Tactical Knife Choice

[cejames]

Hi, All:

I am interested in the purchase of a solid folding tactical knife for self-defense that would be considered legal in California, any recommendations?

What did you look for when choosing the knife, i.e. blade length, locking mechanism reliability, carry to deploy features and handle tactile to cutting edge ability?

Thanks,

Charles

[Erik]

Griptilians are easy to find at REI. Good metal and reasonably good grip. Comes in several variations, it seems.

http://www.code3tactical.com/images/...tail/bm551.jpg

I am partial to the big hole instead of a screwed-in knob for extending the blade.

Comparison:
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/97910a40.jpg
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/BM-...Griptilian.jpg
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/BM-556BK.JPG

Comes in that katana-style point, too.
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/BM-557.JPG

The AF PJs I know all seem to like this knife.

I have a minor preference for some Sypderco knives, though. A little simpler.

One problem with these kinds of knives is that there is not much to keep your hand from sliding forward onto the blade if you stab something solid (like wood, a book, or ribs).

I think CA law is 3" max (7.62 cm) but knife laws do change from county to county. Griptilian is 3 1/2 inches. Do not carry any knife on a school campus, by the way. That's a big deal in N. California.

And heck, you live in Bezerkeley, so God knows what defines good sense there in regards to carrying a knife. I'm sure the cops wouldn't bother someone who comes across as upright and free of a bad attitude but the DAs strike me as being the kind of hyper-liberal insane that guys like our webmaster, Robert, seem to think CA is like all over ( )

As for the criminals in Bezerkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, and so on, I'd want a big long club so I would be less likely to be exposed to blood borne pathogens. There are some really filthy people in our area, Buddy (I live semi-nearby down in Union City... for now, at least).

[cejames]

Griptilians are easy to find at REI. Good metal and reasonably good grip. Comes in several variations, it seems.

http://www.code3tactical.com/images/...tail/bm551.jpg

I am partial to the big hole instead of a screwed-in knob for extending the blade.

Comparison:
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/97910a40.jpg
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/BM-...Griptilian.jpg
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/BM-556BK.JPG

Comes in that katana-style point, too.
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/BM-557.JPG

The AF PJs I know all seem to like this knife.

I have a minor preference for some Sypderco knives, though. A little simpler.

One problem with these kinds of knives is that there is not much to keep your hand from sliding forward onto the blade if you stab something solid (like wood, a book, or ribs).

I think CA law is 3" max (7.62 cm) but knife laws do change from county to county. Griptilian is 3 1/2 inches. Do not carry any knife on a school campus, by the way. That's a big deal in N. California.

And heck, you live in Bezerkeley, so God knows what defines good sense there in regards to carrying a knife. I'm sure the cops wouldn't bother someone who comes across as upright and free of a bad attitude but the DAs strike me as being the kind of hyper-liberal insane that guys like our webmaster, Robert, seem to think CA is like all over ( )

As for the criminals in Bezerkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, and so on, I'd want a big long club so I would be less likely to be exposed to blood borne pathogens. There are some really filthy people in our area, Buddy (I live semi-nearby down in Union City... for now, at least).

Thanks for this response and insight. California is a nice place but in some things it is a pain in the ass.

Charles J.

[Erik]

California is a nice place but in some things it is a pain in the ass.

Sure is....

I know there's an REI in Bezerkeley. You can see the Griptilian and get a sense of its feel there, I'm sure. It's hard to imagine how a knife feels when looking at it on the internet. Good luck.

[Ramirez]

I have two Spyderco Endura's full flat grind that are great knives, bought them for $65.00 Canadian, solid workmanship, great grip , simple lock. I have one in orange and one in blue, I like bright coloured knives so if the gendarmes ever stop me they think I'm boy scout instead of ninja wannabe.

If the Endura is too large for you look for the Delica.

[Jonathan Randall]

I have two Spyderco Endura's full flat grind that are great knives, bought them for $65.00 Canadian, solid workmanship, great grip , simple lock. I have one in orange and one in blue, I like bright coloured knives so if the gendarmes ever stop me they think I'm boy scout instead of ninja wannabe.

[/IMG]

Yes, I replaced my fearsome looking CRKT folder for a more utility-looking knife for that very reason. Funny thing is, I didn't carry the CRKT for self-defence, rather as a utility knife, lol, for which it worked better than the actual utility knife I replaced it with. California, California....

[Cliff Hargrave]

I love the Spyderco Endura. I carried one for years until I lost it while fishing one day. I carry a Cold Steel Voyager now. I think I am going to get another Endura, I miss it.

[Erik]

For utility, I am partial to three knives in particular, all from Opinel.

2160.jpg
OP-114-small.jpg

The big ones come in carbon and stainless, the small in stainless, only. I like the #8 for all of these.

I use the stainless slimline because it does what I need and looks very, very un-intimidating. Even the anti-knife morons don't get fussed about it (much).

It would be very bad for fighting, though, as the draw is slow, there is minimal thumb protection, and the blade is very thin and easy to break.

After Cliff's and Mark's endorsement, I think I'll look into getting an Endura. I just like those Spydercos and Mark's idea about the color. Ugly, but nice and functional.

[jjaje]

I really like the pocket snag and locking mechanism of many of the Cold Steel knives.
Not sure what your length laws are in CA, but the AK47 is pretty sweet.
csstoreonline_2216_17719225.jpg

Of course, I've only used on camping and outdoors, not in a "tactical" situation.

[Silent memory]

Spyderco is one of the best known. In the UK you can get smaller Spyderco knives. But the one I have is a Gerber lock knife with a blade under 2.5 inches.

Some I have seen and liked are SOG. I don't know if they are good as anything containing the word "Tactical" is a turn off. You could buy a tactical 550 steel ninja bo shuriken knife and people would but it for the words ninja and tactical. It is like the B.O.B for preppers and survivalists. It is a generic word for selling people rubbish they may not want.

So ignore the tactical and buy a knife. Any knife is a knife. A Bear Grylls knife is a knife as much as a knife is in your kitchen drawer. But from what I have read, Spyderco and SOG. As the UK do not allow the really good stuff due to people having the IQ of a brick knifing each other over anything silly we can not have the larger blades in the UK (or the decent ones) so a small Gerber for me.

But yeah, steer clear of Tactical. It is a selling buzzword for idiots to spend their hard earned cash on rubbish for a over priced item.

[giles]

But the one I have is a Gerber lock knife with a blade under 2.5 inches.
[snip]
As the UK do not allow the really good stuff due to people having the IQ of a brick knifing each other over anything silly we can not have the larger blades in the UK (or the decent ones) so a small Gerber for me.

Actually your Gerber is in the same legal category as a machete. You need "good reason" to carry it in the UK. Under Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1988, you can carry most stuff if you've got a reason for it: work, religion, national costume are all mentioned as possible reasons.

Where you don't need any reason is a knife with a cutting edge less than 3" that is "readily foldable at all times", i.e. non-locking.

[Ramirez]

Non locking folders are dangerous IMO.

Unleashing my inner bodyguard!