Self Defense Knives - I got my knife, now what?

So you purchased a knife and have spent a little time getting familiar with it and seeing how sharp it is.  Let’s take a moment to make sure you made the right choice for you.

What I want you to do now is pause and just hold the knife in your hand.  Does it rest comfortably in your hand?  Most knife handles are sculpted with places for each of your fingers and these don’t always suit everyone.  When you clench your hand around the handle do you feel in control?  You may be applying force with this knife so you want to make sure that you can wield it appropriately and that it won’t slip or rotate in your hand.  Does the knife have a good weight to it?  This is personal preference, but I prefer a bit of heft to a knife.  If you got a folding blade, am I able to bring the blade out at will?  It should only take a couple of seconds for you to draw the knife and extend the blade.

It is very important that you spend some time practicing using your knife.  You want to be prepared in advance for the unexpected, not fumbling around for your knife when you need it most.  If you have a sheath for your knife I want you to practice, with the sheath where you will wear it (e.g., on your belt, etc.), quickly removing the knife and extending the blade.  If you bought a smaller folding knife that is connected to your keychain, I want you to practice fishing your keys out of your pocket (or purse) and getting your hands on the knife and extending the blade.  Same process for your pocket, or wherever else you might be carrying your blade.  You should keep practicing until you can consistently draw and extend the blade with one hand.

Always remember to be cautious when handling a blade.  Stay tuned for more information about self defense knives.