Idiot carrying a knife.

[Bob F.]

Hey, guys (& Gals?): I'm new here with aboslutely no credentials (well, not much) but I'll jump in!! Some things I believe: one gun, one carry( darn, I hate reaching behind my hip and only then remember I've worn a shoulder rig). A GOOD IWB offers the best concealment/ speed, except....An untrained, violent attack (counter-attack) does more damage than a trained, half-hearted attack!
What was this thread? Oh, yeah! If you only carry 1 knfe, carry it weakside. (Never bring a knife to a gunfight!). I can visualize someone grabbing my stronghand or trying to take my weapon. I'm damned sure not going to let go of a gun to grab a knife! But I can hang on to the fire stick and slash and stick with the off-hand. I'm not all that strong, and if an encounter gets to this point, I'm gonna fight dirty as he...ah, all get out!

Another thread re;encounters-- I've had a CCW for years, only drawn on a man once, backing up a cop/friend-no shots fired (thank GOD!) My biggest fear-- that gray area! Man beating a woman on the street (public place), man w/ gun (cop-BG?)

If I walk into a convience store and don't immediately see a clerk, I go to High Alert! especially at night!

A cell phone is a necessary & excellent security device...but not alone!

I fully expect to carry all my life and never have to draw. I may be a victim but I'll never volunteer!!

I love some of the signatures on this site!!

 

[XLMiguel]

Welcome Bob F.

 

[jrhead75]

Howdy Bob, and welcome from another new guy.

I agree with you carry-wise. My "box opener" is carried in my weak side front pocket, and I carry in an IWB at about 8:30 (I'm a southpaw).

 

[sw442642]

The Insights course is quite good. I liked their emphasis on the practical and rememberable over esoteric cosmic dances and kata.

 

[Abominable No-Man]

shudder

Knife fights.........

shudder

"If you get into a knife fight, you will get cut!"

shudder

That's why I prefer guns..........

ANM

 

[Mr. Bombastic]

"If you get into a knife fight, you will get cut!"

That's why I prefer guns..........

Unless you put a bad guy down before he gets within kissing distance, a gun alone might not stop you from getting cut or stabbed.

 

[hso]

The thing to remember is that you should never assume that someone isn't carrying a knife (criminals won't square off and assume a kali stance they'll just sucker punch/cut/stab without warning), that any punch can just as easily be a stab and you won't know the difference (the fight equivalent of "all guns are loaded" is all attackers are armed), the "winner" in a knife fight is the one with the fewest injuries (acutally, there are few "winners" just 1st and 2nd place loosers with 1st going to ICU or the morgue). Train, train, train so that when the hind brain reacts to a threat the forebrain has something to catch up to.

 

[ChuteTheMall]

Good points.

We don't train in knife fighting because we plan to fight in a duel.
We train in knife fighting to experience what might happen to us.

The first clue that you are in a knife fight might be a sharp pain and a wet garment. And an untrained person with a knife can still rush in and stab you repeatedly, showing poor form but still getting results.

Also, a knife in the weakside hand makes an excellent handgun retention device, if someone is struggling to beat you to the draw with your own gun.

 

[Abominable No-Man]

That's the idea of having a gun in the first place.

Not to let him get within "kissing distance".

You might get cut or stabbed if he has a knife and you have a gun.

You will get cut or stabbed if you go at it with knives.

Don't like knife-fighting, never have. There was a thread about this on one of the other forums. Get a gun or a bigger blade at least (a katana comes to mind....)

ANM

 

[Mr. Bombastic]

That's the idea of having a gun in the first place.

Not to let him get within "kissing distance".

What makes you think you can control the distance? You ever get anyone asking you for a light, or the time when you walk down the street? You think you can draw on someone who is less than a metre away?

You might get cut or stabbed if he has a knife and you have a gun.

You will get cut or stabbed if you go at it with knives.

Again, for that statement to be true, the gun would have to act like some sort of talisman to keep bad guys away. Street crime doesn't often happen from way across the street. It is normally up close and personal.

