Self defense knife-inexpensive

Marshwheeling said:

While a knife may be a dandy offensive weapon for a commando or a thug, for the reasons mentioned plus a few more, there are plenty of good reasons to carry a knife that have nothing to do with self-defense.

If you are going to carry a knife, and want to keep alive the possibility or entertain the fantasy of using it for self-defense, then it should have a locking blade and be openable with one hand. The three knives pictured are in your price range and have the necessary attributes.most importantly, these are all decent pocket knives, with pretty good fit and finish and capable of performing the tasks you will likely require of a pocket knife..

On the left is a Kershaw CQC-6. It has a frame lock, and opens either with a thumb disk or with the Emerson Wave, a licensed feature that is a hook that catches on the edge of your pocket when you withdraw the knife, so that it is open in your hand as soon as it clears your pocket. It has a G10 scale on one side, stainless frame on the other. About $35

In the middle is the KaBar Dozier, a lockback with a spear point and FRN handles. It is light and slim in the pocket, and opens with a flick of the wrist using the thumb stud. Under $20.

On the right is the Ontario RAT-2, a drop point blade with a full flat grind and G10 scales over steel liners. It opens quickly and easily with a flick of the wrist and the thumb stud. OF these three, this would be my favorite.

I do not particularly recommend these over other knives you may come across. They are what I happen to have, are fairly representative of what is available, and are all pretty well regarded by knife nuts.

If you really want an assisted knife, Kershaw has quite a few in your price range. The Leek is a very nice assisted knife, made in the USA. It lists for around $70, but can readily be found around $40.

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I have bought several Kabar Doziers for my son and others. Maybe the best bargin in knives.

I carry an "auto" knife everyday, and have for years. My Current inventory; L to R: Bushmaster Survival, Piranha Bodyguard, Boker Kalish., Gerbert Covert.

Based on the OP's price point, KaBar makes a very good pocket knife with a locking blade made of very decent steel and with a pocket clip for reversable tip up carry. The knife is slim in width, feels pretty good in my hands, and opens very easily with the thumb hole in the blade. Mine have been pretty much indestructable. It is not an assisted opening knife but mine have never opened until I opened them. For the price, I find this knife to be the very best bargain in an everyday carry knife and that it has great utility. The blade is sharp and easily sharpened and it holds it's sharp edge very well.

I have several at the price point and while I hate to lose any knife anytime, if that should happen, it's not the end of the world. Search Amazon for "KA4065-BRK Dozier Precision Hunter" and read about it and see what it looks like. Most would guess that you can't buy much knife for the money asked for it. That, in my opinion, would be wrong. I have given several of these as gifts to folks who carry knives a lot and to those who do not have one. All have liked them. My wife carries one in her hip pocket (mostly) and she uses it very often, much to the surprise of her friends. She won't be without it willingly. I carry one of them often, and have one in each of my vehicles at all times. You never know when you are going to need a knife, and this one has never failed to do what I need with a knife. Just a suggestion, FWIW.

oink said:

I've been carrying a knife daily for over 30 years and mostly daily for well before that. I mainly considered the knives I carried over the years as tools rather than weapons but always considered them weapons of last resort. I'm no knife expert and have had very little training with them and would not readily resort to using one as a weapon but there is no doubt I'd use it if there was no alternative. I have no doubt that if I was engaged in a knife fight with a "knife fighter" I'd lose. But if I'm fighting for my life and there is no alternative I'll darn sure do my best to use one. Telling someone to not carry a knife unless they've had extensive training is IMHO arrogance.[/SIZE] I'm not discouraging training, I'll even recommend it, but lets be realistic.

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Nobody, said that. What I said what was they "'SHOULD' get some sort of training."

If you find a decent spring assisted knife for $50, it’s probably made in China.

You should not skimp on a carry knife. Buy A Benchmade.
Get one with a the Axis Lock. Buy a good knife once.

Ματθιας;140191658 said:

No one said that.



There's a difference between an animal and a human. Huge difference.



A knife is an intimate weapon. The combatants will be close enough to smell each other. They'll be fighting for their lives and control, retention, of that knife. A firearm, gives time and space. That is given up with hand to hand and/or a knife. Is that a situation that anybody wants to be with no skills?

If the person is older and out of shape with no skills and they try to use a knife against a younger, faster, stronger, more determined opponent, an opponent who has basic skills, and (with all the MMA classes, there are a lot of people - good and bad- have basic skills) and have a knife with no idea how to use it, they are done. A no skills person is a huge danger to themselves.

