You’re going about your day when a robber/terrorist/Antifa thug pulls out a knife/rifle/skateboard and tries to end your life or that of your loved one. In a flash, you pull out your tactical folding knife and stop the threat before it even starts. You’ve saved the day! You’re the hero … in your fantasy.
But what about in real life? Would you be truly prepared if violence comes barreling down on you? Could you pull out your blade in time? Unfortunately, carrying a big burly tactical folding knife can give you a false sense of security. Just because you have a pocket-deploy folder with ELMAX steel and a titanium framelock handle doesn’t mean you’ve suddenly turned into John Wick.
And knowing how to use a knife in self-defense doesn’t mean you’ll actually be able to pull it off when someone is actively trying to gut you, shoot you, or smash your head in. That’s the fundamental gap between three key components of having a knife for self-defense: hardware (the knife), software (techniques), and the user (or more specifically the user’s level of realistic training).
Having one does not automatically guarantee the other two. With that in mind, we’re going to take a closer look at five knife-fighting fallacies that could leave you vulnerable … and how you can overcome them when your life depends on it.
MISTAKE 1: Assuming You’ll Have Time to Draw Your Knife
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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This story is from the December 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TIP TALK
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLADE TIP SHAPES AND WHY IT MATTERS
HOLDING FIRM
GETTING A GRIP ON KNIFE HANDLE BENEFITS, MATERIALS, AND FUNCTIONALITY
EDGE UP
TIPS, TRICKS, AND TECHNIQUES TO SHARP WHEN ADVENTURING FAR FROM HOME
THE COMBAT KITCHEN
SLICE, DICE, CHOP, AND CUT: FOOD PREP WITH BLADES FROM POPULAR TACTICAL KNIFE COMPANIES
MORAKNIV Classics
THESE TIMELESS BUSHCRAFT KNIVES HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND ARE BETTER THAN EVER
ONE FOR THE ROAD
CHOOSING AN “EVERYWHERE KNIFE” CAN BE DIFFICULT DUE TO COMPLICATED KNIFE LAWS
TRAVELING LIGHT
SOMETIMES, INEXPENSIVE UTILITY BLADES YOU PICK UP AT YOUR DESTINATION CAN GET THE JOB DONE
MATCHED PAIR
JB KNIFE WORKS LAYMAN KNIFE AND GAMBIT HATCHET COMBO: ONE PICKS UP WHERE THE OTHER LEAVES OFF
WHEN BIGGER IS BETTER
THE CAS IBERIA CHOP HOUSE IS A MACHETE THAT PROVIDES BIG BLADE CUTTING POWER
KITCHEN KNIVES DON'T HAVE TO BE DULL
I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
