Best, Meanest SD knife!!!!

[BlackNinja]

I am looking for a SD knife and am partial to :spyder: . My first choice would be a Gunting but, I can't find one. So I was looking at others such as a Civilian (would like a little stronger tip) an ATR, etc... I have an SS SE Police and a Chinook, Dodo for close range (Dodo like ATR are EDC knives aswell.) I'm looking for a longer blade, or different options like on the Gunting. I'm not really looking for a fixed blade, more of a folder, and not really a close up SD knife. I am partial to :spyder: but if I buy elsewhere it had better live up to :spyder: standards! I'm REALLY partial to the Gunting. Anybody help me out as to what I might be looking to buy, please?
Thanks,
Joe

[startat2]

if your looking for something ez to conceal and with some reach, I recommend a 5" Cold Steel Voyager. I know its not a :spyder: but the clip end gets really tiny. You can stick it in your waste band and it looks so small. When you pull it out and click it open you can grip twords the butt end farily well to get a good 7 or 8 inches away from your hand.

[BlackNinja]

if your looking for something ez to conceal and with some reach, I recommend a 5" Cold Steel Voyager. I know its not a :spyder: but the clip end gets really tiny. You can stick it in your waste band and it looks so small. When you pull it out and click it open you can grip twords the butt end farily well to get a good 7 or 8 inches away from your hand.

I know that any steel will cut flesh but, I don't want it to be 440A. I own a Recon1 Tanto 4" blade, and it's an ok knife at best. Maybe I'm too bias to :spyder: products.

[JDEE]

Since it is illegal here to carry a knife for SD I can't comment except to say that if I was faced by an enraged Kangaroo I would rather have a Chinook II or a manix then my Delica.

[Gerard Breuker]

A knife is but a tool. It will not defend you. Ask yourself how you are going to defend yourself. Look at the skills you got or want to learn and choose a knife that fits these skills best. A Delica in the hand of a skilled individual is a far better weapon than a Civilian in the hand of an unskilled individual etc.

[blade5]

A knife is but a tool. It will not defend you. Ask yourself how you are going to defend yourself. Look at the skills you got or want to learn and choose a knife that fits these skills best. A Delica in the hand of a skilled individual is a far better weapon than a Civilian in the hand of an unskilled individual etc.

What Gerard said is the most important! Training and skill are first. The knife itself is secondary. The best knife for SD is fixed, it eliminates trying to open a knife when the adrenilin starts flowing. You may think that you will not have any trouble opening a folder when under stress, THINK AGAIN!
BlackNinja, if you decide on a folder, that is big and bad, these are the two I alternate. Spyderco Manix, and my favorite, my Dwaine Carrillo Tripwire.

[JD Spydo]

There are 3 Spyders that I have for quite a while considered prime SD knives.
The one I carry the most in situations I feel compromised is the Massad Ayoob SE.

Now a lot of devout Spyder-freaks will sing the praises of the Civilian. Well I can't really argue that the Civi would be a nice choice. However one of the reasons I rarely carry mine is because I can explain my Ayoob to the authorities a lot better than I could the Civi which is another consideration.
Now anyone who knows me well knows by obsession with the Hawkbills. The Spyderhawk is my ultimate favorite when I really feel distressed or uneasy but I am very careful carrying it.

My favorite knife blade style is the Spearpoint. So my 3rd choice would encompass 2 of my all time favorite Spyders. The Centofante II C-50 and the C-56 Tim Zowada.

[greencobra]

JD, Im curious, why wouldn't you include the Chinook on your list?

[JD Spydo]

JD, Im curious, why wouldn't you include the Chinook on your list?

The Chinook is one really tough well built blade. But when you look at the Super Tanker line I like the Manix and S30V Military better than I do the Chinook II. Now if you like that Scimitar type blade it would be a great choice. AS I have said before my prefered blades are either the Hawkbills or the Spearpoint type blades. Plus for me the Chinook is a little bigger/bulkier than I like to normally carry. :spyder:

[Hannibal Lecter]

Dear Friends,

Plus for me the Chinook is a little bigger/bulkier than I like to normally carry. :spyder:

This is also my only beef with this fine knife. I would carry the Chinook or Chinook II in a heartbeat if I knew in advance that I would be in a fight, but for EDC I find it a bit much.

