Poll - Are you proficient with a knife?

[Pray To Jesus]

Knifes are more lethal in a close range battle than a gun if you know how to properly use a knife. If you want to know how to properly defend yourself with a knife: stab repeatedly. If you have to stab someone, best that you go for the kill.

In order to have your weapon relatively secure and with very low possibility of being taken from you, hold the knife arm away from your target; bring it forward to stab only. Use the other arm to distract. If you have a jacket or something in the other hand, you can throw it in the other person's eye to block their sight while capitalizing on their lack of sight to stab them at spots to inflict a mortal wound.

Range is a big issue as guns win most battles due to distance, but in a close range battle a knife is more lethal by far.

 

[Howard]

Knifes are more lethal in a close range battle than a gun if you know how to properly use a knife. If you want to know how to properly defend yourself with a knife: stab repeatedly. If you have to stab someone, best that you go for the kill.

In order to have your weapon relatively secure and with very low possibility of being taken from you, hold the knife arm away from your target; bring it forward to stab only. Use the other arm to distract. If you have a jacket or something in the other hand, you can throw it in the other person's eye to block their sight while capitalizing on their lack of sight to stab them at spots to inflict a mortal wound.

Range is a big issue as guns win most battles due to distance, but in a close range battle a knife is more lethal by far.

Man, you crazy.

 

[mnewsham]

Knifes are more lethal in a close range battle than a gun if you know how to properly use a knife. If you want to know how to properly defend yourself with a knife: stab repeatedly. If you have to stab someone, best that you go for the kill.

In order to have your weapon relatively secure and with very low possibility of being taken from you, hold the knife arm away from your target; bring it forward to stab only. Use the other arm to distract. If you have a jacket or something in the other hand, you can throw it in the other person's eye to block their sight while capitalizing on their lack of sight to stab them at spots to inflict a mortal wound.

Range is a big issue as guns win most battles due to distance, but in a close range battle a knife is more lethal by far.

The best advice in a knife fight is going to be keep your distance (unless you are the aggressor I suppose).

We practice this in fencing sometimes, one person has a standard size foil blade(about 34-35"), the other person has a dagger (about 6") and the object is to work on keeping proper distance and learning how to close the gap quickly (and without getting hit).

We also do dagger vs. dagger bouts, but probably 1/2 the time both hit at the same time and it would be fatal for both.

 

[chalmers]

I seriously doubt the amount of people who have any serious experience in knife fight training or anything other than kitchen usage.

It's fun to pretend though.

 

[zinfamous]

I seriously doubt the amount of people who have any serious experience in knife fight training or anything other than kitchen usage.

It's fun to pretend though.

I doubt neither BoomerD nor the fencing dude.

 

[Lurknomore]

Knifes are more lethal in a close range battle than a gun if you know how to properly use a knife. If you want to know how to properly defend yourself with a knife: stab repeatedly. If you have to stab someone, best that you go for the kill.

In order to have your weapon relatively secure and with very low possibility of being taken from you, hold the knife arm away from your target; bring it forward to stab only. Use the other arm to distract. If you have a jacket or something in the other hand, you can throw it in the other person's eye to block their sight while capitalizing on their lack of sight to stab them at spots to inflict a mortal wound.

Range is a big issue as guns win most battles due to distance, but in a close range battle a knife is more lethal by far.

Why stabbing (blade end pointing down) instead of slashing (blade up- tennis grip?) for self-defense? I've heard a slashing motion is more versatile (plus a stab can be dug into clothing or flesh, with the other guy counterattacking)- possibly more range of motion when slashing too. Just guessing now, haven't got into any knife fight nor care to.

 

[chalmers]

I doubt neither BoomerD nor the fencing dude.

Cool, 2.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I can slice a mushroom a hundred times with a Chinese slicer. For defense? I take one of these to work. I'm not worried about knives.

 

[tfinch2]

I take guns to knife fights.

 

[phucheneh]

It probably takes at least one knife fight to find out how good at knife fighting you are

Everyone here probably doesn't know. That, or they're a hardcore motherfucker. Probably not a lot of 'welp, I sure have done it a lot, and boy, lemme tell ya, I can't knife fight worth a fucking shit' types out there.

 

[RossMAN]

Opening a box or package? Sure.

Anything else? Nope.

 

[OverVolt]

From what I understand its common to have the knife slip when you stab and you can run your own fingers over the blade when you exert force. So I guess use your palm on the butt of the knife?

 

[BUTCH1]

poll fail and yes, I'm VERY good with a knife..

 

[TallBill]

Maybe. I've practised.

