Looking for tactical knife for self-defense purpose

I have no experience in knife collection at all and wish to seek for some advice. The public safety here is getting increasingly worse day after day and I wish to have a knife with me just in case ugly thing happen when I was on the street.

The below video is just an example, not necessarily must be the Karambit type of knife though,

I think the requirements to get such a knife are as below:

  1. Budget
  2. Quick to be pulled out and unfolded (is that called “Assisted Open” something?)
  3. Lightweight and not too big to put in the pocket.
  4. Not too low-quality, at least the knife locking mechanism is safe and reliable.

That’s what i can think of now, or maybe you guys who know more about knife have better opinions?

Appreciate for all the inputs. :slight_smile:

EDIT: I have viewed the Enlan and Ganzo knife as I browse through this forum, while they seems to be good but are they really suitable for self-defense situation?

That Karambit video is kinda scary...

(I hope that I never have to defend myself with a weapon.)

Before I watched the video, I was all ready to suggest a Kershaw assisted-opener. But I don't know how suitable they are for self-defense, especially compared to a tacticool Karambit.

Good luck in your search! :)

Buy some running shoes, get fit enough to run away from bad men, you would have a better chance of coming away unhurt.

Lol, me neither want to involve in such situation, but criminals are very rampant on the street nowadays especially in the capital city. :frowning:

About the Kershaw knife, can you provide a link to purchase that? I am not from USA so probably I need to buy from a Chinese source.

What if I was being cornered, or assaulted, or that I can run but my girlfriend can’t? :weary:

Unless you are confident with wielding a knife I would be concerned about being disarmed and then having it turned back onto yourself…

Length matters and most folders don’t have it. The further you can reach out the better. If you’re going to be slashing your target, you need a knife with good belly. If you’re sticking the target a pointy strong tip will help. I find knives with a wave feature are the quickest to deploy. I’m sorry I cannot think of any adequate budget knives that can be shipped to Malaysia off hand.

All said, I would not advise using knives in self defense. They have a very limited usage in self defense and they can be quite messy. Not to mention the legal concerns. A large stick would benefit you much more.

+10

In my mind knifes are for killing or seriously injured the enemy while a expandable baton is meant for knocking-out the aggressor while minimizing potential damage, that why the police use them.

Love my

SOG X-rayVision (Large Version)

bibihang, I know things can just happen unexpected but unless you are trained the knife can be used against you and really should be last resort. Better to stay aware of your surroundings, act confident and aware.

From a different perspective, I wouldn’t necessarily feel safer knowing my boyf had a knife because I would worry about it being deployed instead of us getting out of the situation safely.

Lol a knife and the karamabit technique are two different pairs of shoes.
karambit is a special way to fight.
There are a lot different “Kung fu” styles out there, all need to be practiced to work!
The standard wing tsun blocking is easy to learn so go and learn it until it is becomes only reflexes…

A normal guy with a knife will just pull it out and stick it one or two times in the opponent maybe slicing a back fighting arm within, that has nothing to to with martial arts…
Also I want to mention that killing someone with a knife is easy, a lot easier than in Hollywood films in which they always survive…

But the whole point I see here is that someone who carries a knife or made one of the selfdefense courses for girls feels more self confident and this causes a different appearance which causes to not getting attacked…that’s a big point.

……………
If you want a knife with curved blade and finger opening this one is cheap and you will feel cool like the guy in video

There were some nice knifes on manafont with the knife out the front assisted opening in the past but I have no clue if they still get sold as they are illegal here.

Take a look at the telescopic bats(not sure how they are called) these are perfect as they are longer but easy to carry.

Without training (lots of it) a Karambit is a difficult weapon to master and slightly difficult to carry as any fixed blade would be. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great knife and I liked it enough to buy both sizes of Karambit from Strider Knives but they spend most of their lives locked in a vault.

A better choice would be a standard combat type folding knife. There are many to choose from. My EDC knife for the last 8 years and one I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone is the Strider SMF. Built like a tank with superior materials and guaranteed for life.

Those that choose to run away(not always an option) are missing the whole point of ‘self defense’. Be prepared! What if you are attacked while with your family and small kids? You gonna run away and leave them behind? I would hope not. The super passive types always fail to think these things through.

Someone earlier mentioned carrying a gun. Personally, I never leave home without one of my Colt 1911’s. Yes, I have a concealed carry permit and have the advantage of being a combat veteran so I am prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect me and mine. Carrying a gun also requires training and depending on what state you are in, mandatory classes and fees before getting your permit. Whatever you decide to do to protect yourself and/or loved ones - take the time to do it right. It’s important and it’s not like the movies show - at all.

Other than a nice handgun, machetes and baseball bats make for excellent personal protection.

A guy who knows how to use a baseball bat would probably win the battle with the guy with a machete.

It is hard to attack someone when your wrist or kneecap is broken.

You should also check the laws before buying anything to carry, in case you are searched and the knife can be interpreted as an offensive weapon, flick or gravity knife (likely with assisted opening):
http://www.agc.gov.my/Akta/Vol.%208/Act%20357.pdf

Reading the document in the link it seams you are as shafted as we are in the U.K.

If you do decide to risk it then get training.

You need to think very carefully if you do decide to carry a knife as it is turning you into the bad guy in the eyes of the law.

I’d find a school or a Sifu over there and get some basic training. An untrained guy with a knife is just another untrained guy…

… with a knife :stuck_out_tongue:

If I were one to pick fights with people I definitely wouldn’t do so against a guy with a knife even if I KNEW he was untrained.

Good advice. My quick read suggests a blade with a wave-like notch may pass as legal. Assisted opening normally means a spring assist which might not fly even though typically a portion of the blade (and not handle as prohibited) is pressed to open it.

The bat and machete ideas are good, if you’re lucky enough to have them handy when you need them. Carrying them around seems likely to be considered offensive under your laws.

Personally, I’d consider planning a move.

Don't fight if you can avoid it. Run away, and carry a decoy wallet with a $20 and an old fake ID in it.

Someone who knows what they are doing, will disarm you, and turn the knife on you. Instead of just being beaten/kicked, you'll be stabbed.

If you must fight, frankly, again you going for a knife in your pocket will result in a very swift punch, or kick, and all you'll do is piss off your attacker. So you're better off avoiding the fight any way possible. Toss the decoy wallet, and run... if they want your money, they won't bother chasing you.

In terms of self defence, I suggest more than anything krav maga. The basic premise of which is that if you do attack you go for catastrophic measures to begin with. None of the half assed attempts at "subduing your attacker" that you see in the movies.

Last, if you MUST have a weapon. Why not a nice heavy cane?

I own one of these, and even a slow swing with the head will do damage:

http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/91STA/CITY_STICK%2c_ALUMINUM_HEAD.aspx

A fast tap with the side of it, to an attacker will also give them immediate pause.

Edit: Unfortunately it looks like they no longer make the steel head version, of the skull head... would love to buy a skull cap myself. I'm guessing they found it to be a little too effective.

I know Malaysia…and the street situation is not safe…here’s a summary of the options so far…

- Get a pepper spray, taser, extendable baton, bat or machete instead

- Get a sifu/sch for training in close quarters combat incl how to disarm

- Get sneakers and prepare to run fast

- Get some checks done on laws against carrying weapons

- Get some prep/consideration for gf who is with you

- Get yourself moving house from the place

  • Get yourself situational awareness always

1+ on first trying “Toss the decoy wallet, and run…”
Anything else should be the backup plan.
Is mace / pepper spray legal in Malaysia? Extendable baton?