What is a good knife for stabbing people?

[The Bubba Effect]

I don't know why, but it feels weird asking that question.

It really should not, considering I have seen pages and pages discussing shooting people in the pelvic girdle, but it still seems weird asking that.


I carry a specific handgun, chosen based on it's barrel length, capacity, concealment, caliber, ability to point and shoot quickly, etc. It is loaded with rounds that I have chosen after hours of reading wound studies and breakdowns of real shootings. They are low flash, barrier penetrating, and expand in soft tissue, and do not plug with denim or leather.

I also carry a knife. I chose that knife based on it having a point on the end (that I broke prying nails out of a roof, so now it's really not that pointy) and I like the locking mechanism.

Granted, I carry my gun as a purely defensive tool and my knife is a general utility tool. It makes me wonder though, what if I wanted a knife just for stabbing people?


For the sake of this conversation, I do not care if it is fixed or folding, but it does need to be a reasonable size long enough to reach the things it needs to reach and short enough to carry (If it was convenient I would probably carry an Epee or Saber, but I am asking for suggestions about knives, not swords).


So, INGO knife gurus,

What is a good knife for stabbing people?

 

[Sylvain]

Double edge dagger?

For a defensive blade it might be better to slash instead of stabbing though.
Depends what you're trying to do and what kind of martial training you have with a blade.

 

[UGaARguy]

For the sake of this conversation, I do not care if it is fixed or folding, but it does need to be a reasonable size long enough to reach the things it needs to reach and short enough to carry

From a purely academic standpoint, look at the Fairbairn-Sykes and Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knives as a reference.

 

[kawtech87]

The Tanto point was specifically designed for penetrating and slashing through armor and flesh.

 

[Bradsknives]

Karambit (folder or fixed) for slicing and dicing (some will disagree with me on this, but creating blood loss is more important than penetration), but it won't do you a bit of good unless you train on a regular bases.

 

[MadBomber]

Daryl Dixon has had a lot of success with the Busse Team Gemini. I think I'd prefer an ESEE 5 due to the lesser cost and killer (no pun intended) warranty. Of course, if I could get away with it I'd carry a Katana slung on my back and a Roman Gladius on the hip. Rhino and I have actually talked about this, at length. (Beats working)

 

[jd4320t]

Karambit (folder or fixed) for slicing and dicing (some will disagree with me on this, but creating blood loss is more important than penetration), but it won't do you a bit of good unless you train on a regular bases.

Brad nailed what I was going to say. Whatever your choice is you have to train and be able to use it.

 

[jd4320t]

Daryl Dixon has had a lot of success with the Busse Team Gemini. I think I'd prefer an ESEE 5 due to the lesser cost and killer (no pun intended) warranty. Of course, if I could get away with it I'd carry a Katana slung on my back and a Roman Gladius on the hip. Rhino and I have actually talked about this, at length. (Beats working)

Most people aren't going to carry around a 5" + fixed blade.

 

[T.Lex]

Vorpal blade that goes snicker-snack.

 

[Bradsknives]

IMO, a knife is a very poor choice as a weapon by itself. It is much more effective if used with a combination of open hand combative techniques. The problem with using a knife is the percentage is very low in getting an immediate effect on the central nervous system or other key areas of the body like muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, etc. Damage to the central nervous system and other key body areas is more likely by using blunt force with a impact weapon like a baton or even a flashlight.

Note: I'm not expert on this, my opinion and what I have stated above is based on a lot of reading and listening to people who are experts on this matter, like George (INGO member "mercop")​

 

[The Bubba Effect]

Most people aren't going to carry around a 5" + fixed blade.

True, but for the purposes of my question, it fits.

 

[jd4320t]

True, but for the purposes of my question, it fits.

Having had an Esee 5 and currently having Busse TGLB's like Daryl's they are both too big for me to carry most of the time.

 

[bwframe]

My money is on this one:


It's not terribly expensive. Comes with a trainer, if purchased that way. A fair amount of video reviews and some training vids by the knife designer on YouTube. It's a Benchmade, so I believe Brad might sell them.

 

[The Bubba Effect]

My money is on this one:
View attachment 35298

It's not terribly expensive. Comes with a trainer, if purchased that way. A fair amount of video reviews and some training vids by the knife designer on YouTube. It's a Benchmade, so I believe Brad might sell them.

Is it long enough to cut the important things inside a person or is stabbing depth not really that big of a factor?

 

[Dean C.]

Earnest Emerson at his seminar at blade show basically said fighting with a knife unless you have allot of training is a bad idea. When using a knife you want to go for major arteries that will make your opponent bleed out the fastest that is why karambits when uses properly are devastating. Or you just get the big wide bladed knives stabbed repeatedly into important bits to cause the maximum amount of tissue damage (remember to twist the blade when pulling out). Knife fighting is not something I would want to participate in just because you will get cut in that fight. For a pure fight knife I strongly suggest an Emerson Super Karambit.

Good situational awareness and a loaded .45 are my favorite weapons.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

So, INGO knife gurus,

What is a good knife for stabbing people?

From what I have seen?

The cheapest, nastiest kitchen knife that you can grab in a drunken/meth-infused rage.

Saw a 5'2", size 0, chick get a bread knife half way into a dude's (just under) trap while he was sitting down.

Like guns (I see the nastiest crap guns used to shoot people--usually), I see a lot of crap knives.

 

[bwframe]

Is it long enough to cut the important things inside a person or is stabbing depth not really that big of a factor?

I'm not in the business of killing or "knife fighting." Joints, tendons and muscle is the target to immobilize. I'd just use them for shaving someone off of me or my gun. Sharps on both sides help me not to get it backwards.

 

[Sylvain]

For stabbing the steel quality or even shape of the blade is not that important.You can stab someone with a screwdriver.

 

[RAMBOCAT]

Check out the SOG PENTAGON (not to be confused with the MINI PENTAGON). I think it will fill your stabbing needs as well as offering a good edge for cutting or slicing; as it is double edged. One side is plain and the other is serrated. I own two and love them both dearly.

 

[MadBomber]

True, but for the purposes of my question, it fits.

Having had an Esee 5 and currently having Busse TGLB's like Daryl's they are both too big for me to carry most of the time.

Rhino carries a Junglas as a neck knife.