no way out? shoot him. he may be better with a knife than you are.

if you don't have your gun......good luck.

best advice: stay away from BG's with knives, or guns for that matter.

be safe, shoot well. :rock:

 

Based upon the scenario you presented in your post, I would reccomend that you reach for and use the pistol.

While there are actually several reasons for this, it should be remembered that the weapon he is presenting against you will constitute a threat of deadly force, and as such in most juristdictions, you are authorized to meet force with the same level of force being presented against you.

Additionally, you should remember that anyone who fights with a knife, MUST be prepared to get cut, which can open you up to a whole series of other unexpected problems.

Just my thoughts.

 

Since spending 11 days in the hospital after my 3rd (and last) knife fight, my advice is to go for the gun. Shoot for the high chest or the bridge of the nose if he's stupid enough to hold still. Keep shooting as long as you have a target.

John
Cape Canaveral

 

Based upon the scenario you presented in your post, I would reccomend that you reach for and use the pistol.

While there are actually several reasons for this, it should be remembered that the weapon he is presenting against you will constitute a threat of deadly force, and as such in most juristdictions, you are authorized to meet force with the same level of force being presented against you.

Additionally, you should remember that anyone who fights with a knife, MUST be prepared to get cut, which can open you up to a whole series of other unexpected problems.

Just my thoughts.

Be Safe

Bryan S. Williams
Williams Associates Protective Services, LLC
www.wa-protective.com

agreed.,.,. if you are in fear of your life, draw and shoot
no matter if he has a knife, gun or ball bat..

 

At 60, with a bum ticker, . . . enough arthritis to make grocery shopping a real pain, . . . one bad knee and a tricky hip: you betcha I am not even going to think knife.

Besides that, . . . Ohio is really not LEO friendly to knife toters, from what I have heard.

Beside that, . . . bg sees my knife, . . . figures maybe at worst we are even, at best he has the upper hand.

Beside that, . . . my stainless 1911 might make a big enough impression all on its own, . . . without my even taking off the safety.

If not, . . .
1) I have a FTF and it has been fun chatting with you good folks
2) He is shot and discontinues the altercation
3) 2 doesn't happen so I am proceeding to slide lock
4) 3 didn't work well enough, so I am reloading
5) 4 didn't work either, so I am down to my last 8 rounds
6) 5 didn't work either, . . . but by now I should be able to out run him even with the bum knee. He should be bleeding out of 25 entrance holes and maybe an appropriate number of exit holes, . . . so I doubt if he is up to a long sprint

May God bless,
Dwight

 

Sorry if I am missing something here but everyone is answering "go to guns" based on the scenario described at the top of the thread. A man with a knife wants to do really bad things to you and on top of that he is within 6 feet? How many of you can honestly say you could respond with your pistol from a concealed rig in this scenario? If the BG is just gonna stand six feet away swinging a knife in the air while you present and drill him between the eyes then by all means drop the S.O.B. Just my opinion folks but you must be well rounded in your training ...empty hand, improvised, edged, impact weapons, firearms etc. In a situation like this you will probably have to fight for your life long before your pistol clears leather if at all.

 

All

I think Trevor has a vaild point. At less than 6ft you are in a world of hurt, and are probably down the looking for the best of bad options. Since the scenario gives the option to move doing so is good, since motion complicates the situation and adds time for you. If something is near by that might give an advantage is available, say a steel garbage can lid, get it. But in this situation the best defense may be offense, and within contact range a contact weapon is probably best, unless there is an option #3 in the form of a snubnose .357 magnum in your hand in your coat pocket and you shoot through the jacket quickly while moving. Regardless of what you do, do it quickly and decisively, hesitation is certain to get you killed.

