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from www.survival-mindset.com
Introductory Section
(While I suspect many fellow defensive knife carriers know some of this, my
guess is they do not know all of it. And, hey, you new guys, listen up... No
jumping ahead.)
The same statutes that prohibit you from carrying an unlicensed gun in public
often prohibit you from carrying certain knives. In many places, the law does
not allow you to carry a knife for the purpose of defense (or offense), but you
can carry one for "utility" purposes (i.e., things other than stabbing,
wounding or even killing an assailant). Statutory definitions of "utility"
versus "defense" or "survival" may not exist in your area. Keep in mind that
identifying a deadly weapon at the scene of an incident or a routine traffic
stop falls under the broad discretionary powers which police officers have.
And, if you are carrying a defensive knive, keep in mind Robert Heinlein's
long ago observation that, "An armed society is a polite society."
The blade length for "utility" knives is often set at a max of 3 inches. (In
some places, this length may be less, as little as 2 inches or more, sometimes
as much as 4 inches.) In many areas, it is permissible to carry a
"hunting knife" on your person in public. But... what, exactly, is a
hunting knife? Or a "utility" knife? (They are seldom defined in
relevant statutes.)
"Even in states which have pre-empted weapons laws, big cities sometimes
pass and enforce knife laws anyway. (Portland, Oregon, in an attempt to ban
pocket knives, was a recent example; the ban survived three levels of appeal,
until being overturned by the State Supreme Court). These unconstitutional
ordinances place the burden of defense and appeal on the unlucky
citizens who happen to get charged."
So... Your concealed carry handgun permit may not cover non-utility or
defensive knives. To be safe, to be legal, check with local law enforcement
for a reasonably authoritative answer. Reasonably authoritative? In many
areas this is a matter of confusion and one which only the courts can truly
decide. (We want to avoid going that far and paying an attorney for help and
guidance through this minefield, though.)
In choosing a defensive knife or survival weapon, multiple functionality
beyond inflicting wounds or death should be given serious consideration.
Calling an edged instrument with utilitarian functions (other than stabbing or
cutting flesh) a deadly weapon is then not so "cut and dried," do to speak.
This would pretty much rule out sword canes, for example.
Local attorneys may be misinformed or confused as well. You, see, the 2nd
amendment is not typically interpreted as your having a constitutional
guarantee that you can legally carry a defensive knife. And even after you
know how such hardware is regarded by the police, you might still chose to
carry a defensive knife anyway. Just remember it may not be legal. And
whether or not you could face charges if arrested with one in your possession
will most probably be affected by the situation when the matter comes up and
how polite and respectful you are to whoever is asking you about said deadly
weapon.
[Mr. Levine again...] "The meaning of most of these state laws is ambiguous,
their terms either poorly defined, or not defined at all. In large part this
vagueness was intentional, for it gave wide discretion to local police and
judges. These laws' practical day-to-day meaning can only be understood
from a study of relevant appellate decisions..."
SPECIAL LINKS:
California Knife Laws or General Information on State Laws
However well or badly written local laws are, and while police encounters
may focus on intent, avoid true switchblades, dagger and dirks. Do this even
if you believe you can get by with, "My intent, officer, was self-defense."
A few terms
Things to know
about defensive encounters with a knife...
.............................................................Remember, this page is not about how to use a knife.
If you carry a knife for self defense you must be prepared to use that
knife with lethal effect, if necessary. In a self defense scenario there should
be no doubt that the attacker intends to perform serious bodily damage. To
prevent that from happening, you must be prepared to take any action
necessary for self defense. Any hesitation or withdrawal from the fight could
result in serious consequences, even your death.
"You must consider the harsh reality of carving into a human body with a
sharp edge, even in the context of defending yourself or your family. Think
about what it would feel like to slash your tactical folder across an assailant's
belly, tearing open his stomach wall and watching the wet loops of gray
intestine spill into his lap. Imagine the sound of your blade scratching over a
rib, sinking into your attacker's lung, his blood bubbling frothily from the
wound. Edged weapons are brutally intimate. Know this before you deploy
one. Understand exactly what you are about to do."