 

[SSSnail]

Yeah, so it's reasonably safe to assume that most of the people in this thread with military and/or martial arts background will have some form of familiarity and training with hand-to-hand and knife combat.

Hey overvolt, most knives have guards that will prevent your hand from slipping to the blade. And, if you cut yourself stabbing something, then fill in option B in the poll.

 

[edro]

Why stabbing (blade end pointing down) instead of slashing (blade up- tennis grip?) for self-defense? I've heard a slashing motion is more versatile (plus a stab can be dug into clothing or flesh, with the other guy counterattacking)- possibly more range of motion when slashing too. Just guessing now, haven't got into any knife fight nor care to.

I would think slashing only works with sharp knives with long blades, due to clothing, etc.
Stabbing works with any knife that has a point. It can go through coats, shirts, pants, shoes, etc.

Slashing would works pretty well on forearms, faces, etc though.

If you square up with a person who can see you holding a knife, you probably couldn't get close enough to stab. Slashing might be the only option.

I hate the knife fighting videos that show a guy lunging in and stabbing the torso. In a real fight, the bad guy isn't going to stand there and take your lunge. He is going to drop back and dodge, while flailing his arms to block it.

 

[mnewsham]

I would think slashing only works with sharp knives with long blades, due to clothing, etc.
Stabbing works with any knife that has a point. It can go through coats, shirts, pants, shoes, etc.

Slashing would works pretty well on forearms, faces, etc though.

If you square up with a person who can see you holding a knife, you probably couldn't get close enough to stab. Slashing might be the only option.

I hate the knife fighting videos that show a guy lunging in and stabbing the torso. In a real fight, the bad guy isn't going to stand there and take your lunge. He is going to drop back and dodge, while flailing his arms to block it.

exactly, which is why keeping your distance and knowing HOW and when to go in is so important, unless you really know your blade and your opponent you or both of you will likely just end up getting hurt.

 

[edro]

LiveLeak is a good source for actual fighting with guns and knives.
It gives you a good idea of how people react when attacked.

 

[Gibsons]

Knifes are more lethal in a close range battle than a gun if you know how to properly use a knife.

Reminded me of this

 

[Stone Rain]

Legitimately defending yourself with a knife is a hilariously bad idea. Carry a gun, or get used to giving your wallet away, because any knife large enough to cause real damage, isn't legal to carry around in your jacket anyway.

 

[mnewsham]

Legitimately defending yourself with a knife is a hilariously bad idea. Carry a gun, or get used to giving your wallet away, because any knife large enough to cause real damage, isn't legal to carry around in your jacket anyway.

maryland has no length limit on folding blades

 

[Stone Rain]

maryland has no length limit on folding blades

I wish where I live didn't limit that!

 

[BurnItDwn]

But...are you an amateur armature,

or a professional armature?

I am a frame or a foundation for that knife. That said, I am amateurish and sometimes slice through bones and such.

I can't even cut thin slices of bread or cheese straight

Try using the sharp side of the knife instead of the dull side. It might help

In any case, cheese is delicious no matter how uneven the cuts

 

[ReggieDunlap]

I don't remember much of this film, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Grande_Arte. I saw it many years ago, but the knife fighting and the knife training in it was pretty impressive. The actor, Tchéky Karyo's character is really pretty bad ass in this film.

Watch this and you learn some things about fighting with a knife.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wShdc2zdNi8

 

[Kreon]

The best advice in a knife fight is going to be keep your distance (unless you are the aggressor I suppose).

We practice this in fencing sometimes, one person has a standard size foil blade(about 34-35"), the other person has a dagger (about 6") and the object is to work on keeping proper distance and learning how to close the gap quickly (and without getting hit).

We also do dagger vs. dagger bouts, but probably 1/2 the time both hit at the same time and it would be fatal for both.

I miss fencing. Was so much fun.

When we did dagger or short foil vs foil, the person needing to ensure they keep distance is the person with the regular foil. Once the dagger gets in beyond your point (ie, foil is parried, dagger moves in), the guy with the foil is cooked.

I always tended to be pretty passive aggressive with a dagger/short foil and my main strategy for a standard foil (or the longer weapon) was to attack to draw them in and pull back as quickly as possible, hoping to pull enough distance to get a foil hit while they weren't expecting it (since they would usually be focused on closing the distance). I was super quick, so I could pull it off pretty well. This didn't work for slower people, and was less successful in foil vs short foil situations.

I really need to find a pick-up fencing club in my area

As to the question: I would run before I tried to use a pocket knife to fight someone off.