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Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

Pocketknives/Kitchen Knives/Fixed Blades

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  • J
    JDelage
    啓蒙家
    Joined: 13 Jan 2012

    OTF's are great as self defense tools, not much anything else IMHO. I am lusting after some of those Microtechs I have to say…

    last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 14:13 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • M
      mclaincausey
      見習いボス
      Joined: 12 Apr 2013

      Are they? I can't think of a practical use for one. They are cool toys though.

      Think it, be it.

      last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 14:49 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • D
        DougNg
        Joined: 24 Sept 2009

        @JDelage

        I'm kind of curious how you qualify that they are "great" as self defense tools.
        I've been training in knife based martial arts for almost two decades and there is some crossover with the defensive firearms world, and I've never had an instructor advocate the use of an auto.
        I've had Microtech Ultratechs and Halos, and they are not nearly reliable enough for me to depend my life to.

        I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

        last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 15:02 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • A
          Anesthetist
          見習いボス
          Joined: 14 May 2011

          That’s been the common consensus from what I’ve read. Most ppl prefer a small fixed blade or more simple/robust folder with a heavy rated lock.

          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

          IG: bluehandsslim

          last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 15:09 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M
            mclaincausey
            見習いボス
            Joined: 12 Apr 2013

            I don't know that there's a lock on the planet I'd trust for a self defense knife, but I'm certainly no expert.

            The one thing about an automatic perhaps that could help in a SD situation is intimidation and deterrent effect if people are frightened away by the "scary" blade deployment, but that's certainly not something to bet your life on.

            Think it, be it.

            last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 15:19 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • A
              Anesthetist
              見習いボス
              Joined: 14 May 2011

              I think Spyderco’s compression lock, REKAT’s old Rolling lock, and a Chris Reeve framelock are plenty solid and strong for SD.

              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

              IG: bluehandsslim

              last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 15:35 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • J
                JDelage
                啓蒙家
                Joined: 13 Jan 2012

                Sorry - I should have said: "they're only potentially useful as SD tools." I do think they are a good compromise in terms of discretion & ease / speed of deployment but like others I would rather have a fixed blade if it's an option.

                last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 16:10 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • M
                  mclaincausey
                  見習いボス
                  Joined: 12 Apr 2013

                  Yeah, any lock, no matter how robust, is a potential point of failure relative to a fixed blade, so when your life is on the line you're gonna want a fixed blade in my uninformed opinion.

                  I don't think anyone here aside from maybe DougNg is looking to purchase a knife as a SD tool though. If, in a dire circmstance, that duty falls to a blade, so be it. I need the lock to work on the tasks I use it for, cutting, chopping, carving, slicing, piercing, and levering, and hopefully none of those on human flesh. Stabbing and slashing, gimme a fixie every time.

                  Think it, be it.

                  last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 17:07 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • M
                    mikebarhoot
                    Iron Heart Deity
                    Joined: 15 Dec 2015

                    Rollin with a Burch…

                    last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 23:45 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • M
                      mikebarhoot
                      Iron Heart Deity
                      Joined: 15 Dec 2015

                      ^^any knife is better than no knife and moot if not deployed at the right time.

                      last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 23:49 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • M
                        mikebarhoot
                        Iron Heart Deity
                        Joined: 15 Dec 2015

                        From a SD perspective.

                        last edited by 9 Mar 2020, 23:50 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • M
                          mclaincausey
                          見習いボス
                          Joined: 12 Apr 2013

                          a) Unless it's turned against you and/or
                          b) escalates a fistfight into one or more sides attempting murder.
                          c) I personally might be better off without one in a scrap since I don't know how to fight with one in the first place. 😃

                          I was saying if you're getting a knife with SD as a use case, if possible I would avoid unnecessary points of failure like locks (no matter how robust) and for that matter deploying a blade versus just grabbing a handle under stress. That's a different question than whatever's in your pocket becoming a SD tool by necessity. This is just my version of common sense since I have no experience to draw from.

                          A firearm has a slightly different calculus for me since I know how to use one and it is a greater equalizer than a knife, though CC logic dictates that you walk away from any potential fight you can because of b).

                          TL;DR Get a Ka-bar if you need a fighting knife  😉

                          Think it, be it.

