Folding knives break in the middle. Thats how I Look at it, simply. Yes, they have a locking mechanism, but that can still fail. I've had it happen, and if I can pick them out among the ones I've earned more honestly, I'd show you the scars to prove it.
There are ways to use a folder in defense that minimize the potential for failure, but still there are problems - a folder takes a lot of fine motor skill to get open, and fine motor skill is something that will desert you under high stress.
That is why I like a device like the Wave found on knives from Emerson (
www.emersonknives.com ) because it catches and pulls the blade open as you draw it - removing, hopefully, the need for having to engage your thumb to manipulate it open further.
That said - a fixed blade is better. You can access and present a fixed blade faster, with less hassle, and they are stronger.
As was pointed out, they are easy to clean which is a plus if you plan to use it not just for defense.
Mete said "A 6-7" fixed blade has long been considered minimum for a combat knife. How many that carry for defense have that ? Just as important for defense is training How many have that ?"
I have a couple issues with that - first of all, he is correct that a COMBAT knife should be a 6" to 7" or 8" blade - but a combat knife and a fighting knife/personal defense knife are two VERY different things. A combat knife is a strong utility tool, that is going to be carried on a belt, with a lot of other big gear, by people who are supposed to have weapons. Its not the kind of knife someone carries for defense.
Now a fighting knife can be had in those sizes, but a fighting knife in those sizes is most likely only going to be an option for soldiers as well.
So we are looking at defensive knives - and a good defensive knife can have a 4 to five inch blade. Heck, the defensive fixed blade I carry has a 3.5" blade that I think is just about perfect.
I would suggest a small fixed blade, a neck knife, either an
Emerson La Griffe or a
FrontSight Knives "HideAway" which is probably the better choice, as it offers more options, and is custom fitted to each user - and still has a reasonable price, especially for the materials used and the craftsmen involved witht he project. And, its designed by a woman too - if that matters.
And a medium to large fixed blade - something like the Camillus Cuda CQB-II or perhaps the regular CQB-I (the larger of the two)
http://www.agrussell.com/camillus/ca-cqb1.html They come with kydex sheaths capable of either IWB or belt carry via tek-lok. The
Spyderco Perrin Bowie might be another idea. Also, look at the stuff Cold Steel (
www.coldsteel.com ) offers.
And one or two good folders - Emerson, Spyderco, Cold Steel, Benchmade and Kershaw all make some really nice folders of all shapes and sizes. A web search, or a search of knife dealers, will show you the available models from each.
There are advantages and dis-advantages to both - with folders the disadvantages are potential failure, and difficulty on the draw - advantages are that they can be carried easily, without much fuss or muss, and that they are handy because of that. Fixed blades are a little more work, but not much, to carry, and they do come out faster/more reliably - but they are not legal in some areas.
I'm lucky, int hat I can carry a fixed blade - so I am rarely without one, even a small one. But I am almost never without a folder either. (As well as a few non-lethal tools for the defensive step between un-armed and deadly force, i.e. knives.)
Uh, wait a minute, that ain't very likely is it? You might defend yourself, you might drive an attacker off, you might stop the attack, you might even kill them in the process, but if you "kill them real good" you and your new bride Bubba is gonna have a lot of time to explore the *****(edited to remove too disturbing thought).
