CRKT Hissatsu Fixed Blade Tactical Knife with Sheath - 7.2" Black Tanto Blade, Textured Rubber Grip, MOLLE Compatible for Military, Survival & Outdoor Use - Perfect for Camping, Hunting & Emergency Preparedness

I own a lot of knives and have been using them for over 30 years. I carry a Kershaw Blur SV-30 as an EDC for daily cutting chores.Carrying a tool for self defense here in California has gotten more difficult recently with the State's banning of the open "unloaded" carry of handguns. This marxist state has effectively made law abiding citizens of good moral character felons; prohibited from carrying a handgun for self defense (the actual felons are now the only people who still carry guns... go figure!). The only practical, legal tool for self defense now, aside from pepper spray and a Taser, is a knife (well, and an unloaded gun in a locked container in the vehicle, but that is way to slow to get into play most of the time if you are the target of a violent criminal).If you are going to use a knife as a primary deadly force tool for self defense, you gotta go big. A 3.5" EDC blade just doesn't cut it. I have a 4.5" Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder, a 5" SOG Spec Elete II Folder, and a 5.5" Cuda Max Folder... all great folding knives with reasonable combat capability, but in the end, they are all much weaker and more complex than a fixed blade. The problem with most fixed bladed knife/sheath combos is that they are heavy, bulky, and have limited carry configuration options. These are all critical considerations when selecting a daily carry fixed blade knife. My observation, after decades of carrying knives, is that if the knife and sheath are over 14oz, I'm going to start leaving it at home or in the truck sooner than later. The Hissatsu with sheath weighs in at 10.5oz, and that is with a few yards of 550 Paracord wrapped around it for attachment points. This is a light knife/sheath combo... 3oz under a USMC Kabar with a Kydex sheath (and 2oz under a loaded Keltec P3AT in a Superfly holster... a common CCW gun/holster combo)The Hissatsu has a thin, almost dagger-like, single edge blade profile, but the top spine is a monstrous 1/4" thick. This makes it overall a thin blade (but not too thin), light (but not too light), and strong (plenty strong!); very few knifes can tout these features. The sheath, while just a simple Kydex, dispenses with the usual hanging belt sheath attachment that no one seems to be able to get right anyway; shaving a few critical oz. off the sheath, which also results in a very compact and ergonomic sheath.. bravo! I don't think a custom Kydex guy could design a better, low profile sheath for this knife. Good sheath design is critical for self defense carry, and this one is perfect... just add a bit of 550 cord, or a large TecLok, and you are good to go. I own two of these knives (Black and Tan). The sheath of the tan knife retains the knife perfectly... plenty of retention, but will release with what I consider to be the perfect amount of force. The black sheath...not so much. It's release is way to easy and probably wouldn't retain during a tumble or scuffle. I took a heat gun to it and was able to get it to match the tan sheaths retention properties, so it's not enough of a problem that I took a star off from my rating, but you should know about this in case you buy one and it's retention is too light.As for daily carry: Using a Teclock or 550 cord, you can easily and comfortably carry this on a belt... it carries high, like a pistol, which is perfect for car seating, etc. The only problem with that is, if my shirt or jacket cover it, it's a State felony (any fixed blade knife, concealed). So... I carry it on the shoulder strap of my Maxpedition Versipack (it's not a purse!). See my posted photo above... sure, it looks a bit menacing... blame it on the statists of CA who won't issue law abiding citizens CCW permits, not the victims of those laws who have to dance around their totalitarianism to have the means of defending themselves from violent criminals!!! Bottom Line: For the price, it just doesn't get any better than this for a daily carry, fixed blade knife for self defense!