Some Thoughts on the Matriarch 2

[DelicateEndurance]

Well, I've finally pulled the trigger and bought the Matriarch 2. The following are some thoughts on the knife. Again, I want to emphasize that this is not a review, as I am not competent or expert enough to critique any knife design. These are just my subjective opinions.

I would like to compare it to the only other knife of similar form that I own. This is the Blackhawk Garra II. I do this as a sort of comparison, that helps to highlight some interesting features of the Matriarch 2.

Now, it is probably true that this is unfair to the Garra II, which after all have a shorter blade. But before I am accused of comparing apples to oranges, I found something interesting about the two knives:
[ATTACH]22061[/ATTACH]

Oriented at a certain angle, the cutting edges of the two knives appear to be very similar in lengths indeed! Well, not the actual cutting length, of course. The Matriarch 2 seems to squeeze in more inches of cutting surface, due to its re-curve shape and lack of a full choil, but I was surprised how similar they were if I just focus on the forward portion of the blades.

However, the inches do add up, of course. Here's a picture of them, one on top of the other:
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What is immediately noticeable is how the Matriarch 2 is longer. In fact, much longer. Not surprising, given that the Garra II has a blade that is only 3" in length, while the Matriarch 2 is 3.625" long.

But even this comparison does not tell the full story. The Matriarch 2 also has a longer handle. This extra length, combined with the extra length of the blade, gives this knife a longer reach, about an inch longer, in my estimation, measuring from the butt.

The Garra II has a slightly more rounded grip, but both the Garra II and Matriarch 2 allow me to grip pretty close to the hilt of the knives. Interestingly for me, I find that the Matriarch 2 gives me almost 5" of reach beyond my index finger, while the Garra II gave me almost 4", longer than what the blade lengths might otherwise indicate.

Here, the way the Matriarch 2's grip is shaped - similar to the Endura, of course - really pushes out the blade beyond the hand, giving it very good reach indeed. In my opinion, this will be good for self-defense situations, to keep an attacker further out. A couple of extra inches may not sound like much, but I can't help but wonder if it will help shape the dynamics of a confrontation.

If my fooling around with Delica and Endura trainers are any indications, even an inch of longer blade may create a larger zone around you which an opponent is loathe to step into. I can't explain why, and the true experts of this forum might be able to refute or explain this better. If this is true, however, a woman, for example, might find the Matriarch 2 to be exactly the right size to keep an attacker well back.

On the other hand, a shorter blade might have its advantages. I liked the Garra II because the full finger choil really allowed me to grip the knife tightly with a hammer fist, leaving only 2.5" of cutting surface beyond my finger. It sounds like very little, but it is probably enough if things got really personal. In a scuffle or wrestling match, this would really allow me to retain a very good grip on the knife. And, gripping the knife in the middle in this way allows me to have a bit of the hilt sticking out beyond my hammer fist. This allows the hilt to be used as an impact weapon as well.

This is where I appreciate the use of an Endura grip. This allows me to move my grip up closer to the hinge, assuming a grip that is quite close to that of the Garra II with the index finger on the choil. It drastically reduces the reach, but compensates by giving almost a full inch of protruding hilt to use as an impact weapon.

The most interesting aspect of the Matriarch 2, of course, is the geometry of the cutting edge. The Garra II has a straightforward karambit type concave curve. The Matriarch 2 has the recurve.

The Matriarch 2's blade seemed to go forward in a fairly conventional manner, before the tip comes down rather abruptly like a sting. The angle seems to be about 45 degrees to my eye. The Garra II had a more gentle and sweeping curve, with the final edge about 30 degrees down from the horizontal.

I have no idea what this means in terms of cutting up an attacker, but it does seem to me that, in a slashing motion, the Matriarch 2 will penetrate first with the tip, before ripping the flesh apart, whereas the Garra II will slice more conventionally. The difference might be rather academic, though, as both would be quite formidable in terms of creating big wounds!

The belly of the Matriarch 2 does seem to allow the knife to slash with this portion of the knife, though, while the Garra II's conventional karambit blade seems to let the tip do most of the work. This might be made more significant by the longer length of the Matriarch 2's blade, which creates more opportunity for more of the knife to engage flesh. I can well imagine how, when the blade meets a forearm, it will first create one wound with the belly, and as the knife continue to be drawn through the arm, create a deeper cut or another wound with the tip. That would be nasty!

I can also imagine the belly slicing through fabric covering an arm, before the tip engages flesh underneath, but this may be imagining too much!

Overall, in comparing the two knives, I gain a better understanding of how the Matriarch 2 might be used. If I need reach, I can hold the knife closer to the hilt, and let the tip do the work. In closer engagement, I should grip it as close to the hinge as possible, and use every part of the blade to create cuts.

