FINDING THAT EDGE
Selecting a Blade for Self-defense Is More Than Just Choosing the Right Steel
Selecting a blade for self-defense is more than just choosing the right steel.
It’s almost like clockwork. Whenever I teach a kniferelated combatives class or seminar, a new student will inevitably ask me, “What’s the best knife for self-defense?” I usually go with the classic retort: “The one in my hand.”
All jokes aside, though, if I’m talking about a knife to protect myself and my loved ones, the best blade will need to be the one that I can carry safely, access quickly, and use effectively.
For many, the selection process ends there. But it shouldn’t. There’s a lot more to consider when choosing a self-defense blade, including legal ramifications, ethical considerations, and whether you even have the internal fortitude to thrust or slash at another human being with razor sharp steel. If you’ve never considered all of these other factors when choosing a defensive knife, read on as we take a stab at a deep subject. You might just find out something about yourself that you had never considered before when it comes to your everyday-carry (EDC) gear.
So, here are six steps every knife enthusiast should consider before choosing an edged weapon for self-defense:
“…THE BEST BLADE WILL NEED TO BE THE ONE THAT I CAN CARRY SAFELY, ACCESS QUICKLY, AND USE EFFECTIVELY.”
STEP 1: Establish Your Mindset
Before we even get to the question of what hardware you should hold in your hand, we’re going to focus on the software that runs in your head. Simply put, you need to ask yourself, “Am I willing to inflict serious (and potentially fatal) injuries to another human being if I’m forced to defend myself?”
A knife is not a toy. It’s not something you draw to look cool. A self-defense knife is a lethal weapon that can extinguish life. So, once you acknowledge that fact, you have to be comfortable with the idea that you might have to use it to do serious bodily harm—and live with the consequences, be they legal, moral, ethical, or financial.
If you’re not comfortable with that, then there’s no point in even carrying a knife for self-defense, because it’s unlikely you’ll be able to draw one—let alone use it properly—in the heart-pounding, adrenaline-filled stress of a lifeand-death situation.
Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with not wanting to inflict harm with a knife. Just be certain you have other tools— namely empty-hand combatives and less-lethal tools such as OC spray or tactical flashlight—to deal with threats to your life.
STEP 2: Do Your Legal Homework
The next question to ask yourself is, “What knife can I legally carry in the areas where I live, work, and play?”
It’s pointless to buy an out-thefront automatic knife with a spearpoint blade profile if auto knives are prohibited in your region. While you might win the physical fight against a bad guy, you might not be so lucky in a court battle against an overzealous prosecutor or a civil lawsuit. And there’s no telling how much you’d have to pay in legal fees to wage such a legal war.
Save yourself future heartache by researching the laws in your city, county, state/province, and country. Read them carefully and consult with an attorney if you have the opportunity. Some knife codes can be straightforward while others are murky at best. Do your homework ahead of time and carry responsibly no matter where you go.
STEP 3: Choose Fixed or Folding Blade
One of the most common knifefight fallacies is the myth of having enough time and space. Do you believe that, when feces hits the fan, you’ll have both the time and the distance to spot the threat, pull out your folding knife, open the blade quickly, regrip your handle, and get your weapon into play before a violent psycho can hurt you? Well, guess what? A sociopathic gangster would have gutted you in just a quarter of the time it took you to read that last sentence. That’s how fast real violence can occur.
So, if self-defense is your priority, go with a fixed blade. It’s a much
“…IF SELF-DEFENSE IS YOUR PRIORITY, GO WITH A FIXED BLADE. IT’S A MUCH FASTER OPTION THAN A FOLDING KNIFE.”
faster option than a folding knife. It has no safety to disengage or thumb-stud to push open. It has no moving parts, so there’s a lower chance of failure. Simply draw the knife from your sheath and it is immediately “live.”
If carrying concealed is allowed and blade length isn’t an issue, get the longest fixed knife you can carry that doesn’t “print” underneath your clothes. For many, that will mean selecting a small- to medium-sized knife with a slim handle and blade.
While some self-defense instructors advocate open-carry as a visual deterrent, I’ve never prescribed to that strategy. Why give a bad guy the advantage of seeing what you have and where? And why attract unwanted attention (from both cops and crooks) in the first place?