If anybody thinks they don't need skills to carry a defensive/fighting knife, I say go to ANY martial arts class and spar with the beginners and see how that goes.

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Let me add to what I said: Knife vs CCW

Let me put it another way. Most people who conceal carry, they, at least, practice and have some sort of plan and, drill the scenarios in case they'll ever face them. But, at least they have a familiarity with what they are going to do and a plan to fall back on during stress.

Most people who buy defensive/fighting knives buy them and expect to know how to use them and nothing to fall back on. They don't practice. They don't have an idea what/how to practice. And, nothing to fall back on during stress. They might think all they have to do is swing wildly or do something they've seen on TV or the movies.

That's like buying a firearm, having no training, and immediately start CCing right out of the box and betting one's life on the thought that they know'll how to use it and deal with potential problems if/when it matters. I'm sure there are people who do that.

But at the end of the day it's still a (somewhat) free country people can do what they want.

Also consider the blade material. You will find yourself opening boxes and packaging with your new knife. After a few uses a lesser steel may not be sharp enough for self defense.

As far as training, if a person can defend themselves with a gun with little or no training, I’m sure you could do so with a knife as well. Your attitude counts more than the weapon you choose.

Until you can get hands on training, a few videos can give you an idea of what to expect. Search YouTube for Mike Janich.

Plus 1 on a Boker Kalashnikov Automatic Knife

$40 price range and a well made knife

It sounds as though you have done some homework, but I would strongly caution you to thoroughly examine the knife laws in your state and local jurisdictions (they can be and often are very different). In my state, for example, they recently relaxed the law banning assisted-opening knives, gravity knives, etc. probably because there was no consistent definition of exactly what those things are. It was left entirely to the discretion of the arresting officer. However, many cities still retain some sort of ban on these. In a 10-minute drive, I can cross in and out of five different cities, each with different knife laws, and preemption has not been tested. And in my case, our CCW does not cover edged weapons. What a mess!

One impression that stuck with me after taking Alessandro Padovani's Safer, Faster Knife Defense and running various force-on-force drills is that a fixed blade is the way to go. No matter the lock style, it's too easy to fumble opening when someone is actively working against you. Plus with a single-edge fixed blade, all you have to worry about restriction-wise is blade length. I know this is not an answer to your question, but for defense, not EDC, I'm now convinced that a small fixed blade is probably best, especially for weak-hand deployment.

Ignoring all of the above, however, I agree with the poster who suggested the Boker Kalashnikov Boker Kalashnikov Knives for Sale - Automatic Knives | Blade HQ. It meets all of your requirements without too much compromise in any one area, and many sheaths are available aftermarket if you want to go that route.

To answer your question as far as blade profile, a true double-edge dagger would be my first choice, but those are so widely restricted, it's not worth the hassle. A tanto is very sturdy and is capable of fine work, but there are better choices for defense. A clip point is a useful all-around profile, but the slightly turned up tip can potentially snag, as can some serrated edges. While many may disagree, for self defense, I prefer a Wharncliffe profile. The tip can be made very sharp without weakening it. A #11 scalpel has a Wharncliffe profile. I think that speaks to what that blade profile is best suited for.

clang444 said:

Plus 1 on a Boker Kalashnikov Automatic Knife

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This is a switch blade and not legal in many areas. Be sure of your local knife laws before carrying one of these.

JWK in post #27 talks about the spyderco you can buy at walmart, I believe he is talking about the spyderco tenacious knife, can be purchased for under 40 dollars in my area, made in china, it has good steel that can be sharpened easily, the scales are g-10 and light weight. the pocket clip can be moved around to all 4 carry positions. For the money this is a great knife, I carry it almost everyday. I have a lot of different makes of knives, Benchmade, Buck, Kershaw, Boker kalishnikov auto just to name a few and the spyderco knife I carry almost everyday.

I've been using a Kershaw Blur for EDC the last seven years. Made in USA with assisted opening.

I also picked up two extras a couple of years ago, all for $40 on sale through Amazon.

AB 142 signed into law by the governor on 2/6/16 removed ALL knives including switchblades or automatic knives.

This is essentially constitutional carry for knives in the state of WI.

Restricted only by thise individuals that are prohibited bu state law from the ability to own or carry a firearm.

Furthermore, part of AB 142 also made it illegal for local jurisdictions to pass local laws/ordinances that are more strict than the state law! Ocal laws are “preempted” by the state law.

