Last night's Defensive Folding Knife - Michael de Bethencourt

[dbhn]

Just wanted to give my opinion to you all on last night's 4-hour GOAL Defensive Folding Knife clinic with Michael de Bethencourt.

Overall it was great experience and I am extremely happy I did it. He is a great instructor and squeezed a lot of into a 4-hour format. This is my first class with Michael and he sure is entertaining (to say the least). He did a great job making all the students feel comfortable and at ease...most of the drills are rather up close and personal.

I've carried a knife for about 20 years and this is first training I have had on knife defense. Sometimes it is amazing how much you don't know and how simple the stuff you don't know is.

Some of key things I took away are:
knife in non-dominant hand/side (I have to retrain myself)
knife style and size (contrary to what most people think/like)
simple 1-2 targets and techniques that work in almost all situations

I look forward to his retention clinic in the Fall and will also try to seek out his snub class. I'd like to have the full range of his teachings as they are all taught to work together while being very simple and very effective.

 

[USMA-82]

I just bought a new pink knife!

 

[Cross-X]

I just bought a new pink knife!

Just don't tell the boys at the club!

 

[joe6486]

+1 for Michael's classes.

 

[WayneWong]

Any recommendations on best size blade that would be good for general utility as well as self defense?

 

[USMA-82]

A pink Spyderco Delica with a plain, non-serrated blade - take Michael's course!

 

[Cross-X]

A pink Spyderco Delica with a plain, non-serrated blade - take Michael's course!

That color suits your tender, devious nature.

 

[USMA-82]

That color suits your tender, devious nature.

As does the Fox Labs pepper spray that travels with it!

 

[WayneWong]

A pink Spyderco Delica with a plain, non-serrated blade - take Michael's course!

I wish I did, I'll keep an eye out for the next one. I guess the retention class would not be good for someone who missed the last one.

 

[Cross-X]

As does the Fox Labs pepper spray that travels with it!

You are a rough date -- how do you look in your dress? No thong undies, I hope!

 

[USMA-82]

If you're making reference to my Scottish Kilt, that's OK, because I have great legs. And, of course, we Scottsmen don't wear underwear at all, thong or otherwise. Didn't you watch "Braveheart?"

 

[Jaxon]

oh lord, this went downhill fast.....

Now to get that image out of my brain........

 

[Tiktock]

Any recommendations on best size blade that would be good for general utility as well as self defense?

I'm not big on SD knives, but my EDC is a small fixed blade with a 2.75" blade. Check your local laws, though....some towns have pretty restrictive laws on blade length. I'd be interested in what knives "experts" believe should be used or better for SD. In the real world, many of the "tacticool" folders are absurd in design from a knifemakers standpoint.

For utility, you are going to be cutting tape, rope and boxes 90% of the time. I'd shy away from serrations unless you are a big fan of them. A simple steel that you can easilly sharpen and clean up is pretty much all you need. If you don't want to worry about rust, you need to go stainless. When it comes to knives, you pretty much get what you pay for, so don't expect a 30$ folder to be a precision quality item. That doesn't mean a $30 folder isnt plenty of knife for the average person, though...

Let me know if you want any recommendations on custom folding knives. I know lots of the makers personally as I don't do any folding knives for sale. They won't be cheap, though...and the cheapest will be running you $350+ just to start.....

Here's my EDC model:

 

[dbhn]

Michael promotes a small plastic handled folding knife that is easily opened and gripped well when wet, with a plain edge blade (easier to keep sharp and less scary for jury), and that overall is not a scary death master 2000 to the general public. He stated 3" and under blades were legal in all states but CT (2.5"). Though he stated he is not a lawyer and 100% on that. But I think it is pretty close to accurate. Something that can be laid on a table in front of a jury of sheep and seen realistically as a "pocket" knife.

The type of knife you pick will depend on your style, preferences, other uses, and of course, the defense tactics you know or are taught. There are alot of different knife teachings out there. Michael's techniques changed the way I carry, deploy, and grip my knife. Luckily, we did share the vision of the ideal EDC/SD knife though (Spyderco Delica). So I don't need to go out buy new blades. But I do prefer the serrations and cannot live with a pink handle.

 

[M1911]

I use a plain edge Spyderco Delica. No, it isn't high speed low drag. It isn't a precision tool. I'm sure knife geeks will turn up their noses at it. But it keeps a pretty sharp edge, it is easy to sharpen, I can fit it in my pocket, and I can open it one-handed.

Most importantly, the Delica has a capability that custom knives can not match: when (not if) I lose it I can replace it for about $50

 

[dbhn]

He stated 3" and under blades were legal in all states but CT (2.5"). Though he stated he is not a lawyer and 100% on that.

