This is a good review, hitting on many of the pros and cons of pocket knives for self defense use. Ideally, fixed blades are the best option, but where I live for example, the laws here do not allow me to conceal carry or open carry fixed blades, so I do not carry it here. The laws where I am also do not allow what they call automatic knives, so any spring-assisted opening folders are also forbidden. Which leaves only pocket knives with wave or pocket catching features. Of which, I personally believe most of them are not ideal for the purposes of self defense, as you have also pointed out yourself. There is one exception, however, and that is the pocket folding karambits. I myself have been carrying the Fox karambits for many years now, and with some practice and the right pants, they will deploy reliably, even under stress. Please don't forget that the difference between knives and guns is the advantage and necessity of covert deployments and strikes with knives. Many forget that or perhaps was never trained properly to begin with, but knives are not a fencing weapon. They are a lethal force back-up option to threats that have gotten too dangerous and too close to rely on any other options. Once deployed, the finger ring retention system must not be underestimated. This doesn't have to be karmbits, but they can do this as well, and that is to allow you to retain your blade, making the enemy disarming you far more difficult, and to allow you to transition between the knife and a flashlight, or knife and a spare magazine for reload, or a knife and comms or cellphone to call for help, or two knives, or holding a knife and shooting a gun with both of your hands. All of these things are possible, and they should be trained eventually. I can even hold a knife, a flashlight, and a spare magazine with only one hand, at the same time, even though it's unrealistic to need to be able to do that. The point is, the retention ring is what many people neglect in a self defense blade, fixed or folding, and this is a glaring oversight.
I feel the same way. What do you think about otf knives? I carry a cold steel Finn wolf pocket knife that I can open one handed if I had to but have always wanted a microtech like John Wick! lol
This is a good review, hitting on many of the pros and cons of pocket knives for self defense use.
Ideally, fixed blades are the best option, but where I live for example, the laws here do not allow me to conceal carry or open carry fixed blades, so I do not carry it here.
The laws where I am also do not allow what they call automatic knives, so any spring-assisted opening folders are also forbidden.
Which leaves only pocket knives with wave or pocket catching features. Of which, I personally believe most of them are not ideal for the purposes of self defense, as you have also pointed out yourself.
There is one exception, however, and that is the pocket folding karambits. I myself have been carrying the Fox karambits for many years now, and with some practice and the right pants, they will deploy reliably, even under stress.
Please don't forget that the difference between knives and guns is the advantage and necessity of covert deployments and strikes with knives. Many forget that or perhaps was never trained properly to begin with, but knives are not a fencing weapon. They are a lethal force back-up option to threats that have gotten too dangerous and too close to rely on any other options.
Once deployed, the finger ring retention system must not be underestimated. This doesn't have to be karmbits, but they can do this as well, and that is to allow you to retain your blade, making the enemy disarming you far more difficult, and to allow you to transition between the knife and a flashlight, or knife and a spare magazine for reload, or a knife and comms or cellphone to call for help, or two knives, or holding a knife and shooting a gun with both of your hands. All of these things are possible, and they should be trained eventually. I can even hold a knife, a flashlight, and a spare magazine with only one hand, at the same time, even though it's unrealistic to need to be able to do that. The point is, the retention ring is what many people neglect in a self defense blade, fixed or folding, and this is a glaring oversight.
I came to the same experience, the fewer mechanical parts, the fewer problems.
Um so einfacher um so besser.. weniger ist mehr.. Danke
I feel the same way. What do you think about otf knives? I carry a cold steel Finn wolf pocket knife that I can open one handed if I had to but have always wanted a microtech like John Wick! lol
Great explanation. Can you recommend a knife for me ?
Best regards Claus Kowalik
See you in Goslar next week.
👍