Steve Tarani, martial arts master, Karambit maker writing in "American
Handgunner," November, 2001, on The Mental Aspects of Knife Fighting
If your adversary has a knife, or worse, if you drop your knife, expect to get
cut. Don't lose focus when blood flows, yours or your adversary's.
"How can we prepare to deal with getting cut, especially in a knife fight? It
all starts with the preparedness of the mind. In blade cultures of the Far East,
masters of knife fighting, share with us their ancient wisdom in this modern
day: "With the edge, you have already been cut or you have cut another.
Surrender yourself to the fact that you have been cut or have cut another and
do not focus upon the thought 'I have been cut' or 'I have cut another.' Now is
the time to make your next move and not to assist your
opponent by distracting your own mind.
Steve Tarani
There are no rules. Be prepared to cheat; do not play "fair." Keep the blade
hidden until the last possible moment.
Stabs also called thrusts, which are harder to block, produce more fatal
wounds than slashes and increase odds of severing a major source of blood
flow. Aside from the eyes, avoid stabbing at the head as skulls are very
tough to penetrate. Facial wounds can be nasty but are seldom fatal.
The primary styles of cuts are the slash, hack and thrust. Secondary styles or
backup cuts are scraping or skinning, the tear (as in using barbs on an edged
weapon) and coring (as a major organ is penetrated)
Most fatalities in knife fights (or soon after) occur from blood loss which
can take several long, long minutes and become a slippery mess. A little
knowledge of human anatomy and blood flow can go a long way. (Refer to
the chart near the end of this long page.)
Severing wrist, arm and ankle tendons incapacitates much faster than
waiting for the effects of blood loss. (So does evisceration, but what a mess.)
Bigger blades are better but a mindset and a determination to prevail is far
more important. In any case, keep things as unequal as possible.
[Hoping on] Stopping a knife fight via pain compliance is risky due to
varying tolerences for pain. Via mechanical compliance [such as]
exsanguination or severing a nerve bank [would be] more effective.
Steve Tarani
Bring a gun.
Note that this distinction is not always clear to the Federal authorities and
that U.S. Customs has periodically seized imported shipments of such knives.
Then legitimate, law-abiding firms such as CRKT have had to engage
expensive attorneys to get their property released. Similar delays of time and
money are something which an individual civilian user may not be able to
afford either to recover property or to avoid prosection. There are sources on
the Internet to get law enforcement switchblades but they should be avoided.
READ THIS!
Rip-off! Looks can kill … you
"What makes the [Tarani] Karambit [somewhat] unique is it's pronounced curving
edges and oversized finger ring. Providing maximum safety, the finger ring ensures a
positive and non-slip hand-grip allowing optimal functionality in extreme weather
conditions, under water, or in any hostile working environment. As a result of its
signature curved edges and characteristic finger ring, the Karambit [can be] used for
a number of practical functions including utility, personal defense, and martial arts
applications."
The use of Tarani Karambits with (his) martial arts training material can probably
make you using his (expensive) knives into a formibible opponent. This additional
aspect is best suited to law enforcement and military users, though.
Kerambit?
Tanto point?
(From Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.)
"A Tanto is a Japanese blade or small sword. It is a smaller version of the Katana
sword and the blade is about 6" to 8" in length. It can stab or it can slash. However,
the Tanto knife is designed more to be a stabbing instrument."
A well-made 8" tanto blade will penetrate a car door (with the window rolled up),
should you ever need to do that. (Requires above average upper body strength to do
this, however.) Tanto points are available on both fixed blade and folding knives. The
shape of the point and design of the blade gives it more lateral strength than other
shapes. These are very rugged knives.
"Quality is another factor which can be very serious in the case of folding knives. A
bad quality folding knife can close on the carrier's fingers when striking a target
causing self injury. Quality should always be a deciding factor in the case of folding
knives. Folding knives are usually chosen because when closed for carry they are
small in size, fitting neatly into a trouser pocket. Unbranded steel types such as
'Stainless Steel' should be avoided as it is [generally] a sign of poor quality. It is
preferable to select a special type of steel such as 'stainless steel 420' or 'stainless
steel 440'. Other excellent types of steel are also available.
