I’m going to try to document my adventure with traditional knives here so that others can coach me in this endeavor. I’m planning to carry a traditional (non-locking) knife and let it be my primary cutting tool. Now I have my reservations about this because I have concerns about how a traditional knife might be put into service in a self defense scenario, and in tasks that might be more inclined for stabbing type uses of the knife. Basically I don’t want it to accidentally close up on my fingers.
I teach knife safety to my Cub Scouts and I’ve taught it to my own kids but sometimes you get so used to your tools that it’s easy to become careless. That’s where I thought going through this little adventure would be helpful, especially since I’m doing knife safety with my daughter who just turned 5. I plan for her to be carrying her own knife by the age of 6.
Quote from: raider502 on February 10, 2018, 02:26:29 PM I teach knife safety to my Cub Scouts and I’ve taught it to my own kids but sometimes you get so used to your tools that it’s easy to become careless. That’s where I thought going through this little adventure would be helpful, especially since I’m doing knife safety with my daughter who just turned 5. I plan for her to be carrying her own knife by the age of 6. Glad to hear you are teaching knife safety to Cub Scouts and your daughter. It will give them an appreciation of knives as tools,and a lifetime of enjoyment using them as such.
I’m old enough that my first knife was a non-locking knife and I’ve always kind of had an connection to the Barlow style so it’s more of a getting reacquainted with a long lost friend.
Raider, I applaud your experiment and wish more people would try this. I'm an old fart well into senior citizen age, and I never carry a locking knife. They just weren't around when I started to carry a knife in the 1950's. Oh there was the Italian style switchblade that every wannabe James Dean packed as an expression of his manhood, but they were thought of as 'punk's knives' by the men I grew up around. Growing up, every man who had pants on had a knife in the pocket. It was almost in every case, a small two blade jack. Sometimes a two blade penknife, sometimes a Barlow. This was just after WW2 ended, so there was also a good number of service issue knives brought home, like Camillus TL-29's, the M-I-L-818 scout pattern also called a demo knife. There was also U.S. made scout knifes of which was my first knife dad gave me when I joined the Boy Scouts. The introduction of the Buck 110 in the early 1960's changed the face of knife carry. I tried one for a while and didn't like. Aside from being way to heavy, I just didn't like being limited to just one blade. Bu the time the Buck came out, I was used to a stockman that gave me the choice of three different blades with three different blade shapes and edge profiles to choose form. Then in 1969 I discovered SAK's and it was never the same again. Got way to used to having some basic tools on my pocket knife that made life a lot easier in little emergencies. I stopped carrying a dedicated knife for longer and longer periods of time.These two patterns of knives have served me well for most my life. For the past year I've been carrying just a SAK. But one thing I never did was carry a knife for self defense. Aside from the fact that a knife is an absolute worst weapon to use, it just may get you killed. I saw one real knife fight in my life at young age, and it convinced me to never even carry a knife that would tempt me to use it. Hard to get a Buck Stockman or Case peanut into action fast. I watched this fight take place when a fist fight got to the point where one guy was loosing so he pulled his Buck knife. The other guy pulled his and they sliced and diced each other horribly. One died on the scene, the other spent some time in ICU hanging on by a thread. He eventually lived but I understand drank his meals through a straw for a long time. A pocket knife's a tool for cutting things. Rope/twine, cardboard boxes that need opening or breaking down, plastic blister packages, some food items away from home, and making a good hot dog stick by the campfire. A knife is what I consider an indispensable tool. But for self defense, there's way better options. If carrying a gun is not an option, then go for an impact weapon. A padlock on a bandana in the back pocket, a sturdy walking stick from a good hardwood, pepper spray is great, as is a can of chill in a shopping bag. A medium size adjustable wrench in a back pocket. An AA mini mag light is a great fist load or yawara stick. But most of all is situational awareness. Go get some Krav Maga training. It can save your life. But pulling a knife in any kind of alteration is not going to do anything but make things worse. It's a deadly weapon, and the law looks on it that way. You're actually better off shooting the attacker if you have to. If a gun is a no-no, then use a blunt force trauma weapon on him. Nobody is going to get very upset over some punk with a broken arm, or lump on is skull. But a seriously cut or stabbed punk can suddenly turn into a victim if he dies or almost dies. Plus a knife has none of the 'stopping power' that a gun or club has. This is why cops use nightsticks and batons. In a fight, they may not even register that they have been cut or stabbed. I saw that happen. Those two young idiots kept on stabbing and slashing each other because the cuts and stabs had not taken effect yet. Not enough blood loss. They had to hose off the pavement where the fight was that there was so much blood. I came away from that promissing myself never to carry a knife that could be used in a fight. I went on to serve in the army for ten years, and was stationed all over the world from the continental U.S. to Europe to Libya at the old Wheeler Air Force base where we army engineers were doing cement work on the runway extensions. I spent one tour in Vietnam with the 39th Combat Engineers, and had leaves in Saigon. Never needed a knife for defense. As an old fart who has been down the road, I can only say to you, please don't do that. I don't know you and have no stake in your future, but don't think a knife is a good defense weapon because it ain't. If someone pulls a knife on you, just block it and retreat and get the hell out of Dodge. Unlike a gun, a knife can't hurt you if it can't touch you. A knife can be blocked by a bar stool, trash can, beer pitcher, chair cushion, chair, lamp, end table, cane/walking stick, rolled up magazine/newspaper, fireplace poker, a stick of any kind. Leave knife fighting to Hollywood.
