Texas Star
US Veteran
I know a young (20) lady who lives in a bad part of town and rides a bus and train to her two jobs in more affluent north Dallas.
She had shown me a knife given to her by her grandfather. Not much, as knives go. Just marked, Stainless and China.
I offered her an assisted opening knife by Kershaw, made to a Ken Onion design or a Gerber with G-10 scales that I think is in their Air Ranger series. I've lost the box, so am guessing on that, and going by images on the Net. Either would come with a Cordura pouch, so as not to be abraded by the other contents of her purse. That Chinese knife looked as if it'd suffered under a glacier!
She chose the Gerber, liking the firm grip afforded by the G-10 scales. The blade, BTW, is black, for the trendy "tactical look". (Same is true of the Kershaw.)
So much for the knife. This post isn't about the knife per se, but about how it probably saved her life and at least her virtue, just two nights later.
She had gotten off at a bus stop near her mother's home and was walking there just after dusk when a man of questionable appearance, driving a red pickup truck, began paralleling her and
gesturing for her to come over.
She's quite pretty and was dressed in a manner just mildly provocative these days, but which would attract male eyes. She thought that perhaps the driver had mistaken her for a, ah, "professional woman", and some do work that general area.
The girl (we'll call her Lia, not her real name) called to the man that if he was looking for such services, she wasn't in that career field.
He wouldn't take no for an answer and continued to parallel her and motion for her to come over to him.
Finally, he stepped from the truck and gestured more powerfully for her to approach, using some profanity.
Lia had been suspicious and taken her knife from her purse. Now, she flicked the blade open one-handed
and suggested that if he didn't want to be seriously cut, he pursue other interests that evening.
He stared at the knife, stopped his advance, and left in the red truck.
Lia thanked me for the knife and asked to be taught how to employ it for maximum defensive potential, which we'll address on her next visit in a few days.
But she is convinced that the knife saved her from what was at best a really bad experience, and quite possibly saved her life.
I'm posting this to show that a weapon saves people a lot more than the media reports, and to remind everyone here that if they have an acquaintance who might be in a similar situation that they suggest acquiring a plan to deal with it and a weapon that will be legal and available where they live.
Lia is saving for a car later this year, and avoiding public transportation and walking will help evade such incidents. She has warned her sister and friends about the man and truck. (Calling police isn't something her community does much.)
Please join me in hoping that this man gets caught before he hurts someone. His technique sounds right out of a case on, Forensic Files!
Sometimes, a member posts about a harrowing incident and asks if he did the right thing. I don't see what else Lia could do. There were no other pedestrians at that hour to join for safety's sake.
Anyway, I can report that a knife saved the day on this dark night. That's good news, and better than what would have probably made the TV news, had she not had the knife and an aggressive spirit.
So much for today's adventure story in The Lounge.
She had shown me a knife given to her by her grandfather. Not much, as knives go. Just marked, Stainless and China.
I offered her an assisted opening knife by Kershaw, made to a Ken Onion design or a Gerber with G-10 scales that I think is in their Air Ranger series. I've lost the box, so am guessing on that, and going by images on the Net. Either would come with a Cordura pouch, so as not to be abraded by the other contents of her purse. That Chinese knife looked as if it'd suffered under a glacier!
She chose the Gerber, liking the firm grip afforded by the G-10 scales. The blade, BTW, is black, for the trendy "tactical look". (Same is true of the Kershaw.)
So much for the knife. This post isn't about the knife per se, but about how it probably saved her life and at least her virtue, just two nights later.
She had gotten off at a bus stop near her mother's home and was walking there just after dusk when a man of questionable appearance, driving a red pickup truck, began paralleling her and
gesturing for her to come over.
She's quite pretty and was dressed in a manner just mildly provocative these days, but which would attract male eyes. She thought that perhaps the driver had mistaken her for a, ah, "professional woman", and some do work that general area.
The girl (we'll call her Lia, not her real name) called to the man that if he was looking for such services, she wasn't in that career field.
He wouldn't take no for an answer and continued to parallel her and motion for her to come over to him.
Finally, he stepped from the truck and gestured more powerfully for her to approach, using some profanity.
Lia had been suspicious and taken her knife from her purse. Now, she flicked the blade open one-handed
and suggested that if he didn't want to be seriously cut, he pursue other interests that evening.
He stared at the knife, stopped his advance, and left in the red truck.
Lia thanked me for the knife and asked to be taught how to employ it for maximum defensive potential, which we'll address on her next visit in a few days.
But she is convinced that the knife saved her from what was at best a really bad experience, and quite possibly saved her life.
I'm posting this to show that a weapon saves people a lot more than the media reports, and to remind everyone here that if they have an acquaintance who might be in a similar situation that they suggest acquiring a plan to deal with it and a weapon that will be legal and available where they live.
Lia is saving for a car later this year, and avoiding public transportation and walking will help evade such incidents. She has warned her sister and friends about the man and truck. (Calling police isn't something her community does much.)
Please join me in hoping that this man gets caught before he hurts someone. His technique sounds right out of a case on, Forensic Files!
Sometimes, a member posts about a harrowing incident and asks if he did the right thing. I don't see what else Lia could do. There were no other pedestrians at that hour to join for safety's sake.
Anyway, I can report that a knife saved the day on this dark night. That's good news, and better than what would have probably made the TV news, had she not had the knife and an aggressive spirit.
So much for today's adventure story in The Lounge.
Last edited:
