Originally posted by: MAKOwner:
I've gone threw a airport security check with one of those Carbon Fiber "CIA Letter Opener" things in my shoe. Of course this was well before 9/11 where they weren't looking for this kind of stuff or searching people.
Sorry, but the CIA Letter Opener, isnt carbon fiber. Its zytel, or some glass re-inforced polymer of that kind. Carbon fiber is much different. Its just that, woven carbon microfibers suspended in a phenolic resin. As of now, carbon fiber knives are only being made on a custom level, by custom knife makers such as myself (its one of my specialties, if I have such a thing) - no production company ha spicked up on it to my knowledge. Its probably just too nasty to work for anything but scale materials. Non-metallic knives are a very limited market, and for a production company its very likely that the only viable reason for putting up with it (its nasty to work), is as scales or overlays on steel knives that WILL sell, because people like steel, and love the look of carbon fiber.
Originally posted by: Diesle:
Did they intentionally leave this out....? Or what....
Plastic Knife
Hasn’t the plastics industry progressed enough to be able to deliver up some very sharp, durable, weighty, CONCEALABLE and lethal instruments. And, wouldn’t every one of those pass right by every airport screener in existence...?
The plastics/polymers/synthetics industry has come up with materials like this, they are just prohibative to production companies, for reasons I stated above.
The only production company I am aware of using anything close to Carbon Fiber, is Mission Knives & Tools, who make some G-10 knives. Although G-10 doesnt have the same advantages, such as cutting ability, that carbon fiber does.
Because of micro-fiber seperation along the edge, carbon fiber developes micro-serrations when sharp - and it will cut meat repeatedly. Material like cloth slows it down though, so again, non-metallic knives are stabbers first and foremost.
Interestingly enough the carbon fiber knife they showed in that FBI manual was a decent design, despite lack of finger protection - but look at the grind lines, looks like the guy who made it was using a dremel tool, and had had too many beers.
A lot of the weapons in there COULD be used like WW-II thumb daggers, you slash at the eyes and face, and when the person is realing, you chin jab and axe hand them either to death, or onto the floor, where you apply your boot with extreme prejudice, kicking their head in like a pumpkin. This is a documented method used with small knives (or sharpened nail files) by WW-II SOE and OSS operatives, and also before and after WW-II, mafia hit men, interestinly enough.
I have a few of those items, or items like them, the Stinger and DTL impact kerambit being among the most realistic aside from the carbon fiber knife. I wouldnt be dumb enough to try and take them on a plane.
However - there is, above all the others, a SERIOUSLY glaring flaw in that "report".
more important than the TOOLS, are the METHODS. With a proper working knowledge of concealment methods, almost anything can be concealed, at least for the moment in which it needs to be hidden. I've seen a damn Marlin Guide Gun kept completely out of site on the person of a guy wearing pants and a polo-shirt, just by using deceptive kinesics. It would have worked long enough for him to trick you close, and then pop you. Longer term concealment isnt that hard either - but it is a skill worth studying.
If they were serious about this, the the manual would be on the methods of concealment, not on piddly little tools. The methods are more important.
But oh well - thats the Feds for ya, just gotta find a way to spend that last little bit of money so it doesnt get cut out of our budget next year.
