Michael Janich Joins Spyderco

[sarguy]

Thanks for the reply! The addition of solo training instruction sounds like it's worth the price of the video on its own. I'm looking forward to its debut.

[fifthprofession47]

Mike,

I'm certainly looking forward to any new MBC DVD's! I've got a solid group of students who are improving every day. The DVD's make for great reference material.

[sarguy]

Mike,

I'm certainly looking forward to any new MBC DVD's! I've got a solid group of students who are improving every day. The DVD's make for great reference material.

Indeed. I'm counting the days...

[224477]

I would be happy to see the Yo again, in CF and S90V? One can dream, or?
I have my black Yo, a gift from the hardest Ronin fan in the world :D , in my pocket, as I type. Thanks buddy!

[sarguy]

I would be happy to see the Yo again, in CF and S90V? One can dream, or?
I have my black Yo, a gift from the hardest Ronin fan in the world :D , in my pocket, as I type. Thanks buddy!

At this point I'd be happy with a Yo in any handle and steel configuration. Which begs the question:

Mr Janich, what are your top choices for blade steel and handle material right now? Available materials have changed some since the first iteration of the Yojimbo and Ronin, no?

[224477]

At this point I'd be happy with a Yo in any handle and steel configuration. Which begs the question:

Mr Janich, what are your top choices for blade steel and handle material right now? Available materials have changed some since the first iteration of the Yojimbo and Ronin, no?

You know, there is always the choice needed to be done, if you wanna go the 'cheaper' and more public way, means lower costs materials with good price vs. performance ratio, or if you wanna have rather limited high end stuff in for ex. S90V and CF, which can bring the final price 2-3 times higher.. Then you need to tell if the particular model will be a general user, for public John Doe`s, EDC allround knife, or a specialized 'more weapon than a tool" thing with more limited audience of ELUs.

I think your product targeting can tell you a lot about what materials you want, need, should and can use :)


Construction wise, lets be a bit 'sci-fi', the Yo is nothing the PRC OEM mfg. is not able to make.
You can use chinese G10 and 8Cr13 or 9Cr14 , aside from the nested liners which can be easily done as normal /not nested/ and drilled to loose weight, like on the Tenacious. I have seen a couple of full grinds made by PRC and they were not bad. Then you have to calculate with the provision for the designer, as its a collab. But I dont think this is the 'prestige' that the Yo should get.

Its always difficult to guess at the start, evaluate the risk of investment. I cant tell how the sales are in US for the Tenacious, but here in the middle/east EU, it happen to be the most popular model amongst people. Simple answer is, ` cause its well done and cheap.

[Blerv]

You know, there is always the choice needed to be done, if you wanna go the 'cheaper' and more public way, means lower costs materials with good price vs. performance ratio, or if you wanna have rather limited high end stuff in for ex. S90V and CF, which can bring the final price 2-3 times higher.. Then you need to tell if the particular model will be a general user, for public John Doe`s, EDC allround knife, or a specialized 'more weapon than a tool" thing with more limited audience of ELUs.

I think your product targeting can tell you a lot about what materials you want, need, should and can use :)


Construction wise, lets be a bit 'sci-fi', the Yo is nothing the PRC OEM mfg. is not able to make.
You can use chinese G10 and 8Cr13 or 9Cr14 , aside from the nested liners which can be easily done as normal /not nested/ and drilled to loose weight, like on the Tenacious. I have seen a couple of full grinds made by PRC and they were not bad. Then you have to calculate with the provision for the designer, as its a collab. But I dont think this is the 'prestige' that the Yo should get.

Its always difficult to guess at the start, evaluate the risk of investment. I cant tell how the sales are in US for the Tenacious, but here in the middle/east EU, it happen to be the most popular model amongst people. Simple answer is, ` cause its well done and cheap.

I think when it comes to a daily task knife steel choice is a big deal. S90v has noticeable advantages when breaking down boxes compared to VG10, and so on.

When it comes to a blade that should ONLY be used to defend yourself (which is not what many people do with their Yojimbo's), it could be 440A for all I care. It should have the sharpest edge imaginable and hopefully never be used besides frequent oiling/cleaning to make sure it will open quick and smooth.

The high end steels can take a serious edge but they are also a bit more brittle. Can you get a nasty edge with AUS-6 or some basic level of 440 ss? Yes but for the price of the knife VG10/154cm would be more sellable. Mike's other Yojimbo variant sold by another company uses 3.5" of AUS-8 instead of S30V but I'm sure it works splendid. I think the ergonomics/lock by Spyderco blow it away still but the steel is hardly a detail. Many of the knives tested by Dr. Snubnose are cheap models and use AUS8, 440c, etc and still do deadly well (Ex: Boker Rampage, SOG Seal Pup, etc).

Since people really shouldn't be breaking down cardboard boxes or cutting carpet with their Yo's (if they take defense seriously), I don't see how it matters besides glam appeal to the AFI rock stars. That tip only has one purpose in life, and that purpose is saving yours.

