Tips For Picking The Best Boot Knife For Self-Defense

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

INTRODUCTION
Why is boot knife a suitable tool for self-defense?
First, it helps you get ready for all eventualities. Even if you are caught in a dangerous situation, ambushed by unprecedented threats or get stranded in a hostile territory. A well-kept boot knife which you can access and draw easily can make a world of difference in such situations.

Second, it can be argued that ‘boot knife’ is made for people to defend themselves against aggressors. As we reflect on American history, the ‘boot knife’ originated from a time where violence was rampant, and people needed a means of defending themselves. Furthermore, the firearms produced at that point in time was not reliable.

Therefore, it can be shown that boot knives by definition were meant to be for combat. This would be especially true for knives with clip-point blade or double-edged blade. These blade points are really suitable for slashing and stabbing.

Third, it is a last resort self-defense tool because most attackers will not take its presence into account. If you are able to conceal it properly and make it easily accessible, it may be able to save your life.

If you are picking a knife for the purpose of self-defense, here are 5 tips you can consider before getting one.
1. Concealability
2. Get a knife with a suitable blade point
3. Look out for a suitable edge
4. Picking a suitable handle
5. Type of steel the blade is made of

1. Concealability
To gain an edge over your attackers, you need to keep your weapon concealed. Hence, it is ideal for you to get a blade that has a length of 3 inches to 4 inches. You can easily conceal the knife with this size. At the same time, you need to ensure that the blade is long enough to penetrate through vital organs of a person’s body.

Not to sound rude, but it’s definitely a pluspoint if your knife is capable of doing that.

Make sure that you can easily access the blade too. The way you dress will significantly influence where you can conceal the knife. It is often the case that tight-fitting clothes or skirts will limit the amount of options you can for concealing the weapon.

When you pick a knife, you need to keep in mind how you can conceal the blade. For example, you can pick a mini-pocket clip knife if your concealment locations are limited.

2. Get a knife with a suitable blade point
Why is this important? Getting a knife with different blade-point design will influence the way you use the knife.

For example, knives with shallow bellies are more suitable for stabbing, while knives with deep bellies are better for slashing.

Another indication you can look for is whether they are double edged or single edged. It’s usually the case that double-edged blades are better for stabbing, while single edged blades are great for slashing.

There are a number of blade-point designs you can look out for. First, is the straight-back blade which is popular for slicing things. It’s often used as a kitchen knife because it’s one of the best blade points for chopping things.

Also, you can opt for a blade with a sheepsfoot blade point which is suitable for both slicing and cutting things. You can have better control over the blade too if it’s a sheepsfoot blade point. For example, you may need to apply more force towards the middle part of the blade when you cut a rope. This is where the sheepsfoot blade can give you an edge.

If you want a blade that is great at piercing things, you can get a knife with a spear-point blade. The blade will be made symmetrically-pointed, which is geared for piercing deep into things.

3. Look out for a suitable edge
The most common edge for a blade is the straight edge. This edge is suitable for making push cuts and precision cuts. For push cuts, it’s basically a situation where you push your blade into something. While precision cuts refer to situations where you need to cut things up precisely. This means that straight-edge knives would be great for peeling things too.

Next, you can look out for serrated edges. They are great for cutting through tough materials. You can even cause more damage towards the object when you pull out the knife. However, this kind of edge is not suitable for precision cuts.

Furthermore, there are some knives that comes with combo edges. For example, some part of the blade will be straight-edge while other parts will be serrated. The main disadvantage of getting a knife with a combo edge is it’s much harder to sharpen.

4. Picking a suitable handle
There are 2 aspects to this, the handle design and the material the handle is made of.

Picking a suitable handle material is important because it determines how much control you have over the knife. Make sure that the handle is made from non-slip materials such as rubber, G10 or Krayton.

For the handle design, you can check out for knives with an ergonomic shape, reducing the possibility of getting an injury while working with the knife. The ergonomics should allow you to have a firm grip of the knife too, allowing you to have control over the edges of the knife.

With the advancement of technology, you should be able to see a huge variety of materials for the handle. Therefore, you can be certain that there’s no lack of choice.

5. Type of steel the blade is made of
The blade of the knife is one of the most important parts of the knife. So, what should you expect? The whole blade should be made from materials that helps maintain the shape and sharpness of the knife. Moreover, the material must be able to withstand external force. The blade should not bend when you thrust a solid object.
Stainless steel knives are great at holding their edges, but they are not that ‘tough’. On the flipside, high-carbon steels are tough, but they aren’t that good at holding edges. You can look out for other materials such titanium.

To get a good compromise, you need to know what you are using the knife for before picking one. If you want a blade made from high-grade stainless steel, it comes with a coating that prevents corrosion. Of course, blades made from this material tend to be more expensive.

Conclusion
Remember to keep your mind open to possibilities when you are using this tool. A boot knife is a handy tool. Besides using it for self-defense, you can complete your survival chores with them. You can use it to clear a path in the woods so that you can walk through it. If you need to gather firewood, you can use the boot knife to help you get some too.
I hope the tips that I shared were useful! If you have any ideas you would like to share, feel free to comment below!

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Author bio: I am Peter Betts, a survivalist and outdoor enthusiast. I spend a lot of time learning about what’s the best tips and tools for surviving. It’s an endless learning process. If you want to learn more about me, you can follow me over at The Survival Hacks.

Source: https://www.weapon-blog.com/2019/03/tips-for-picking-the-best-boot-knife-for-self-defense/