Does size matter? Question to jambiya lovers

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by motan

I have no doubt that khanjars can be used as weapons in some circumstances and inflict damage. However, daggers are not very effective as weapons and are last resort weapon at best. Their only truely effective use is as an assasin's weapon against an unsespecting person because they are easily concealed and can be used for stabbing.

Actually you are wrong here, daggers are very effect when used for the purpose they were created for, which is defending yourself against someone who has come very close to you. If you look at period illustrations and photos you well see that daggers of all kinds are promemently displayed, they are there as a visual warning, just showing that you were armed and able to defend yourself could advert an incident. When grappling with an opponent in a fight, having and using a dagger could have been the difference between life and death. In close quarters what else would you use?

Here is a jambiya that I have, 12 inch wootz blade with a large hilt, extremely sharp, this is a weapon and it was not meant to be hidden.

[motan]

Yes, SOME daggers can be very useful for defence, others much less so. Yours surely looks menancing (psychological effect is also very important).
However, I was once told by a close friend who was trained in one of the most renowned and respected commando units in the world that a knife or dagger are the worst choice for close-quarters fight. And as I said before, if, God forbid, I would ever have to use one, I would go for my kitchen drawer because and average chef knife can do better work than most daggers. No need for wootz or Walrus ivory.
I am not a violent person at all, but because I live outside the city, I keep a short, heavy stick behind the door just in case. I sawed it off a broken handle of a garden tool. Just a bit cheaper..and very effective
The whole point I wanted to make is that beauty, prestige and tradition are more important than fuction in daggers, and I don't have a problem with that..

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by motan

I was once told by a close friend who was trained in one of the most renowned and respected commando units in the world that a knife or dagger are the worst choice for close-quarters fight.

So what would he do instead, bite them? We are not talking about modern times, we are talking about the times these weapons were made and would have been used. These were not "commandos", for the most part they had no special training, just everyday people trying to protect themselves.

I would ever have to use one, I would go for my kitchen drawer because and average chef knife can do better work than most daggers.

And what evidence do you have that your kitchen knife would be a better choice than a dagger?