How to use a knife for best results?

The main use of my knifes are for food processing, be it skinning, meat processing, and or all other kinds of food or farm processes..

Bush Kid;
Caution - knives have so many regulations that the regulations vary from country and from Town to Town.
I have a pocket knife on me at all times; it is a folding, locking blade with a chisel tip and back ridge with small guard for a thumb.

Since I looked at your posts, you should be getting your Prepper Parents to follow up with your following questions. Martial Arts as well as unarmed combat classes are available in most areas. As you are a minor, you need your Parents consent!

Knives should be part of your gear; fire, shelter and other misc uses in your knives, such as wood battoning.
I do not carry an Axe anymore as well little hatchets (which are dangerous ), I do carry kukri knife as well as a Kukri machete along with a K-bar, pocket folding locking blade, and soon a very light slender fish fillet knife although I am able to use the K-bar to fillet and skin as well.

Knife fights are dangerous, you can have a knife taken away easy if you do not know how to use it. Never use a knife, take out a knife except under dire circumstances.
See Parents for info, see parental permission for training and prepping info.
ps. all girls should be versed in Martial Arts of at least 2 different types, along with other endeavors like Dance etc.

I personally have so many knives, and just the other day I had them all lined up on my reloading bench just to sharpen/clean them all, and put each one in its rightful bag or location. I think of knives as the way I think of clothing, and each one has a specific purpose. My hunting knives are not similar to each other, and they are for each specific hunt. My moose knife is a classic big old fixed black buck knife that has a leather sheath & is kept on my belt whenever Im in the field hunting. My deer knives are a folding buck alpha hunter with gut hook and a spyderco 2 1/2" folder to get to the tight spots when field dressing. My bird knife is a similar 2 1/2" folding spyderco, but without looking, I dont recal the brand. Then I have about 7-8 folding knives anywere from 3-4 1/2" length, that are in each grab bag, and glove box of vehicles. My everyday carry knife is a 4" tactical spring assist lockblade, that I forget the brand of also, but It was'nt too much money since I just bought it at the sportsmsan show a couple months ago on sale...I think I paid only $60 since it was on sale. I also have a couple cheap gut hook fixed blade knives like a remington and winchester, that I keep for lenders that I bring on hunting trips to lend to all the guys who are airheads and forget to bring a knife, ammo, and beer, at every week long hunting trip year after year. My go to weapon of choice at home if I hear a bump at night from downstairs, is my big gerber machette...they make 2, one big and one really big machette...I have the really big one, that always is hanging behind the back of my bed headboard out of sight, but I can grab it and double check for any intruder & my families safety within 3 seconds, as opposed to 3 minutes it takes to unlock my gun room, unlock the safe, load the gun, and make noise in the process that could give a intruder time to prepare and ambush.

Bottom line is, each type of knife is for a specific task, so its best to evaluate your needs before buying...unless you want one simple jack of all trades knife, which would be something like a solid, brand name, 3-4" lock blade.

I am just curious, How do you knife owners use your knives? What do you mainly use your knives for?
If you were ever to use a knife for self deffence how would you do it? Is throwing knives an effective method or is it better to keep it in your hand? "Only Porthos could find a new means of dissarming himself" 😉
And how would you practice effective methods of knife use?

Uh... you're kidding, right?

You're basically asking me to drill you on SOCP, KAPAP and dolchfechten online in one quick and easy post. Ain't gonna happen.

-S.

Personally i would never use my knife by itself, Knifes by themselves are CQC weapons with a high chance for injury if your fighting another bladed opponent who ALSO KNOWS what they are doing, and when i say bladed opponent i mean a hostile individual or a predator with "blades" for paws! cut is cut regardless of how it happened! remember you can kill something with a single thrust or slice from a knife but that doesn't mean it will be dead instantly. Never throw your blade either as that disarms you and can ruin your knife plain and simple. best to skip the knife throwing and take up archery or another form of ranged defense that has better range and stopping power. Now if you trekking threw woodlands, forests, ect. I personally paracord tie my knife to a 6ft shaft "give or take" when I'm on nature treks as it puts range between any hostile animals and you, plus i also use it a lot as an anchor for climbing steep terrain, though i keep the bottom of the shaft flat instead of a spear point just in case i need to brace it against my foot/ground,but that's just me. if its not animal defense in the woods, even in urban fighting one can lash a knife to a 1 to 2 ft stick and be infinitely better off and not suffer a huge movement penalty! remember humans invented bows and guns to attack/defend from a distance because distance = safety!......that is all i go to say about that.

The best way to use a knife for self defence is to toss it at the person who is trying to attack you...as the person is attempting to catch the knife, draw your pistol.

I would caution anyone ever considering using a knife in a knife vs knife fight to RECONSIDER their plan. Trust me.

Have you ever seen what the winner of a knife fight looks like? I have seen it up close, and I also had to help hold a 5 inch flap of his neck skin together while driving him to the emergency room. No one wins without some very debilitating and serious injuries in a knife fight.

Avoid at all costs.

Martial arts training with a knife just ensures you a level playing field, nothing more. There will never be that ideal parry where the opponent does the "go for broke" single thrust that puts his whole weight behind it. The reality of a knife fight is that everyone gets pieces taken off their forearms, their fingers, their faces and eventually one (or both) succumb to their injuries. Exposed spinal columns from slashes to the back. White cheekbones and yellow fatty tissue with nothing covering it. Blood spurting out to the rhythm of their frantic heartbeat. Flaps of skin.

