I just wanted members opinions on what you think is a good self defense edc. you guys seem to have great advice and ive learned alot. Currently im taking classes in a dangerous part of Boston and was almost mugged by a group of 4 guys the other day until i pulled my skirmish and they just walked away. Im not they type of person that ever looks for trouble by carrying a knife but it does make me feel a hell of alot safer. Usually i carry a my 615, mini rukus, or my 745, mini dejavoo, for work but since i have been taking classes in this rough part of boston ive been carrying my skirmish. The only thing that sucks is that there is a 2inch ordinance in Boston. My brother, uncle, and cousins are all boston cops and mass state troopers and they all told me not to worry about a "stupid ordinance" but i dont want to get any of my tools taken away.

Get a gun!

If your are going to rely on a knife get some training and then still get a gun.

If your are going to anyway and you want to stay within the ordinance I would say get a 210.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=210TK

Korz...4 against 1? That calls for grenades.

-fj

Not to sound like a wiseguy or anything, but the best SD edc.....is the one you've got on you at that time.


So far as the best one ???? It's really a subjective question. The only one who can make that determiniation is the person who will be handling it.

No offense to you, but I always kind of cringe when threads like this come up. IMVHO, it has the potential to get way out of hand, and give us here (and the knife community at large) a bad name (and reflect badly on us).

I hope I don't sound bossy here or anything, but I would advise approaching (and answering) with caution. Obviously, I can't (and won't) tell you what to post, just to exercise some caution .


OK, with that out of the way, and looking at your sig line, I'd say any one of what you've got should fill that role nicely (that is, if you ever had to do that sort of thing in an extreme emergency).

One other thing I will mention: a model with a trainer is probably a good idea (and use that trainer diliegently)

I agree with all the replies so far - especially Jon's. If you must have an opinion: the biggest blade you're comfortable with and can open FAST.

GPMike

I don't want to make the knife community look bad and its not my intention to do so. I just wanted quality advice from knowledgeable members. I practice Brazilian Ju Jitsu and wrestled in high school so i would only use a knife in a serious emergency where i felt like my life was threatened beyond the means of being able to passively talk my way out or use hand to hand combat. Im not sorry for pulling out my skirmish because i feel that alot of people would have done the same in my situation and it saved my ass. People can criticize but i still feel i handle the situation correctly considering there was no violence and my scare tactic defused the situation and even if it didn't i would have been much more likely to survive. If members feel this post is inappropriate I will gladly take it down because it is not my intention to negatively represent the knife community and I respect the members.

In Massachusetts any type of handgun is out (however given the recent Supreme Court ruling that might change in time).

After years of traditional Japanese Martial Arts... A teacher recently gave to us the best advice on sword fighting I have ever heard. You know how passionate people are about sword fighting, and how many years they put in studying the disciplines... His word to us was this.

Sword fighting can be summed up in this sentence.

"Stick the pointy end in the bad guy..."

Sometimes we way over think these things.

If this is your only option... Get a knife from a reputable maker. If it is simply a self-defense tool, don't obsess about what steel it is made with. There is a good chance your knife will be stolen, lost, or confiscated. So in other words make sure it can be replaced, and is not a financial burden to do so. Make sure it has a 4 finger full grip, and reliable lock. If you can get it in pink/purple/salmon or periwinkle that would be best... Avoid knives with menacing names, they only come back to haunt you.

And above all, research the high profile self-defense stabbing that happened in Boston with the (was it Harvard) student. Know the implications and decide if you are willing to face them.

I'm not a self defense expert so I don't think I could contribute anything worthwhile, but I find the reaction to this topic on this forum interesting. I was just observing on the Spyderco forum that when this topic comes up it seems that every member has some ideal model to share for self defense purposes.

Handguns are legal in Mass. I currently have my FID (rifles) and my pistol permit (doesn't cover carrying).I own a Glock 17, replica 1871 Colt 45 Army, an SKS, a bushmaster ar-15, and a mosberg 500. I am currently looking to get my License to carry however it is very tough to get (due to the fact that MASS is a small communist country). We have to renew our license every year!!! and it cost 100 for each license, no BS. Mark I love you quote, "Stick the pointy end in the bad guy". I appreciate your advice on the Harvard student self defense case. I like getting advice from THE UN-SHEEPLE GURUS cause you guy know you stuff. Mark, Sabu, Fastjan I have recent read alot of archived post and have found that you guys give some of the best advice. So thanks for the reply. Mark, are you a new UN-SHEEPLE member?

I feel like u guys are "the kool kids" and im one of the nerds lol.