Back up Knife?
- Thread starter 9ballbilly
- Start date
As a matter of history...
Between the era of swords and daggars and the era of reliable cartridge firearms, most people carried something akin to a Bowie knife as their primary defense weapon. Based on the technology of the time, a good fighting knife was far more reliable than most of the handguns available and far more utilitarian in general life.
Sadly, the open carry of an eight to ten inch long knife has fallen into disfavor.
I normally carry a small pocket knife, but not as a weapon. I have a larger knife mounted on my 'outdoors' equipment belt.
Between the era of swords and daggars and the era of reliable cartridge firearms, most people carried something akin to a Bowie knife as their primary defense weapon. Based on the technology of the time, a good fighting knife was far more reliable than most of the handguns available and far more utilitarian in general life.
Sadly, the open carry of an eight to ten inch long knife has fallen into disfavor.
I normally carry a small pocket knife, but not as a weapon. I have a larger knife mounted on my 'outdoors' equipment belt.
vostracker
New member
BUK
When I was on duty and off I always carried a knife, but no BUG. I just love myt "GT" ATS-34 spring op opening blade with tanto point. My other is a plain blade CRKT M16-03Z. My multi-tool is a Gerber.
When I was on duty and off I always carried a knife, but no BUG. I just love myt "GT" ATS-34 spring op opening blade with tanto point. My other is a plain blade CRKT M16-03Z. My multi-tool is a Gerber.
Been carrying a knife every day for 30 years or more ... my favorite is a Ka-Bar 3-inch Dozier Design folder ... also carry a Spyderco Byrd or a new knife I picked up from Russell's, a Boker ... quit carrying a Kershaw Chive a while back when the safety failed, the blade opened a bit in my pocket and I almost cut off a finger ... 8 stitches to put the tip back together ... I use whatever I'm carrying every day for something, and I guess in a pinch, they might be helpful against BGs if the gun runs dry and I missed ...
arktravler
New member
If my pants are on... I've got a knife. Like many on here, I grew up carrying a knife. They're such handy critters, hard to imagine folks not having one. I carry a SOG spring assist, or a Buck spring assist, or an old school biker favorite... Buck 110
Mannlicher
New member
I carry a back up gun. I am NOT going to pull a knife to fight it out with some guy armed with a gun, if I run out of rounds.
anthonydr2
Inactive
I carry a Ken Onion Leek with Assisted Opening; however, I'll soon be switching to the black shallot version within the line. I own three Ken Onion's already; they are great knives.
Lawyer Daggit
New member
I think the days of the 'throw down piece' are definitely over. DNA can raise too many interesting questions.
ChicagoTex
Moderator
It could, if you normally got DNA on your gun, which you don't unless you shed, slobber, or bleed on it.
EastSideRich
New member
bikerbill wrote:
Funny story:
I also have a chive. I used to carry it alot.
I never set the safety on any of my knives and it's never a problem - except for the chive. I don't like the safety because it defeats the purpose of an assisted-open knife.
A few years ago, while Christmas shopping, I was standing at the counter at store buying a gift for my wife. Upon reaching into my right front pocket to grab my bank card (I didn't carry a wallet at the time, just my card and ID in a pocket) I discovered my chive had popped open (again).
A more accurate way of saying this would be : Upon removing my hand from my pocket I discovered it was open.
When this happens the knife blade opens to about 45 deg, blade pointing downward.
At first I felt a burning sensation on the back of my hand, I kinda knew what had happened, but thought I just scraped the blade against my skin pretty hard.
As I gave the girl at the counter my card, I realized I had basically filleted the back of my hand, above my pinky.
It was one of those cuts that took a couple of seconds to start bleeding real good.
As she rung me up - which seemed like it took forever - I just tried to keep a straight face as blood ran down my finger and dripped onto their floor (bleeding alot at this point).
When I left and looked at it more closely, I realized I came extremely close to opening a large vein, which would have made it much harder to keep my cool.
Probably could have used a few stitches, but I don't know if they stitch flaps of skin like that.
The moral of the story:
Be careful with Ken Onion Chives!!
They seem to pop open in your pocket alot.
Funny story:
I also have a chive. I used to carry it alot.
I never set the safety on any of my knives and it's never a problem - except for the chive. I don't like the safety because it defeats the purpose of an assisted-open knife.
A few years ago, while Christmas shopping, I was standing at the counter at store buying a gift for my wife. Upon reaching into my right front pocket to grab my bank card (I didn't carry a wallet at the time, just my card and ID in a pocket) I discovered my chive had popped open (again).
A more accurate way of saying this would be : Upon removing my hand from my pocket I discovered it was open.
When this happens the knife blade opens to about 45 deg, blade pointing downward.
At first I felt a burning sensation on the back of my hand, I kinda knew what had happened, but thought I just scraped the blade against my skin pretty hard.
As I gave the girl at the counter my card, I realized I had basically filleted the back of my hand, above my pinky.
It was one of those cuts that took a couple of seconds to start bleeding real good.
As she rung me up - which seemed like it took forever - I just tried to keep a straight face as blood ran down my finger and dripped onto their floor (bleeding alot at this point).
When I left and looked at it more closely, I realized I came extremely close to opening a large vein, which would have made it much harder to keep my cool.
Probably could have used a few stitches, but I don't know if they stitch flaps of skin like that.
The moral of the story:
Be careful with Ken Onion Chives!!
They seem to pop open in your pocket alot.
Bill DeShivs
New member
Knives are tools. Can they be used for defense? Yes, but you would be better off with a screwdriver.
Wow, I would say that is totally wrong. A screwdriver can stab, but so can a knife. A knife can cut, but a screwdriver cannot. If you are thinking of a poorly made knife that won't take the same types of impacts associated with a fight that a screwdriver can, I am not. A well made knife (especially a fixed blade) can handle any defensive situation a screwdriver can.
Last edited:
Bill DeShivs
New member
Spamanon
I'm very familiar with modern (and antique) knives of all types. I design, make, and repair them.
Knives are not good defensive tools, period. Certainly they can be used for defense. So can an ink pen.
What bothers me about these posts is that many people feel they could actually use a knife effectively for defense. These are usually the same people who espouse that carrying any gun under .40 cal will get you killed.
A knife is a poor choice for defense compared to a .25 automatic.
I'm very familiar with modern (and antique) knives of all types. I design, make, and repair them.
Knives are not good defensive tools, period. Certainly they can be used for defense. So can an ink pen.
What bothers me about these posts is that many people feel they could actually use a knife effectively for defense. These are usually the same people who espouse that carrying any gun under .40 cal will get you killed.
A knife is a poor choice for defense compared to a .25 automatic.
I would agree with your last statement. Nearly any gun is better than a knife, and I am not one to say anything less than a .40 is zero. But in the post I was commenting about, you didn't compare a knife to a mousegun, you compared it to a screwdriver. That is where we disagree.
I would agree that it is bothersome when people think owning a knife makes them an expert in knife defensive tactics, but the same could be said about owning a screwdriver! My point is that for the same amount of training, I would rather have a good sturdy knife to defend myself than a screwdriver, but I would still take a gun over either.