Working on fed-operated land for many years has led me to some interesting insights I thought I'd share, though I am also interested in perspectives from those of you with more martial experience.
For those of you that don't know, on federal property you cannot possess a knife other than a folder with a blade of 2.5 inches or less, unless the knife is used for a specific work-required purpose (cooking knives, surgical implements, construction tools). This has led me to build up quite a collection, pictured below.
There's no denying these are all useful tools in my day to day work. But the thought does cross my mind if I had to use them in a defensive capacity. I should state now that I have "wary" view of using knives in self-defense. You can kill or injure people easily with any knife, but doing so in an SD situation in a way that is both effective and justifiable is actually a bit limited. That said, they certainly have their place. I should also say the small blade is certainly not a primary weapon. A firearm, OC, impact item, or a bigger knife would be preferable in many situations. But in circumstances like mine, it can very easily be the only thing you have.
I happened upon several useful insights while reading about the blades issued to OSS agents during WWII, particularly the teachings on the use of thumb/lapel daggers. These were small blades with hardly any handle that were extremely concealable, often hidden in the sleeve or behind the lapels of a jacket. OSS training suggested using them in a surprise-attack fashion to facilitate an escape. Notably, the material confines all targets to the hands, the neck, and the head, fully acknowledging that winter clothing would hinder the small blade's application anywhere else.
Extrapolating on this, it occurs to me that the knife is as much a fear weapon as it is a lethal weapon. Research shows that when victims of crime are threatened with knives, they are more compliant and fearful than if threatened with a gun or blunt instrument. There's probably deeper neuropsych research on why, but my guess is that it's a deep primitive fear of injures that might come from wild animals (virtually all predator animals use laceration or puncture wounds in some way).
Coupled with that is the reactions I have noted to certain injuries. When you see your own blood, there is a visceral feeling of panic. Whereas blunt force injuries sometimes make the subject angrier and more aggressive if the blow doesn't put them down in some way. Think about how you react when hit your head on something accidentally versus when you cut your hand. The emotional responses are very different.
The small blade's concealability also serves them well for the element of surprise. They don't take any "windup" and don't have to be aimed; some you can have opened and in-hand without the adversary noticing. You can feign compliance and suddenly without warning there is a blade in their face.
Regarding why you would resort to the use of a small blade, it would be in relatively narrow circumstances, I admit. But, I can see several situations that it would make sense. At my facility, I have very limited items I can carry around with me in the course of my work. While I am a big proponent of canes and other "improvised" stick weapons, they are not practical for carry on the job. These knives on the other hand can be hidden almost anywhere: in my shirt pocket, behind my tie, just inside my waistband. I always have one with me and can always get to it.
I'm not saying short blades are some kind of great new tacticool thing and I would take most other weapons over them if I was expecting trouble and had access. But they are worthy of a place in the "toolbox." Any further insights from your more experience knife users would be appreciated.
For those of you that don't know, on federal property you cannot possess a knife other than a folder with a blade of 2.5 inches or less, unless the knife is used for a specific work-required purpose (cooking knives, surgical implements, construction tools). This has led me to build up quite a collection, pictured below.
There's no denying these are all useful tools in my day to day work. But the thought does cross my mind if I had to use them in a defensive capacity. I should state now that I have "wary" view of using knives in self-defense. You can kill or injure people easily with any knife, but doing so in an SD situation in a way that is both effective and justifiable is actually a bit limited. That said, they certainly have their place. I should also say the small blade is certainly not a primary weapon. A firearm, OC, impact item, or a bigger knife would be preferable in many situations. But in circumstances like mine, it can very easily be the only thing you have.
I happened upon several useful insights while reading about the blades issued to OSS agents during WWII, particularly the teachings on the use of thumb/lapel daggers. These were small blades with hardly any handle that were extremely concealable, often hidden in the sleeve or behind the lapels of a jacket. OSS training suggested using them in a surprise-attack fashion to facilitate an escape. Notably, the material confines all targets to the hands, the neck, and the head, fully acknowledging that winter clothing would hinder the small blade's application anywhere else.
Extrapolating on this, it occurs to me that the knife is as much a fear weapon as it is a lethal weapon. Research shows that when victims of crime are threatened with knives, they are more compliant and fearful than if threatened with a gun or blunt instrument. There's probably deeper neuropsych research on why, but my guess is that it's a deep primitive fear of injures that might come from wild animals (virtually all predator animals use laceration or puncture wounds in some way).
Coupled with that is the reactions I have noted to certain injuries. When you see your own blood, there is a visceral feeling of panic. Whereas blunt force injuries sometimes make the subject angrier and more aggressive if the blow doesn't put them down in some way. Think about how you react when hit your head on something accidentally versus when you cut your hand. The emotional responses are very different.
The small blade's concealability also serves them well for the element of surprise. They don't take any "windup" and don't have to be aimed; some you can have opened and in-hand without the adversary noticing. You can feign compliance and suddenly without warning there is a blade in their face.
Regarding why you would resort to the use of a small blade, it would be in relatively narrow circumstances, I admit. But, I can see several situations that it would make sense. At my facility, I have very limited items I can carry around with me in the course of my work. While I am a big proponent of canes and other "improvised" stick weapons, they are not practical for carry on the job. These knives on the other hand can be hidden almost anywhere: in my shirt pocket, behind my tie, just inside my waistband. I always have one with me and can always get to it.
I'm not saying short blades are some kind of great new tacticool thing and I would take most other weapons over them if I was expecting trouble and had access. But they are worthy of a place in the "toolbox." Any further insights from your more experience knife users would be appreciated.
