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Skill Set: The Danger of Knives
By Tiger McKee
Knives, and other sharp objects, are often underrated when we think about them as weapons. In reality they are extremely dangerous and very effective weapons. Here are a few facts about knives you may not know.
Knives are simple to use. Even someone who has no knife training can put you in the hurt locker quickly. It doesn't have to be a big knife, or have a long blade to hit major plumbing. There are multiple places on your body where a cut of one inch or so will hit an artery or vein. Knives are easy to carry and conceal. You can have one in your hand, hidden from view and ready for quick use. (And there are places where you can legally carry a knife where you can't have a firearm.) This is why it is so critical to create distance, even when it appears the threat is not armed. Knives are great backup weapons, especially in situations when you can't get to your firearm because of body position.
A blade never runs out of ammo, or malfunctions. Slicing with the blade is just as effective, if not more so, than stabbing, so when applied properly every time your arm is moving you can be getting a cut in, or getting cut. It's really difficult to defend against an attacker armed with a blade. Most victims usually get cut several times before they realize the threat is armed and attacking, and by then it may be too late. If the threat is armed with a knife, and within range to use that weapon, you get cut, it's just a question of how many times and how bad.
With the threat close enough to use their blade they can use techniques to physically control you. With the popularity of the UFC and other mixed martial arts there are a lot of people out there practicing control techniques. A threat armed with a knife that knows how to fight in close puts you in a bad situation. Again, create distance, and keep in mind that the average person can cover twenty feet or more in 1.5 seconds or less. How long does it take you to draw your pistol and fire a shot? And this doesn't factor in the element of surprise.
Finally, and this fact shocks most people, your chances of dying from a knife attack are greater than being shot by a firearm, especially a pistol. A lot of this depends on who is using the knife, and their skill, and how you react to the attack, but data tells us the chance of dying from a knife attack is around seventy to eighty percent.
Knives can be good or bad, depending on which end of it you're on. If you carry a blade, it's a good idea to learn some basic skills on how to use it. When facing a threat armed with a blade don't underestimate the danger. When dealing with a possible threat, always consider the worst-case scenario until you know better.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama, author of The Book of Two Guns, a staff member of several firearms/tactical publications, and an adjunct instructor for the F.B.I. (256) 582-4777 www.shootrite.org