My Si Gong taught me to get close to a gun, away from a knife. Unless you have the advantage with your own knife. Guns - in this case, pistols - can be deflected, blocked, taken away. They can do damage only when they are pointed, aimed and fired. Although that’s conventional thinking. Its’ surprising what you can do with an empty pistol close up.
But knives - tht’s another story. Fear the man who knows how to use a knife. Because both of you are going to get hurt. Badly. Unless you can finish it fast. And only one of you will walk away.
I know what you mean, but Im not fit enough due to a car accident to do martial arts. I CAN draw a 38 J frame snubby rather easily though.