I've drafted several attempts at posting a comment in this thread, but have deleted them.
Maybe this time I'll post it instead of deleting it?
So ...
Not been stabbed or slashed, aside from accidental.
I've been threatened by some people, before and after I entered LE, with knives and broken bottles, though.
The closest anyone came was telling me they were going to stick me with a knife (a wooden-scaled kitchen boning knife, with a blade that appeared to be at least 6"). He rushed me and REALLY tried to stick it in my left side (he was right-handed). His heavy swing put him really off balance when he missed. Lots of oomph behind it, apparently.
Having been involved in the martial arts for a little over 10 years at that point, I fell back on my training ... and moved
away from where he swung the knife. Rapidly. I was really limited in where I could move to evade and get away from him, so I picked up a couple handy things to use, if needed. He decided not to continue his attack, and with a thousand yard stare, he turned and left. (Hint: Don't want to be cut, slashed, perforated, or otherwise wounded by a cutting edge or some sort of actual or field-expedient stabbing instrument? Don't be where it is.)
Someone once said that a blade in the hands of even an unskilled, untrained attacker might easily
negate the first 5 years of martial arts training (for students of formal martial arts disciplines). Maybe so. Guess I was just lucky I had an additional 5 years under my belt. The video surveillance I alter watched made it look really close & fast, though.
Something else to perhaps consider is that people often look aghast at someone using a knife on another person ... and perhaps even if it's been used in self-defense. Knives scare a lot of folks. It evokes an emotional lever of response regarding brutality not often associated with the use of fists, feet ... or even guns, at times, for some reason, it seems.
Not just knives as bladed weapons, but also machetes, axes, ice-picks, etc. You know, things that ordinary folks might consider to be nasty, barbaric, brutal, etc.
Wounds caused by blades are nasty. Not always the 'neat' perforation or puncture wounds, but they can be long, deep, wide and horrific slashes, gashes and bleeding. LOTS of blood.
What would
you rather be presented to a jury, in a criminal and/or civil trial ... a wicked-looking folding lockblade that looked like something carried by an Orc in a scary Movie, or used by some mercenary in the latest shoot'em, beat'em & stab'em buckets o' blood Movie? How about one with some catchy slogan, like Fang for Felons, or Slicer of Evil?
Or, something relatively innocuous, and which even an ordinary 'reasonable' person off the street wouldn't think twice about thinking was primarily intended to used as a handy tool for everyday chores? Maybe even something that was labeled as a search & rescue, water/diving safety, or law enforcement safety tool? Something in a pretty bright pastel color, maybe, like pink, orange, light blue or yellow?
Think about how someone may be able to use your choice of blade to try and portray some particular state of mind (mens rea), the next time you're looking to find a way to stick that wicked-looking, sharpened fang or talon blade into your pocket.
What's the local laws for locking blades, and blade length, in your area, for that matter? Even though I can carry a concealed handgun under LEOSA when visiting other states, I've added some lockblades to my collection that meet the criteria of some of the laws of other states ... just in case some local cop decides to take issue with a knife I may be carrying, even though my handgun is lawful (exempt from local laws).
Predictable is preventable right?
I also have a nice, growing collection of canes and walking sticks.
(I do take into consideration the appearance of the ones I might feel like taking to major cities, or out-of-state. Again, just in case, and just to try and avoid to startling local citizens.
I was having a cigar with a close friend a little while ago. He'd just retired earlier last year, and we were comparing notes about how much we were enjoying retirement, compared to when we were working at the same agency.
We both acknowledged that were times and circumstances in which we didn't feel it either necessary, practical or appropriate to carry handguns as retirement weapons. (Imagine that, a couple of career cops who were both firearms enthusiasts and shooters, agreeing that sometimes we could leave our homes with a gun, and not quail we'd be attacked by ravening hordes, zombies or the random terrorist cell.
)
Anyway, my friend mentioned that when he decided it wasn't appropriate to carry a gun, he at least had a stout walking cane, and a
strong flashlight with a strobing effect ... and often a common folding knife. (This discussion was apparently prompted by my friend seeing and asking about the white oak cane I was carrying, which was made along the lines of an Irish Blackthorn Shillelagh. He knew a bit of my martial arts background, and said he suspected my choice would be able to used to good effect, if needed. I suitably blushed.
)
Anyway, choices can have consequences. Consier why you're choosing what you're choosing, and the possible downsides as well as the upsides.
Hedge your options as much to your benefit as possible, and remember that our 'actions of a moment' are likely to be scrutinized over the course of weeks or months, and maybe 'interpreted' by 'experts' brought in to put some unwelcome & unwanted (and maybe incorrect) emphasis on something we could have easily avoided becoming a potential issue, in the first place.
Awareness is great, but may be compromised by unexpected circumstances. Maybe prepare a Plan B, C, D, etc? Options can be good.
Want to void being stabbed or cut? Try to conduct yourself in a manner that helps you get out of the way of the sharp edge or point.
Want to avoid being prosecuted or sued? Consider trying to conduct yourself in a practical, prudent, reasonable and lawful manner that helps you avoid finding yourself in front of a jury of your peers.
Just some random thoughts.
Don't claim to have any definite answers. Wish I did.
