   Advice on purchasing a dagger/knife for girlfriend?
  My girlfriend, while relatively normal on all accounts, has this big love for knives/daggers. She used to have one (which I never saw) that someone lost on her. She's wanted one again ever since, so I'm going to throw one in with her other Christmas present. She's by no means an expert on them, so I can't actually inquire her.Now, I know she would love any of those really neat looking fantasy knives available on the internet, but I'd actually like the blade to be sharpened. Just recently someone was raped about one block from her house and she has to walk around campus at night sometimes alone - and while pepper spray is obviously a much more rational solution (I will be buying her some soon just in case), I would like her knife to have some practical use if something ever actually did happen.. Haha, trust me, I don't actually think this knife will be a sensible self-defense measure for her, but I still would prefer that whatever I can find her isn't cheap and ready to break if it touches something (or someone touches it!).I'm sure a bunch of you guys collect these sort of things, so where can I start? I've found a bunch of sources online, like Swords Direct, Ritual Blades, SelfDefenseProducts.com, and Knifecenter.com. Are any of these reliable places to purchase something from? My budget is about $100 for this. I'd like to find a middle ground between fantasy and real life practicality, so I'll link a few images of both sides that look interesting.Fantasy: Poseidon's Blade, Dragon Lord. The second looks really cool, but I don't think I'm about to plunk down ~$90 for something that has questionable quality.Combat/tactical: I really like these, but I'm no expert and have no idea if they're decent or not. Uzi DefenderSo, any help?   
  whatever you get, make sure it is full tang.  Also your steel choice is important.    Stainless, is well, stainless.  It doesnt rust easily.  High carbon steel is more flexible, and holds a blade much better.  It rusts easier though.  I always go high carbon steel, but I do not mind oiling the blade every now and again.   ;  Just beware that there's a good chance it will be illegal to carry as a self defence weapon.   ;  Get her a sword. They're so much more phallic. Plus no one would try messing with her if they saw a giant sword hanging from her belt.If you must go with a knife, why not get her some kind of hunting knife. It doesn't look as cool as some of those but at least you'll know they were designed for real life cutting and gutting.   ;  TOPS makes some good knives.   For self defense, get here a gun...with a bayonet.   ;  Knives from stores that tell you about elves and wizards and dragons are invariably impracical, both in terms of design and blade quality. Avoid them like you'd avoid the sweaty fat guy with the stained "elves do it in the woods" t-shirt and his box of Magic The Gathering cards.Here's an idea: consider making one for her yourself. It's not as outlandish an idea as you might think. Virtually all knives consist of a blade piece and a separate but attached hilt piece. The hilt can be removed from a standard hunting or diving knife, and another hilt constructed, a task that can be surprisingly simple (a couple of pieces of wood and some rawhide) or as complicated as you want to make it. Trust me on this: made gifts are the most treasured.   ;  A Daqtagh would look nice (the Daqtagh is actually a "Phoenix" model dagger from United Cutlery. Its design is patented)   ;Quote:Original post by SneftelTrust me on this: made gifts are the most treasured.I agree whole-heartedly, but I think you can trust me when I say Salsa-made knives would probably cut through butter like a jellybean through a brick.   ;Quote:Original post by SalsaI agree whole-heartedly, but I think you can trust me when I say Salsa-made knives would probably cut through butter like a jellybean through a brick.Ahh, but that's the beauty of the thing. Since it'll be a stock blade, made of steel as expensive as you want and sharpened by people who actually know what the hell they're doing, it'll be usable as a knife. The hilt, which you would make, requires less know-how, yet is the most important part aesthetically.   ;  Get a firearm if you are worried about self-defense. A knife is practically useless. If the other guy has a knife you are still going to get cut. And if the other guy has a firearm... well.. you're screwed.   