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I'm new to the group and would like some insight on the best " Self-Defense" Knife in your opinion please as a BACK UP to my Glock 33 or if I had to draw a knife first and could not get to my piece.

*** ( I'm in TEXAS and a VALID CHL HOLDER if it matters. ) *** - I know the knife must be under 5-1/2 inches to carry Legally.


Yes I know that any knife is better then NO knife.

Yes I know that knowing how to use the knife and how it will and can function and malfunction is the best.

Yes I know it's about what each person is comfortable with and fits them best.

Yes I know that If I was ever close (yes I know "Close" and it could be to LATE) to a situation I would always try to find a route around it or head off in a different direction never turning my back but I would never go knowing I had to use anything.

I'm talking just as a Backup plan should something ever happen, god forbid and I needed it if i found myself in a hand to hand combat and could reach to get it and I could not get my first choice ( Glock 33 ).

Yes I know most of those things so all I'm asking since I'm new is that you tell me what you think is BEST and why for yourself so I can determine what might work and not work for me.

No smart alec comments just a noob here trying to get Info from folks ( Yes you ladies and gentleman in this group from your Experience. )

I will skip over the Grammer Nazi's who try and create something out of nothing from my spelling and typing.

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you All.

There are a few threads around here somewhere about EDC knives with many pictures. IMHO, and I am no hand to hand expert by any means, the best SD defense knife is one you can get into play as quickly as possible that is reliable. I've had a few 3.5-4.5" blades and currently have a Cold Steel Recon ! tanto half serrated folder. It's the biggest pocket knife I've ever had. I also have a little Kershaw Shuffle. It would probably end up being a better SD knife than the Cold Steel because I can get it into action quicker and because of its size it is easier to handle with speed.

I've also been introduced to a small fixed blade knife that has my interest. The little Ka-Bar TDI. Due to it's size it should be easy to wield and because it is a fixed blade even quicker to deploy and far more reliable than a folder.

Welcome to the forum!

As you realize, that's a tough one to answer as it is a very personal choice.

Do you want a folder or not? Assisted opening or auto opener (and how do your travels impact that choice based on local laws)? Then there's blade shape, locking mechanism, scale composition, blade steel (that can get outrageous quickly) and so forth.

You can spend crazy, crazy money on blades. Personally? I targeted the $60 and under range for my knife search. There are some great bargains in the $20 ~ $35 range.

Hit YouTube. There are hundreds of knife review videos and you can waste/spend a lot of time there. For my two cents, don't get locked into one person's opinion on what's best.

Start comparing prices. You can find wide a wide range on specific models and knife specialty outlets (at least from my experience) do not have the best prices.

In the end, buy what makes you happy.

i carry a cold steel voyager tanto xl 5 1/2" plain folder , it's $50. it fits comfortably in my pocket and into my edc system as a defensive back up to my g26 and a defensive option should you find it necessary or otherwise want comply with 30.06 or other such stupidities. we all know that criminals always obey the laws and how effective signs are at stopping crime. but that's a rant for another thread

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools TF1-CP Trident Knife with Partially Serrated Assisted Folding

Ka-Bar TDI Law Enforcement Knife

i've had these 2 for the last 8 years. (warning don't use it to open boxes @work) "why are you bringing deadly weapons @ work?"

oh yeah, you can thank me later!

C-Dub has a Cold Steel Recon, LSUTiger has a Cold Steel Voyager, and I've got a Cold Steel Code 4...I'm sensing a trend.

Good knives for a good value, but there are so many more manufacturers to choose from.

If you want an auto, here is an inexpensive knife that's built like a tank. Good company to deal with, too.

http://www.bladehq.com/cat--All-Items-- ... price_each" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I carry the KALS74 every day.

If it is a folder, make sure it has a darn good lock on it. Not confident of any of the spring/liner lock types. Cold Steel has good locks on their offerings, I think they call it the Tri-Ad lock.

Cold Steel Spartan is a terrific folder unless you have shallow pockets. It is a lot of knife, but the clip mounts at the very end/butt of the knife, so the whole thing disappears into the pocket and doesn't look like you are carrying a big knife (also, the clip can be mounted on either side). Blade is Texas legal, VERY strong, and sharp out of the box. Has a big widget on the back of the blade that makes it easy to open wave-style, but the heavy blade also makes it easy to open with any number of centripetal methods (i.e. flip it open). Tri-Ad lock. Blade has a deep belly, lots of curve, provided lots of cutting edge but makes it harder to sharpen evenly. The grip is excellent, very secure, has some butt behind the little finger that can be used in a pinch to pound somebody with. Last I looked it was between $50 and $60 on Amazon. If you whip this one out to open boxes or cut your steak, people will notice, it is not a gentle-looking pocket knife.