--------
Hannibal

[BlackNinja]

A knife is but a tool. It will not defend you. Ask yourself how you are going to defend yourself. Look at the skills you got or want to learn and choose a knife that fits these skills best. A Delica in the hand of a skilled individual is a far better weapon than a Civilian in the hand of an unskilled individual etc.

Just some backround info;
I am 6'1" 220lbs, with 16.5% body fat. (or had a body fat content of 17%, I've been layed up for 11 months)
I have been schooled in Jeet Kune Do. I have gone through training as how to unarm an armed man. Not to be arrogant but, I can, well could, definetly hold my own in most forms of combat. My favorite being Gung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and boxing (all Jeet Kune Do.) I went to school, and trained on my own for about 15-20 years. I threw out my back which is requiring the surgical removal of my L4 L5 Disk, hence no more fighting. Since I can no longer defend myself as I could before, I would like a nice SD knife. Having this surgery is going to be very hard on me as I have always considered myself as mean as they come when I want to be. Maybe I am not well schooled, but I believe I am. I am looking for a SD knife in which both the attacker and myself are trained in weapons combat. I believe that I would be on top if an average Joe pulls out a Civilian, and I had the Delica. Needing surgery, this would not be the case.

[markg]

I love the Civilian, however it would not be my first choice. As noted, there are some "perception issues" if you are caught or use it. Also, it's lack of a thrusting point, could be a issue if you ever wanted to use such an attack. Hey, I like to keep my options open! However it will scare the whatever out of your attacker, which can be a plus.

Actually most any 3 to 4 inch folder will do alright. Get a plain edge over serrated. You don't need 6-9 inches of steel, unless you simply want to scare people with it!

Frankly one of the premier fighting knives (of any maker) is made by Spyderco. It is the Yojimbo. Like the Gunting, this is a purpose designed and driven knife. It is a fighter, plain and simple. Don't think the (almost) 3 inch Wharncliffe blade won't get the job done? Hook up with Mike Janich for a few minutes and have him talk to you.

I have a Gunting, but it is pretty specialized knife, demanding training I don't currently have. Also, I want to have training that will work with any knife. The Gunting is a cool knife, don't get me wrong, but if I knew the stuff was going to hit the fan, I'll grab the Yojimbo.

Also, as stupid as it sounds... In my state, it would be better to just shoot someone in defense, than get into a knife fight. I am a CCW holder, which means I have gone through some "hoops" in regards to use of a hand gun in lethal force. I will legally be able to defend myself easier, than if I used a knife. If I am in a place in life where self-defense has risen to the top of the food chain, then I am carrying a Glock 30...

And a Yojimbo for back up :)

[BlackNinja]

Thanks Markg, the Yojimbo had also crossed my mind more than once. However, I am looking for a 4" blade at least. With my condition, if I hit the ground, i'm done. You are right about the Civilian and the thrust, it's not an option. Maybe my Police is my best bet. The Yojimbo does look nice for MBC though. The Gunting looks to have so many options, thats why it is looking to be my # 1 choice. (I know it's blade length) Can you ellaborate on the Yojimbo a little more?

[markg]

The Wharncliffe blade of the Yojimbo (and Ronin) keeps the tip in contact with what you are cutting... This produces a very nasty cut. The tapered handles promotes proper blade presentation and knife retention. I'm not sure that the extra inch of blade (3 inch vs. 4 inch) will be that much of a consideration in a tactical application, however it can be a BIG difference if there was an unexpected run in with the law!

If you like the concept, but really need more blade. The Benchmade 425 is worth a look. Mike Snody designed that knife, and Mr. Snody worked with Mr. Janich on the prototype of the Yojimbo. Wharncliffe and tapered handle, but a bit more blade. No spyder hole. However the I think the lock (Compression Lock vs. Liner Lock) gives the edge to Spyderco Yojimbo.

