Are you "over-prepared"?

[Stupid]

I don't think you are even prepared if you don't have this in your list of EDC.

[chasfm11]

I don't think you are even prepared if you don't have this in your list of EDC.

Actually, I have one of those. We have an RV and I wanted something that I could dig a small hole with if I needed to. Mine actually collapses smaller than the one in your picture.

It isn't than I'd want to carry on my gun belt, however.

[srothstein]

Thanks, Steve.

I assume that http://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Magnum ... 01CZHNCA/2 these are what you are talking about.

Yep, those are the type of knives I was talking about. The Cold Steel is one of my favorite brands, especially for holding an edge. Their customer service gets kind of a mixed review, though i was extremely satisfied in the end.

I had one of their folders and I chipped the blade. I kept it and kept using it anyway (after all, I was not really using it like I was supposed to). One of the screws holding the release came out and it would no longer open. So I sent the knife back in for repairs, explaining to them what happened. I asked them to take a look at the blade and let me know how much it would cost to repair, if possible. I even admitted that I had tried to resecure the screw that came lose and messed it up further, so it was not a warranty claim. Now, on their website, they do say it takes several weeks to get a new blade, as they do various runs and you might need to wait for your style to come around. But I never heard anything from them about cost or even acknowledging they had received my knife. But I liked the knife enough that I went out and bought another just like ti for carrying while it was being repaired.

After about 2 months or so, I was beginning to get a little irritated at not hearing from them, and thought about calling them. Just as I was made up my mind to do so, a brand new knife showed up in the mail. No invoice, no charges, and not much of an explanation of anything, but it was clearly a brand new knife (none of the scratches I had on mine or anything). Now, I really can't argue too much with someone standing behind their product like that, especially since I told them the problems were my fault. I was left wishing for just a little bit better communications along the way, but was extremely satisfied with the knife (and my son is still very happy with the one I had bought as a replacement - he got it when the new one showed up).

BTW, if you can cut a steak, I think you will find you have enough strength to use the knife. The stomach and kidney areas are not that tough, and can cause a lot of pain to make the BG release you.

[Bart]

I don't think you are even prepared if you don't have this in your list of EDC.

A necessary tool for the 3S method.

[srothstein]

Chasfm11,

It was pointed out to me that there is one further bit of advice you need on the punch knives. In Texas, a knife with a point designed for stabbing and two cutting edges is considered a dagger (or dirk or stiletto) and is illegal to carry. If you get a knife like this, make sure it is one of the ones that have only one sharp edge and a false back edge to avoid potential legal problems.

I am one of those who believe that you can legally carry a prohibited knife with your CHL if you also have a gun, but most on the board disagree with me. I will be the first to admit that it was certainly not the intent of the law. I just take the literal wording that way. I don't recommend being the test case to see if I am correct either.

[chasfm11]

Chasfm11,

It was pointed out to me that there is one further bit of advice you need on the punch knives. In Texas, a knife with a point designed for stabbing and two cutting edges is considered a dagger (or dirk or stiletto) and is illegal to carry. If you get a knife like this, make sure it is one of the ones that have only one sharp edge and a false back edge to avoid potential legal problems.

I am one of those who believe that you can legally carry a prohibited knife with your CHL if you also have a gun, but most on the board disagree with me. I will be the first to admit that it was certainly not the intent of the law. I just take the literal wording that way. I don't recommend being the test case to see if I am correct either.

Thanks for the additional information. I had hoped to make it over to Ft.Worth today but things didn't work out. Now, I'm glad that I didn't - I might have bought something that I shouldn't have. Of course, if it were illegal, they shouldn't be selling it, should they?

It looks like this one
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Kraton ... 725&sr=1-6 is one of the few on Amazon that meets the criteria you described as legal. It sure is tiny enough - 1.5" blade

Thanks, but I have no plans to be the test case for something like this.

[skub]

Of course, if it were illegal, they shouldn't be selling it, should they?

It's not against the law to have an illegal knife ( ) , just to carry off your property, or outside your vehicle.

