you also want to ensure that the lock release is deliberate, but not difficult. Many liner-lock knives have large cutouts in the handle scale that allow easy lock release. Unfortunately, they can also lead to unintentional lock re- lease when gripped tightly in the heat of a critical incident. Avoid those. Convenient carry must also be
a prerequisite of a defensive knife. To ensure that the knife is available when you need it, it should be carried in a comfortable, accessible location on your body at all times. That carry position must work with all the styles of clothing you wear and allow you to carry the knife in a consistent loca- tion on your body. The most common carry method
used on modern folding knives is the pocket clip, an innovation pioneered by the Spyderco knife company 30 years ago. Different knives offer vari- ous options of tip-up or tip-down car- ry on the left or right side of the body. “Four-position” clips offer the best of all worlds and allow you to experi- ment to determine the carry style that best suits you. Whichever carry position you
choose, it should present the knife in a way that allows you to achieve a solid grip, draw the knife quickly and posi- tively and open it one-handed without having to adjust your grip. Doing this depends upon a dynamic combina- tion of your hand size, the length of the knife handle and the mounting position of the clip. While many knife users express a preference for “deep pocket” clips that make the knife very discreet, if the knife handle is too long for the user’s hand he will have a poor grip when the knife is drawn. Again, experimentation and practice are the keys to determining what works best for you. The final requirement of a defen-
sive folder is the capability to open it swiftly and positively with one hand immediately after it is drawn. Typi- cally, this is accomplished by some type of “purchase” that provides traction for the thumb to rotate the blade open with a single push. This usually takes the form of a hole in the blade, a stud or a disk. Regardless of which type you choose, it should offer good traction and be positioned high enough above the pivot pin to provide adequate leverage to open the blade reliably. It should also allow you to maintain a positive grip on the handle while the blade is being opened and offer ambidextrous operation. One alternative — or addition —
to thumb purchases is the “flipper.” This is basically an extended lower “guard” integral to the blade that
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A defensive folder must also offer a good grip. If you prefer metal-handled knives, cut a piece of rubberized traction tape and apply it to the non-clip side of your folder.
protrudes from the back of the handle when the knife is closed. Using your index finger to pull on the flipper ro- tates the blade into the open position. The down side to this feature is you must compromise your grip on the handle of the knife to perform this action — something I don’t recom- mend in high-stress situations. Two short cuts to rapid blade are Ernest Emerson’s
deployment
“wave,” aka the “Emerson Opener,” and the increasing number of “as- sisted opening” knives on the market. The Emerson Opener is basically
an integral hook on the back of the blade that purposely snags the edge of your pocket during the draw to automatically open the blade. While exceptionally fast, this feature can be hard on your pockets and does force you into a straight-to-the-rear drawstroke that can be challenging in confined quarters. If you like it, make sure you train to achieve positive
openings in confined quarters. Assisted openers are basically
switchblades in which the kick spring engages only after the blade is par- tially opened by manual means. Since there is no button or other device in the handle of the knife, they are not switchblades by the letter of the law, but their legal status has already been seriously threatened. Assisted openers are fun and can
be an advantage for people with lim- ited hand strength or dexterity, but be aware you’re relying on a mechan- ical device and program back-ups into your training just in case it fails to function. If you decide to carry a folding
knife for personal defense, make it an informed decision. Do your homework, get “hands on” with as many different knives as possible and use the guidelines in this article to choose something that fits your personal needs. *
Blade grinds include flat, hollow, chisel, convex and numerous variations of these themes. The real secret to good cutting performance is good edge geom- etry, which is largely dependent upon the thickness of the blade immediately adjacent to the final sharpened edge.
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