Wow that realy sucks. Ive come close a few times to losing my DM. I once tore apart my whole room for like 5 hours looking for it. Turned out it was in my car the whole time.

I hate that sick "I lost my favourite knife" feeling. I went nuts when I found the Strider sheath for my neck knife EMPTY!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> ,it turned up in the driveway but I have not worn it since. I am sending it away for a better sheath along with my other miniStrider.

In general, carrying a gun requires a permit, but as Vic noted, knife laws vary by State, and sometimes even by county or city. They're generally passed as a knee-jerk reaction to a perceived problem rather than an actual one -- the mafia and teen gangs carry switchblades in the movies, so we'll ban them; Asian gangs carry butterfly knives, so we'll ban them too; Mexican gangs carry Bowie knives, so we'll ban them.

Carrying a knife doesn't usually require a permit, but many of the laws are quite general like, "A knife may not be carried as a weapon." Then, they'll classify certain characteristics that automatically classify a knife as a weapon, such as being a fixed-blade, or the way a folder opens, or blade length. However, even if your knife is otherwise legal, making a statement indicating your intent is to carry a knife as a weapon (the "defensive" distinction doesn't matter) then you've crossed the line. As with most things, enforcement is likely to be very selective, but the safest thing to do is always assert that your knife is a cutting tool.

Right on Brother! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

they all sound like pretty good reasons. I have a carry permit also, though carrying a gun everyday is not an easy or convient thing for me to do. I almost always carry a folder of sometype. Either a spyderco endura, or a cold steel 4 in folder. Thanks for the imput guys.

i always carry a folder except at school and i hope and pray i never have to use it on another person but you never know the circumstances

I always carry my C.S. X-2 Voyager, small Case, and small Schrade in my pockets. I would use my knives - or CCW pistol - as an absolute LAST RESORT - the legal nightmares would be terrible.
The only time I even came close to needing my knife for self-defense was when I stopped for gas in Kansas City. While I was filling my tank, a BIG guy started heading directly for me and didn't look very friendly. I gave him a hard look and pulled my X-2 about an inch out of my pocket. He saw me do it, and immediately changed his direction of travel. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I want to get one of those with a plain edge. I'm waiting till I'm back in IN since it's too big to legally carry here in TX.

Ahh those two... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Cloak, M was a fifth dan in Jujitsu and L, shortly after we were there, became SWAT Commander.

Two very cool guys and great instructors.

L was hilarious. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I'm sad that they moved so far away and got a really nice big place to practice at. Showers, weightroom, etc, etc. Full gym basically.

Anyways back to the topic of self-d.

I've usually looked at a knife as a tool and still do. Our primitive ancestors rarely, if ever used the knife as a weapon. Many indigenous people all over the world use the knife as a tool rather than weapon. They have blow guns, bows, traps, swords, etc, that work far better as weapons. The knife has been for the longest time a tool.

While it is easily concealable weapon, one must remember that in times of emergency one will forget all that they are carrying and only remember the importance of their own will.

If that makes any sense, I'm trying to say that if anyone of us do get in a sticky situation, we will most likely forget that our knife is IWB, and immediately use whatever is in range that we can see as a means of defense. Which would be our own body and mind.

Unless we're highly trained individuals in knife fighting who have the muscle memory down so that when SD is necessary, the first thing stance that we get into we would have a knife in one hand.

I admit that sometimes when I'm walking in downtown I do get paranoid and just think "Spyderco in right pocket will come out if some one tries to jump me..."

I have to disagree with you on primitive people not using a knife as a weapon. Actually it was and in many places still is the primary weapon and also the badge of a man. Even though the natives here all have access to guns they stab each other far more often than they shoot. Probably 10 to 1. My towns Penitentary
had a huge prison riot yesterday between 3 native gangs which are split down tribal lines.

Philippines people have a very long tradition of knife fighting that is still practised and quite popular among hard core MBC guys. The traditional syle is considered to brutal even for some army type units because they spend a lot of time teaching how to kill people who are unarmed or not expecting it and even how to best kill a sleeping person. This is perfectly acceptable because any man without a knife is considered an idiot and it is their own fault.

I studied some of the Philopino MBC but I don't like the reverse grip or the low line so a lot of it was not to useful.

Probably the best style of knife fighting to learn is the combatives developed for the WW2 commandos. Col Applegates book "Kill or get Killed" has some excellent advice and is free and legal to download because it is a US military manual. You can find it at "steve's pages".

They use the FS Dagger which is an excellent weapon but I think there are some better choices now. One of the best inexpensive fighting knives is the Buck 119.
Most fighting knives are either good stabbers or good slashers it is very very rare to find a kife that can do both. The 119 is one of those rare knives although I would wrap a bit of hockey tape on the handle.

My current fave concealed fighter is my Mule. A WW2 commando who had confirmed kills of several different men said that you did not hack like a baseball bat or stab but cut preferably the carotid artery beside the wind pipe.

A good knowledge of anatomy is crucial. In a current big trial in our town their was a prison murder(our prison is pretty hairy)committed on behalf of the Hells Angels the victim a former flaming gay contract killer(you can't make this stuff up) was stabbed 184 times by 2 men one of whom is claiming self defence.
If you aim for specific organs it should take a bit less work. To be fair they had very small prison shanks.

A good knowledge of anatomy can also save your life. If you are on the ground and you are being kicked there is an artery on the inside of each leg to aim for and it is like cutting the bottom out of a styrofoam coffee cup.

You don't need or even want a thick knife for a fighter. Most Scrappers are not very good fighting knives. The DFLE and the SS4 are the closest. One knife I just saw that would make a wicked fighter is the Microtech filet knife. It is a huge thin razor blade of a knife. I may pick one up.