Given the current climate, preparedness and being ready for imminent civil unrest are on everyone’s mind. However, if you are reading this, it is a good presumption that you’ve been prepared for some time. You likely carry a firearm (or 3) and have taken some training classes. Hopefully, you have also taken some TCCC courses.

But you may not carry a knife (Or maybe you do). This article focuses on what makes a good carry knife by identifying the differentiation between an offensive/defensive tool and the folder you use to cut open Amazon packages.

First and foremost, if you plan to carry any weapon, please ensure you are aware of the local laws applicable to your area and stay up-to-date, especially if you travel frequently. Let’s get that out of the way first.

One of the main things you need to be aware of when carrying a knife is its purpose. As a general rule of thumb, most subject matter experts in self-defense will agree that a folder is not a viable offensive/defensive weapon for a variety of reasons, such as the inability to open it under stress, a high probability of dropping it in a scuffle, and fine motor skills going bye-bye when the adrenaline hits.

However, that’s not to say you shouldn’t have a folder to use for day-to-day things; as this is being written, there is a SOG SEAL XR in my pocket that is used to go samurai on packages and cordage as needed.

However, the rituals we go through often ring in our heads with the jingle of wallet, phone, keys, pistol and knife: even if not necessarily in that order. If that knife is part of the defensive EDC routine, it should be a fixed blade, period.

There are ample offerings on the market that can serve this role, and in no order, knives like the Skallywag dagger, Shivworks Clinch Pick or Push Dagger, Bastinelli Picolomako, or Hard Ready HR1 all fit the bill. Many of these have “trainer” options, which are essentially the same knife in every way, just with a blunted, inert edge. This is a critical distinction. You practice dry fire with a pistol, why not practice safe “dry-fire” with a blade you carry every day.

CONSIDERATIONS

We recruited three subject matter experts to answer questions. Specifically, Clint Emerson, a former DEVGRU SEAL Team 6 Operator and CIA contractor, owner of Escape the Wolf, author of the 100 Deadly Skills series.

Self-defense expert and Fit To Fight co-founder, Ryan Hoover.

And Craig Douglas, ECQC (extreme close quarter combatives) expert, trainer, former LEO, and one of the minds behind Shivworks.

Fixed Blade

Self-defense and subject matter experts typically agree that a folder is simply the wrong choice.

“Fixed blades are faster on the draw, and more reliable on the strike. A folder is essentially a broken knife” according to Clint Emerson.

To put it another way, Ryan Hoover stated that, from a self-defense perspective, “carrying a folder is like carrying a firearm in condition three.” (For clarity, this is empty chamber, hammer down, full magazine in place). Hoover went on to warn that he’s aware that many people carry a folding knife, but he has seen it fail early and often during scenario training.

“In a self-defense situation, I am likely already being choked, punched, tackled, retaining my firearm, or the like, so in order to get my concealed blade and get into the fight, having one hand free to deal with immediate danger, is vital,” Hoover commented via email.

When you break it down, the fine motor skills needed to clear a garment, draw a folder, open said folder, and getting it ready for use in the fight by orienting oneself and the weapon, are pretty cumbersome.

While there are plenty of auto and spring-assisted knives out there, Hoover warns people to “get a training version and put the reps in…but understand that mechanical things fail.”

Craig Douglas echoed all these sentiments, adding that if “you’re using a knife, you’re already behind the curve.”

Odds are, if you’re pulling your knife, things are already going bad and quick. As referenced, if you're reading this, you probably carry a firearm, and a knife serves as a backup or as a step in an escalation of force continuum. Moreover, many folders on the market do not have trainer versions available; you're forced to train with a live blade at all times.

Retention Ring

The jury is split on retention rings. Hoover prefers them for fighting, incorporating them into the way he teaches self-defense. To him, it adds “peace of mind” perspective, as he wants to be able to strike, slash, clinch, wrestle, draw a pistol, all without being “overwrought with concern of arming the bad guy with my knife.”

Douglas says that he is “retention ring neutral” but personally thinks that adding the need to thread a finger through a retention ring before getting it into the fight poses just another potential weak point. At the same time, retention rings are ideal for knives carried on a plate carrier.

Comfort

Make sure the knife is comfortable for you, the sheath fits well, and most importantly, you can access it quickly and without much effort. You should consider how it fits in your hand, of course, but also how it feels against your body in the position you'll be wearing it in. When looking at how it fits in your hand, consider texturing, the size of the grip, the balance or “feel of it” and  blade length. You likely don't need anything with more than a 3-4 inch blade for a EDC defensive application. Blade length concerns are doubly important considering the legally permitted length in your state and city.

Retention

Whatever you choose, the knife should have some type of active or passive retention to stop it from falling out. The belt clip (or however it is secured) should also be able to stand up to a violent draw stroke. The knife should barely move when it's in both the sheath and clipped to your belt/boot/daily kit.

Make sure the sheath, whether it is a clip or belt loop, has a solid form of retention.  “It doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘comfortable,’ but it should not be such an inconvenience that you opt not to carry it more than you do,” Hoover commented.