                          last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 00:37 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • G
                            Giles
                            IHUK Crew
                            Joined: 22 Sept 2009

                            I'm so glad that the need for discussions like the above is virtually non-existent in my world.  Even if it were legal where I live, I'd never dream of carrying a knife or a firearm for self-defense.  I have a knife for opening shit and stuff like that, it's actually illegal in the UK because it locks, but 9 times out of 10 I forget to pop it in my pocket….

                            "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                            last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 00:43 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • M
                              mclaincausey
                              見習いボス
                              Joined: 12 Apr 2013

                              Haha! I mean even if you're worried about getting stabbed by a chav in London I'm not certain carrying a knife is your best defense. Using the terms knife and self-defense in the same sentence is a bit daft in the first place.

                              Think it, be it.

                              last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 02:12 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • J
                                JDelage
                                啓蒙家
                                Joined: 13 Jan 2012

                                What is daft is to say that knives have no role in self defense. Of course it is always better to walk away or run away from a fight (or even better, to not go where fights are more likely to start). It is also true that to pull out a knife during a 1-on-1 fistfight will get you into legal hell. However, in the unlikely case that a fight does involve you, you cannot escape it, and your life is at risk, a knife definitely can change things. For starters, it might just stop the fight from occurring.

                                Now, the decision not to carry (be it a knife or a handgun) because the risk / reward is simply not worth it is perfectly legit. In the US I don't carry a handgun because the risk / reward is simply not worth it to me given my lifestyle.

                                last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 06:28 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • S
                                  Seul
                                  Joined: 24 Nov 2009

                                  I always carry one with a spare in my backpack - have never pulled it. It's also illegal to carry one here, but it's contextual… I can carry one at work, but not to work…

                                  last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 12:24 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • M
                                    mclaincausey
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined: 12 Apr 2013

                                    I dunno, I'd think there are much better SD options than a blade. Brass knuckles, stun gun, pepper spray, baton, handgun, running shoes…

                                    Think it, be it.

                                    last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 13:13 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • S
                                      Seul
                                      Joined: 24 Nov 2009

                                      Or right now: sweating profusely and coughing…

                                      last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 13:18 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • D
                                        DougNg
                                        Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                                        I would actually trust a locking mechanism from a reputable knife maker made to a professional standard as a self defense weapon. With that said, any locking mechanism can fail. Balancing the convenience of a folding knife to the risk of the lock failing is a personal decision. I have a five inch fixed blade attached to my plate carrier (bulletproof vest).

                                        While I do carry a firearm and a considerable amount of ammo on my person, my primary forms of self defense on a dark alley are:

                                        1. Avoidance. Stay away from stupid people doing stupid things in stupid places. I don't drink and I rarely go to bars anymore.
                                        2. Running away. Before I broke my ankle my regular run was 10k 4x a week.
                                        3. A Surefire flashlight and "Verbal Judo". I've only had to do this once or twice, both times to unusually aggressive homeless people. I shined the flashlight in their faces and shouted "stay where you are, I see you. Don't come any closer. Show me your hands." Then move on to options 1 and 2.

                                        I made the personal decision to have Option 4, which is my Glock 19 with 50 rounds of hollow point ammunition. I would really like to avoid this as I don't really want to shoot anyone and the average legal fees associated with a defensive shooting in America is about 50k.

                                        I don't carry a defensive blade anymore. I used to, but after a lot of training I decided I'd rather save on weight (see option 2) or use the time for hand to hand.

                                        I never leave my house without my Victorinox Tinker though.

                                        I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                        last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 13:32 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • D
                                          DougNg
                                          Joined: 24 Sept 2009

                                          Mind you this is highly contextual: I rarely hear of someone getting into a West Side Story style knife fight. What I have heard several times are stories of a Law Enforcement Officer, military serviceman or contractor needing to retain their firearm and using their bladed weapon.

                                          The situation as follows: bad guy is going for their firearm and the firearm is being retained (the rifle is held against the chest with the dominant hand, or the handgun is being forced back into the holster by the dominant hand). The protagonist has both their dominant hand and primary weapon in a forced retention position and the support hand has to draw a bladed weapon to break contact, be that stabbing until compliance or death.

                                          I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                          last edited by 10 Mar 2020, 13:40 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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