Raider, I applaud your experiment and wish more people would try this. Growing up, every man who had pants on had a knife in the pocket. It was almost in every case, a small two blade jack. Sometimes a two blade penknife, sometimes a Barlow. This was just after WW2 ended, so there was also a good number of service issue knives brought home, like Camillus TL-29's, the M-I-L-818 scout pattern also called a demo knife. There was also U.S. made scout knifes of which was my first knife dad gave me when I joined the Boy Scouts. By the time the Buck came out, I was used to a stockman that gave me the choice of three different blades with three different blade shapes and edge profiles to choose form. Then in 1969 I discovered SAK's and it was never the same again. Got way to used to having some basic tools on my pocket knife that made life a lot easier in little emergencies. I stopped carrying a dedicated knife for longer and longer periods of time.These two patterns of knives have served me well for most my life. For the past year I've been carrying just a SAK.But one thing I never did was carry a knife for self defense. A pocket knife's a tool for cutting things. A knife is what I consider an indispensable tool. But for self defense, there's way better options.But most of all is situational awareness. Leave knife fighting to Hollywood.
Thank you for the sage advice and it is GOLDEN. I should maybe give a bit more information on my background. I spent 10 years in the Army (Infantry) and the Air National Guard. In my current job part of my responsibility is that of Director of Security for a hospital. I am a huge fan of conflict avoidance. My use of a knife as a self defense weapon is much further down the line than even a tertiary weapon. First and foremost I don’t go looking for trouble, next I have had a lot of training on verbal De-escalation and would much rather walk away from a conflict. Then I have truck keys to get me into my vehicle and out of dodge. I do have a CCW and usually carry a primary pistol on my hip and a backup in an ankle rig but honestly I pray that I’ll never have to use either. I have had training in unarmed combatives but I’m getting older and broken (several surgeries) and while I think I could hold my own I still really want to avoid confrontations that show me different. Now I guess we could say this is where my knife comes into play. If all other efforts fail to get me away from the threat and I have no remaining options for defense then I want to have a knife that has characteristics that would help me in a self defense situation and a traditional knife is not one that lends itself to a self defense knife.
Quote from: raider502 on February 10, 2018, 05:18:22 PMThank you for the sage advice and it is GOLDEN. I should maybe give a bit more information on my background. I spent 10 years in the Army (Infantry) and the Air National Guard. In my current job part of my responsibility is that of Director of Security for a hospital. I am a huge fan of conflict avoidance. My use of a knife as a self defense weapon is much further down the line than even a tertiary weapon. First and foremost I don’t go looking for trouble, next I have had a lot of training on verbal De-escalation and would much rather walk away from a conflict. Then I have truck keys to get me into my vehicle and out of dodge. I do have a CCW and usually carry a primary pistol on my hip and a backup in an ankle rig but honestly I pray that I’ll never have to use either. I have had training in unarmed combatives but I’m getting older and broken (several surgeries) and while I think I could hold my own I still really want to avoid confrontations that show me different. Now I guess we could say this is where my knife comes into play. If all other efforts fail to get me away from the threat and I have no remaining options for defense then I want to have a knife that has characteristics that would help me in a self defense situation and a traditional knife is not one that lends itself to a self defense knife. It sounds like you have the right approach to self defense raider502. You have thought out the possiblities very well.
(Image removed from quote.)Day three found me using the Queen #60 to cut a variety of materials which it did with no issues.
Those are my favorite cookies. Yep sounds like the traditional bug has taken hold.
Starting Day 4 with the Queen Cutlery #27 Sheepsfoot Barlow.
Starting Day 4 with the Queen Cutlery #27 Sheepsfoot Barlow.(Image removed from quote.) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Decided to use the Queen #27 to dice up an onion to go with dinner.I’m noticing my pics tend to have some sort of food theme.
If I want a knife that won't fold, thats why they make sheath knives. I still applaud your trip into traditional territory . I wonder when you come out the other side of you'll be selling off your moderns?
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