OCing a Knife?

[shephard19]

What do you guys think of the option of open carrying a
fixed blade knife? I this would be perhaps a more practical option
than OCing a handgun and perhaps a more effective defense than
a folding knife some of which are of dubious value in a fight and quite slow to
deploy. Concealed carry of a handgun is almost certainly a better option
than open carrying a knife, but if that is not an option it seems
we are left with four choices:

1. going unarmed

2. carrying a concealed folding knife

3. open carry of a fixed balde knife

4. open carry of a handgun


Pros vs Cons


1. going unarmed

Advantage: you are more likely to be viewed favorably in legal situations

Disadvantages: only your body and mind and whatever is nearby can be used for your protection, very vulnerable to an agressor with a firearm or a knife

2. carrying a concealed folding knife

Advantage: in a fight with an unarmed aggressor you have an advantage if the weapon can be deployed, since it is concealed it does not draw attention until needed

Disadvantage:slow deployment time, near useless against an agressor with a firearm, not as effective as a firearm or a fixed blade knife

3. open carry of a fixed blade knife

Advantages: Strong advantage over an unarmed agressor, gives one a stronger chance against a knife wielding agressor than options one and two since fixed blade knifes are generally more suited for combat than folding ones and having a knife is better than having no weapons

disadvantage: someone may take your knife a use it against if you are caught unaware or if grappling, draws a significant amount of attention, near useless against a drawn firearm

4. open carry of a handgun

Advantage: the tool is capable of dealing with almost any likely situation

Disadvantages: draws a strong amount of attention, may make you a target of an opportunistic gun thief


Conclusion

If only the four options are considered I would probably think option three or number two would be the best, leaning towards option three. Guns draw peoples eyes like a magnet, while fixed blade knifes open carried while unusual are not nearly as socially taboo they may even automatically think you are going hiking and therefore see it as nothing unusual. If like me you are a shy person this is a major consideration, and for me honestly rules out option four unless at a appropriate political rally or if you know you are going into a high risk situation. Besides I would also probably be constantly looking behind my back making sure some kid or theif is not trying to pull my gun out of its holster. The folding knife to me does not seem to be a particularly effective weapon any way, and it would seem any likely situation where it would be needed the agressor would be all over me before I could pull it out of my pocket and open it.

Thoughts? Agree or disagree?

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I suggest you first verify state and local laws. In many states, state law regarding possession and carry of firearms preempts local law, but local jurisdictions usually have wildly varying laws regarding carry of knives and other weapons. What might be lawful in one local jurisdiction (e.g., in the county) of your state might be unlawful in another (e.g., in a city or another county).

When I lived in Washington my Concealed Pistol License allowed my to carry a concealed handgun anywhere in the state, with few restrictions. I could not, however, carry a fixed blade knife in the city I lived in. (Seattle also used to ban folding "Buck" knives in belt carriers. Thus what was legal when I got on the ferry in Kitsap County was illegal when I stepped off the ferry in Seattle.) Washington used to issue a "License to Carry Concealed Weapon" years ago but the legislature changed it to apply only to handguns.

 

[hso]

What do you guys think of the option of open carrying a
fixed blade knife?

Some flawed assumptions.

Any use of any knife is employing deadly force. That will be the legal and defensive view.

Folders are not slow to deploy. Certainly not as fast as a fixed blade, but a little practice will permit the knife to be drawn and opened smoothly and quickly.

A fixed blade can be concealed with only a little more difficulty than a folder. If the local laws permit, you can carry a knife in an IWB sheath or neck carry.

A openly carried fixed blade draws attention and may be attractive to someone with poor judgement that may want to draw the knife as a "stunt". Better that a knife never be seen until needed since the element of surprise should not be overlooked.

Knives are very useful against an armed attacker if you know how to put them to use. We had a thread recently on when a knife would be preferable to use instead of a gun and some knowledgable folks pointed out that if you're committed to saving your life by engaging your aggressor a knife is a very valuable tool.

 

[DT Guy]

Open carry of a knife obviates one of its primary advantages; surprise.

And HSO is quite right-used correctly, they'll not see the knife at all.

Larry

 

[uspJ]

i open carry fixed blade ka-bar tdi ever day weakside carry. it is carried openly but it isn't obvious. I wear it with the clip of the sheath facing out and the sheath is between my belt and waistband. All that can be seen is the small angled handle and that is not easy to see in general activities. I would choose a fixed blade that is not attention grabbing. I don't want a 7" knife hanging off my hip for everyone to see. A solide 3-5 inch blade is plenty. It gives you enough to use as a weapon while still being able to be used as a tool, also it looks like a knife a man would use as a tool and not as a weapon and that goes far with not attracting attention as well.

I also carry a sog trident assisted opener as an edc but it is more of a tool for me. I understand what hso was saying about how a folder is still a viable option with some practice but I do prefer the fixed blade to the folder for defensive use. ymmv.

I would prefer a knife either opened or concealed over being unarmed anyday.

 

[Big Boy]

^Yep. In addition to my handgun, whether I be OC'ing or CC'ing that day, I carry a Ka-Bar TDI on my belt.

 

[AKPastor]

If I went out without my knife in my pocket and one in my belt, other rural Alaskans would consider me undressed and indecent for being in public.

 

[Mainsail]

If only the four options are considered I would probably think option three or number two would be the best...

Then that's what you should do. Those of us that carry firearms openly don't rely on wild fantasy and illogical conclusions to make our decisions. Your lack of critical thinking skills can only hurt the cause of firearms rights. Carry a knife.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

My SOG Trident is always clipped on my pocket and is seen if there is no cover garment. I see people doing the same all the time with folders.