If you insist on confronting someone with a knife, do it with something that has a lot of reach. 18 inch machete at bare minimum, and don't be squeamish if it means saving or protecting the people you care for. Desro is right on the money with his knife-to-spear suggestion, as that is exactly what I would do in that situation.

Avoid at all costs.

Martial arts training with a knife just ensures you a level playing field, nothing more.

First rule drilled into me. Amen to that! It ain't like the movies....your just increasing your probability of mitigating the damage with training...but edged weapons are really a dog's breakfast for everyone....

Tie it to a stick and make a spear.

The best way to use a knife for self defence is to toss it at the person who is trying to attack you...as the person is attempting to catch the knife, draw your pistol.

Ha! Brilliant!

Why is it everyone says avoid knives in combat??? I don't get it.

I'm gonna first say that no, I've never been in a knife fight. I'm also going to generally say that I don't believe any of you have either, otherwise, true to what you all say, you'd have a horribly maimed face. But in my opinion, the knife is like any other form of combat, including the fist, the bow, the axe, the hatchet/hammer, or the gun.

The question is "Do you train with the item, and how often do you train?". What did the training entail?

I was training for years with a knife and hammer every morning, right after my gymnatics, weightlifting, calisthenics and shadowboxing, and I would say I'm fairly more comfortable handling a knife and/or a hammer/stick, then most people are. Lets look at the pros of "shadow-knifing", shall we?

1) Speed- Most important. Learning to slash and withdraw before a retaliatory attack occurs. Like a wolf. The first slash might end the conflict.
2) Defense- Learning to cover up and avoid getting the face, neck or any sensitive areas(wrists, guts, etc) sliced up.
3) Technique- Not only do you practice but over time, you also learn the most efficient strikes, offensive and defensive moves. Style will come along. And there are many different types of styles, depending on what the opponent you are fighting is armed with, be it barefisted, a knife, and axe, or a club.
4) Handling- This is an offshoot of technique, but it's worth keeping separate. Handling is very important, how you hold the knife? Offensive and defensive knife fighting are very important. If you aren't comfortable handling the knife, then it could very well be used against you.

These are just off the top of my head. I had a fifth halfway through but I forgot. Anyways saying the knife is bad to use in combat is foolish. Okay you come up against someone else with a club or a knife, so what... you throw away the knife? Always run first... but run WITH THE KNIFE! Don't chuck it!

And if you are thinking or even planning to ever fight with a knife, then, the same thing goes with the knife as everything else. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN.

The OP asked about usage of knives. Self Defense is just one use.

And the reason most of us say avoid knife fights at all costs...is because even a novice vs. an expert there are a lot of variables...and no one leaves unscathed. No one is saying ditch the knife, they are saying avoid this at all costs.

Even the most skilled and senior instructor will tell you that it's not like the movies and edged weapons are a wild card. The senior practitioner may win the bout, but they arnt leaving pretty...

That's why people are saying avoid knives in combat. I think most people I hope would also say "avoid combat" at all costs. It usually never ends pretty either.

I absolutely agree. Maybe I cut to the chase and spoke too quickly. Part of my philosophy of prepping, and quite a few others too, is to avoid conflict at all costs. The loudest one in the room is the weakest.

None the less... knife training, hammer training as well as training hand to hand combat is a hell of an investment in prepping. Here's another reason why these two items are key in an urban survival situation, no matter where, or when. It's because there is most certainly either a knife or hammer, or both, in every single building or household throughout the world. Think about it. It is the most likely weapon you could could find off the top of your head.

Why is it everyone says avoid knives in combat??? I don't get it.

It comes down to what you're really after. I have had to use knives in combat and I can attest to it being a very unpleasant experience. I am more of the mindset of avoiding a situation where I have to engage unless that's the mission. If I can keep from dealing with an X-ray in hand to hand, I'll do so.

I'm gonna first say that no, I've never been in a knife fight. I'm also going to generally say that I don't believe any of you have either, otherwise, true to what you all say, you'd have a horribly maimed face. But in my opinion, the knife is like any other form of combat, including the fist, the bow, the axe, the hatchet/hammer, or the gun.

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😐

Ooookay.

The question is "Do you train with the item, and how often do you train?". What did the training entail?

I was training for years with a knife and hammer every morning, right after my gymnatics, weightlifting, calisthenics and shadowboxing, and I would say I'm fairly more comfortable handling a knife and/or a hammer/stick, then most people are. Lets look at the pros of "shadow-knifing", shall we?

1) Speed- Most important. Learning to slash and withdraw before a retaliatory attack occurs. Like a wolf. The first slash might end the conflict.
2) Defense- Learning to cover up and avoid getting the face, neck or any sensitive areas(wrists, guts, etc) sliced up.
3) Technique- Not only do you practice but over time, you also learn the most efficient strikes, offensive and defensive moves. Style will come along. And there are many different types of styles, depending on what the opponent you are fighting is armed with, be it barefisted, a knife, and axe, or a club.
4) Handling- This is an offshoot of technique, but it's worth keeping separate. Handling is very important, how you hold the knife? Offensive and defensive knife fighting are very important. If you aren't comfortable handling the knife, then it could very well be used against you.

These are just off the top of my head. I had a fifth halfway through but I forgot. Anyways saying the knife is bad to use in combat is foolish. Okay you come up against someone else with a club or a knife, so what... you throw away the knife? Always run first... but run WITH THE KNIFE! Don't chuck it!

And if you are thinking or even planning to ever fight with a knife, then, the same thing goes with the knife as everything else. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN.

...

Have you received formal training in the use of modern combatives?

-S.