Yojimbo feedback

Evil D · #1

I know most people either love it or hate it, but if another run of this knife comes out i'm almost certain i'm buying one. My question is, how well is this knife suited for EDC use? How thick is the blade, is the tip fragile, etc etc?

Blerv · #2

Since Mike is on-board as an employee and it has mentioned that some "sketching" is taking place it's more of a "when" rather than an "if". Nothing is ever written in stone but it's a fair assumption.

I don't have a Yojimbo but I do have a Be-Wharned which should have a finer tip based on the hollow-grind. I know a Yojimbo has 4mm thick stock and while I don't have measurements handy the BW is closer to 3mm by my mental ruler. Shame the BW is AUS-8 instead of exotic Spydie steel heat treated to perfection.

With any premium steel the blade profile is suited to light EDC duties. It's got a great profile for clipping coupons, opening boxes via cutting the tape, opening snackables, etc. You could probably open 100 bags of chips without loosing a hair-splitting edge. I can vouch for this purpose a sharp wharnie is unrivaled. :D

Heavy materials such as blister packs are asking quite a bit from the tip. If you break it at all you lose effectiveness of the design for *other* tasks. If you dull it by cutting up cardboard or other abrasives you dull the blade, again, eliminating the main purpose of the design.

Robust wharnies and sheepsfoot blades work well for normal tasks. They lack a belly which makes some things frustrating but all duties involving a tip cut very easy. They have more steel behind the edge (and tip) which places them in another category from the SD wharnies, IMO. Below is a Cento4 for comparison:

The PROBLEM is the Yojimbo or similar knives (matriarch, civilian, chinook) is predominately a defense knife. Even if you *could* use it for daily tasks, would you? Shouldn't the design itself with a MBC rated lock, performance shape, and acute grind stay as sharp as possible for the worst situation one could imagine?

The SD & EDC vs SD/EDC dilemma is well discussed. Personally I like my big EDC (or SD) blade to say extremely sharp at all times for whatever task my small EDC can't do. Normally this is a Ladybug SE in my watch/coin pocket.

If you can stow away a $20 half ounce mini-folder to beat on it probably makes more sense than a $100+ tactical knife. It's also less unnerving to coworkers. Not to mention a VG10 or H1 knife in SE will cut twice as long as a Yojimbo at least.

Just my 2 cents. The SD/EDC folks will carry them and it will serve them well for all purposes. I am convinced of it.

Evil D · #3

I may have to look into carrying a Yo and something smaller like a Dragonfly for my general cutting purposes.

freeman7 · #4

Actually, the Yo makes a good EDC. Slices nicely and edge-holding is fine. It is less intimidating than you might think; probably because it resembles a common cheapo box cutter.

Dr. Snubnose · #5

I carry my Yojimbo for SD only...so it doesn't cut anything and is always sharp...but I do have a friend who has one and he is a cabinet maker and kitchen installer, and uses his Yo everyday for work purposes and cuts just about everything with it, his knife looks like it's in great shape and he has been using it for about 5 years now, no problems with the tip...Doc :D

PocketZen · #6

I really enjoy the Yojimbo for EDC. I personally love warnies but the design does not lend well to skinning or similar tasks. My only complaint about the first Yo is the blade to handle ratio.

Dr. Snubnose · #7

PocketZen wrote:I really enjoy the Yojimbo for EDC. I personally love warnies but the design does not lend well to skinning or similar tasks. My only complaint about the first Yo is the blade to handle ratio.

To properly understand the handle to blade ratio one must understand that the Yojimbo was developed as a SD MBC knife. Even thought it may look like a stanley utility razor on steroids, it was not developed as such. The design takes into account the designers martial background in the Filipino Martial Arts of Kali. Traditionally Filipino knife fighters know that the proper grip for strong retention and use comes from the power of the last three fingers of the hand when using the Filipino style grip. This is the reason for the elongated tapered handle and the round pommel is long enough to give the user the option for non-lethal strike choice of using the butt of the knife at very close ranges. The handle to blade ratio on the original Yojimbo are perfect when taking these design qualities and the fighting style grips into account....Doc :D

Blerv · #8

Quite frankly I'm surprised how well it's stood up to some peoples daily use (in a good way). The toughness of steel, even I'm thin amounts, never ceases to amaze me.

I guess it gives perspective when people break tips off Para's opening plastic blister packs. :p

Franciscomv · #9

I've been using my Yojimbo for utility tasks ever since I got it a few months ago and it works really well. I'm a huge wharncliffe fan, so the blade shape is right up my alley. The larger handle is great when you need to put some force on the knife.

I don't mind using my SD knife for regular everyday tasks, I feel it helps me become more comfortable with it. Since I always carry a sharpener I don't have to worry about dulling it.

Evil D · #10

Franciscomv wrote:I've been using my Yojimbo for utility tasks ever since I got it a few months ago and it works really well. I'm a huge wharncliffe fan, so the blade shape is right up my alley. The larger handle is great when you need to put some force on the knife.

I don't mind using my SD knife for regular everyday tasks, I feel it helps me become more comfortable with it. Since I always carry a sharpener I don't have to worry about dulling it.

This is pretty much my logic behind it as well...something you use regularly as a tool becomes second nature to grab and use, which to me would be that much more second nature to grab for SD. I do see the possibility of using it all day at work and dulling it down, and then getting in a bad situation after work and my defense being hindered by it being dulled down....but i think this is where good quality steel like ZDP would come in handy, with its great edge retention.

My concern with a warny blade is tip erosion...although people tell me proper sharpening can prevent that.

Slick · #11

I prefer a large handle for control. For my uses a fairly short blade is good enough. For self defence, slashing cuts beat stabbing wounds.

Big handle for control beats "biggest blade for the handle".

IMHO

BTW, I need a knife with belly for my work at work. A ***** box cutter works just fine for my warnie needs.

grampa · #12

Well, it's probably heresy, but I do use my Yojimbo as a glorified box cutter. Works darn good, too!!!!

psychophipps · #13

Dr. Snubnose wrote:[/B]

To properly understand the handle to blade ratio one must understand that the Yojimbo was developed as a SD MBC knife. Even thought it may look like a stanley utility razor on steroids, it was not developed as such. The design takes into account the designers martial background in the Filipino Martial Arts of Kali. Traditionally Filipino knife fighters know that the proper grip for strong retention and use comes from the power of the last three fingers of the hand when using the Filipino style grip. This is the reason for the elongated tapered handle and the round pommel is long enough to give the user the option for non-lethal strike choice of using the butt of the knife at very close ranges. The handle to blade ratio on the original Yojimbo are perfect when taking these design qualities and the fighting style grips into account....Doc :D

You also get the same thing in the Street Beat, but with a more conventional blade shape.