I also like the Secret Edge fixed blade by Cold Steel. Very flat, not too big, symmetric blade, sharp and pointed. Carries in a lot of places, including tucked inside a lace-up boot.

I also like the CounterPoint 1 by Cold Steel, another folder with the Tri Ad lock, but its not quite as easy/fast for me as the Spartan. But I really like symmetrical blades. Has a false edge on the back of the blade that is not a real edge, but thin enough to do some damage if there is a bit of force behind it. Clip can be mounted on either side.

For something completely different, google Hideaway knives and check those out. Pricy, but very interesting.

aaangel wrote:SOG Specialty Knives & Tools TF1-CP Trident Knife with Partially Serrated Assisted Folding

Ka-Bar TDI Law Enforcement Knife

i've had these 2 for the last 8 years. (warning don't use it to open boxes @work) "why are you bringing deadly weapons @ work?"

oh yeah, you can thank me later!

Heh I have a SOG Flash II and when someone asked what it was for, I said it was my box cutter. They just laughed.

Different environment I guess, my employer allows CHL carry in the office too.

Pawpaw wrote:If you want an auto, here is an inexpensive knife that's built like a tank. Good company to deal with, too.

http://www.bladehq.com/cat--All-Items-- ... price_each" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I carry the KALS74 every day.

Thanks! Very interesting... Certainly inexpensive enough to test. I've never owned an auto knife.


I've been carrying this knife in a neck sheath. In the week since I got it, I've found it comfortable, easily concealable and easily deployable. Still working on a neck lanyard I feel more comfortable about. Right now it's on a simple paracord loop. Definitely a choking hazard. Just picked up some paracord and I'm working on some breakaway closures that should be strong enough to allow the knife to deploy, but still break away if it snags or someone grabs it.

http://jwknives.tictail.com/product/hits-knife" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pawpaw wrote:If you want an auto, here is an inexpensive knife that's built like a tank. Good company to deal with, too.

http://www.bladehq.com/cat--All-Items-- ... price_each" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I carry the KALS74 every day.

Blaming it on you! One of those automatic knives and a couple other throwing stars and things that are an absolute a critical necessity and I'm $100 poorer all thanks to you!

Never came across http://www.bladehq.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; until now. Curse you!

My work here is done.

Yeah, have fun with that 30 dollar auto. Hope the blade doesn't snap off and get stuck in your hand.

Kershaw is a decent EDC knife. I wouldn't trust it for much of any hard labor, but it gets the job done. I carry a Clash on most days.

If you want to drop coin, there are a lot of options out there. Zero Tolerance is my choice for a folder. I carry a ZT0301ST when I'm not scared I'm going to lose it.

But, in reality, if your goal is to have a 'backup,' I wouldn't ever recommend a knife. Bringing a knife to a fight is a poor choice, and your chances of having that knife turned against you are pretty high. Pepper spray is a better alternative.

esxmarkc wrote:

Pawpaw wrote:If you want an auto, here is an inexpensive knife that's built like a tank. Good company to deal with, too.

http://www.bladehq.com/cat--All-Items-- ... price_each" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I carry the KALS74 every day.

Blaming it on you! One of those automatic knives and a couple other throwing stars and things that are an absolute a critical necessity and I'm $100 poorer all thanks to you

A word to the wise. It's now legal to carry automatic knives but those throwing stars are still prohibited.

"Back up" can have different meanings I suppose, but in any situation where a gun or a knife is called for, going with pepper spray is seriously deficient. If it is all you got, then it's all you got, but if you have a choice deadly force needs to be met with the most effective force you have available. I'm sure there are one-off situations where spray could save the day, but not the way to bet.

In a situation that is within the range of a knife, I would choose a knife over another gun and certainly over pepper spray. At knife and most likely gunfight ranges, pepper spray is as apt to affect the user as it is the target. It is much harder for an adversary to deflect or disarm a short sharp piece of steel protruding form your hand than a firearm. Also the knife has more "dangerous directions" than a handgun -- the handgun essentially has a 9mm +/- tube of danger that requires the handgun to be oriented a certain way to be effective. A knife can be turned, twisted, slashed, pushed, withdrawn, etc in all kinds of directions.

Pepper spray is fine for situations that still include distance and less-than-lethal confrontation, but it is a different (lesser) level of force than a gun or knife, and shouldn't be a pre-planned substitute.

That small fixed blade neck knife looks excellent. I forgot to say earlier that the only real reasons I can come up with to carry a folder over a fixed blade is that it lets you carry more knife in the same space, and it provides its own sheath. Otherwise the fixed blade is an excellent choice -- doesn't require any manipulation to get the blade out other than getting it out of the sheath, know worries about the lock, and much less expensive for the amount of knife you get.