Winnetka is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles.
Around 4 a.m. one morning, a Winnetka family was awakened by an intruder inside their home.
The parents were in the house with their two adult daughters when the intruder entered the parent’s bedroom.
The male intruder, who was in his 20’s, was confronted by the adult daughter of the homeowner, and she hit him multiple times with a vacuum.
The father of the family grabbed a knife and stabbed the intruder while the daughter repeatedly hit the intruder in the head with the vacuum.
According to a family member…
“They saw him on the Ring camera, and then the suspect went up the stairs straight into my parent’s bedroom. The guy eventually broke the door open. And, yeah, my dad acted in self-defense.”
The intruder was transported to the hospital for his injuries.
Neighbors reported that the intruder had been seen in the area earlier the night before.
A neighbor captured the man on his home security camera and could see him walking on nearby roofs.
Now, I’m always prepared for home defense with a firearm.
For this family, a knife and vacuum cleaner saved their lives from an intruder.
I don’t know this family, or if they have guns or not.
But for some folks who live in places like California, a knife might be the best option for home defense.
For self-defense knives, one type of knife that many people like thanks to its “coolness” factor is the out-the-front (OTF) automatic knife.
What is an OTF automatic knife?:
OTF knives have been around since about 1860, but thanks to Hollywood, they were commonly associated with criminals.
These knives are sometimes called switchblades.
They are designed to be operated with one hand so they can provide a tactical advantage.
These OTF automatic knives deploy the blade from the front of the handle at the push of a button.
Now, some knives might look like an OTF but are spring-assisted and not a truly automatic deploying blade.
So, before buying one, you need to determine if it’s automatic.
Advantages of the out-the-front knives:
Whether an OTF knife is automatic or manually assisted by a spring, it can have advantages over other types of knives.
The biggest advantage is that you can get a good grip on the knife before deploying it.
Another great thing about the design is that it’s simple to use one-handed.
You can quickly grab the knife since there isn’t a blade protruding to cut you until you decide it’s time to deploy the blade.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about the knife closing on your fingers like you do with a cheap folding knife.
Disadvantages of out-the-front knives:
One thing you will notice with OTF knives is that there is considerable blade play. This is normal because of the design of the knife.
The blade needs room to move within the handle so that it can easily open and close.
It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s something to keep your eye on in case it becomes excessive.
Another thing to be aware of is that OTF knives need maintenance.
For instance, you want to clean the blade after every use since it goes inside the handle.
If there is residue this could create issues when deploying the knife.
Plus, an OTF knife needs to be lubricated to help it open and close smoothly.
So, it might not be the best utility knife for survival or doing a lot of different tasks. The OTF design can be fragile if it’s not properly cared for.
Lastly, OTF knives are not legal everywhere.
For example, OTF knives aren’t legal to carry in California (shocker, I know). You can have them in your home but not on your person.
Check your state and local laws before you buy one of these knives.
An OTF knife wouldn’t be my first choice for survival or bugging out.
Yet, if it’s legal to conceal and carry an OTF knife where you live, it could be an option to consider.