Concealability

Like a firearm, you don’t want everybody in Target knowing you have a weapon on you; Surprise is half the battle. Akin to the grip frame on a pistol, you'll want to skirt the line between comfortable enough to use in your hand, and small enough not to print excessively. As Doug Marcaida, knife expert, hauntingly puts it “Knives are meant to be felt, not seen.” It should be hidden until it isn't.

Carry Position

Assuming you have a blade that is comfortable to use, concealable, and has strong retention, you need to have a place to carry it that you can access quickly and that doesn’t get in the way too much. Most experts and trainers suggest it should be close to the centerline (think appendix carry), but wherever you carry, it should be second nature when you need to draw it.

Many SMEs are proponents of keeping the blade up front, close to the centerline, regardless of where one carries a pistol. And, as Hoover and Douglas put it, “training matters” so make sure you have a trainer version of whatever you carry. “Training any combative is just a simulation. We can simulate pressure, but it’s not life-and-death, it’s not the real thing. But, you should train like it is and use an analog of your knife,” Douglas remarked.

Also, another reason to have a trainer is that some people practice drawing their knife with their left hand if they're right-handed, in the event your dominant hand is tied up with combatives, holding an assailant, or firing a weapon. This is another reason a trainer version is critical; doing anything with your off hand is incredibly awkward and takes getting used to.

Blade Length

When asked about blade features, Emerson replied – “overall blade size and how utilitarian [the knife is] is a consideration, but also ensuring the grip fits my hand, and ensure the blade fits my fighting style.”

If you’re a striker by nature and trained in that domain, perhaps a push dagger might be the way to go. If you’re a wrestler or grappler, consider a Clinch Pick or HR1.

Douglas added that regarding size, he thinks the knife should be between five to nine inches overall, relatively comfortable, and worn in the 10 to 2 o clock position (i.e. in front of your body). Douglas is also a proponent of relatively small blades and noted that the clinch pick has a roughly 3-inch blade. This, as an aside, is legal in pretty much every state – but of course, check your local laws.

Steel and Materials

If it’s sharp, retains an edge, fits all of the above – including your fighting style – and works as it should, you shouldn’t be too concerned if its 4040v or AUS8 or carbon steel.

“Odds are, if you have to use this knife, it’s going to end up in an evidence bag indefinitely,” Douglas said offhandedly. “But I’d look at edge retention, and making sure it has a solid construction,” Douglas said that one should not get too hung up on the details.

“Hopefully, the knife is not going to get much use, so paying a few hundred dollars for a high end steel just does not make much sense to me (I did not always think this way),” Hoover echoed Douglas with the comment, “Plus, if I have to use it, I am likely not getting it back. As for any other features, I like simple. I want a blade that I can easily conceal, easily handle, easily maintain, and that will not break my bank if I lose it.”

Fighting Style

This point is critical. If you are a boxer or striker, perhaps you should go with a push dagger, or a knife that allows you to strike and still retain the weapon, like something with a retention ring. As an aside, some experts are split on the use of knives with a retention ring. If you’re a grappler or Jiu Jitsu practitioner, probably something like the Clinch Pick from Shivworks that lends itself to inside fighting would complement your style better.

The Clinch Pick has the blade on the “wrong side” (reverse edge) due to the way it’s meant to be used. In a clinch, someone can exert more power using the large muscles of their back and biceps by pulling back toward you, rather than the slash-stab method most knives use.

But, as Douglas explains, this makes sense when you look at combatives as a holistic system. “The point of knives, in general, is to create space so you can either make a hasty escape or get to a better weapons system – like a pistol – that can cause a physiological stoppage,” Douglas commented.

“But also, if someone is being attacked with a knife, the instinct of the person being attacked is to grab the knife. With the reverse edge blade being ‘on the wrong side’ [of the clinch pick], this allows you to pull back and break that contact and inflict damage,” Douglas continued.

Training & Legality

And last but not least, when it comes to why or why not carrying a blade, Emerson remarked “Regardless of political environment, chaos in the streets, or potential crimes you could face; you should always have a blade on you even if it's just to open up your most recent Amazon order.”

Hoover echoed these sentiments, but also added some real-world context to his answer: “Know your laws, but also, know yourself. Train with someone that understands self-defense, use of force, and violence. Taking a piece of steel in your hand, and plunging it into skin, muscle, bone, and tendon, while getting someone’s blood on you, and feeling the life leave them, might just not be for you, and the time to find that out is not when you are between two vehicles with your ten year old child.”

LOOSE ROUNDS

In summation, there is no “perfect all-around EDC” knife. You need to think about the above considerations when making your selection, and think critically about the uses, your body type, climate (as in temperature & humidity) and local laws.

You may end up with a couple of knives to serve different roles, much like having a Glock 43 for the summer and deep concealment, whereas in the colder months you carry a full-size Glock or steel-framed pistol. A Clinch Pick can keep your 43 company while a larger blade rides along with your full size.

Stay safe out there.

Digging Deeper

• Clint Emerson has his own channel on RECOILtv. Here's how to watch.
• Skallywag's Dagger still drives its point home, while their Razor turns heads.
• Pick Up 100 Deadly Skills by Clint Emerson

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