 

a bg six feet away from me means that if the bg will make one step forward, his knife could start carving my inards. I dont think i will have the luxury of using my condition one pistol, or even reach for a knife... Id rather focus on his knife and make sure it wont come in contact with my body... and start praying to God to receive my soul should his skill be better than mine. :biglaugh:

 

Thanks guys. It's a real bad situation I hope to never be in. Even though I try to maintain situational awareness at all times, there are simply times when you need eyes in the back or your head to keep a BG from getting close. For example, Putting packages in a car, getting cash at an enclosed ATM, leaving a bar that is down an alley. All times when someone could be caught with their guard down allowing a BG the opportunity to close within 6ft.

Perhaps BG is simply presenting the knife as a threat, but my mind reading skills are kinda weak so I have to go with "this guy is gonna cut me!". As stated in a previous post, I think I would attempt the "speed rock" technique of drawing my weapon, but I'm not sure if that is well advised or if I would be quick enough. A well placed block or even closing the distance may give me time to unbalance the attacker and give me a precious second to draw and fire. If I draw immediately and the guy lunges I'm caught with a firearm half-drawn. In any case I guess I can prob count on being cut at least once.

My brother in law who is an ex-USMC drill instructor (who has enough shrapnel in his body to set off airport metal dectors) told me that you need to go into a situation like this with the mindset that you have already been cut. or stabbed. When you are that close I'm sure it comes down to who has the strongest will to survive, mental preparation and no small measure of luck.

Japle - where are YOU hanging out? 3RD knife fight! Glad you are still among us to tell the tale. You are either very lucky or just one bada$$ mo-fo! :rock:

 

Just a personal experience to relate along the vein of this thread:

It was broad daylight on a Saturday morning, I was working on my car inside my garage feeling perfectly safe, condition green. I had no weapon of any kind, save a 1/4" drive socket wrench. The front of the car was facing the outside so I could take advantage of the morning sunlight. While leaning over the fender with my gaze firmly fixed on some stubborn bolt I had a sinking feeling I was being watched, I looked up to my right and there was a guy standing right at the front bumper!! ***!? He was less than 4ft from me, dark hair, scraggly looking, skinny, with a strange stare in his eyes. He did something quickly, like pocketing something, with one of his hands as soon as I looked up.

I think I startled him as much as he startled me. He said "Hi.. uh.. what's the problem.. what you workin on?". A rather inconsequential, very short, and uneasy conversation followed in which he never took his hand out of his left pocket. He was playing with something but I couldn't tell what. He left in very short order and I never saw him again in our neighborhood, but I was always left wondering what would have happened if I hadn't looked up at that instance. Just goes to show that it can happen anywhere at any time.

-Stay Alert and Stay Safe!

 

At 60, with a bum ticker, . . . enough arthritis to make grocery shopping a real pain, . . . one bad knee and a tricky hip: you betcha I am not even going to think knife.

Besides that, . . . Ohio is really not LEO friendly to knife toters, from what I have heard.

Beside that, . . . bg sees my knife, . . . figures maybe at worst we are even, at best he has the upper hand.

Beside that, . . . my stainless 1911 might make a big enough impression all on its own, . . . without my even taking off the safety.

If not, . . .
1) I have a FTF and it has been fun chatting with you good folks
2) He is shot and discontinues the altercation
3) 2 doesn't happen so I am proceeding to slide lock
4) 3 didn't work well enough, so I am reloading
5) 4 didn't work either, so I am down to my last 8 rounds
6) 5 didn't work either, . . . but by now I should be able to out run him even with the bum knee. He should be bleeding out of 25 entrance holes and maybe an appropriate number of exit holes, . . . so I doubt if he is up to a long sprint

May God bless,
Dwight

Dwight, simply priceless...

 

Consider the following situation:

A BG is within 6ft wielding a knife with a strong desire to carve out your innards.
You have a condition 1 pistol in a strong side OWB holster AND a fixed blade knife in a sheath somewhere easily accessible. You are backed into a corner and have no way to "make distance" but can move left to right. Which weapon/tactics do you employ to get yourself out of this?