"Finally, a few Full Tang knives come with their own carry system, i.e. a sheath in
the form of shoulder, neck or belt carry that allows the user to conceal the knife very
easily." Boker makes an excellent rig of this type and it is very sharp and generally a
well-respected carry system available for several knives.
Source: http://www.linkbase.org/articles/Knife-Fighting.htm
And, another opinion:
"People who like guns like knives. It's not so much a 'weapon thing' as it is a
'craftsmanship thing' and a 'functionality' thing.' In selection, the tool follows the
predictable task. In a fight, the blade follows the threat. Picking the knife is like
picking the gun. It's not about image. It's about what you're likely to need it for.
"There have been cases of hunters who've used their knives to defend themselves
successfully against dangerous animals. There are far fewer cases of cops who've
used knives to defend themselves against criminals. What you absolutely do have are
cases of private citizens who've used knives to repel lethal assaults by criminals.
"For American gentlemen and 'Ordinary Joes' throughout this century, it has been the
utility knife and the 'pen-knife.' The analogy to 'service pistol and backup gun' is
achingly obvious."
If, in the course of using such an instrument for less than deadly
encounters, the knife will be used for utility purposes, it MUST be
able to maintain an edge. We cannot afford for it to become a
(temporarily) useless tool after cutting up boxes, ropes or any
materials which will make it less than very, very sharp. Between
such utilitarian use and the next time we get out the sharpening tools,
mortal combat may ensue. (Use of a knife for utility purposes has no
parallel to using a firearm for such purposes. Guns do not have more
than one base function; there are no such things as utility firearms.)
CRKT has become a well-respected manufacturer of edged tools and weapons in recent years. The table
below shows but a very few of its products.
THE BEAR CLAW
Sometimes referred to as a "poor man's karambit," this
little knife is probably a best choice as a deep cover
backup (a second knife) worn as a neck knife. (As a
sole weapon, there are better choices as a neck knife.
Wearing the Bear Claw as a neck knife and presenting
it take a bit of practice.) Of excellent quality and with a
finger hole ensuring a solid combat or cutting grip, the
length of the handle, while comfortable, will adversely
impact leverage in the worst situations. Unlike many
small neck knives, though, it has enough heft to stay in
place while hanging under a shirt or coat. The scabbard
can also be worn on a belt or carried using a clip that
comes separately with the knife. Given its limitations, *** out of four stars and it can be found under
$40.
United Cutlery sells a wide variety of fearsome looking knives many of which, while nasty looking, are
really best suited as collectibles. (But not all of them.) Gill Hibbens' Claw II design is an improvement
over the original Claw. It is available with or without a shaped grip.
The main fighting value of this knife is as a variant of brass knuckles on steriods, something like a fistful
of dimes with teeth at both ends as you engage in a very nasty fist fight. The collectibility value is mostly
its unique shape and affordable price (typically under $30).
Is it an El Cheapo? Not really, the box comes signed and it is reasonably well crafted. But the CRKT
Bear Claw shown above would probably make a better karambit-type defensive weapon and is more
concealable.
"It's not 'carry a Remington rifle, carry a Remington knife,' or 'wear a Beretta
pistol, wear a Beretta knife.' Leave that label stuff to the lightweight yuppies.
It's about function, not about 'look.' It also is not about 'big gun, big knife;
small gun, small knife.' It's more about needs.
"It's not what works for somebody else. It's what works for you. What works
for the other guy is just something to test, to find out what might work for
you. Don't carry what you don't know how to use.
The gun doesn't define your knife; your needs at a given time and place
define your choice of both tools. Don't forget that your carry gun is primarily
a weapon, and your carry knife may be primarily a multi-purpose tool and
only secondarily a weapon. Don't carry tools or weapons you don't know how
to use effectively.
"Fixed or folder? That's kind of like 'rifle or pistol.' If I'm carrying only a
knife, sign me up for fixed blade if the law allows it. It's stronger. It's faster.
