However, it should also be taken into account that there are people who feel very uncomfortable carrying a weapon with them. It is all a matter of personal choice. There are states that forbid the carrying of a gun and in such cases; the knife is the next best thing to serve the same purpose. As it was said earlier, balance still has to be maintained, and since you are after your personal safety and not to intimidate others, you have to conceal your weapon as much as you can. That is the purpose of boot knives.

Originally designed for military close combat, boot knives have become an option of self-defense even for the civilian population. The blade of boot knives usually only ranges from 3 to 5 inches short, with a handle that can only be gripped with one hand. This very compact size makes it inconspicuous from the naked sight.

From the name itself, boot knives are recommended to be hidden behind the boots although it can still be hidden inside the shirt or on belts. You do not have to worry about the knife being too weak to defend yourself because it happens to be small. The design of the edges and false edges of boot knives are meant to offset this problem.

As much as possible, look for boot knives that are made of vanadium alloy since this steel is very suitable for such cases. Also, it is highly recommended that you use fixed-blade boot knives instead of the foldable ones. The disadvantage with foldable boot knives is that you can’t quickly draw it in case of emergency, which defeats the very purpose of carrying a boot knife with yourself.

As for the handles, if your palms tend to be sweaty, look for handles that are made with Kraton rubber for easier grip. Handle design of more advanced boot knives had also been more complex so check each of them to see if they suit your fingers. In other words, try them and see if your get a “feel” for it. Also, if you have very little knife training, use single-bladed boot knives for your safety.

Although the main purpose of boot knives is for self-defense, the aerodynamic design of it makes it a medium for knife throwing competitions, which is another use of it. One of the most popular brands of boot knives is the smith & weeson boot knife.

To look at more collections of boot knifes click here >>