QUESTION ON THE CIVILIAN

[kwak]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY THE POINT OF THE CIVILIAN IS SO INCREDIBLY THIN.

I CAN SEE THAT IN THIS WAY IT WILL PENETRATE MORE EASILY BUT IT IS ALSO MUCH MORE PRONE TO DAMAGE.

IMHO THE CIVVIE AND OFCOURSE ALSO THE MATRIARCH WOULD BENEFIT FROM A STRONGER TIP DESIGN LIKE THE HARPY.

MAYBE I AM SEEING THIS ALL WRONG,AND IS THERE SOMEBODY OUT THERE TO EXPLAIN ALL THIS TO ME.

GREETINGS FROM HOLLAND

[Pachucko]

The Harpy and the Civilian/Matriarch were designed for two completely different purposes. Utility/Self Defense. I think there are two other Civilian threads going right now. There are several others if you scan down just a little---Pachucks

Edited by - pachucko on 3/9/2002 8:14:15 AM

[Mancer]

Yeah Kwak

The Harpy is meant for cutting into fish and through fish line.rope and so on.
it needs a strong thick tip.
The civie/matriarch are for one thing only, that is self defense.
Its meant to save your life, not slice through rope, the tip is not actually that weak either, I own 2 civi's and 2 mat's and its plenty strong enough for the job.

Remember the tip is thinner and therefore more razor, that tip is meant to slash into flesh and through clothes of your attacker, it must be sharp to do its job.

Seeya

MaNcEr

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

[Sword and Shield]

The Civi/Matriarch tips are designed to be thin and cut at the slightest touch. It's not a utility knife, but a knife which is brought into play to save your life.

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

[kwak]

i've read and understood all your explanations but i still think that the civvie would benefit from a slightly thickened point,about as thick as kwaks skull i can hear you all think imho in that way it could save my butt longer.
thanks again for all your input guys
and to all a goodnight from holland

[Pachucko]

I'm kind of confused by the "save my butt longer" part of your post. Time wise or number of times. Violent confrontations end quickly, one way or the other. The street and the movies are seldom similar. Very few people get in knife fights on a daily basis, most people go their entire lives without ever having such bad luck. Try thinking of the Civilian as a one-time-use knife. I know its hard due to the price. Its designed to get you out of a situation you shouldn't even be in, in the first place. If you are unlucky enough to have to use it for its intended purpose, and the tip is broken, so what, get it ground down and use it as a utility knife, go buy another Civilian. If it is completely destroyed in the process (not likely), so what, throw it away and buy another one. I like to think my butt is worth the $120-$150 price tag. I've got insurance, but I hope I never have to use that either.

Pachucks

P.S. Remember this is coming from that #$*^ double liner guy that keeps asking for the Civilian to be redesigned with double liners.

Blade S.C., Any comments on Kwak's ideas?

[Blade Santa Cruz]

Pachucks,

I don't think much of the idea at all. That thin point is exactly the feature that makes the Civvie so effective in the slashing mode. The more you thicken the point, the less able it will be to slide through leather and other protective clothing and deliver the massive, ugly wound that will keep the BG's thoughts focused on getting help for himself rather than stomping your butt.

I bought a Ryan Biohazard a few years ago that has some Civvie-like features, but has a strong point quite capable of use in a thrusting attack. It looks like something a Klingon would be proud to carry. (It also has huge, thick double liners; you'd love it! :D ) But it won't do the job that the Civvie will and save the butt of an inexperienced person caught in a bad situation. It's a nice collection piece, but I never carry it.

I believe <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> did a superb design job on the blade. Now if we could only get a state-of-the-art lock! :D :D

[sam the man..]

Ooooh! I've seen the civilian up close and personal.. *drools!* It has a purpose to serve and is not recommended for utility use.. That's why the tip is thin.. <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0><img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sam

have surgical scars will travel..

[Mancer]

Kwak buddy, honestly

Take a good look at the civie, feel that tip, it is very thin, and if u tried to pry something open with it, it would most likely break.

But against an attacker theres no much chance, its not asif the attack will last a week and a half.
That tip is not weak at all, its lpenty strong enough for the job of slicing clothing and flesh.
And dont forget, you dont only have the tip, you have another 2 more cutting surfaces, the curved section going up from the tip and then going into a more rounded section, covered with those beutiful razor sharp teeth.

If that tip even did break while you were been attacked, the blade would still put up one hellava fight.

Making that tip thicker would not be a good idea.
We want that to slice in quickly and without any effort and the slightest touch of the blade, once your attackers got 1 of 2 cuts across him, Im sure the vast majority will think twice about coming for the attack again and would rather turn and flee.

Seeya

MaNcEr

P.S. if you are worried about the tip strength get the Matriarch, the tip on that blade is VERY strong, it is not weak at all.

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

[kwak]

guys,you don't know how i like all the response i got on my questions concerning the civilian.
even if sometimes i have another opinion on a subject it almost feels like a warm shower to come to place albeit virtual where i am not the only one that has a true and undenyable love for good quality knives like in this case spyderco.
thanks again for all the response and i hope to be of service to this community as it is to me.
greetings from holland.