Knife or Handgun

[Ribwizzard]

So many put so much thought and effort as to EDC handguns, but dont carry a blade.
Sometimes I feel a blade would be a better defensive weapons, like when in a choke hold or ground struggle.
Thoughts?

 

[Rustyt1953]

My switchblade is in my left front pocket while my mouse gun resides in the right. I guess it would depend on which hand I could get free.

 

[blues7]

Certainly not an either / or proposition. I've been carrying a pocketknife daily since about the age of 7...so, well over 50 years. (Once or twice over the years it's actually entered into the equation without it ever having had to draw blood in anger.)

A closed pocketknife (of a given size) can also be used as an impact weapon, which I personally feel can often be preferable.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Had a friend that would not carry a gun, but wanted a way to defend himself and his 2 young sons. He had been an ice hockey goalie, and had no problem with taking a lick, but was no good at handing one out-so I found a knife that had 2 wicked serrated blades that opened out of opposite ends. I showed him that he could hold it with both hands out in front of him in a defensive manner, and block any incoming blows with this serious double blade, This fit his personality well-he was comfortable with that defensive protection.

 

[gman51]

Well if you run out of bullets and the bad guy is still coming then a knife could come in real handy.
There is a very valid reason cops carry so many things on their belts. It is better to be prepared as possible for any situation.
I just wonder do most LEOs carry a knife? I haven't seen a knife sheath on a cop"s belt but maybe I just wasn't looking close enough. I don't think cops like being stared at so I refrain from doing so.

 

[Kanewpadle]

If someone has me in a choke hold or on the ground, then my situational awareness failed me. I’m done for as I’m not near as strong as I used to be. And a knife probably isn’t going to help much.

I find that most people do not have any training with a knife and can only hope to intimidate or hold off an attacker for a very short time.

My knife is primarily a box/package opener.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Never carried either until retirement. Then moved to where I could CC a firearm. Then this forum convinced me to carry a knife also. Since we are retired, I usually go out with my husband that also carries both.

 

[schutzen-jager]

only leo's + politically connected are issued cc permits in my state - in the 30 + other states that i'm legal in I carry both -

 

[crazyphil]

Because self defense attacks are most often up very close it is likely that
there could be a struggle for your handgun. Rusty has the right idea.
Carry the knife on the weak side. Preferably a knife that you can deploy
the blade with your weak side hand, such as the switchblade. If switch-
blades are not legal to carry in your state, try Kershaw's Junkyard Dog II
shown here at far right. It uses "flipper technology". Just a nudge on
the button with your thumb and a flip of the wrist deploys the blade.
It is also ambi-dexterous so easy to switch to left hand.
And yes, it is meaner than the junkyard dog.

 

[Ribwizzard]

I carry a spyderco paramilitary 2 in my right front pocket.
If someone gets me in a choke hold, I don't imagine I will need a whole lot of training to slash his forearm enough he will let go. Or a few stabs to his side shouldn't be hard to induce.
With a firearm, I'd probably hurt myself as much as the attacker in the same situation

 

[mauser9]

While on the subject I really like the Sog Trident Tanto assist blade in a pinch.

 

[smithman 10]

Everybody seems to have a knife.

Around here just about every guy I see has got some kind of knife clip showing in one of his front pockets. Lot of the girls a well. Seriously.

No telling how many others are carrying knives I can't see.

 

[Mister X]

I always carry a knife and it provides options, but I'd pretty much always choose a firearm(hammerless revolver) in an ECQ scenario over a blade.

 

[Ματθιας]

My thoughts:

If you* carry a knife for self-defense, take some classes to learn how to fight with it, and more importantly, keep it.

Simply owning a knife doesn't make one a knife fighter. 98.99% of people who have a knife for self-defense have no idea how to use it, defend against one, or keep it in a struggle. They just carry it, some how expecting to know how to use it. If you pull you knife and have no clue you are a bigger threat to yourself than the attacker, especially if the attacker has basic self-defense stills. They'll likely take it away and use it on you.

Again, take some classes. Classes will help you defend against knives, blunt objects, even firearms.

*Not "you" personally, OP, but the general "you"

 

[mikerjf]

Choke hold or ground struggle is a great reason for a J frame rather than an automatic. 1 opponent, no aiming, contact distance, etc.

 

[Echo40]

I've carried a knife practically my whole life, long before I ever began carrying a firearm, and I still do.

The great thing about knifes is that they don't have to necessarily be just weapons, but they can also be multipurpose tools, so there's really no reason not to carry one.

Heck, I'd actually say that carrying 2 knifes would be a fantastic idea, because then you could pair something like a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife alongside an actual combat knife and be covered for pretty much anything one could reasonably expect to possibly encounter in their day to day life.

 

[Old_Cop]

WI don't think cops like being stared at so I refrain from doing so.

You lookin at me?

Full agreement on training, but don't expect a winner in a knife fight. I carried a knife when working and still do now, a versatile useful tool.

 

[Jessie]

I carry a folder but I’m too slow now to be in a knife fight, or any touchy kind of fight for that matter. That’s why I concentrate on a firearm.

 

[Mister X]

I carry a spyderco paramilitary 2 in my right front pocket.
If someone gets me in a choke hold, I don't imagine I will need a whole lot of training to slash his forearm enough he will let go. Or a few stabs to his side shouldn't be hard to induce.
With a firearm, I'd probably hurt myself as much as the attacker in the same situation

I think this concept has merit, but keep in mind, you only have seconds to work once the choke is sunk in. Also, the primary area of their arm that's exposed does not consist of the muscles actively involved in the force of the choke. Plus, a lot of times people don't always immediately realize they've been cut or stabbed.

In regards to cutting your way out vs shooting, I would be more concerned about unintentionally cutting myself rather than shooting myself accidentally since using the knife involves more movement and a larger dangerous surface area. The best primary approach would be learning how defend against getting caught in one in the first place as well as how to properly escape it with the weapon-based solution being a secondary last resort type of thing.

 

[steelslaver]

I sometimes go out the door without a gun. The only time never have a knife is when there is going to be a metal detector involved. Not that I believe a knife is better for defense. Hardly. But, a knife is way more useful than a gun 99% of the time.