 

[FatPants]

I have no intention of EVER getting into a knife fight, see too many nasty, nasty pictures on the internet... Carry some OC spray for self defense if you aren't going to carry a gun.

 

[shephard19]

Then that's what you should do. Those of us that carry firearms openly don't rely on wild fantasy and illogical conclusions to make our decisions. Your lack of critical thinking skills can only hurt the cause of firearms rights. Carry a knife.

You have not used any logic in your reply you have merely made assertions of what you think are facts. If you think that being deprived of your firearm is not a real danger you can keep living in your fantasy world, but perception is not reality I hope you don't find out the hard way.

 

[Mainsail]

Here you go. You can believe whatever blows your skirt up. I open carry and I have seen it deter a crime against me. If you prefer a knife, knock yourself out.

 

[ObsidianOne]

Here you go Sparky. You can believe whatever blows your skirt up. I open carry and I have seen it deter a crime against me. If you prefer a knife, knock yourself out.

I'm sure it's a debated topic, but a lot of people believe that OC attracts the wrong kind of attention and takes away your element of surprise.

 

[cleardiddion]

Did it a while back before I had a handgun and before I have a permit.
Carried a plain K-bar on the 3 o'clock position.
Most people don't even bat an eye, same thing with OCing a handgun.

Was kinda uncomfortable though and you'd definitely wanna check up on the legalities of it where you live.

 

[MedWheeler]

I was recently gifted a folding-blade knife that was my first to have the "assisted-open" feature. I'm not a big knife enthusiast, but I am very impressed with the speed with which I can open it.
That being said, I have little training in knife-fighting (though I am developing an interest) and do carry a firearm with it.

 

[bikerdoc]

Knife, gun, cane, spray, whatever are only tools for the tool box. Situational awareness, training, and mindset are the key.

 

[PRM]

As previously posted ~ check you state and local laws. Your CC permit may not include edged weapons. I think you will find in most cases it's not inclusive. You may be OK with a firearm ~ but that nice bowie will cause you some problems.

Also, I agree with HSO ~ folders are not slow. I have an Emerson with the wave feature that is open when it leaves the pocket. It also comes in under our state's 4 inch blade limit. My fixed blades are reserved for camping and hunting.


Going to a knife in a deadly force situation is very very low on my list of options. Getting your knife confiscated may not hurt your wallet as much as your gun. But, you can be in as much trouble (if you are in the wrong) brandishing a knife as a gun. If it is a deadly force situation, why bring a knife to a gun fight, unless that's your only option.?

 

[Lou McGopher]

If grabbed from behind, unholstering your handgun could be difficult. OC spray may be too difficult to use. A knife may come in handy in such a situation.

 

[ColdDeadHand]

OP,

I'm trying to wrap my head around the WHY of your scenario. Why would I want to carry a knife instead of a firearm? I'm trying to think of some place or situation where I could legally carry a knife but not a pistol. So far I've come up with these options:

A convicted felon should be able to carry a knife but can't carry a pistol.
It may be legal to carry a knife into the post office, while the pistol would not be legal.

I say carry a pistol, open or concealed, just so long as you know how to use it. If you don't know how to use it but still insist on carrying it, don't carry it loaded.

 

[1Deernut]

I conceal carry a pistol whenever possible (law permitting). Open carry may have some advantage in certain situations, but my personal opinion is that concealed is better since drawing attention to yourself is not desireable, knife or gun.

I always carry a fast-deploying folder that has a very strong and reliable locking mechanism. It is a very distant second choice to a firearm.

 

[mustang_steve]

I've found a buck 110 (or any other old fashioned full-size lockback) to be quite fast to deploy. Hold it in a backhand fashion and press teh release in with your thumb (all the way down) and flick....it's open.

All locking knives can be quick to deploy if you understand the mechanims behind that knife and how to exploit it.

That said, I'd rather not OC a knife, as it would likely attract undue attention. In some areas, even having a folder sheath can get some glares.

 

[trickyasafox]

just a short anecdote.

I've posted a number of times that I'm a bouncer. It helped pay for undergrad, and now it helps pay for grad school.

The bar I work at currently has a regular we call 'the sherminator' because of his resemblance to the the character from American Pie 2. The Sherminator came into the bar one time with a 5.5 in fixed knife on his belt. He's a fairly harmless (and actually very nice) young man- but I still made him give me his knife if he wanted to come in that night. I gave it back to him on the way out and it was a total non-issue, but be aware that if you OC a knife, some people will notice, and you have to be prepared to either accommodate requests from places you give patronage to- or find other places to go.

I asked the Sherminator to give me his knife for safe keeping for a few reasons:
first- I only know him as a patron, and he does get pretty drunk. Any person, no matter how controlled and even tempered sober- is more prone to poor choices when drinking
second- the knife was not at all secure, and I trust some of our other patrons far less than him who might think its funny to try to grab his knife.

Some people may disagree with my decision, but it is a realistic scenario you might face if you go with the open carry option.

 

[jerkface11]

Just remember if the blade is over a certain length it's a weapon. I haven't seen a permit yet for carrying a knife.

 

[wishin]

Open carry would be my choice over a knife. In order for any knife to be truly effective in self-defense you need to be too close to the BG.

 

[NMGonzo]

Surprise factor.

Multiple unnarmed is the most likely problem that I could face in all likeliness.

Knife is on my left hand.