Not trying to flame or sidetrack the thread but wouldnt it be more valuable to contemplate how to avoid the series of drastic failures required on your part to be in this situation? In a corner with no way to make distance with a knife fighter 6 ft away?

I guess if I was beamed into this situation I would want to move to the left, keep my right hand free to defend myself from the knife and draw my pistol, firing without sights as soon as I cleared leather.

 

Since spending 11 days in the hospital after my 3rd (and last) knife fight, my advice is to go for the gun. Shoot for the high chest or the bridge of the nose if he's stupid enough to hold still. Keep shooting as long as you have a target.

John
Cape Canaveral

Note to Self - If in Cape Canaveral, don't go drinking with John...maybe it's just bad luck, but what a streak!!

...am I alone in my desire for at least a bare minimum of details? Glad you're still around. :rock:

 

my thoughts exactly....three knife fights?......gee, i just wrestle with my dog when i want a bit of excitement in my life. :biglaugh:

as already stated, 6 ft ain't much space. sacrifice your off hand/arm to protect yourself as best you can while going for the gun. i guess if you make a habit of going where people tend to jump you with knives :scratch: you could go around with your off arm wrapped in a bulky rain coat or with a leather jacket draped over it as a "pre protect the off arm in case of a knife attack and i have to buy time to go for my gun" defense measure.

be safe, shoot well. :rock:

 

Corner or no corner, the knife-armed attacker can
move forward more quickly that you can move back/away.

At 6 feet, the knife-guy can inflict all sorts of damage
on you before you can present your pistol (or your own
knife, as noted in the scenario presented).

If the bad guy is actively attacking, one is likely to have to
use empty hand techniques to trap or deflect the knife man's
arm while drawing one's pistol and firing from a retention
position.

Rosco

 

All

For those of you saying I would never be in this situation, or asking how someone would let themselves get into this situation, allow me to relate to you one of my experiences.

I was in the Mens room of a well known fast food restaurant in a near by large city. When I entered I was the only person in the room and while I was using the urinal someone else entered with a large backpack. This person opened the backpack and then just stood there about 8-10 ft away, since there was two open stalls and an open urinal, I did not think a friendly conversation was about to happen. Fortunately the Lord was on my side that day and as someone else opened the door to enter the Mens room this person hurridly put something back into the backpack, and then left the room. I can only guess what this person had in mind that day. But to this day I try to keep in mind that sometimes trouble finds you, you do not find it.

 

All
I was in the Mens room of a well known fast food restaurant in a near by large city. When I entered I was the only person in the room and while I was using the urinal someone else entered with a large backpack. This person opened the backpack and then just stood there about 8-10 ft away, since there was two open stalls and an open urinal, I did not think a friendly conversation was about to happen.

Well, there's a whole 'nother scenario. How do you handle this one? (err, no pun intended... honest.)

 

OK, I'll bite - I'd have had my appendix IWB carry Kimber CDP Pro drawn BEFORE I turned around - I can put my willy away one handed!! Were you armed then? Maybe it's me, but I'm a jittery little bugger whenever I'm using "the facilities" - I saty aware and realize that I'm putting myself in a potentially compromising position - but hey, when nature calls!!

Glad the guy left.

 

I don't have a urinal at home, and the bathrooms are so small, . . . a McDonalds stall makes me feel more at home.

Safer too

May God bless,
Dwight

 

Kimber Dude

I was glad he left too. In this instance I believe I was not armed. I have had another instance, not in the Men's Room, where I was armed and fortunately had the same result. Someone else came along the the dynamics of the situation changed and all participants left the area without participating in anything other than wondering what might have happened if. . . . .

It is because of these situations that I appreciate small very concealable firearms, and I do consider coat pocket carry a viable method with the proper holster. For this purpose I have a Colt Mustang, and .380 Govt, plus a Detective Special; which is usually my first choice for pocket carry, though sometimes the smaller pistols are more appropriate.

