Spyderco Native's blade big enough for self defense?

[Michael Cook]

I don't think you'll find people in thrusting styles who think 3" isn't enough. Longer is better, but 3" is sufficient. There are guys who go around talking about a minimum of 4"-5", but at this point it seems to be just a random number some people throw out, who haven't looked at what happens when a knife hits.

Joe

:spyder: Right you are, Joe. I was referancing something I read by James Keating who carrys blades with the intent to defend himself from large animals as well as two legged critters. He said 5 inches was a minimum for mountian lion or bear!! :eek: Gotta love Jim Keating, he's out there. :spyder:

[Stenny]

I think priorities go like this:
1) have the knife on you all the time, otherwise Murphy will ensure you won't have it when it's needed. Before somebody asks, no, I don't shower with knives.
2) be skilled enough to be able to get it into action quickly
3) have a fair idea "what do you want to do" with it.
The blade lenght didn't enter the contest yet.
If you aren't expecting to lop somebody's arm off with it, Native is more than enough.

[flyer35]

Another thing to keep in mind is the local regulations on blade length.

Rob

[markg]

Personally, I get creeped out by the 50/50 choil on the Native, if I was going to use it for "stabbing." IMHO I like them on working knives, defensive knives they concern me a bit.

[Fred Sanford]

Check out this site for a review on the Native.

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/ ... iverev.htm

Did you realize that this thread was over 2 years old?

:D

[Agent Starling]

The only thing I would be concerned about with the Native in a SD situation is it's harder to access spyderhole. Not only is it a small one, but it is a little blocked by the handle.

Axlis, have you by chance found a workaround for this? Is there some way to maybe loosen the blade?

[Stenny]

I think there isn't. The only thing that works (and I know about it so far) is Dremel-magic - either grinding off a bit of the handle , to "unblock" the hole and make a thumb ramp to guide it into the hole, or waving the blade. But that looks fugly, and I mean it...

[OuchThatsSharp]

DL, yes I know it's an old thread. But evidently there are people still checking it out.

[Fatboy]

I just received one on Friday the Native II PE and I love it. Now the wife wants one.
:spyder:

[KaliGman]

Get the knife that feels best in your hand and that you will actually carry (few cops will carry a huge knife for any length of time, especially considering all the gear that is already being carried).

Get some training. I won't tell you how many times I have seen relatively unskilled students in my Kali class or when I was teaching officer survival at a police academy who, when armed with rubber training knives, "cut" themselves when trying to fend off a partner that I had instructed to be a determined aggressor. When it gets fast and close, unless you are used to using a blade, you can cut yourself pretty badly (hit your off hand or arm while trying to block an attack and counterattack with a cut to your opponent, etc.). I have seen defanging the snake work in real time, but only with very skilled practioners. OTOH, one of the best thrusts I ever saw was conducted by a totally untrained woman who angled a pair of scissors between the ribs of her opponent just as neat as you please. Sometimes, I guess, it is better to be lucky than good.

[Dr. Snubnose]

I will echo the comments to get a knife that feels good in your hand and can be held onto...the Native will work fine for thrusting....For me I like a larger blade but 3" can and will reach major organs if the thrust is heavy enough....when it comes to slashing I don't think it matters what size blade you use....Doc :D

[Xplo]

Dunno about exposing the hole, but I can flick my Native open with a fair amount of reliability (and effort.. no subtle move). Ziptie wave mod comes to mind too, though I haven't done that and have no idea how well it would work.

[Qship]

I am looking for a somewhat cheap and durable knife to carry for, among other reasons, the possible use of self defense. I am looking at the. I have noticed that the cutting edge on this blade is only a little larger than 2.50" and that the entire blade is just over 3".

The Native is about 1/8 of an inch too long to be legal in some jurisdictions. Some judicious shortening might be prudent. Bear in mind that, because of the compressible nature of soft tissue, a knife can make a stab wound quite a bit deeper than its length.

Qship