PC §46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person com- mits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly car- ries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's control.

[WildBill]

It was pointed out to me that there is one further bit of advice you need on the punch knives. In Texas, a knife with a point designed for stabbing and two cutting edges is considered a dagger (or dirk or stiletto) and is illegal to carry. If you get a knife like this, make sure it is one of the ones that have only one sharp edge and a false back edge to avoid potential legal problems.

How do you carry one of these so that it is accessible and you don't stick yourself?

[chasfm11]

It's not against the law to have an illegal knife ( ) , just to carry off your property, or outside your vehicle.

PC §46.02. UNLAWFUL CARRYING WEAPONS. (a) A person com- mits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly car- ries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's control.

OK, I wasn't clear on this. If I buy an illegal knife at a gun show, I have to transport it home. From the minute that I own it until I'm back on my property, I'm breaking the law, right? I suppose that you could make a case for provision #2 - that after the purchase, I was heading directly to the car.

[skub]

OK, I wasn't clear on this. If I buy an illegal knife at a gun show, I have to transport it home. From the minute that I own it until I'm back on my property, I'm breaking the law, right? I suppose that you could make a case for provision #2 - that after the purchase, I was heading directly to the car.

Actually, the way I read this, #2 would cover you from the gun show to your car, as long as you went directly from the gun show to the car. (I guess technically, someone might argue that if you bought the knife, and then you continued to walk around the gun show, you would be in violation, but I would be surprised to see that ever become an issue.) BUT, one clarification that I would add is that, once you get to your car, you are good - that seems to be clearly stated in #2. Having it in your car is the same as having it in your home.

<insert standard legal disclaimer - IANAL, et al.>

[mgood]

But since it specifically says motor vehicle, I guess if you went to the show on your bicycle, you're out of luck.

[srothstein]

It was pointed out to me that there is one further bit of advice you need on the punch knives. In Texas, a knife with a point designed for stabbing and two cutting edges is considered a dagger (or dirk or stiletto) and is illegal to carry. If you get a knife like this, make sure it is one of the ones that have only one sharp edge and a false back edge to avoid potential legal problems.

How do you carry one of these so that it is accessible and you don't stick yourself?

Sorry to take so long answering, but I have been tied up with school this week (lots of reading that is hard to understand).

I carried it on my belt in the 9 o'clock position, standing straight up and down. It was almost completely hidden by the radio carrier when i was in uniform. If you carry it inside the waistband in a decent leather or kydex holster, all that is visible is the grip and no one will worry about it unless they are looking for weapons. It doesn't have the gun look that scares so many, and it really doesn't look too much like a knife to most people (who think knives all are either Rambo survival knives, Bowie knives, or switchblades).

[stevie_d_64]

Please refer to my "signature" tagline...

Also, I have it on good "legal" advice and authority, ahem, that anything you say and write in publically accessable and monitored forums like this can, and will, be used against you in a court of law...

I don't talk much about what I would actually do in any given situation, I do not premeditate or record what I would do in any given senario...

All I do is follow the law, practice outstanding conflict resolution (which is part of that class we take to get that plastic, last time I looked); clearing leather, and discharging my defensive firearm in a case of imminent physical danger to myself or others in my presense, is an act of last resort, and a regretable one...

On a side note...I might ask the question if the situation presented itself:

"Hey, homie...Is that my briefcase?"

[stevie_d_64]

I don't think you are even prepared if you don't have this in your list of EDC.

Actually, I have one of those. We have an RV and I wanted something that I could dig a small hole with if I needed to. Mine actually collapses smaller than the one in your picture.

It isn't than I'd want to carry on my gun belt, however.

"Officer......Sir, that is NOT a shovel, it is a "holstered" entrenching tool...You just never know when you'll need one..."

[Rye956]

I usually carry a sig p238, flashlight and a folding knife. But I will start making a survival bag and keep it in my truck coz you'll never know when you need one. It's better to have one and not need it that to need one and not have it.