Ever since Masaad Ayoob popularized the Spyderco Clipit in the mid 90’s, it seems that the tactical folding knife has become standard accessory to those who carry guns.
What most people do not realize is that there are several city ordinances around the country which prohibit the carrying of “deadly weapons.” Depending upon which ordinance you read, the penalty may range from either a fine or imprisonment of a few days to a few weeks. Blade length seems to be the threshold between legal and illegal, a length or about 2in-2.25.in being the acceptable standard.
What most people also fail to realize is that a very short, but sharp and exposed blade (+-1cm) can literally cause the same gaping cut wound as a lengthy combat knife. I had seen during my college days, students wielding concealed tiny box cutters with a minimal amount of the blade exposed at the end, cut massive wounds on the face and arms of their adversaries. We recall also how the 911 hijackers likewise wielded ordinary box cutters with deadly results to stab and subdue airline personnel who tried to stop them. An ordinary box cutter blade thrust or slash to the neck will kill just as surely as a Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife.
An ordinary swiss army knife, innocent and unassuming, can cut through a baseball bat with its edge still retained. Best of all, the swiss army knife is legal to carry. Small and short whittling Pocket knives of the imperial uncle Henry Type, are likewise effective defense tools. These knives were designed to whittle through wood and gut fish. Slightly larger Gerber Folding hunters were actually designed to gut deer and similar sized animals after a hunt. Do not underestimate the power of a small folding hunter knife.
The new generation of belt and boot knives are also quite effective. 2-2 1/2 inches in length, cheap and reliable, these knives can incapacitate an adversary with quick repeated thrusts to the solar plexus and/or the throat. Of course, just like with bullets, placement of the thrust to the right vital organ, is imperative.