The knife is the most lethal weapon in close combat. When selecting a knife, two elements must be considered: balance and sharpness. The hilt should be comfortable in your hand, and the blade should not be so heavy that it drags the hilt from your fingers in a slack hold.
Because an artery rips through (as opposed to a clean cut) tends to constrict and limit the bleeding, the blade must have a vital stabbing tip and excellent cutting edges. If a major artery is cut cleanly, the attacker will immediately lose consciousness and die.
Today’s specialty knives are either based on those specifications or created with similar concepts in mind: ease of handling and excellent cutting. Unfortunately, many knife-fighting blades have little value outside of combat or have names that emphasize their violent origins. This may have legal consequences.
However, most other knives will do. Typically, you want a knife as long as practicable while staying balanced and pleasant to hold.
The sharper the edge, the better. Serrations improve the capacity to execute lethal cuts. A curvature also enhances the knife’s slicing ability. The decision between fixed and folding blades is usually based on concealability and simplicity of usage.
A fixed blade is more convenient to wield but less concealable. A folding knife will take longer to put into action, but it will be easier to hide. Keep in mind to always stay on the right side of the law.
“How to use a knife for self defense” blog IS a must-read! I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a crime/thriller movie where a character would go grab a knife for defense but doesn’t really know how to use a knife for self defense! Let’s normalize reading blogs on how to use a knife for self defense!