My 2 cents.

PS: Since I'm not an engineer, martial artist, or knife designer...I'd prob get change back from that 2 cents. :)

[sarguy]

I think when it comes to a daily task knife steel choice is a big deal. S90v has noticeable advantages when breaking down boxes compared to VG10, and so on.

When it comes to a blade that should ONLY be used to defend yourself (which is not what many people do with their Yojimbo's), it could be 440A for all I care. It should have the sharpest edge imaginable and hopefully never be used besides frequent oiling/cleaning to make sure it will open quick and smooth.

The high end steels can take a serious edge but they are also a bit more brittle. Can you get a nasty edge with AUS-6 or some basic level of 440 ss? Yes but for the price of the knife VG10/154cm, etc would be more sellable. Mike's other Yojimbo variant sold by another company uses 3.5" of AUS-8 instead of S30V but I'm sure it works splendid. I think the ergonomics/lock by Spyderco blow it away still but the steel is hardly a detail.

Since people really shouldn't be breaking down cardboard boxes or cutting carpet with their Yo's (if they take defense seriously), I don't see how it matters besides glam appeal to the AFI rock stars. That tip only has one purpose in life and that purpose is saving yours.

My 2 cents.

That's an interesting point. In my perfect little corner of the universe, the Yojimbo would be offered with 2 or 3 options of steel, so that the user could decide what worked best for them. Users might even buy two, one for utility work and another one for "social" work, each of them with a steel appropriate for the task.

As I mentioned above, at this point I'd be happy with anything. (although I just had the disturbing mental image of a Yojimbo blade made from mashed-up beer cans. I should probably go to bed soon, I'm not that desperate, just sleep deprived.)

[Blerv]

That's an interesting point. In my perfect little corner of the universe, the Yojimbo would be offered with 2 or 3 options of steel, so that the user could decide what worked best for them. Users might even buy two, one for utility work and another one for "social" work, each of them with a steel appropriate for the task.

As I mentioned above, at this point I'd be happy with anything. (although I just had the disturbing mental image of a Yojimbo blade made from mashed-up beer cans. I should probably go to bed soon, I'm not that desperate, just sleep deprived.)

Well put.

I think from a utility aspect the wharncliffe blade has a benefit to offer the world (look at the box cutter). Something with a more robust tip, and harder steel that would be less likely to roll and thick enough to not snap would be great. This would prob require a thicker blade stock to begin with. For a utility role, I enjoy my D'Allara Rescue and think the other "Rescue" knives aren't praised enough.

I think with the modified design Mr. Janich offered the world, the tip angle is VERY aggressive and gives up utility strength for penetration/cutting ability. It's like a F1 car and only designed to go fast and pull G's. For what it does, few if any can follow for very long.

Either design and use of the wharncliffe requires quality blade steel that can keep the tip from snapping off. I would sacrifice hardness for corrosion resistance as that is probably a bigger factor with a defense blade.

For utility tasks I would prefer that Spyderco made a very ergonomic folding box cutter with replaceable blades simply because I wouldn't cry after breaking off a $130 tip. :eek:

Again, my disclaimer is my lack of designing/engineering knowledge. I believe it but it doesn't make it remotely accurate.

[sarguy]

I just woke up and the following thought occurred to me: I own two of my carry guns so that if one is taken as evidence (God forbid I'm ever in a situation to require its use), I still have another to carry. The same would probably hold true for a knife dedicated to MBC. Depending on one's budget, the "twins" might consist of the top shelf model and a counterpart with more wallet friendly materials, ie CF versus FRN.

...wow, talk about thread drift. I guess it's all marginally related, tho. :o

[Michael Janich]

At this point I'd be happy with a Yo in any handle and steel configuration. Which begs the question:

Mr Janich, what are your top choices for blade steel and handle material right now? Available materials have changed some since the first iteration of the Yojimbo and Ronin, no?

Sorry for the slow response--I just returned from Germany where I taught a two-day law enforcement class on MBC, CBC, and handgun tactics.

I have been giving a lot of thought to what I would like to achieve with a new Yojimbo. When it comes to blade steel, I tend to focus on qualities other than pure cutting performance. Toughness is obviously a concern to ensure maximum tip strength on a wharncliffe. For a defensive knife that will be carried close to the body corrosion resistance is also required. Although exotic steels are unique and do provide enhanced performance for very experienced users, they also drive up the price of the knife and make it less accessible to the cops, military personnel, and concerned civilians I teach--all of whom are on a budget.

As for handle material, I really like G-10--particularly the coarse-textured stuff. 3-D-machined G-10 with a light sand blast t roughen the texture is also a personal favorite. At the same time, the versatility of FRN handles--especially when it comes to molding design details and achieving different colors--makes a lot of sense.

Although the idea of a high-end, pimped Yojimbo made from premium materials is definitely appealing, the thought of a moderately-priced high-performance version with a matching trainer appeals even more to me.

