The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

The benefits and detriments of ringed knives

The benefits and detriments of ringed knives

July 19, 2018 by Loadout Room Guest Authors Leave a Comment

Knives are excellent backup weapons if you’re carrying a pistol. They also make good primary weapons for an everyday carry if you are unable to carry a pistol. Often when traveling abroad, I have found it exponentially easier to obtain a good knife than a reliable (or affordable) pistol. They are usually cheaper and easier to conceal. However, they have their limitations, but if you work around them, a knife is often more than adequate for personal security provided you stay out of sight, out of mind. Of course, without some degree of training, their usefulness also decreases significantly. I usually carry a dagger or something that accommodates stabbing motions but also has some level of slashing capability. Many times in life I have turned to a ringed knife or karambit style configuration and not just because you can have a great time twirling them on your finger. There are many variations of these available at a reasonable price for a solid product.

The benefits and detriments of ringed knives

There are some serious benefits to ringed edged weapons; some are obvious while others are less so. I suppose the benefit that stands out to me first and foremost is the added retention. The ring gives the end-user the ability to retain the knife if their hand is open for whatever reason. This allows the user to grab things with the knife-wielding hand but also to strike. The first situation I can think of here is using the knife to create space during a close quarters encounter so that a pistol may be drawn while maintaining control of the knife until it can safely be re-sheathed.

The benefits and detriments of ringed knives

The ring gives the end-user an excellent point of physical purchase when employing or drawing the weapon from concealment. With a simple slip of a finger, the user can securely pull the blade from its sheath. This also gives the user a consistent reference point on the grip; the hand more or less goes to the same place every time the knife is employed. This negates the risk of an improper grip which may cause the user to cut themselves or lose control of the knife. Being able to draw the knife through the ring alone, makes the knife cater to deep concealment exceptionally well given that only the rings needs to be exposed to achieve a positive extraction by the user.

The benefits and detriments of ringed knives

The ring also often provides an excellent surface for use as an impact weapon. The ring can give the user’s strikes a much-needed boost during a violent confrontation. This also has the added benefit of a less than lethal option although I usually won’t advocate such a course of action unless you have no other choice due to it not being a sure-fire method of disabling the immediate threat.

The benefits and detriments of ringed knives

The detriments of ringed knives are limited but also rather serious. While the ring offers incredible retention, this also makes it hard to drop in a hurry should the knife become seriously irrelevant to the situation. If the knife is employed incorrectly, the knife can be used against the user via the ring. Injuries such as a finger being broken or even worse, being degloved, are risks that are inherent to the design. If the blade gets immobilized by or in the threat during use, these kinds of injuries may potentially occur. The benefits far outweigh the detriments, in my opinion — but it is still extremely important to acknowledge them and compensate accordingly.

Ringed knives are pretty awesome, and I like them a lot. They have their drawbacks, as do all weapons. The big thing for me when selecting a ringed knife is being able to use it as intended, through the ring, or utilizing it more conventionally with a traditional forward/reverse grip; this is a size issue. There are smaller variants available, but I view those as tertiary blades rather than as a primary or secondary due to their limited use. Above all, select something that works for you and your lifestyle and train with it routinely; always seek to further your knowledge and skill at arms regardless of the tool. Knives are like firearms and to be good at using them you need to practice drawing and striking with them regularly. Competence is far more dangerous than a sharp edge.

Featured image courtesy of the author.


Originally published on SOFREP and written by Kurt T

Share This

Filed Under: Knives & Tools Tagged With: benefit, blades, Combat, combatives, dagger, EDC, edged weapons, everyday carry, fighting, fixed blade, Guns, karambit, knives, Kurt, Personal Defense, Ring Knives, sofrep, tactics, techniques, Warrior

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

Ammunition

The Reasons Why FBI Went to Back to 9mm

Why .45ACP is an outdated caliber
Ammunition

Why 45 ACP is an outdated caliber

Dogs

Tactipup Extreme Collar and Leash: Tactical dog gear, Perfected

What Do You Really Need in Your Trauma Kit?
Medical Gear

IFAK - What do you really need?

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Gear Reviews

A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

Camping Gear

The MSR Pocket Rocket | Your little camp dragon

October 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
EDC

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers