This is a topic that I almost never see discussed and it really surprises me. Almost all knives come set-up to be carried on the right side which initially makes sense because 85% of all people are right handed, right?
I would say yes, if you always knew in advance that you were going to need the knife. For example if you are a butcher you would carry your main tool on your right or if you are going to jump someone with a knife it makes sense for the tool to be in your strong hand. However, when I know that I will need to use the knife I don’t believe it is too burdensome to deploy the knife and switch hand and I typically find that I need a knife when I am already holding something (like a plastic pumpkin), with my dominate hand, that needs to cut and switching hands at that point can be troublesome.
Can you open and closed your knife while holding something with your strong hand?
Additionally, while I would never consider my knife my primary defensive weapon, I do want it to be available in that capacity. Having a knife on your weak side has three major advantages, as I see it.
- Assuming your carry a pistol on your dominate side, you have a weapon available to each hand.
- In a hand to hand fight and I believe it easier to control an opponent with my strong hand, allowing my free, weak hand to reach the knife
- If I am involved in a struggle for my firearm, I can access my knife to help persuade my attacker to give up, while still being able to pin my Glock in its holster where the trigger is safely covered.
The reason I carry it tip up is because of the hand position during deployment. When you deploy a knife from a pocket tip up, you slide your thumb behind the knife and conceal/protect the grip of the knife with the remainder of your hand. This permits quick access without undue attention. Then as you pull the knife from the pocket it is already positioned in your hand to be opened and if sized appropriately your thumb should be on the thumb stud to be deployed.
Quick note: Knives and Firearms are both deadly defensive weapons and I can not think of any situation where you would be justified in using a knife and not a firearm. A knife is not a option that should be used with any less consideration and should only be used if you are in immediate fear of death or grave bodily injury for yourself or another person, that would also have the right to defend themselves with lethal force.
Ron is the Founder and President of When the Balloon Goes Up! He competes regularly in IDPA as an ESP/Expert, his focus is on concealed carry, home defense and analyzing equipment to find “Gear that Just Works!”