Stay safe,

Mike

[JT]

Although the idea of a high-end, pimped Yojimbo made from premium materials is definitely appealing, the thought of a moderately-priced high-performance version with a matching trainer appeals even more to me.

Stay safe,

Mike

That sounds awesome! When I got my Yojimbo, they were just disco'ed, so the price tag was pretty high... but now, they even more pricey, thats why I've been keeping both of mine in the safe lately.

So, if/when we get a new Yo II, the cheaper it is, the more people can stock them up. I'd get at least three this time. :D


OT;
may I ask, what would be the best protective wristband, to use when doind drills with your training partner.
I've seen some of those well padded, long "sleeves" you use in your videos, but just cant track down any stores that sell them.

-J-

[aj1985]

That sounds awesome! When I got my Yojimbo, they were just disco'ed, so the price tag was pretty high... but now, they even more pricey, thats why I've been keeping both of mine in the safe lately.

So, if/when we get a new Yo II, the cheaper it is, the more people can stock them up. I'd get at least three this time. :D


OT;
may I ask, what would be the best protective wristband, to use when doind drills with your training partner.
I've seen some of those well padded, long "sleeves" you use in your videos, but just cant track down any stores that sell them.

-J-

http://dogbrothers.com/store/index.php? ... 8aa3ceff33

[markg]

OT;
may I ask, what would be the best protective wristband, to use when doind drills with your training partner.
I've seen some of those well padded, long "sleeves" you use in your videos, but just cant track down any stores that sell them.

-J-

They are a Neoprene Thigh Wrap (McDavid I believe) and can be ordered online. You just wrap them on your arm. The first MBC seminar I took with Mike we got them with seminar attendence. A Google search should get your hooked up with one, and they are between $10-15.

[sarguy]

Although the idea of a high-end, pimped Yojimbo made from premium materials is definitely appealing, the thought of a moderately-priced high-performance version with a matching trainer appeals even more to me.

Stay safe,

Mike

Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful replies. I really like the idea of the moderately priced Yo+matching trainer. Buying a couple extra for replacement would be much more feasible. As the price on the rare Yojimbo is right now, I hesitate to advertise that I'm looking for one due to the fact that I'd be too heartbroken if it was lost or damaged.

Oh, and this is what I think of when I read about a "pimped" yojimbo. I dunno if I should drink more coffee, or switch to decaf...

[Michael Janich]

They are a Neoprene Thigh Wrap (McDavid I believe) and can be ordered online. You just wrap them on your arm. The first MBC seminar I took with Mike we got them with seminar attendence. A Google search should get your hooked up with one, and they are between $10-15.

Thanks for jumping in with the response, Mark.

The exact model number is a McDavid 478 Compression Thigh Wrap. After years of improvised solutions and sewing my own custom guards, I found these. They are still the best solution for knife training.

FYI, the Lameco guards sold on the Dog Brothers site are great for stick training, but not for working with small training knives. The Cordura nylon is very abrasive and will chew the skin off your knuckles when--not if--your hand hits before your training blade.

BTW, I also found that Body Glove sells a compression thigh wrap. They are larger than the McDavid ones and not contoured to fit a tapered limb; however, they will also work. I cut a single wrap into four quarters and just add some wide "hook" Velcro to the two pieces that need it. The result is four guards for a very reasonable price.

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,

Mike

[Michael Janich]

Oh, and this is what I think of when I read about a "pimped" yojimbo. I dunno if I should drink more coffee, or switch to decaf...

You got that "pimped" on coffee alone? I'm impressed... and concerned...

If we ever do the "Huggy Bear Commemorative Yojimbo" I'll keep that in mind.

Stay safe,

Mike

[sarguy]

You got that "pimped" on coffee alone? I'm impressed... and concerned...

If we ever do the "Huggy Bear Commemorative Yojimbo" I'll keep that in mind.

Stay safe,

Mike

Lol, I think I need more coffee, really. Just one cup so far. But yes, pretty much any time I see the term "pimp" I think of Huggy Bear, despite its newer connotations.

[markg]

Thanks for jumping in with the response, Mark.

The exact model number is a McDavid 478 Compression Thigh Wrap. After years of improvised solutions and sewing my own custom guards, I found these. They are still the best solution for knife training.

FYI, the Lameco guards sold on the Dog Brothers site are great for stick training, but not for working with small training knives. The Cordura nylon is very abrasive and will chew the skin off your knuckles when--not if--your hand hits before your training blade.

BTW, I also found that Body Glove sells a compression thigh wrap. They are larger than the McDavid ones and not contoured to fit a tapered limb; however, they will also work. I cut a single wrap into four quarters and just add some wide "hook" Velcro to the two pieces that need it. The result is four guards for a very reasonable price.

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,

Mike

I lost the original one I got from a course back in 2005. Ordered another online. But I still have the handmade MOD trainers we got. :)

[ChapmanPreferred]

Best wishes to MJ @ Spyderco. Great place to work.