If you routinely carry a firearm, then it is wise to practice empty-handed techniques that allow you to create space to draw in the first place. No reason not to carry a good knife too, since a small fixed blade knife can often be drawn quicker than a gun. Even a folder can be palmed when you get that 'hairs standing on end' feeling. Better a knife in the hand, than a gun in the holster.

Don't like knife-fighting, never have. There was a thread about this on one of the other forums.

When the SHTF, the idea is to stop the treat ASAP, not get into a fight.

Get a gun or a bigger blade at least

While a larger blade will help inflict more damage, they are often difficult to carry and to use in close quarters.

In case anyone was wondering, I'm not trying to dismiss firearms. I'm just attempting to point out that knives can cover important areas in ones self-defence equipment. Guns, knives and empty-handed techniques all cover different areas and also overlap in their application.

 

[DMK]

Oh, yeah! If you only carry 1 knfe, carry it weakside. (Never bring a knife to a gunfight!). I can visualize someone grabbing my stronghand or trying to take my weapon. I'm damned sure not going to let go of a gun to grab a knife! But I can hang on to the fire stick and slash and stick with the off-hand.

Also, a knife in the weakside hand makes an excellent handgun retention device, if someone is struggling to beat you to the draw with your own gun.

Wow, that is a great point! I never considered that.

 

[Abominable No-Man]

I'm missing your point, Bombastic.

You can control the distance: Run like hell, give yourself some clearance, and pull your pistol/shotgun/baton/knife/machete or whatever you carry.

Putting the bad guy down before he gets within kissing distance.......what are you gonna do, stand there and watch him come toward you? Granted if he gets a knife out on you if you're at an ATM, or giving him a light or something like that, then you're in trouble, but if that's the case you're screwed anyway. Backpedal, run, throw whatever you're carrying at him, whatever, just get away from him in the first place, and scream bloody murder while you're doing it.

I'm not putting you down for favoring knives as a second weapon; I just don't like 'em, and I stand by what I said before- if you get into a knife fight, you will get cut.

I've had some knife-fighting training, but it was enough for me to conclude that it's something I'd do only if I couldn't run fast enough (and belive me, I can run faster scared than you can angry ).

For weapons other than firearms, I like an ASP baton. More reach and you will hurt someone with it. (KERWHACK!...."OH, %$#@ THAT HURT!").

ANM

 

[Mr. Bombastic]

You can control the distance: Run like hell, give yourself some clearance, and pull your pistol/shotgun/baton/knife/machete or whatever you carry.

If you can run away and escape the situation, or buy time, do so. But do you think you can outrun a teenage 'gangbanger' (I love that Americanism )?

Pulling your weapon might make the bad guy stop and wet his pants, but I wouldn't count on it. He might just keep coming.

Putting the bad guy down before he gets within kissing distance

Gunshots aren't often immediately deadly. The 30 seconds it might take for the bad guy to bleed to death could well be enough time for him to close and put a knife in you. There are no guarantees that distance can always me controlled.

Backpedal, run, throw whatever you're carrying at him, whatever, just get away from him in the first place, and scream bloody murder while you're doing it.

No-one is suggesting you shouldn't escape. If you can.

I'm not putting you down for favoring knives

I don't favour any weapon. I am one of many unarmed subjects of a benevolent dictator.

if you get into a knife fight, you will get cut.

A knife can still cut you if you have a gun in your hand.

I've had some knife-fighting training, but it was enough for me to conclude that it's something I'd do only if I couldn't run fast enough (and belive me, I can run faster scared than you can angry ).

All forms of lethal combat should be reserved for the times you cannot escape any other way.

And I don't doubt you could outrun me. But some of us just don't have the option of running. One day, you might not have that option either.

For weapons other than firearms, I like an ASP baton. More reach and you will hurt someone with it. (KERWHACK!...."OH, %$#@ THAT HURT!").

What if someone gets inside your range? I have taken a shot to the head with an ASP that was powerful enough to pierce the top of my head to the bone (despite the fact I had rather alot of thick hair then). I did not go down. It did hurt though...an hour later.