Anyone carry a fixed blade?

[ErnieNWillis]

Lately I have been thinking about how difficult (even with practice) it is to deploy a folding knife in a defensive situation. I have several spring assisted knives (switch blades are illegal here) and have come to the sad realization that I would probably not be able to access my knife if my firearm was not an option. Hence my reason for considoring a fixed blade. As always opinions are appreciated.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[sgb]

[rm3482]

I carry both my benchmade and my T.D.I. Thee are some really good videos out about this knife and how fast the deployment really is. 100% of the time the fastest folding knife couldn't beat the slowest T.D.I.

[Jason Storm]

When at the area on my residence or working on my car, I sometimes carry my all-black colored KABAR utility knife along with my CC pistol.

[RugerRon]

Never really gave much thought to carrying a fixed blade. I feel that my Kershaw Blur is a pretty quick to draw blade.

[Ducmonster]

+1 on the TDI. I am right handed but carry the TDI for left hand access. I also carry a spring assist folder for right hand. My thinking is that if my right hand is occupied
the fixed blade is much simpler to deploy requiring minimal fine motor skills. I would have to practice quite a bit to deploy a folder smoothly with my left hand.

[MinistrMalic]

TDI is fast and useful.

[limatunes]

I'm another advocate of the TDI fixed blade.. even went to TDI for their two-day defensive knife class where we ran speed drills with the fixed vs folder knives on a timer.. even the assisted opening knives were on average a half second - full second longer to draw and use vs fixed blade and, of course, there were a couple of fumbled draws.

When we had to do the drawing under stress and use what we learned against real sparring partners it was really no surprise that 3/4 of the class ditched folding knives in favor of fixed blades by the end of the class.

[SIXTO]

Yes, if its my intention for my knife to be a fighting on, a fixed blade it will be. There are a number of good ones out there. I was fortunate enough to be involved with the TDI knife was being developed, and have one of the the early prototypes. It is a good inexpensive tool to have. I still prefer a spike style blade, about 5 or so inches long. I learned to knife fight a few years back from a foreign dude who smelled and talked funny. He showed me a quick and easy ways to work on somebody convincing me that us the type of blade for me.

[Eaglebeak]

Just a personal opinion, but I don't consider carrying a fixed-blade around during my active everyday routine for the same reason I don't squat while wearing spurs.

Don't like spring-assist folders either because my active lifestyle once resulted in one coming open in my pocket at a very inopportune time - owwwwwie!!!

I now carry a single-blade (3.25"), flip-open Gerber with a pocket clip that has an "ambidextrous" opening via a thumb-hole in the blade rather than a post protruding from one side or the other. Being an ambidextrous person and having the clip keeping it slightly protruding up from inside a front pocket, I can quickly yank it and have the blade flipped open and locked in less than 2 seconds whether standing up or laying on the ground (unless I happen to be laying on the knife).

Since things would have to be going terribly wrong in a surprise defensive situation where my knife would be the first thing I grabbed for instead of my pistol, having a 2-second folder is probably as fast as retrieving a fixed blade from a scabbard that I had hung somewhere out of the way. There's also a number of states where a fixed-blade is illegal to carry unless you're at some associated sporting event or out in the field working or hunting.

[baren]

CS Tanto Kobun

[mwhich50]

Sometimes I like to carry a Cold Steel Delta Dart with plastic sheath, especially when it is hot, humid, or I will be in or near salt water. The Simitar spike is also easy to carry in the front pocket.

[FLMOPE]

I carry 3 knives. TDI knife,folding knife and a hideaway. In a fight for my life I don't intend to come up snake eyes when I need a tool.

[KevinInstructor]

Fix blades are the best method of carry for an edge tool if you can. For the past several months I have been evaluating a Blackhawk Crucible FX2. What I like about the FX2

• Full size handle which allows a full solid grip and also extends well for use as an impact tool
• The holster has multiple configurations, outside or inside the wasit band on the belt, paddle, neck or boot.
• It is sharp no matter what some reviews say that it is dull

In general I do not suggest paddle holsters but there are times when it makes sense, for instance I am wearing some pants without a belt, I have the paddle holster tucked between my pants and underware rather than just my pants which provides a good platform for positive purchasing of the blade where with just the pants the draw is not so good.

There are times when I will carry a five or seven inch fix blade but not that often. No matter, I also carry a folder on my support side which is a Bram Frank second generation Gunting called the Lapu-Lapu-Corto.

FX_2_FixBlade.jpg

[fm2]

Lately I have been thinking about how difficult (even with practice) it is to deploy a folding knife in a defensive situation....

You are on track for a defensive knife, smaller fixed blades are much more efficient and robust than folders. I like a small fixed blade knife much better than any folder. The main reason is that once you establish grip, there's no extra manipulations that compromise the grip, like you do with a folder.