Should I Use a Small Pocket Knife for Self-Defense?

Most preppers carry a knife for a variety of purposes, and any knife, no matter why it is carried, can be pressed into service as a defensive weapon. However, some prefer to carry a small, lightweight knife for utility chores only, eschewing the weight and bulk of a larger folding or fixed blade knife. Could this get them into trouble in a self-defense situation? Is a small knife inherently bad for self-defense purposes?

Should you use a small pocket knife for self-defense? No, if you have a choice, as they do give up some functionality to larger blades. Small knives are inherently lacking when it comes to self-defense, and don’t show as much efficacy as larger ones when cutting. However, compact pocket knives are much easier to conceal and may be the only option in certain places.

But there is much more to consider when it comes to small pocket knives on defense. Keep reading to get the rest of the story.

Does the Size of the Knife Matter?

It might seem like a silly question, but there are plenty of people who would prefer to carry whichever knife they prefer and not give it any more thought. After all, if a knife can cut flesh it can work for self-defense right? Not really. Except, maybe. It is complicated, and since self-defense is serious business the subject deserves to be expanded upon.

First things first, the size of the knife does matter, but perhaps not in the way that you think. A small knife might not be effective enough in a hardcore fight for your life, but on the other hand a supersized, movie villain fixed blade knife could also prove to be too cumbersome for carry and also clumsy to wield. read more on the pros and cons of fixed vs. folding knives here.

Generally speaking a longer blade makes for a better stabbing weapon, because it ensures more penetration and a better chance of striking vital structures within the body. A short knife will not penetrate as deeply, obviously. But how about when it comes to cutting and slashing attacks? That answer is not so simple.

We have seen time and time again the tiniest of knives deliver positively devastating cutting attacks.

Box cutters are a notorious improvised weapon for this reason, and the common surgical scalpel has a blade that is merely three quarters of an inch long, but can nonetheless open up an adult human being with scarcely any effort. When it comes to cutting, blade geometry and sharpness are more important than length.

Small knives do have other advantages and disadvantages to consider attendant with their diminutive stature. Keep reading and we will get into them.

Advantages of Small Knives

Small knives have some advantages all their own. Small pocket knives are especially easy and convenient to carry, and they may be easier to deploy, especially when you don’t have as much clearance as you’d like.

The ability of small knives to go unnoticed makes them excellent for deep carry environments where any detection could spell consequences. Also, the fastest knife to draw is the one you already have in your hand.

Small pocket knives can be easily palmed, ready for instant deployment so long as your knife’s closure mechanism is suitable for the task.

Whether you are pressing a common pocket knife or gentleman’s knife into service as a defensive weapon, or have chosen a particularly compact variety of pocket knife designed for self-defense, you won’t give up much in the way of cutting power so long as the knife is kept sharp, and its compact nature makes it devastating when employed with the element of surprise.

Disadvantages of Small Knives

Small knives do have some inherent disadvantages. The short blade length does not lend itself well, as mentioned above, and this can be problematic because it is thrusts, not slashes, that are far more likely to be fight-stopping strikes.

Additionally small pocket knives are usually small all the way around, blade and handle. This can compromise a secure grip on the knife by affording you less purchase, or one that is less ergonomic.

It does not take a genius to see that a full, secure grip on a knife is paramount if you want to use it effectively in a self-defense encounter.

Also, it is worth mentioning that small knives are working with less material, particularly the surfaces of locking components.

The most could be considered to be adequately strong for defensive use, particularly if they are made to a high standard by a reputable manufacturer using top quality materials, small pocket knives generally will not withstand as much abuse as larger ones before failing.

Last Resort, or Only Choice?

Often the most salient factor concerning the use of a small pocket knife for self-defense is whether or not any other knife is even an option.

Being forced to rely on a pocket knife that was never carried for the explicit purpose of self-defense is one thing, but being prohibited by law from carrying anything more substantial is another thing entirely. This consideration alone might significantly influence the choice of knife.

Take Chicago and New York for instance, two cities with stringent knife laws, particularly concerning blade length. If you may only carry a knife with a blade measuring 2 inches or less, what kind of pocket knife will fit the bill, particularly if you want to carry it for self-defense since guns are even more severely curtailed?

In such locales you would be well served to seek out and choose a pocket knife specially made for self-defense in such political climates.

Some makers, like Spyderco, produce knives with tiny blades married to larger handles and substantially beefy locking systems. Knives like this try to make the best of a bad situation while sticking to the letter of the law for those who live in such places that have them.

Now, if all you have to defend yourself is a tiny pen blade featured on an equally tiny Swiss army knife, then you have to do what you can with what you have. This is an example of a small pocket knife being a genuine weapon of last resort.

Handle and Locking System Matter Most

Perhaps more than the length of the blade, it is the size of the handle and in particular the locking system that matter the most when employing a small pocket knife for self-defense. It is unfortunate that the vast majority of small pocket knives lack any substantial locking system, with most relying on the classic slip joint.

The slip joint is an elegant and simple locking system for light duty work, but it does not lend itself well at all to the chaos and rigors of combat.

It does not take any imagination to see how the blade could be pressed or whacked from the spine side disengaging the lock and closing the blade on the fingers of the wielder. This, you might say, is not good.

Even the liner lock, so derided by aficionados, affords dramatically more security and certainty than a slip joint.

If you are choosing a small pocket knife as your one-and-done-do-everything utility tool plus a genuine last-ditch weapon, you might be best served to find one that has some sort of sturdy lock if you are able.

Also, the size of the handle matters considerably, with many compact knives being so small that they only afford a two and a half finger grip.

This is far from ideal, and one can make the argument that the grip is becoming so compromised that a fumble or loss of the knife is a virtual certainty in the fight. If you cannot retain the knife in use it is not going to do you much good!

Anyone who is considering carrying a small pocketknife for any reason (but particularly as an additional weapon in their self-defense arsenal) would be well served to consider all of the factors we have listed above before making their final choice.

Small knives can perform much better than you might be thinking in a self-defense role, but certain design features are critical to maximize performance.

Conclusion

Small pocket knives can be adequate performers in a self-defense role, but they give up considerable effectiveness when stabbing and their diminutive profile can make deployment, handling and security challenging.

However, there is an increasingly popular category of small and ultra compact pocket knives that are designed with superior ergonomics and locking systems in mind.

For those who are limited to legal carry of only the smallest pocket knives or who desire the smallest possible defensive weapon these knives are excellent choices.

via Modern Survival Online https://ift.tt/3b9HL6G