I can't find anything to support the CT 2.5" law I stated above. I am 99% sure that is what he said. The 3" blade rule of thumb seems to cover all states with the exception of local city or town special ordinances (like Boston's).

Anyone know better?

 

[John O]

Michael promotes a small plastic handled folding knife that is easily opened and gripped well when wet, with a plain edge blade (easier to keep sharp and less scary for jury), and that overall is not a scary death master 2000 to the general public. He stated 3" and under blades were legal in all states but CT (2.5").

Please inform Bobo or I will the next time I see him, that a 4" sharpened edge is the legal limit for a manual folder or fixed blade in CT. The legal limit for a auto knife is 1.5".

Sec. 53-206(a)
Carrying And Sale Of Dangerous Weapons
(Not more than $500 fine, or not more than 3 years imprisonment, or both)
(See also Sec. 29-35)

1. The actor carries upon his person any BB gun, blackjack, metal or
brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or a switch knife, or any knife having
an automatic spring release device by which a blade is released from the handle with a blade over one and 1/2 inches, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of which is four inches or over in length, any police baton or nightstick, or any martial arts weapon and electronic defense weapon as defined in 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon.

NOTE: The provisions of this section do not apply to law enforcement
officers engaged in their duties, any security guard having a baton or
nightstick in a vehicle while engaged in his official duties, any
person enrolled in and currently attending a martial arts school, any
certified martial arts instructor traveling to or from such school or
an authorized event or competition, any person having a BB gun in a
vehicle provided it is unloaded and stored in the trunk or other locked
container (but not the glove compartment or console), any person having
a knife the edged portion of which is over four inches long if the
person is a. a member of the United States Armed Forces and is on duty
or going to or from duty; b. members of military organizations on
parade; c. any person transporting such knife as merchandise to or from
an authorized gun or knife show; d. a person moving between residences;
e. any person transporting such knife to be repaired; f. any person
holding a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license issued pursuant to
chapter 490 or any salt water fisherman having such knife for lawful
hunting, fishing or trapping, or g. any person having such knife and
participating in an authorized historic reenactment. These exceptions
also apply to SEC. 29-38.

Sec. 53-206.
Carrying and sale of dangerous weapons

(a) Any person who carries upon his or her person any BB. gun, blackjack,
metal or brass knuckles, or any dirk knife, or any switch knife, or any
knife having an automatic spring release device by which a blade is
released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches
in length, or stiletto, or any knife the edged portion of the blade of
which is four inches or over in length, any police baton or nightstick, or
any martial arts weapon or electronic defense weapon, as defined in
section 53a-3, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument,
shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more
than three years or both. Whenever any person is found guilty of a
violation of this section, any weapon or other instrument within the
provisions of this section, found upon the body of such person, shall be
forfeited to the municipality wherein such person was apprehended,
notwithstanding any failure of the judgment of conviction to expressly
impose such forfeiture.

(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) any officer
charged with the preservation of the public peace while engaged in the
pursuit of such officer's official duties; (2) the carrying of a baton or
nightstick by a security guard while engaged in the pursuit of such
guard's official duties; (3) the carrying of a knife, the edged portion of
the blade of which is four inches or over in length, by (A) any member of
the armed forces of the United States, as defined in section 27-103, or
any reserve component thereof, or of the armed forces of this state, as
defined in section 27-2, when on duty or going to or from duty, (B) any
member of any military organization when on parade or when going to or
from any place of assembly, (C) any person while transporting such knife
as merchandise or for display at an authorized gun or knife show, (D) any
person who is found with any such knife concealed upon one's person while
lawfully removing such person's household goods or effects from one place
to another, or from one residence to another, (E) any person while
actually and peaceably engaged in carrying any such knife from such
person's place of abode or business to a place or person where or by whom
such knife is to be repaired, or while actually and peaceably returning to
such person's place of abode or business with such knife after the same
has been repaired, (F) any person holding a valid hunting, fishing or
trapping license issued pursuant to chapter 490 or any salt water
fisherman carrying such knife for lawful hunting, fishing or trapping
activities, or (G) any person while participating in an authorized
historic reenactment; (4) the carrying by any person enrolled in or
currently attending, or an instructor at, a martial arts school of a
martial arts weapon while in a class or at an authorized event or
competition or while transporting such weapon to or from such class, event
or competition; (5) the carrying of a BB. gun by any person taking part in
a supervised event or competition of the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl
Scouts of America or in any other authorized event or competition while
taking part in such event or competition or while transporting such weapon
to or from such event or competition; and (6) the carrying of a BB. gun by
any person upon such person's own property or the property of another
person provided such other person has authorized the carrying of such
weapon on such property, and the transporting of such weapon to or from
such property.

 

[dbhn]

maybe I "misremembered"

 

[USMA-82]

Here's a link for all 50 states. I will not attest to its accuracy:

http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm#N-R