To Signet Ring Or Not To Signet Ring, That Is My Question

[JaseRicco]

I'm looking at picking up a Matriarch 2 w/ Emerson Wave on the used market from BF. In my research I know this is a popular knife to install a Signet Ring on, and there is one for sale on BF w/ one of these installed.

I'm not really sure that I see the point, so looking to be enlightened. My first thought is that when going with a knife that already offers a full comfortable grip, a grip that would unlikely slip due to the bi-directional texturing of the FRN, there would be no point of a Signet Ring other than pure aesthetics.

Another thought is that in a lot of States, especially here in NJ, you would want as little sticking out of the pocket as possible. I am authorized to carry such knives, but even still, I always want to draw as little attention as I can. I would most likely even order a deep carry clip from MXG. Now this doesn't necessarily come into play during the Winter, wearing bigger heavier clothes and all, but Summer will be here before we know it.

What are your thoughts?

[curlyhairedboy]

I've owned a matriarch 2 with both the emerson opener and the signet ring.

My thoughts:

The matriarch 2 is a little big for the signet ring's natural karambit grip. This is why I advocate for an emerson opener on some of the shorter hawkbill models....

The matriarch 2's backlock did not inspire confidence. I'm sure it's been tested and is suitable for gross motor movements and impacts, but under hard hand pressure in reverse grip, I found that my hands could depress the lock a small amount, causing up and down play in the lockup. Curiously, the lock only needs to move a mm or 2 to fully unlock. Then you potentially have that nasty blade coming down on your fingers....

The actual signet ring deployment method is very solid. Ideally it clips on the inside (closest to your fly) edge of your front RH pocket. You deploy in a movement across your body and the emerson opener pairs very well.

In summary - i'd like a comp lock or BBL matriarch 2 in LC200n. Built as it is now, it didn't inspire enough confidence for me to carry the one I had, so it moved on.

Also keep in mind that the matriarch was not intended to have the signet ring installed, so my complaints about the lockup are probably not valid in its designed grip and uses.

[Larry_Mott]

Well.. In my opinion that contraption does as much for the knife as a wet suit for a frog..

[DSH007]

I've always considered them to be nothing more than a bit of conspicuous "tacticool" hokum. But ****, I'm just some guy on the internet, what do I know ..

[bearfacedkiller]

I would never put that on one of my knives. I am not into SD knives though.

[JaseRicco]

I've owned a matriarch 2 with both the emerson opener and the signet ring.

My thoughts:

The matriarch 2 is a little big for the signet ring's natural karambit grip. This is why I advocate for an emerson opener on some of the shorter hawkbill models....

The matriarch 2's backlock did not inspire confidence. I'm sure it's been tested and is suitable for gross motor movements and impacts, but under hard hand pressure in reverse grip, I found that my hands could depress the lock a small amount, causing up and down play in the lockup. Curiously, the lock only needs to move a mm or 2 to fully unlock. Then you potentially have that nasty blade coming down on your fingers....

The actual signet ring deployment method is very solid. Ideally it clips on the inside (closest to your fly) edge of your front RH pocket. You deploy in a movement across your body and the emerson opener pairs very well.

In summary - i'd like a comp lock or BBL matriarch 2 in LC200n. Built as it is now, it didn't inspire enough confidence for me to carry the one I had, so it moved on.

Also keep in mind that the matriarch was not intended to have the signet ring installed, so my complaints about the lockup are probably not valid in its designed grip and uses.

Thank you for the info.

[JaseRicco]

Well.. In my opinion that contraption does as much for the knife as a wet suit for a frog..

lol, I'm kinda leaning in this direction as well.

[JaseRicco]

I've always considered them to be nothing more than a bit of conspicuous "tacticool" hokum. But ****, I'm just some guy on the internet, what do I know ..

Your opinion still counts to me

[JaseRicco]

I would never put that on one of my knives. I am not into SD knives though.

SD or not, still trying to decide if these thing offer any real benefit, thinking not so much.

[Michael Janich]

If you look at purpose-designed karambits, the length of the handle WITH the ring accommodates four fingers. When you add a ring to a handle that already accommodates four fingers, you move your grip away from the blade by one finger's width. If you then try to apply karambit technique, which works best by initiating cuts in reverse grip with the heel of the edge, you end up trying to cut with the pivot-pin end of the handle.

Unless you have giant hands that won't fit on an Endura/Matriarch 2 handle, there is no functional benefit to it.

Stay safe,

Mike

[curlyhairedboy]

hmmm. Spyderco Karahawk in SE H1? that would be fantastic....

