Warmon

I've carried small pocket knives for years, but moved up to more substantial pocket clip carry knives in the last couple of months. I've bought a dozen or so since then [already addicted I guess..worse than guns] since then, but my EDC is a Kershaw "Needs Work". IMO, it is a great quality [made in usa] production working / utility type knife for the price.

Another more substantial SD knife that I can recommend without any hesitation is the Kershaw Steven Segal Signature knife. You can probably find one of these on ebay or other sites for 50-75 bucks. I am not a big Segal fan, but this is a great knife - japanese made, AUS 8 steel, manual folder, stingray leather inserts, geat balance, strong lockup, pefect weight, etc.

One more suggestion: semperfi.45 suggested the Boker Subclaw. In all my reading over the last month or two, these are very popular Chad Los Banos designs and extremely well regarded. It is part of the Boker Plus Series. I bought three CLB knives yesterday online and should get them next week - the Trance, the Hyper and the M-type. The first two will be xmas gifts. The OP might want to give serious consideration to the Hyper model. Every review or youtube video I've seen gives these CLB knives great marks...and they are very affordable.

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hso

Unfortunately, as others have said, San Antonio does have a local ordinace that makes locking blade knives illegal to carry. It may also have a 3" blade length restriction as well.

The best advice is to check the state and local ordinances, find our if it is a felony or misdemenor to violate them and decide how you will comply with them.

BTW, I've become an advocate of the stick over the knife in recent years (not that I don't carry a knife, or two, most of the time).

Anubis

I searched for "knife" starting at City Municipal Code Search on the San Antonio Community Portal
and found only 2 references. Locking blades prohibited, no mention of fixed blade knives, no mention of blade length other than the TX-legal maximum 5.5 inch blade. So these appear to be the only San Antonio deviations from TX state law which allows concealed or open carry of single-edged folders or fixed blade knives up to 5.5 inch blades, but prohibits daggers, balisongs, and butterflies.

Although folders with locking blades are prohibited, note that fixed blade knives are legal in San Antonio just as they are in the rest of Texas. Texaspaul, I would carry a fixed blade rather than a folder that can't lock.

Sec. 21-17. Certain knives prohibited generally; exceptions; penalty for violation.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly carry on or about his person a knife with a blade less than five and one-half (5 1/2) inches in length, which knife is equipped with a lock mechanism so that upon opening, it becomes a fixed blade knife.

Sec. 21-155. Possession of knife.
It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of seventeen (17) to possess or carry any knife on a public roadway or public right-of-way; on any other property in which a governmental entity has an interest; or on private property without the permission of the owner or the person in control of the property within the city limits of the City of San Antonio.

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"If you got to shoot, shoot! Don't talk!" -Tuco Ramirez-

Hopyard

"Sec. 21-17. Certain knives prohibited generally; exceptions; penalty for violation.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or knowingly carry on or about his person a knife with a blade less than five and one-half (5 1/2) inches in length"

I sure hope that is typo from copying text to here. It says, you are illegal if your knife is shorter than 5.5 inches.

I wish Texas would change the CHL to a CWP. That would put an end to these tedious ambiguous and confusing rules. Not at all a swipe at the OC crowd, it seems to me more important to get the license changed to CWP than to get OC; getting both would be nice.

Anubis

My eyes bugged out when I first saw that, but you must read the rest of the sentence which lists the no-lock qualification. What it means is "carrying a knife with blade-length less than the Texas statutory maximum of 5.5 inches is OK here like the rest of Texas, but not if it's a folder with a locking blade".

I am completely baffled by this law, since it's still OK to carry a fixed blade.

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"If you got to shoot, shoot! Don't talk!" -Tuco Ramirez-

mercop

Review of the Subclaw for SD purposes
MODERN COMBATIVE SYSTEMS - Boker Subclaw


I would avoid any and all knives that are automatic or assisted for SD for three reasons.

1) Springs are just something else to fail
2) If you are used to using a button or a bump to open a blade and it fails you are unlikely to have the presence of mind to try a different method.
3) I am not aware of any auto or assisted opener that has a suitable trainer available.

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2010 MCS Calander
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Huckleberry

Why does it have to be a knife? Look at the Surefires line of defensive lights.

QKShooter

I should add that just about every college prohibits knives on school property so you are probably going to be in violation of that.
If you get caught with it you'll likely not do jail time but you will probably get booted out. Just FYI.

mercop

I have to agree that flashlights, pens and kubatons should be everyone's first mechanical force option.

__________________
2010 MCS Calander
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb7wjh3_299f8tncbcz

aznav

+1. I love my TDI, very subtle. Kershaw's are razor sharp (literally) but I have had nothing but trouble with their assisted opening knives. Spyderco's are great.

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"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Eccl. 10:2