A skill hopefully we’ll never need.

I recently purchased a Gerber Remix Tactical Knife as a general outdoors knife and I have to say I’m quite impressed. The finish was razor sharp straight from the factory and the folding mechanism worked perfectly without the need for additional lubrication: a common flaw reported with the Gerber Tactical Knife.

The Gerber was bought primarily for outdoors use in hiking, camping and fishing however I have to admit that it’s use as a self-defence tool is a factor in purchasing the Gerber over other blades.

I will at this juncture say that I think the use of knifes in street violence is totally unacceptable, cowardly and morally wrong. However I am also in a controversial minority that are of the opinion that if you face a grave threat to your life, anothers life or your own safety then you must use every resource available and commit fully to survival. If this entails the use of a blade or edged weapon then so be it.

My time spent learning Kali and Krav Maga has given me a solid basis for understanding the basics of edged weapon fighting and use of a blade both offensively and defensively. This may sound severe but in actuality the study of edged weapon fighting can reduce the amount of force needed if you are forced to into a violent encounter involving blades. The untrained will usually attempt stabbing motions whereas if you are using a blade defensively knowing which tendon to slice may temporary disable an attacker as opposed to killing them.

This may sound very alarming however a cursory statstical analysis of the data regarding knife crime shows a disturbing picture of increasing use of knifes in assaults and burglaries. If you were to meet an intruder who’s picked up a blade from you kitchen drawer the concept of defensive knife tactics becomes quite logical.

I must put a strong emphasis on the primary response to this being to run and get to safety every time. An edged weapon encounter can and will kill you or another quicker than you’d think. If you can the first option must always be to escape the situation.

Also I think that note should be given to the law in regard to the carriage of knifes, which is quite clear: only a folding blade (not locking) of less than 3 inches may be carried. There are a number of defences to this rule: for example if you are clearly coming back from a hike or camp or have a knife that is used in connection with your work as a “tool of the trade”.

Any use of a blade or point of any sort that is used to intimidate or threaten anyone else (bar grave self-defence situations) is viewed dimly by the authorities: quite rightly.

This is hopefully a skill we will never need: however if your life or physical safety is in grave danger look again at what comes to hand: you may find that in your hiking kit the perfect survival tools are present.