that a 1 inch blade may not penetrate.

If I thought I was taking my life in my hands and it was Winter time I'd be grabbing the double edged RMJ Raider Dagger and a shoulder harness for the knife. When using a knife I treat the entire blade as if it is sharp. A lot of people using a knife defensively cut themselves. Keep your hands out of the way of any blade, because when you are in a bad spot, you could cut something that belongs to you like a blood vessel in your forearm or hand!

[Naperville]

Wow. Don't ask me why I forgot about this knife. It is better than most knives, the Spyderco Enuff II in K390.

https://www.dlttrading.com/spyderco-enu ... k390-blade

[Scandi Grind]

The problem with anything with a tiny blade at this time is that we are headed into Winter and all people will be wearing many layers that a 1 inch blade may not penetrate.

Good point there, while I could definitely go longer than 1 in., but even 3 in. gets much less reliable when thick clothing is involved. The good thing is that it becomes easy for me to conceal a larger blade beneath a sweatshirt or jacket during the winter. I will probably end up with a cold weather and warm weather solution eventually.

I am thinking of going along the lines of the Ronin at this point, but probably a shorter blade. I'm curious, does anyone know how well the wharncliffe blades on the Endura and Delica penetrate when stabbing? It seems like the rounded shape would inhibit penetration.

[Naperville]

The problem with anything with a tiny blade at this time is that we are headed into Winter and all people will be wearing many layers that a 1 inch blade may not penetrate.

Good point there, while I could definitely go longer than 1 in., but even 3 in. gets much less reliable when thick clothing is involved. The good thing is that it becomes easy for me to conceal a larger blade beneath a sweatshirt or jacket during the winter. I will probably end up with a cold weather and warm weather solution eventually.

I am thinking of going along the lines of the Ronin at this point, but probably a shorter blade. I'm curious, does anyone know how well the wharncliffe blades on the Endura and Delica penetrate when stabbing? It seems like the rounded shape would inhibit penetration.

If you are looking for year a round self defense knife, off the top of my head the only knife I like is the Native Chief, but you have to know how to deploy it under stress. I love my Native Chiefs but it is a folder. Some folders deploy quickly. My Native Chiefs are not fast opening right out of the box. I maybe have to adjust the knife a bit or install the 5x5 Solutions PickPocket accessory. I'm going to buy 4 more PickPocket accessories when I can for my Native Chiefs. It looks like the solution to my problem of deployment.

Not to derail this thread but we had to sell the 2019 Camry that I used for work to pay off a property tax bill. My job at Amazon wasn't bringing in the cash fast enough to avoid the issue. Now we are selling a property to (you guessed it) buy a new 2024 Camry.

The hits just keep coming....

In any case, the Spyderco Enuff II in K390 is a fixed blade and it is better than most folders for self defense. If you are expecting to wear a coat I still like the RMJ Raider Dagger. I have 2 of them and they are really excellent knives.

Whatever you look at, if you are shopping for self defense, I'd get a fixed blade....but some people like Michael Janich can get a folder open very quickly. It all depends on YOU and what you are will to do to get the blade into play.

[Michael Janich]

Dear Scandi Grind:

Anytime you're considering carrying a knife for self-defense, my recommendations are the same:

Research the laws in your area (and areas you frequently travel) to find out what's legal to carry. The Smartphone app Legal Blade is great for that.
Get some training in knife skills that are appropriate for self-defense.
Based on that training and your knowledge of the laws in your area, start shopping for a knife that is legal to carry and supports your tactics.
Ideally, shop for knives with matching trainers or, as necessary, craft your own.

With regard to heavy winter clothing, knife systems that fail to take this into consideration in their approach to anatomical targeting are not appropriate for winter environments.

As far as the Ronin 2 is concerned, one thing to bear in mind is that its design (which has a large ricasso) makes the blade significantly longer that the folding Yojimbo 2. If blade-length restrictions in your area make a good knife a little too long, you can also "bob" the blade to be legally compliant.

Stay safe,

Mike