Concerning how to handle a Men's room situation? I have considered this and assuming pocket carry. Complete your business. Zip one handed. Place hand in pocket with firing grip on firearm located within. Turn directly to face the potential situation, smile and greet them like you would anyone. If this is a bad situation you are ready to withdraw the firearm as required. If not, exchange pleasantries, leave normally, and no one is aware of what you were gripping in your pocket.

 

A BG is within 6ft wielding a knife with a strong desire to carve out your innards.

I think you need to be offensive..striking first explosively with fists might buy yourself a few seconds for escape or going to guns........sure you might get cut but your going to be cut anyway.

 

To the original scenario of knife wielder at 6 feet, back against the wall----

Better have some prior training and knowledge in how to protect the core of your body and using deflecting techniques instead of trying to simply block any sort of attack with the knife.

Those that think they'll go to guns and be able to stop the attacker are dillusional at that distance. The mindset to go to guns is a bad idea for a few reasons----the least of which is you are taking one hand away from the possible defensive actions you have available to you while he is sticking and slashing your body.

Better to have both hands available to defend in this scenario. Keep your eyes on the knife and move to intercept it's path with deflective actions, not blocks.

You'll need to create time and distance in order to pull the heat. At 6 feet it is a knife attack, bringing a gun to a knife attack isn't going to work unless the gun is already in your hand.

Robin Brown

 

15-25' feet is considered lethal with a knife. Not only is a knife a slashing weapon, it is a projectile as well. If the BG is that serious about it, as soon as he starts to approach or make a threatening move, open fire. As soon as that knife came out, my 1911 would have come out, and I would be standing in double thumb grip with sites on his chest. Then if he still really wanted a go, as soon as he moved an inch threatenly I would open fire until he's down.

btw, if you can't drop him in 25 shots, maybe you should throw the gun at him hehehehehehe

 

I'm one of new yorks finest, by that I mean finest target for an accusatory media/ Rev. Al/and all of the pi**ed off guys getting outta Rikers soon. A cops gun is a prized posession for the skells of nyc. I only carry a knife for cutting "seat belts, and seat belts only" not people. that is if somebody was to ask why i have a benchmade switch blade clipped in my pants pocket.
Police and civilans have different responsibilites and expectations in combat. I'm suppose to call for help while i'm in the middle of a fight. I've pointed my weapon at people with the expectation of a gunfight a number of times but never shot at anyone or been shot at yet. in a fight where your gonna contact the person the last thing you wanna do is take your gun out especially where someone can take it from you. leave the gun in the holster and go for the ASP at that range, its ended 3 fights with just a couple of swings.

For police, I recomend the following procedure:
Run 180degrees as faster than the perp can
keep running
keep running
look back at perp to judge distance
keep running
find some form of cover, telephone pole, mailbox anything
empty my gun into him
Shi* my pants
reload
scream at him as loud as possible with as angry a voice as possible
call an 85 (assistance forthwith, which will pull everyone in the command over that way + plain clothes + special ops+ anybody in the area with a radio+the news who will report rumors first, and facts when they learn them if they have time)
look for video cameras filming me to see if I'll be the morning news
make sure nothing does the bronx bounce (something left unattended will bounce into somebody elses pocket)
wait to be accused of being a racist by people even if the perp was white.

for civilians I recomend:
Run 180degrees as faster than the perp can
keep running
keep running
look back at perp to judge distance
keep running
the cover, empty gun thing
reload
Shi* pants
call 911
say I was attacked not I just killed somebody. make sure you give the victims clothing description so that when police arrive they dont shoot the guy who just had a traumatic experience with a gun in his hand running towards them.
spend life savings on a lawyer

armchair commando tactics mean nothing when you've only practiced them in x-box games.
guns beat knives everytime, thats why they are illegal for badguys to buy

 

armchair commando tactics mean nothing when you've only practiced them in x-box games.

LOL! Best line in the thread.