Home › Forums › Krav Maga Worldwide Forums › Personal Gear Discussion › Knife
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October 21, 2014 at 9:07 pm #34196idbl-fanaticMember
What would be a good knife to carry for self defense? I was looking at the Smith and Wesson SWATLBS not not sure exactly what I should be looking for/at.
Thanks
October 22, 2014 at 1:58 am #89257donMemberRe: Knife
LOTS of choices out there!
Some things to consider, in no particular order:
whether legality(ies) are a concern or not for you (state and local statutes, etc)
if you have training, what kind of knife best matches the training you’ve received
fixed or folder
blade length
blade steel
plain, serrated, combo edge
blade shape/profile
grip material & shape (consider it might get bloody/slippery)
locking mechanism
manual, assisted, full auto
how much you want to spend
how/where (on your person) you plan on carrying it
how you think you might be using/wielding it
do you plan on using it for anything else besides “special occasions”
how does it actually feel in your hand
could it accidentally open
could it damage or prematurely wear whatever it’s attached to
etc…October 22, 2014 at 2:11 am #89258donMemberRe: Knife
ETA: as far as the S&W swat lbs goes, if that fits your requirements/wish list, go for it (cheaper than a gas fill up for me). Check the feedback on Amazon and for any reviews on the internet. See if you can find a brick and mortar store that carries it so you can actually play with one in person. IMO, if you want something that you will be using for other things and will last a longer time, I say save up some more and get something better..
October 22, 2014 at 2:11 pm #89259idbl-fanaticMemberRe: Knife
quote Don:ETA: as far as the S&W swat lbs goes, if that fits your requirements/wish list, go for it (cheaper than a gas fill up for me). Check the feedback on Amazon and for any reviews on the internet. See if you can find a brick and mortar store that carries it so you can actually play with one in person. IMO, if you want something that you will be using for other things and will last a longer time, I say save up some more and get something better..Thanks Don, I was also looking at the Emerson Super Karambit, but I can’t afford $300 for a knife :OhMy:
October 22, 2014 at 8:52 pm #89261donMemberRe: Knife
I have much respect for Guro Ernie as a person, martial artist, and knife maker but I probably wouldn’t get one of his karambits. 1. his SK is pretty pricey for me as well, 2. I prefer my karambits a bit more curved, and 3. I’m not a fan of liner locks (a lot of Emersons are liner locks, I think the SK too).
I’ve got a 5.11 Tarani Master Karambit (got it like new used for $90) that I prefer over the Emerson SK but it doesn’t have the wave feature. If I feel like I want it to hook the pocket while drawing, I’ll just add a zip tie to the hole.
If I ever come into some $ (IIRC about $450), I’ll likely be ordering a custom karambit by Joe Brum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcN5YUhHbCc
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg226/marjoecassel/karambit.jpg
https://www.google.com/images?q=joe+brum+karambit&hl=en&gbv=2&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=RxhIVITsA-X2iQLz7IDwCQ&ved=0CCYQsAQOctober 22, 2014 at 10:19 pm #89262idbl-fanaticMemberRe: Knife
What do you think about the Fox 479?
October 23, 2014 at 4:57 am #89263donMemberRe: Knife
Sorry, no experience with it. Google search yields mixed reviews on the knife and company. The design doesn’t match my preferences. For that price, you could likely get a much nicer non-karambit (traditional) knife. Are you dead set on a karambit?
October 23, 2014 at 1:40 pm #89265idbl-fanaticMemberRe: Knife
quote Don:Sorry, no experience with it. Google search yields mixed reviews on the knife and company. The design doesn’t match my preferences. For that price, you could likely get a much nicer non-karambit (traditional) knife. Are you dead set on a karambit?No, not really, just want something with fast deployment
October 23, 2014 at 3:26 pm #89266idbl-fanaticMemberRe: Knife
Actually looking further into it, I like the Kershaw EMERSON CQC 7K it has the “Wave” feature, and I like that style of knife, and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper. LOL
October 23, 2014 at 5:17 pm #89267donMemberRe: Knife
quote idbl_fanatic:Actually looking further into it, I like the Kershaw EMERSON CQC 7K it has the “Wave” feature, and I like that style of knife, and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper. LOLThe 6K and 7K look like they have frame locks – not my favorite but I think they’re significantly better than liner locks. I’m not familiar with the steel they’re using but IMO it’s a pretty nice looking knife – and it’s only $30 on Amazon (you could get Four of those for One of the Fox karambit)! http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-6034T-Emerson-Designed-CQC-7K/dp/B00I0RQ0AO
The blade shape of the 6K is more my style:
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS6034/kershaw-6034-cqc-6k-emerson-folding-knife-325-stonewashed-blade-g10-and-stainless-steel-handlesI’ve got an Emerson/Kershaw auto commander http://www.bladeops.com/Emerson-Auto-Commander-Automatic-Knife-Black-Han-p/emeautocom.htm that feels real nice in my hand and the 6K and 7K handles look very similar so I’m betting they will feel pretty good too (for me at least)…
Fwiw, 6K and 7K made in China – if that makes a difference to you…
October 23, 2014 at 5:29 pm #89268idbl-fanaticMemberRe: Knife
quote Don:The 6K and 7K look like they have frame locks – not my favorite but I think they’re significantly better than liner locks. I’m not familiar with the steel they’re using but IMO it’s a pretty nice looking knife – and it’s only $30 on Amazon (you could get Four of those for One of the Fox karambit)! http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-6034T-Emerson-Designed-CQC-7K/dp/B00I0RQ0AOThe blade shape of the 6K is more my style:
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/KS6034/kershaw-6034-cqc-6k-emerson-folding-knife-325-stonewashed-blade-g10-and-stainless-steel-handlesI’ve got an Emerson/Kershaw auto commander http://www.bladeops.com/Emerson-Auto-Commander-Automatic-Knife-Black-Han-p/emeautocom.htm that feels real nice in my hand and the 6K and 7K handles look very similar so I’m betting they will feel pretty good too (for me at least)…
Fwiw, 6K and 7K made in China – if that makes a difference to you…
Thanks Don!
October 23, 2014 at 6:01 pm #89270catapultMemberRe: Knife
Hey Don, a question for both you and CJs Dad if he happens to be reading this. I know you can use a kerambit either blade up or blade down but what’s your “go to” way to hold it?
October 23, 2014 at 11:06 pm #89273donMemberRe: Knife
Hey Catapult, I primarily hold a karambit with my index finger through the hole and the blade extending out from the pinky side of my hand, tip curving away from me. I have a CRKT bear claw and an Emerson La Griffe that I would hold “blade up”…
October 23, 2014 at 11:23 pm #89274bear34MemberRe: Knife
Aren’t there better SD options than a knife? I would think a collapsing baton, monkey’s fist or some kind of spray would be preferable. Just my opinion.
October 24, 2014 at 5:21 am #89278donMemberRe: Knife
Hey Bear, suum cuique and YMMV.
Here in CA, in general, non-LEOs would probably be ok with a knife or spray but not with a baton or slungshot (monkey’s fist) http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di…le=22210-22295. Local municipal codes may also prevent non-LEOs from carrying a knife, e.g. LA County muni code 13.62.010. The running joke with spray is that it’s maybe 80-85% effective on bad guys and 100% on good guys…
Legalities aside and all else being equal, there are circumstances where I might choose a baton or maybe spray but for serious serious SD, I’d most likely choose a blade (if those 4 items were my only choices).
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