A word of warning though: karambit and recurve blades are dangerous to the unwary. I cut myself more times with both than conventional knives.

[defenestrate]

Advise you acquire the Waved Matriarch 2.

It is an elegant design and one I am stoked to see in the flesh, so to speak.

[defenestrate]

Did I mention that the waved version has an effective bottle opener on it? (the wave)

[Bladekeeper]

The matriarch IMO having just brought one and owning and practicing using Karambits aren't really comparable.
The M2 strength lies in using the recurve s portion using contoured pull cuts with this area.
Against the curvature of the wrists , arms , legs , neck eg .
A lot of karambit attacking strikes I've seen demonstrated use the tip .
Penetrating behind the collar bone in a reverse grip , thrusting into areas .
The recurve on the karambit is only really effective at this whilst countering at close quarters when compared to the M2.
Any stabbing would snap the M2 very easily , the tip portion of the M2 also doesn't slice well.
I used mine to test against materials and found unless slicing with the tip in a very straight line it isn't as effective .
The belly/recurved s portion though makes mincemeat of material .
Any backward motion cuts that contact this part of the blade make very effective cuts through materials .
Also very cleanly for the SE being sharp one side only .
IMO either belly pull cuts to any curved portion of an attacker would be the most effective usage .
However believe its superiority would come if an attacker were above you eg on top of you .
That's just my opinion and in comparison to the karambit and I am by no means an expert .

[DelicateEndurance]

Thank you very much for your inputs. :)

I did not conduct any formal cutting tests on the M2. Your information is very interesting indeed.

I did nick my thumb accidentally on the SE though, and it did slice through quite a bit of flesh from even a light touch.

BTW, this is why I decided against waiting for the Waved version. I want to open this knife deliberately, not as part of the draw stroke. It's a dangerous blade to the unwary.

[Bladekeeper]

Thank you very much for your inputs. :)

I did not conduct any formal cutting tests on the M2. Your information is very interesting indeed.

I did nick my thumb accidentally on the SE though, and it did slice through quite a bit of flesh from even a light touch.

BTW, this is why I decided against waiting for the Waved version. I want to open this knife deliberately, not as part of the draw stroke. It's a dangerous blade to the unwary.

I agree whole heartedly and its not IMO had the changes needed to incorporate the wave.
The being bitten I hear you as I was looking for the kick stop I released the back lock with my thumb forwards .
Right underneath my nail ...ouch bled for an age .
And the blade that has bit me the most is the PS tenacious those serrations are pure cutting class.
The one thing I didn't mention is your point about keeping at arms length .
In an offensive situation a reverse grip whilst say blocking strikes using the s belly to the wrist/forearms would also be a strong point .
And the point you make about defusing a situation with the M2 is its strongest asset .
But If somebody didn't back off on the sight of it then your in a serious situation .
Here only sub 3" non locking can be edc without just cause .
And the SD aspects of knives is seldom discussed here either .
But I always point out 99.9% of stabbings in the uk are with kitchen knives ?.

[BAL]

Thanks for the Matriarch discussion. I have been thinking about the waved version myself.
I don't like the wave for opening, but I like the look of it better. I have always wanted a
Civilian and this is more costly choice. I just need to figure out exactly what I would use it for.

[DelicateEndurance]

Thanks for the Matriarch discussion. I have been thinking about the waved version myself.
I don't like the wave for opening, but I like the look of it better. I have always wanted a
Civilian and this is more costly choice. I just need to figure out exactly what I would use it for.

Yes, that was something that held me back for a long time. I couldn't think of any other use I might have for it. It's one of those specialized knives that you just have to decide for yourself whether you really want it as a collector's item or not.

Having said that, the curved tip is great for opening letters and postal packages! :)

[Bladekeeper]

Thanks for the Matriarch discussion. I have been thinking about the waved version myself.
I don't like the wave for opening, but I like the look of it better. I have always wanted a
Civilian and this is more costly choice. I just need to figure out exactly what I would use it for.

Since the tip being made thicker although I haven't handled the original just seen pics.
I'd consider the following , pruning cutting of fruits , or harvesting certain fruit/veg.
Providing the fruit isn't attached to woody stems that thicken beyond green .
Cutting rope or paracord would also be a consideration but IMO would need a lot of edge maintenance .
But just for the sheer unique blade is its place in my collection and gaining information .
Through cut tests against materials , for gaining understanding of different shapes edges perform.
The price you guys can pick up one for its a no brainer for the spydie fans .
Regardless of pou I'm without doubt getting the lil version .
And if a liner version of the civilian ever surfaces ill happily pay out the extra .