So, if a concealed fixed blade isn’t legal in your area, get a reliable folding knife with a foolproof opening mechanism that is permissible in your jurisdiction. The choice of that opening mechanism is certainly open to debate. I know some knife knuts who live in “free” states such as Arizona who carry nothing but automatic knives. I’m friends with folks who say a springassisted folder has all the benefits of a switchblade but none of the legal drawbacks. And I’ve trained with police officers who swear by pocketdeploy knives (think Emerson Knives’ Wave Feature).
My selection changes based on where I’m going and why. But generally, I choose a folding knife with two reliable opening methods just in case the first fails. For example, a thumbhole and a flipper tab, or a thumb-disc and a pocket-deploy hook.
STEP 4: Choose Your Blade Profile
The human body is soft and fragile; almost any blade can do damage to it. Don’t believe me? Apparently, you’ve never suffered a paper cut in your life. In all seriousness, a butter knife can be lethal in the hands of a determined killer.
Still, you want an efficient blade profile with the most stopping power. And that almost always comes down to a blade with a pointy tip and a straight cutting edge. The former ensures deeper penetration for internal damage (e.g., piercing lungs or heart, etc.) while the latter is effective at structural damage (i.e., severing muscles, tendons, and arteries).
While there is at least a half dozen blade shapes that can be fatally efficient, here are three that I recommend for self-defense:
Drop-point: This blade profile gets its name from the way its straight spine drops down toward the point. The cutting edge is straight until it sweeps up to meet the spine, forming a sturdy tip. This makes it excellent for thrusts, while the straight cutting edge is long enough (even on short folders) for effective slashes. Quite vicious, but also versatile for EDC tasks.
Tanto: While this is more of an American reimagining than an accurate representation of the eponymous Samurai dagger, the tanto is known for its strong tip for stabbing and straight edge
for slicing. Just keep in mind that, because of the obtuse angle from cutting edge to tip, the tanto is less versatile for utilitarian tasks.
Wharncliffe: I recommend a modernized version of this blade shape like the Spyderco Yojimbo 2, which has a perfectly straight cutting edge and an extremely pointy tip. With all things being equal, the Wharncliffe provides the deepest and most precise slashes in a self-defense situation—it maintains constant pressure on flesh whereas, say, a trailing-point blade curves away from a body part as you follow through. This makes the Wharncliffe an excellent option for fighting, though it is a little less versatile for EDC tasks.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to stay away from knife shapes that are overly curved (e.g., hawkbill), lack a prominent tip (cleaver style), or have a lot of serrations (there’s a reason the Samurai and the medieval knights never had sawtooth edges on their swords!). In recent years it’s been quite trendy to make self-defense weapons out of space-age materials. I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing polymer dirks, carbon fiber folders, and G10 fixed blades. And as cool as those materials are, a good knife blade they do not make. While they’re razor sharp out of the box, they have poor edge retention and can dull, dent, or crack—sometimes even after just one use.
Second, if you ever have to use one to defend yourself, you’re gonna have to explain to law enforcement why you were carrying a weapon that has limited utilitarian use yet can sneak past metal detectors.
Instead, stick to steel. We can group steel blades into two categories: stainless and non-stainless. (Metallurgists everywhere will curse me for saying that, but I’m intentionally simplifying it for the purposes of choosing a self-defense knife.)
Non-stainless like 01 tool steel, 5160 spring steel, and 1095 carbon steel offer toughness, wear resistance, and edge retention. That’s why they’re ideal for larger tools like machetes. But the major drawback is that they are prone to rusting without regular maintenance. That’s why I’m a big advocate for stainlesssteel knives. They offer the best balance of strength, sharpness, and corrosion resistance.
Here’s a look at some reliable steels at three price points:
Budget Stainless: Stay away from 8Cr13mov—unless it’s used by Kershaw Knives. I’m not sure what black magic it’s using, but Kershaw Knives takes that cheap steel and produces knives that are reliable, functional, and affordable. Otherwise, look for blade steels such as U.s.-made 440C, AUS-8 from Japan, or 14C28N produced in Sweden. Knives made from these materials can usually be found for less than $50.
Mid-range Stainless: Here’s the Goldilocks zone. You’ll find good blades that are sharp, strong, and corrosion-resistant for reasonable prices that won’t