In terms of employment, drawing a folding knife is the slowest, drawing a
pistol is faster, but at belly-to-belly range, drawing the fixed knife from a
quick draw scabbard is the fastest of all.
A closing thought:
Jack Collins, writing in Knives 2000
"Have you ever gotten into a knife fight? Do you even know
anyone who has ever been in a knife fight? Neither do I. I
would be willing to stake a small wager that there are fewer
than 500 people in this country [who might be reading this]
who have engaged in knife fighting 'for real.'
Knife vs. Gun: Inside Six Feet, I'll Take The Knife
Made of 440A stainless steel for toughness and edge retention, and hollow
ground to a thin edge, it will “bite” at the slightest intention. The handle is
made of two injection molded Zytel¨ parts or “halves” bolted to thick
stainless steel liners. Reported to be a comfortable, non-slip grip, that’s
lightweight and tough. To protect fingers from the Black Talon’s sharp
cutting edge, it has a state of the art rocker lock and, in
tests, rivaled, if not exceeded the strength of any other
locking mechanism on the market.
Back around the turn of the century (2000), Massad Ayoob designed a
combat folder for Spyderco's ClipIt series of knives. It drew a little attention
but it did not become widely known. The knife can still be found new at
some dealers ($125 or so) but production has been discontinued. (Search for
"Ayoob Spyderco Clipit.")
The most unusual feature of this knife is that the handle feels like an extention of the blade.
Similiar to the concept of snap shooting in firearms, wherever you point your wrist is where
the blade goes. This takes away the necessity of using valuable moments while you
position/line up the blade. The handle is aluminum coated in black Almite. The blade is
made of premium VG-10 high carbon steel.
His lastest knife design is for Masters of Defense and it is a fixed blade
known as the "Razorback," sure to be a best seller. Mr. Ayoob came to
believe too much time is lost getting a folding knife into action. So he teamed
up with some forensic pathologists and medical examiners to design this
tough fixed blade (and the kydex sheath) that will punch through and get the
job done "right." His intent was to create a tool that would be legal for carry
under most jurisdictions, be concealable with most dress codes and also
fulfill the utility needs of a carry knife. More importantly, it is capable of
delivering an assault stopping effect against a large heavily clad assailant or
vicious animal.
Massad Ayoob is considered on of the industry's foremost experts on the use of deadly force
in self-defense situations, and serves as an expert witness and trial consultant. A fully sworn
police officer for over 23 years, he has risen to the rank of captain. He is the law
enforcement editor for American Handgunner, handgun editor for Guns Magazine and
director of the Lethal Force Institute.
The blade is a 154cm high carbon stainless steel alloy. About $120 if you
shop around. Search for "Ayoob Razorback."
UPDATE #1: Since this page was first created and put online in 2004, many
manufacturers have placed Karambit type or shaped knives into their product
line. Some of the most interesting are the HideAway Claw knives. They are
custom made (made in a variety of shapes) concealable knives which, as in
the Karambit style, can be used for stabbing or gutting an opponent. The
overall physics of the HideAway shape makes the knife perform
exceptionally well at a pulling motion as well as
the traditional pushing one. Combine pulling with
the shape of the bengal tiger's claw, and you have
a lot of stength and devastation. The prices range
from $139-$189 and they are available only from
the manufacturer. Click on the image for a link to
the website. Or, for a review of this
product.
Almar Knives
Benchmade Knives
Boker USA
Buck Knives
Camillus Cutlery
Cold Steel
Columbia River Knife & Tool - CKRT
Emerson Knives
Frost Cutlery
Gerber Legendary Blades
Imperial Schrade Corp.
KA-BAR
Kershaw Knives
Masters of Defense - MOD
MicroTech
Puma Knives
SOG Specialty Knives
Spyderco
United Cutlery Brands
Q: But, but, but... The site I want a reciprocal link to is really important and its
subject matter is a dead-on match.
A: Title your e-mail: Dead-on match and it will be looked at more carefully. But,
still, no guarantees. A question of resources again.