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Stainless-Steel Weapon Retention

NCJ Number
213626
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 29 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 66,68,70
Author(s)
Eric Edgecomb
Date Published
November 2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article explains the circumstances under which a police officer should use his/her tactical folding knife as a potentially lethal weapon and how it should be done.
Abstract
An officer may be subjected to a surprise attack that can involve a club-type weapon or the attacker's fists. In the course of such an attack, the attacker may attempt to obtain the officer's duty gun. If the officer cannot free the duty gun for use or reach his/her backup gun, then the only remaining lethal weapon for close-in combat is the officer's tactical folding knife. Although officers are typically told that the folding knife is issued as a tool and not as a weapon, officers should be trained to use it as a weapon of last resort in a life-or-death struggle. In discussing the knife's closed-position carrying position, the article advises that ideally the knife's carrying position should allow feeding the closed knife into the officer's hand ready for deployment. It should be carried in a position opposite the firearm to facilitate drawing the knife with the nondominant hand. Avoid clipping the knife close to the gun holster, since it will be difficult to defend retention of both the firearm and the knife simultaneously. This article also explains how to hold the knife for self-defense, how to make a cut to disable the attacker as quickly as possible, and the importance of training in the use of the knife as a last-resort lethal weapon. This involves training in when and how to use the knife.

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