Back Up Gun vs Tactical Blade

[Excaliber]

I carried two guns for law enforcement duty and when visiting NYC during the late eighties / early nineties when the risks there were much higher than they are now.

The rest of the time I carry one gun and a knife.

I've carried a knife since I was 6 years old. It was a folding pen knife back then.

When I started a new job one time, someone saw the pocket clip of my CRKT M1613Z and huffed that weapons weren't allowed in that workplace. I replied that I saw it as a tool, but would like to comply with company policy. I then asked how I could determine what was a weapon under that policy since I had personally investigated 3 homicides where the instruments of death were:

- a poodle leash
- a Listerine bottle
- a can opener.

Their eyes kind of crossed and said they'd get back to me. Since no one ever did, I guess they never got that fully sorted out.

[Cedar Park Dad]

A listerine bottle? There's a sure story there...

[JALLEN]

I carry a knife and have for many decades, but I would feel a lot more like it was a defense weapon if I had ever found where to get training in knife fighting. Every time I have asked about it, the reaction is either nothing or it's like if your grandmother didn't teach you, you never learn it.

I'd hate to have to serve a stretch in the pen to learn it.

I guess the other answer is Walruses don't need knives.

[LSUTiger]

I know you're trying to see which one we would carry but there's really no reason that if you can afford the extra weight of a BUG then you can afford the weight of a pocket knife. so why not just carry both? along with the flashlight, cellphone, keys, etc

Weight is a factor but having pockets full of other things ( keys, alarm fob(s), loose cash/change, wallet, reciepts etc)that I need to carry around or collect on a daily basis make it such that I can dedicate only so much space to a pocket carry pistol or a knife with out having to resort to another method of carry.

I already carry my proven reliable handgun made by a top manufacturer IWB and with a tac light, cell phone and spare mag hanging of my belt I feel it would be practical and comfortable to pocket carry a secondary EDC weapon given the ease of accessibility and deployment if needed. So with limited space (and comfort) comes limited options. Hence, for me I decided I was willing to carry one or the other and not both. If I decided to carry both then there would be no reason to take a poll.

As far as a tactical blade vs. a utility blade, it have found that my tactical blade -5.5" coldsteel voyager XL tanto folder can perform the same utility tasks as a utility blade but it is a much better tactical option for self defense than a utility design. I'll stick with the tacticool tactitool since its the better option for it's primary intended purpose.

I am not a SEAL either and don't have formal training in knife fighting, but that doesn't mean I can't fight with a knife if I had too. I am sure I could defend myself with a knife as good as most people if it came to that but just not quite as good as a SEAL.

I try not to go where 30.06 is posted but that's not 100% feasible or practical.

Now what I can't understand is how some on can't understand the "2 is one, 1 is none" philosophy:

I understand the statement, but don't agree with the conclusion. By your "math", One Gun = None so and No Gun = None so you would be just as safe carrying nothing.

It's not really my conclusion and it's not really math all, its a redundancy philosopy taken from the some of the US Military's finest, one that says you should carry more (because your'e safer that way), not less. Not at all that you'd be safer carrying nothing.

I got another riddle for you to figure out, Who's on first? http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/whos.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EDIT:

Thanks for all the participation and comments.

[WildBill]

Now what I can't understand is how some on can't understand the "2 is one, 1 is none" philosophy:

My post was meant to be contrary.
I completely understand the philosophy. It's just not my philosophy.
If I regularly worked in a combat zone I would probably act differently.

[nightmare69]

I guess the other answer is Walruses don't need knives.

How else would you open the boxes from Liberty Medical for your diabeetus?

[LabRat]

Gibbs rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife.

I guess the type of knife is up to the user.

LabRat

[Texsquatch]

Pocket knife.... My dad always would say, a grown man carries a knife, a watch and a pen everyday. My phone has taken the place of my watch. I only carry a pen while at work, but I carry my knife all the time and have added handgun to my Daddy's list.

Brother, is that you? My dad said the same thing. I still have the first knife he gave me when I was 10. He still has the one I gave him around that same age.

I don't always have a pen on my person outside of work, but I keep them in bags and in cars. I always have an appropriate watch. Only difference is that my dad mostly carries pocket watches.

So, always a knife, haven't carried an extra gun yet.

[txglock21]

Pocket knife.... My dad always would say, a grown man carries a knife, a watch and a pen everyday. My phone has taken the place of my watch. I only carry a pen while at work, but I carry my knife all the time and have added handgun to my Daddy's list.

Brother, is that you? My dad said the same thing. I still have the first knife he gave me when I was 10. He still has the one I gave him around that same age.

I don't always have a pen on my person outside of work, but I keep them in bags and in cars. I always have an appropriate watch. Only difference is that my dad mostly carries pocket watches.

So, always a knife, haven't carried an extra gun yet.

Funny thing is I catch myself saying the same thing to my guys at work when they ask to borrow a pen or knife.

[Excaliber]

A listerine bottle? There's a sure story there...

There is, but it wasn't pretty. The other weapon used in the same incident was a bathroom scale.

[ELB]

A listerine bottle? There's a sure story there...

There is, but it wasn't pretty. The other weapon used in the same incident was a bathroom scale.

When I was a kid, Listerine came in glass bottles. I would expect a broken Listerine bottle would be every bit as ugly as a broken beer bottle.

[ELB]

I carry a benchmade automatic pocket knife. Its great for everyday use, I guess I could use it for self defense.

It could, if you train yourself to use it. Accessing it under pressure (i.e. being able to get it out of your pocket and opened while/after being attacked -- while not getting taken out of the fight) is a key element.

See my reply to JALLEN below also.

[sammeow]

Gibbs Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife.

[ELB]

I carry a knife and have for many decades, but I would feel a lot more like it was a defense weapon if I had ever found where to get training in knife fighting. Every time I have asked about it, the reaction is either nothing or it's like if your grandmother didn't teach you, you never learn it.

I'd hate to have to serve a stretch in the pen to learn it.

...:

I know a number of guys who practice defense against the knife and the use of the knife in defense, if you are interested. We meet more or less informally as the Central Texas Combatives Training Group, with lots of little branches scattered around in Texas and a few other places. (Even in Afghanistan for awhile). We train with firearms long and short, and bare hands too, but we tend to really practice with knives a lot. Most training is done as individuals meeting in small groups, but we get together in somewhat larger groups for semi-formal practices and instruction, and also bring in professional instructors several times a year. Tom Sotis was here last November, that was an EXCELLENT weekend seminar.

We have a branch that meets in Austin, whose facilitator (HerbM) is a member of this board, and meets a couple or three times per week. (The leader of the overall group, and the real spark plug for all of this is SteveM, also on the board here). We have some members in San Antonio, but there's not a scheduled group meeting there right now. I see you are in Comal County, so Austin is probably the closest, and Herb is a great instructor.

You would be most welcome. There is no formal membership, just show up, bring open mind and willingness to learn. Age and physical status is not a bar, just something you have to deal with. That goes for anyone else here as well.

Our forum: http://www.combativestraininggroup.com/forum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Drop in, make a post in the Introductions, and tell everyone about yourself. And of course you can PM me, or HerbM, or SteveM.