Therfore, ar least in WI the CCW does cover more than firearms. It also applies to edged weapons, batons and brass knuckles, mace etc. I can carry virtually anything at least a knife concealed. I still have to verify about the ability for certain knives on school grounds. Firearms are prohibited on school grounds except for law enforcement and retired law enforcement. Even LE or retired LE from another state.

Kershaw Blur on amazon now, under 50$, green, red, blue, black, purple, etc. The option of Tanto or drop point, both are 3.4" blades. I have carried the "Tactical Blur" since they first came out, I also sell a lot of them along with Cold Steel. As said earlier " Run to a gun, Run away from a knife", I do not know who made the original quote. Be Safe,

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00U0LNMG8/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stppvp_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539380003&sr=2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=e1eda7cc-5eb0-4456-b167-af5ea3a8af63&pd_rd_wg=5LZjx&pf_rd_r=E1HWPYYKC6R53AQ58Q22&pf_rd_s=mobile-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=9701&pd_rd_i=B00U0LNMG8&pd_rd_w=cnpVK&pf_rd_i=kershaw+knives&pd_rd_r=44edefbd-6ba4-41f5-8c22-30694cb17fbb&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65[/ame]

This is the best price I saw on kershaw blur.

Flyingfool said:

I am looking to start to carry in fromt pocket with clip a knife. As back up to my concealed carey pistol and also to keep with me when and where it is illegal to carry a gun but OK to carry a pocket knife.

I am looking for a spring assisted knife. I want decent quality but yet still under say $50. I would prefer $40 ish.

Would like recommendations on the point or tip type.

What are the advantages of one thoe of tip to others? Clip tip, tanto etc.

Thanks in advance for your information recommendations.

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May I humbly suggest the Kershaw Cryo?
I prefer the Cryo G10 version, it's just a tad lighter and I like the G10 scale.

They have the 'Speedsafe' open assist, in other words, a 'flipper.' Personally I find it deploys about as fast as an auto.
Another reason I like them is that they have four corner clip positioning. I have mine so it clips into my weak side pocket (left), tip up. That way when I pull it out my finger falls right onto the flipper and -click- it's open.

They're inexpensive enough to lose one every now and then and not cry too hard, usually $30ish dollars.
Decent steel, easy to sharpen and holds an edge pretty well.

ksmedman said:

May I humbly suggest the Kershaw Cryo?
I prefer the Cryo G10 version, it's just a tad lighter and I like the G10 scale.

They have the 'Speedsafe' open assist, in other words, a 'flipper.' Personally I find it deploys about as fast as an auto.
Another reason I like them is that they have four corner clip positioning. I have mine so it clips into my weak side pocket (left), tip up. That way when I pull it out my finger falls right onto the flipper and -click- it's open.

They're inexpensive enough to lose one every now and then and not cry too hard, usually $30ish dollars.
Decent steel, easy to sharpen and holds an edge pretty well.

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I like the Cryo. Never owned one myself, but have given a few as gifts to kids, who have been glad to get them.

ksmedman said:

May I humbly suggest the Kershaw Cryo?

I prefer the Cryo G10 version, it's just a tad lighter and I like the G10 scale.



They have the 'Speedsafe' open assist, in other words, a 'flipper.' Personally I find it deploys about as fast as an auto.

Another reason I like them is that they have four corner clip positioning. I have mine so it clips into my weak side pocket (left), tip up. That way when I pull it out my finger falls right onto the flipper and -click- it's open.



They're inexpensive enough to lose one every now and then and not cry too hard, usually $30ish dollars.

Decent steel, easy to sharpen and holds an edge pretty well.

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I have 5 Kershaw Cryos. I haven’t carried any of them in a while. They are cool though.


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In my humble opinion as to carry or not a defensive knife I´ve come to this: Althrough I´d rather be miles away from a knife fight, someday you will be assaulted by someone. In that case, training or no training, if you can´t run away, I think a one hand opening folder beats my fingernails.
I always have with me a Carson designed CRKT M21- 14 SFG semi serrated folder.
Regards, Ray

A $50 Kershaw Blur is my weekend/cabin hard use carry....... but a Benchmade North Fork ($150ish IIRC) is my weekday everyday carry.........neither is carried as a weapon.... and I never intend to get in a "Knife Fight"; I'll leave those to Jim Bowie....I'll always try to bring a gun to any knife fight..but as a last resort either can be used in self defense.


A cheap Chinese knock-off is the Ganzo G-704 ....... good truck kit knife for about $17 on Amazon......60+ reviews and 4 1/2 stars.