[kennethsime]

If you look at purpose-designed karambits, the length of the handle WITH the ring accommodates four fingers. When you add a ring to a handle that already accommodates four fingers, you move your grip away from the blade by one finger's width. If you then try to apply karambit technique, which works best by initiating cuts in reverse grip with the heel of the edge, you end up trying to cut with the pivot-pin end of the handle.

Unless you have giant hands that won't fit on an Endura/Matriarch 2 handle, there is no functional benefit to it.

Stay safe,

Mike

There it is from the expert himself. Maybe the signet runs is a better fit for a Lil' Matriarch?

I had a Matriach 2 with the Emerson open, got stolen out of my car. Excellent knife, actually works quite well for EDC also.

I carried it on the inside of my left-hand pocket, so that the wave caught the fly-side of my jeans pocket, so I could draw straight up, tight to my body. I found this a lot more reliable than drawing backwards, not to mention quicker, and it also allows you to draw in a tighter space. You are pretty locked into reverse grip though.

After about a year, I just didn't find myself needing to carry three knives/day anymore so it became a car knife.

[JaseRicco]

If you look at purpose-designed karambits, the length of the handle WITH the ring accommodates four fingers. When you add a ring to a handle that already accommodates four fingers, you move your grip away from the blade by one finger's width. If you then try to apply karambit technique, which works best by initiating cuts in reverse grip with the heel of the edge, you end up trying to cut with the pivot-pin end of the handle.

Unless you have giant hands that won't fit on an Endura/Matriarch 2 handle, there is no functional benefit to it.

Stay safe,

Mike

This is exactly what I was thinking, thank you for your expert advice, much appreciated.

If I do go with the Matriarch, it will be without a Signet Ring.

[JaseRicco]

If you look at purpose-designed karambits, the length of the handle WITH the ring accommodates four fingers. When you add a ring to a handle that already accommodates four fingers, you move your grip away from the blade by one finger's width. If you then try to apply karambit technique, which works best by initiating cuts in reverse grip with the heel of the edge, you end up trying to cut with the pivot-pin end of the handle.

Unless you have giant hands that won't fit on an Endura/Matriarch 2 handle, there is no functional benefit to it.

Stay safe,

Mike

After about a year, I just didn't find myself needing to carry three knives/day anymore so it became a car knife.

This is exactly why I have not pulled the trigger on the Matriarch. I do like to carry an EDC daily, so to pick up a knife for the sole purpose of SD means I would have to start choosing between ED and SD carry. Now there are certainly times when choosing to carry a SD knife is an easy choice, like when I was recently in Newark, but those times are really far and few in between, so I'm thinking the Matriarch will just sit in the drawer. We'll see.

I really just wish NJ would get with the times and allow conceal carry, this would eliminate me having to make a choice :D Never happen though.

[kennethsime]

This is exactly why I have not pulled the trigger on the Matriarch. I do like to carry an EDC daily, so to pick up a knife for the sole purpose of SD means I would have to start choosing between ED and SD carry. Now there are certainly times when choosing to carry a SD knife is an easy choice, like when I was recently in Newark, but those times are really far and few in between, so I'm thinking the Matriarch will just sit in the drawer. We'll see.

I really just wish NJ would get with the times and allow conceal carry, this would eliminate me having to make a choice :D Never happen though.

I was in Philly recently and our Lyft driver couldn't stop saying bad things about New Jersey. He said he dreaded late-night calls to Camden in particular.

I had no idea New Jersey was so dangerous! I always think of it like a big suburb.

[JaseRicco]

This is exactly why I have not pulled the trigger on the Matriarch. I do like to carry an EDC daily, so to pick up a knife for the sole purpose of SD means I would have to start choosing between ED and SD carry. Now there are certainly times when choosing to carry a SD knife is an easy choice, like when I was recently in Newark, but those times are really far and few in between, so I'm thinking the Matriarch will just sit in the drawer. We'll see.

I really just wish NJ would get with the times and allow conceal carry, this would eliminate me having to make a choice :D Never happen though.

I was in Philly recently and our Lyft driver couldn't stop saying bad things about New Jersey. He said he dreaded late-night calls to Camden in particular.

I had no idea New Jersey was so dangerous! I always think of it like a big suburb.

There are certainly more nice areas than bad. I live at the Jersey Shore, it’s safe and beautiful here, and your assumption is correct, a large portion of Jersey is suburbs. Camden is one of the most dangerous cities in the US, but it wouldn’t be fair to judge Jersey as a whole on just one city. That would be like bad mouthing all of NY because someone hates late night calls to the Bronx. The Bronx is just one borough of NY, but NY has a lot of beautiful safe areas. Sounds like he was just in a bad mood or doesn’t know what he was talking about, especially coming from someone from Philly.