If I wanted a Spyderco, and wanted a bit more blade... I would go with the Chinook or the Military.

[butch]

Thanks Markg, the Yojimbo had also crossed my mind more than once. However, I am looking for a 4" blade at least. With my condition, if I hit the ground, i'm done. You are right about the Civilian and the thrust, it's not an option. Maybe my Police is my best bet. The Yojimbo does look nice for MBC though. The Gunting looks to have so many options, thats why it is looking to be my # 1 choice. (I know it's blade length) Can you ellaborate on the Yojimbo a little more?

http://www.snodyknives.com/MS_Knives_reactor1.htm
this should fill the bill but im not sure how soon he might be able to get you one
his prices seem good for custom knives
in your shoes this is what i would be thinking and how cool is it that you even get to use the spyder hole that you already know
butch

[Gerard Breuker]

BlackNinja,

Sorry to hear you need surgery and are unable to train at the moment. I am not sure if I am better qualified than you are yourself to suggest a knife for SD but under the circumstances and limiting myself to folders I would suggest either a waved folder for speed of deployment or a strong folder like the Chinook or the Manix. Gunting and Yojimbo are IMO specialised SD knives that require additional training and do not offer an advantage without it.

Blade,

If I am ever so unfortunate as to die in a knife fight I do hope the knife will be something like that awesome Tripwire.

[BlackNinja]

http://www.snodyknives.com/MS_Knives_reactor1.htm
this should fill the bill but im not sure how soon he might be able to get you one
his prices seem good for custom knives
in your shoes this is what i would be thinking and how cool is it that you even get to use the spyder hole that you already know
butch

Thanks Butch, thats just what I am looking for (except for a $425 price.) I am not a big fan of coated knives, and the 425 model is. Thats one sweet looking knife!

Thanks Gerard, surgery is gonna put me on hold for quite some time (2 years until i'm 100%) Having my L4 L5 Disks fused.

[markg]

The 425 comes in an uncoated blade... I got one. Unless you were refering to a custom Snody.

Also a note on the Gunting... It is NOT a knife for pocket carry... Trust me, been there, done that, got lots of ruined pairs of jeans to prove it! For one, it sticks out of the pocket a ton, and that "horn" pokes you, loved ones, small children, car seats... The Gunting is at it's best in one of the many special kydex belt sheaths that were made for it. Hench "open carry" on a belt is your only real option with it, that might not be the best.

Looks like you would best be served by a Chinook, Manix, or Military.

The Yojimbo "can" be used without special training, more so than the Gunting. The Gunting can be used, but you lose the advantage of the "horn."

And if you ever need to use the Yojimbo as a working knife, it makes a really cool, big "Exact-O knife!"

However, the more we talk about this... The more the Military sounds like the knife for you... Big, not too expensive, time tested... It has a lot of things going for it.

Myself, I prefer the Para Military. I have found I will have to explain why I have this or that knife to a police officer, long before I will ever use it for defense.

[Lost Jaguar]

I myself am sold on the nouvelle vague of Pikal. Long blades are not necessary in this application. Until the introduction of the "Pickle" from Golden, and in lieu of a fixed blade, I carry for SD the (official) waved Endura. A recent discussion on this forum has led me to the carrying of this knife on the strong side, with the clip on the weak side.

But I concur with Mr. Breuker that the important thing is training and mind-set. Ideally, I would avoid situations that would lead to armed self-defense. If I could not guarantee my safety through avoidance, I would carry a pistol. If I could not carry a pistol, I would carry a fixed blade, a short dagger, something like a sgian dubh. If none of the above were options, I'd stick with the waved Endura.

[BlackNinja]

The 425 comes in an uncoated blade... I got one. Unless you were refering to a custom Snody.

.

Nope, you're right. I was looking at the catalog and only saw the black blade. Didn't see that it came uncoated :o