Reportage
Reportage
The double-edged straight blade design is best for a self-defense knife. The straight blade permits thrusting motions between the ribs or into the eye, ear or throat of an assailant. The double edge permits you to move the knife in a slashing motion to either direction with equal effect. Blade lengths vary and should be chosen according to intended use and ease of concealment. That ' s right: to be effective, you must keep a wouldbe attacker from realizing that you are armed. A three inch blade is useful for slashing the wrist, throat, leg or face, but for thrusting motions to the groin, lung or kidney areas, the longer blades are necessary to reach the vital organs.
There are three major types of knives available: the boot knife, the belt buckle variety and the folding knife which is the most widely carried. The one downfall about folding knives is that they are slower to get into action, a factor that can make the difference in who survives the encounter. So like anything getting one into play requires both practice and sufficient warning of your attacker ' s intent. Time is of the essence when you ' re facing a life-threatening situation involving a knife. This means that the knife you choose must be quick and easy to bring into play, and that your potential attacker must be unaware that you are armed. If he realizes thatyou are his equal in terms of the weapon you possess, he ' ll bypass the intimidation phase of a knife attack( such assailants seem to enjoy this phase) and go for broke immediately. You have to take such assailants seriously- only a fool threatens another with a knife if he has no intention of using it. As you do with any other self-defense weapon, you should check with your local police to determine what( if any) local or state laws are involved and then balance that information against your need to carry a knife for self-defense. In most states the possession of a double edged knife is against the law and will get you arrested. It is considered a tactical weapon that has only one purpose. In the Tri- State of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey a folding knife is allowed to be carried on your person as along as the blade length is four inches or less. But that does not mean you can carry a fixed blade of the same length. For example in the United Kingdom it is illegal to carry any knife on your person no matter what the circumstances. So it is extremely important you check your local statutes. While I ' m not advocating you break any law or laws, I realize that if you are killed in an encounter, you ' re dead forever.
On the other hand if you survive an attack, you can hire a lawyer to handle the legal aspects- as long as you didn ' t cut your opponent into 1-inch squares. Justice can be just as perverse when you defend yourself with a knife as when you do it with a gun. Suppose you are jumped late at night by someone intent on bashing in your head to get your wallet. If you can pull your knife and defend yourself successfully, don ' t call the authorities. If you do, you may find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit( there are also lawyers who ' ll take his case) and wind up serving time as well as paying his hospital bills- all as result of defending yourself.
If you keep a knife at home for self-defense against a housebreaker, cement onestrip of Velcro material to the handle and the other above the front doorjamb. You might also want one above the back doorjamb. Make sure it ' s out of the reach of small children in the house. Another knife should be kept in the bedroom, within easy reach. In your car, the best place for a knife is under the front seat. Depending upon your situation, you might find other locations where the availability of a knife should be considered.
The fact that you have a knife handy and within easy reach is of little value unless you know how to use it after you ' ve brought it into play. How you hold a knife is important in its use, as well as the psychological impact it makes on your attacker. If you use the proper grip and give the appearance of being an expert in its use, you may actually avoid a nasty situation. He ' s not as likely to engage someone who 57