In the South Australian Supreme Court today, Justice John Sulan told Artan Hasani that producing and using a knife in such circumstances was a serious offence.

Hasani was involved in a road crash in July 2008 when his car collided with another vehicle driven by a woman, the court heard.

Friends of the woman soon came to the scene and Hasani was involved in a series of physical altercations before he eventually pulled a knife and stabbed one man three times.

Justice Sulan said two of the wounds were potentially fatal with one piercing the victim's liver.

He said Hasani was provoked and had a genuine fear for his own safety and the safety of his wife.

But he said police were present at the scene and the use of a knife was "totally unacceptable".

He jailed Hasani for six years and four months with a non-parole period of 20 months after finding him guilty of aggravated assault.