The OP didn't give us much information. Why he needs the knife (instead of a gun)? Where he's going to be? Etc. To use the old cliché--the best defensive knife is the one that you have on you. There aren't many places that you can carry a full size knife and not carry a firearm.
I didn't see anywhere in the OP's post that he said in lieu of. However seeing we know where about the OP lives you are correct there aren't to many places that carrying a gun isn't an option. There can be other reasons behind carrying a knife over a gun.
