Knife as a duty weapon?

[flcpd110]

Do they have a level 3 Holster of a fixed blade knife? :D I would think carrying a knife on a duty belt would be a unsafe thing to do.

[DontBurnMyFlag]

I carried a CRKT m14z folding knife in my left hand pocket.

A few of the new guys from my academy class I worked with said things like

"dont carry that, a bad guy will just use it against you"
"you'll get in trouble if you use the knife to defend yourself"
etc etc etc

I dont care if I face a lawsuit or whatever, but if my life was in danger and Im struggling on the ground for my survival, that knife is coming out and being used.

[Rabbit23]

Do they have a level 3 Holster of a fixed blade knife? :D I would think carrying a knife on a duty belt would be a unsafe thing to do.

Want to talk about unsafe? I used to carry a folder clipped to my sap pocket .... until it partially opened one day and I sat down. Ouch!

[danninator]

I keep a folding knife on me. Use as a weapon? if deadly force is justified and my gun becomes out of commission then hell yes. But in reality it serves a very practical purpose. I don't know of a single officer in my department that doesn't keep a knife on his person.

[sgtbear111]

Knives are a valuable tool, and a defensive weapon if necessary. I always carry one. It's important to have a SOLID lock on a folding knife. Plain edges do not cut poly rope or webbing well, a serrated edge does the job best. I liked the Cold Steel folding Tanto with 1/2 serrated edge for its blade and back lock. But the pocket clip was the same soft crummy slick polymer as the grips. With other knives, had liner locks collapse under pressure against the back of blade. Automatics - too easy to pop open in the pocket, lock can collapse under pressure or inadvertant pressure on button. Fixed knives are as good as the sheath and carry location. A handguard guard between the blade and grip should be considered if grip is wet or slippery. Can you hang onto the grip in all positions and external conditions?

Have you received training in use of a knife? An experienced criminal probably has trained in the prison yard. Ask your defensive tactics instructor.

A good sharpener for field use is the Smiths. It is yellow polymer with carbide inserts. Wal Mart has them for 5 or 6 dollars.

[Mike Romeo]

How does your department feel about you carrying a knife specifically for a last result weapon? If you did use a knife as a weapon, wouldn't you face a lawsuit? (assuming that you weren't trained to use the knife as a weapon)

I carry a Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops switchblade most of the time, although I have others. My department has no problem with carrying a knife. First and foremost as a utility tool, but if things got bad enough that I had to use it save my life or another, I doubt I would have to worry about any repercussions.

[BP348]

I've never heard if my agency has a policy or not for a knife only as a weapon.

I do know several people who carry a fixed blade on their non-gun side and everyone carries a folder.

Myself I have a spyderco I bought at the academy. had it almost ten years now and the knife has gone through hell.

I do know that in a deadly force situation we (USBP) can use whatever we can if we can't use the service firearm. including a knife ;)