Most effective self-defense/combat knife design?

It comes down to preference and what style you were trained in. I prefer fixed blade straight double edged daggers, 4-6 inch blades, one hand grip with counterbalance pommel made of high carbon steel. An old army buddy prefers tanto style chisel point single edged fixed blades made of high carbon steel.

I have years of fencing training, he only has his army hand to hand training.

One general tip: Throwing knives are fkn useless. Throw your weapon, you now have no weapon.

Depends upon whether it's civilian or military use. In a civilian situation, you're much better off with a common utility knife because then you can claim that you use it in your work - like opening boxes or cutting paper. There's a reason those miserable terrorists used them to take over airplanes - they're deadly, nasty fighting knives. And they are very useful for other things as well.

If you have a Karate instructor run you through some moves, you'll find that a carpenter's utility knife answers a lot of the questions...... like big handle so you can hang onto it - small blade, so you aren't waving around some big piece of steel. All you want to do is make small cuts - and mostly your opponent will run away.

Then, the beauty of a utility knife is that it can go directly into the garbage can because it's cheap and easily replaceable.

If you can't carry a knife at all - carry a sharp pencil.......... also an excellent weapon.

Some knives are better than others.

I like black flip open knives. Black knives are invisible at night, and a knife with a 4" or 5

" blade is easy to conceal in a pocket. If you want to scare several people, try one of the bigger knives with a curved blade, such as a Kukrhi or Gurkha knife. I have a very sharp, flat Arabian sword but the scabbard is ****.

The better the steel, the more it will cost. Never get a fixed blade knife that has no tang.

A hammer also makes an excellent weapon, as does a collapsing steel baton. BUDK supplies all these things.

A Karambit is a nasty little thing. A Kukri is a different animal all together, but yet just as nasty. I can make a Bowie that can take a hand off. Then you have the fighters and daggers. What do these have in common, they are sharp and depend on the skill of the wielder. But in my opinion, fast is more dangerous than slow and in a hand to hand fast is better. For intimidation purposes a big Bowie or Kukri can make a would be attacker think twice but a small quick blade can ruin his day before he knows it.

"pepper spray is used by women, not guys" Who says? Pepper spray is a very effective self defense tool. I have carried Pepper spray on my key chain for years. Don't forget that even your keys can be used as a weapon when punching. Personally, I rely on my handgun with a CHL, as the ultimate deterrent. However for self defense I use a combination. I have taken various martial arts for years, carry a concealed firearm, and I have a modest 3" pocket knife. Of course all of these are worthless without the common sense to avoid trouble/ danger.

Use a feather and kill with kindness..I carry a Swiss army knife and use the little scissors most of all..or little blade to open boxes. It has a tooth pick too! *looks at it/ you must get one!

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As long as the knife is long enough to reach the heart or major arteries it's long enough. If it can pierce that tough cartilage between ribs it's sharp enough. It's not so much about the weapon as the person who wields it.

The Derpco 12" Mall Ninja Bowie (with the gut hook) sounds perfect for you, based on your apparent level of extreme skill and general bada$$iness!

its an open forum so you will get tons of answers relating to what type of weapon, can you use them, etc., etc. I am sure you have your reasons for asking these things, keep in mind that what you want may not be as legal as you think where you live.