Originally Posted by
Mark E. Hurling
It's reprehensible and the full weight of justice needs to come down on the jag-off. But otherwise irrelevant to this thread.
That's hard to say. If it's a mugging, the weapon is used as a threat to immobilize the target for the most part. Generally it works pretty well even at some distance which allow for some easy flight to safety.
If it's a full on attack with no other reason than killing or harming, a la the stabbings in some crowded streets or venues, running, if possible, is still a better choice than standing to defend and getting cut. Because even when shot multiple times with disabling or fatal wounds that the knife wielder might succumb to in an indeterminate period of time, they can still inflict some damage. Using a coat to protect your hands and body or to muffle or entangle the knife can buy you some space if you can keep out of range of the blade and get the coat off in time.
As in the 21 foot rule.