Anyone have a favorite or a recommendation? I recently bought a Spyderco Matricarch 2 for my fiance to carry. Her job has her working in Baltimore a few days a week, and one of the hospitals she goes to isn't in the best part of town. So, I bought her one of these but she's not comfotable with it, so it's mine now.

It's pretty wicked looking, and probably the sharpest knive out of the box I've ever owned. Anyone else have suggestions for a good, compact, "self-defense" knife?

http://a2.img.bidorbuy.co.za/image/upload/user_images/307/1619307/1619307_150719165057_C12BBK2W_L.jpg

That is the least practical SD knife I have ever seen. You want something with assisted open. You want it to have the clip so that it sits in your pocket the direction you would grab to deploy, and a rock solid locking mechanism. I would say size is relative to the user.

I personally use a SOG Trident Mini. My next purchase will be a Benchmade assisted open, not sure which model yet.

Input from someone who has ZERO tactical knife use experience (i.e. never been in a knife fight, but have used a knife to get me out of hairy situations with many animals including hogs), but has carried knives of all types for almost 3 decades.

Not any brand suggestions, but I'd suggest a smaller fixed blade (3" or so) with a comfortable handle that can be gripped securely, and a kydex sheath that can be mounted somewhere securely. For guys (depending on attire) this could easily mean the belt, for ladies a way to mount it in the purse is always good. Also, unless you are gonna use it to "work" as well (cutting ropes, sawing, etc.) I always prefer a straight edge with no serrations.

Also, as cool as those "karambit" style blades are, they seem to be a lot more specialized, and need to be handled and used differently than standard knives, because they cut with a different motion.

Quick amazon search to show the styles i'm referring to:

Ka-Bar

Gerber

I know little about knives, but from what I read the "karambit" knives were supposed to be the easiest to use, as you just use a pulling motion with the tip pointed to you. Again, I know very little, but the backstory to the Sypderco civilian is what originally drew me to the knive. I'll look into the suggestions above as well, but I'm keeping this one just because I think it looks bad ass and could certainly do the job if in a jam. I've tested out the emerson function and it works pretty well with a pair of jeans.

H&K Benchmade is my everyday carry to the office. Great switchblade.

Emerson Wave.

Never bring a knife to a gun fight

It's a backup to my Kimber Solo.

Take a course from ShivWorks!

http://www.shivworks.com

You'll thank me later.

is it that specific knife she isn't comfortable with? or knives in general. It seems that finding a knife and then opening it may be too slow of a process. Perhaps a self defense keychain or a small taser would work.

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is it that specific knife she isn't comfortable with? or knives in general. It seems that finding a knife and then opening it may be too slow of a process. Perhaps a self defense keychain or a small taser would work.

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Maybe I'll look into something like this. She has pepper spray, I just wanted her to have something more substantial as well. Or maybe I knew she wouldn't be comfotable with it and just wanted it for myself.

Thanks for the suggestions .

I carry a Benchmade 530 Mel Pardue design. Great little knife that's nice and thin and rides in the pocket well. Can't say I consider it a serious defensive tool but it's made the trip out to the dumpster at the apartment complex with me many a time when I didn't feel compelled to drop my pistol in my pocket. I'd do the job but knives are rarely the best choice for defense.

With that said, I feel equally defended with a good flashlight to be honest. I like my Streamlight PT-2L. Great little light, super bright, has an easily accessible strobe function and crenelated bezel for striking. I'm on my second one. Set of CR123's lasts me about a year. I ran 4 sets through my first PT-2L before I lost it on a hunting trip. I'm on my 3rd set on my second PT-2L now. Great light.