Originally Posted by TexanAvenger

I had the same kind of thing happen to me a few months ago while I was walking down a side-street. Guy walked up and, quite plainly and almost as if he were bored, asked me for my wallet and threatened to kick my ass. I always carry a knife on me as a tool, but it was out of my pocket and open against my thigh, just so he could see it, before I even thought twice about the movement. He didn't seem nearly as bored as he backed away.

A gun might have more punch to it, but there's something about a gleaming blade in close quarters that's nothing short of a non-verbal, though incredibly persuasive, statement of, "Try it and your walking home at least a testicle short."