Your daily carry knife?

[Yellowfin]

What's in your pocket? For me it's always a Leatherman Micra and and Eickhorn Solingen Balance California.



(Will post my own pics later...)

[Koi]

Benchmade Mini Ambush

[Rich]

I carry this benchmade, I don't remember which model it is though. The blade is a bit beat up from using it as a prybar so I'm going to see if Benchmade can refinish the knife for me or replace the blade.

[ChrisFry]

I carry this benchmade, I don't remember which model it is though. The blade is a bit beat up from using it as a prybar so I'm going to see if Benchmade can refinish the knife for me or replace the blade.

Becnhmade Griptillian

[Rich]

Becnhmade Griptillian

I thought that is what it was. Its a great little knife, I've used it for everything from prying open beer bottles to opening mail and its always done its job.

[ChrisFry]

The Gripper is a great knife and my EDC also

[Pathfinder]

Swiss Army Officer

Hey it has a corkscrew! I mean come on.

Ok actually this is an area where I suck to be sure. I like knives and have an opinion or two about my fixed blade choices and why they are right for me.

But on the daily carry I'm behind and will certainly entertain suggestions and WHY it's a good choice.

I've been saying I need to get in on Chris's edged weapons courses but without a knife its kind of a non starter.

Any ideas? But tell me what your reasoning is please.

[ChrisFry]

Ed, here is something to chew on for starters

A Students Guide to Edged Weapon Combative Fundamentals

When it comes to ANY every day carry (EDC) weapon it is all about accesss. Without going to deeply into In-Fight-Weapon Access, whatever folder you decide to carry needs to meet some basic criteria in no particular order:

First, let me preface this by saying that any and all considerations following are all but useless if you do not have and maintain decent awareness of your environment, have a robust method for dealing with unknown contacts and at least some basic practical unarmed combatives skills sets. Knives are not crosses which scare vampires nor some type of holy talisman which some would lead you to believe. Just having one is not enough and if you think that you will just pull it out and scare a potential attacker, think again.

1) For personal defense purposes - not as every day tool- I recommend a small fixed blade knife (SFB). I have done timed tests on drawstroke of folders vs small fixed blades set up for In-Fight-Weapon Access and the SFB beats the folder every time simply because you are eliminating one whole step in the process and essentially a fine motor skill- not having to thumb open the folder

2) Folder must fit your hand closed with some impact surface available at top and bottom since most likely if you have to access this weapon you will already be under attack. If not then you probably could have escaped. There are of course exceptions to this but you know better than most what I mean

3) Look for a folder that allows tip UP carry when in the pocket. This carry method eliminates having to rotate the folder into the hand when drawing from carry position

4) Research the different opening mechanisms. Some guys who can own them (like you) love the auto openers but remember that under stress you may hit that button and open that knife WHEN YOU MAY NOT WANT IT OPENED. Waved knives are all the rage right now but again, like everything they have pro's and cons and DO require proper training in indexing and accessing the knife. I like the stud mechanism or hole like on a spyderco because it is simple to deploy and will not open without me. Assisted opening knives like many of the CRKT's now have or the Kershaw collaborations are cool but often require a less than robust grip on the knife in order to activate the assist mechanism which could lead to major problems during standing grapple and IFWA

5) Basics like non-slip textured surface, no stainless steel for a personal defense knife

6) Blade design is personal preference mostly although different blade designs offer various advantages. To me it is more "methodology" driven. If you have trained or follow a school of thought that teaches slashing as a primary defense then a drop point may be for you. If you follow a more point driven methodology like I do and teach then a tanto type blade known for penetration is more applicable.

Knife selection for personal defense requires as much thought as choosing a handgun for EDC but most guys just go to gander mtn or wherever and pick whatever knife looks cool. It shouldn't be this way because sadly we can carry a folder or SFB in non-permissive environments more readily than a firearm.

For some examples of Small Fixed Blades designed and set up specifically for In-Fight-Weapon Access check out some of the knives I have on my gear page here: In-Fight-Access Kydex

I am doing a 2 day Edged Weapons Combatives course out at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas next week and hope to get some video, I will post some clips once I get it edited.

Hope this helps without sounding preachy, I hate writing stuff like this on forums
Chris

[ChrisFry]

By the way Ed, it looks like I will be in Syracuse & Rochester doing Edged Weapon Combatives courses this fall and I think it would work out well if you came and did a Personal Medical block as part of the class. We should talk about it when we get together.

[ChrisFry]

Hey Rich, Either Gander Mountain or in Victor at the Hampton Inn