>>64017709Even a one in knife is entirely adequate if you play it for what it's worth.
Having any blade means you win a chinche, you win every neutral grappling position, so rather then fighting for position can just sit in a neutral hold and gradually dissect someone.
This is exactly what I was saying about leg-leg locks in knife fighting. It's a neutral grapple which you could try to force a far stronger or better trained opponent into, and then pull a knife and cut their leg off. When your self defence guy says never grapple, never go down in a street fight that's exactly why.
This also means one arm bars, half guard, arm grabs, most greco clinches. One inch of blade means you win neutral grappling positions, and it's very, very hard for your opponent to avoid.
It's entirely legitimate to ice pick grip a blade shorter than two inches, to stay in a boxing stance. Especially if your blade isn't suitable for thrusting, you would still be at a reach disadvantage, you'd worry about high kicks. It also allows you to use the blade a an anchor for your grapples, as you would a karambit. And that's all relevant if you're fighting someone experienced who isn't going to run away if you wave a box cutter at them.