Good article on defensive knives

[Kabal]

Hi Chris,

that's a well-written article on an important subject. I've seen lots of FMA practitioners who have trained in fancy knife fighting techniques for years, but carry knives that are difficult to access and/or open.

I like that the article focuses a) on folders, which are underrated, in my opinion, and b) on pocket carry, which I find to be the most convenient way of carrying a knife.

I also like the article's emphasis on the wave feature, which I consider a real enhancement. I don't have any Emerson knives, but my waved Endura opens up with extreme reliabilty, and my ziptie-waved Spydies are hardly any less reliable. If someone can't use the wave in a critical situation, I doubt that they could bring up the fine motor skills to quickly open the knife manually.

This may cause some controversy, but honestly, I would prefer carrying a waved folder over a fixed blade. Unfortunately, I live in a country where you're not allowed to EDC most folders, while many fixed blades don't pose a problem (weird, isn't it?).

I'd have to test the idea with the pocket mag carrier before judging it, but it sounds like it could work.
As for the grip tape and the lanyard, I've never felt the need for them on any of my folders. I didn't find these parts of the article too useful, but maybe someone else does, and it's not like these modifications could do a lot of harm.

 

[ChrisFry]

Let me know how it works out for you guys.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[ChrisFry]

Kabal,

I am glad you found the article useful. Not surprised about that law in your country, if I recall correctly, in some states in the US you cannot carry a fixed blade but you can carry a folder in the open position? I want to say California but not positive.

Anyway, have a great night.

Chris

 

[hso]

Chris,

You can carry a folder of any size in CA as long as it is carried closed, but you can't carry a fixed blade under the "dirk or dagger" rules of penal code 12020 and it specifically treats carrying a folder in the open position the same as carrying a dirk or dagger.

In general, if a state prohibits carry of a fixed blade they will treat carrying a folder in the locked open position as carrying a fixed blade and apply penalties as such. The presumption will also be that you're carrying as a weapon and you'll have to deal with any laws against going armed.

 

[Kabal]

The strange thing about the new German legislation is that it seems to consider folders more dangerous or "evil" than fixed blades.

It is verboten to carry a folder with a locking mechanism (unless you have a "socially adequate" reason to do so... what a wishy-washy formulation).

Fixed blades on the other hand are fine, as long as blade length doesn't exceed 12 cm (4.7") and the knife doesn't constitute a "weapon" (another wishy-washy formulation... which knife is a weapon, and which isn't?).

In the end, no one really knows what you're allowed to carry, but a CRKT P.E.C.K. or a Spyderco Ladybug might get you into trouble easier than a CRKT Dragon.

 

[autospike]

I use grip tape on the clip of my factory waved Delica. I own a couple so I have been able to do a side by side comparison of the draw with and without.

For me, the draw is much more reliable with the tape and I won't carry without it. When I first put it on, it is rough and does snag a little. But it wears pretty good and at some point the snagging becomes unnoticeable. I just replace it when it gets too smooth or starts peeling off.

Re: Wave - The factory waved Delica is much more reliable *for me* than any of the other knives I have modded (butchered). It is lightyears ahead of the zip tied knives I've tried to use in the past.

 

[Kabal]

While I find my ziptie-waved knives quite reliable, I agree that the wave on the Delica/Endura is even better.

I wonder why you don't see the wave feature on more folders. A waved Yojimbo would be great, for example.

 

[ChrisFry]

Hso,

thanks for the clarification on that.

Chris

 

[JShirley]

Among other reasons, Spyderco pays to use the feature.

 

[Kabal]

Among other reasons, Spyderco pays to use the feature.

I'd be surprised if Cold Steel did the same. They seem to get away with it, though.

 

[hso]

Just about everyone that uses the SpydieHole pays for permission to use it. Cold Steel would as well. Part of that is Sal's standing in the knife manufacturing community, but also because the penalties for having been found to use it without permission could be very painful.
OTOH, it doesn't take much for a "hole" to not be the SpydieHole so you'll see all sorts of variations to avoid licensing it.

Since Spyderco is possibly the most ethically run knife manufacturer in the world I would expect them to honor any patent or copyright. Whether another company would be less scrupulous would depend upon their company ethics and how close their version of a protected design might come.

 

[Kabal]

The guys from Spyderco are great.
I once dropped them a mail with a few minor questions about their products, and was very surprised to get a lengthy reply from Sal himself.

It really speaks for Spyderco as an ethicall-run company that they pay royalties to Emerson although their waves look different.

Cold Steel, on the other hand, apparently doesn't pay Emerson. Instead, they seem to have patented their own variation of the wave (which I am sure Spyderco could have done as well).