Folding knives are a conscious compromise — especially when they’re carried for personal defense. Besides being weaker than fixed blades, they are also significantly slower to get into action in an emergency. Fixed blades are ready to cut and thrust as soon they clear the sheath, but folders must be drawn and then opened before they are fully functional. And since knives are really only viable against contact-distance threats, all that must happen in a matter of a few short seconds
If you carry a folder with even the thought of using it as a defensive weapon, you need to have the ability to deploy it quickly and reliably. The path to that skill begins with a clear understanding of the dynamics that affect the process.
Carry Location
Folder deployment begins with getting your hand on your knife, so carry location is critical. The most practical option is the front pants pocket on your dominant side. Ideally, your knife should be clipped so it rides all the way to the back of the pocket, next to the outer seam of the pants. This orients the knife consistently and allows full use of the rest of the pocket. If you suspect trouble, casually hooking your thumb in the pocket also allows you to surreptitiously “prep” your draw.
This story is from the May-June 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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This story is from the May-June 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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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.
