Ronin --- Yojimbo?

[spydermdz]

[quote="smcfalls13"]Spyderco sheaths are generally very good. But since they are production knives there will be flaws occasionally. Haven't had one that rattled in the sheath yet, or fell out, but both are things you should check for when buying a Spyder fixed blade.

Oops, forgot to add that yes you can wear it on your belt, some Ronin sheaths come with a Tek-Lok attachment(Though I hate Tek-Loks, just to provide my opinion ]



Scott, thank you. gonna check out the Ronin and Yojimbo, if i decide to go up to NGK tomorrow.

[smcfalls13]

Scott, thank you. gonna check out the Ronin and Yojimbo, if i decide to go up to NGK tomorrow.

Are you getting frequent driver miles yet

Pick up a Civilian while you're there, and save the next trip, because you need one. It would go quite well with the rest of your Spyders.

[zenheretic]

[quote="smcfalls13"]Spyderco sheaths are generally very good. But since they are production knives there will be flaws occasionally. Haven't had one that rattled in the sheath yet, or fell out, but both are things you should check for when buying a Spyder fixed blade.

Oops, forgot to add that yes you can wear it on your belt, some Ronin sheaths come with a Tek-Lok attachment(Though I hate Tek-Loks, just to provide my opinion ]
I am not fond of the tek-lok as well. It is fully functional and reliable, but like most tools or designs that are multi-functional, it doesn't excell in any department. It is designed to allow several sheath angles rather than one sheath angle. This obviously allows options for the masses, but somehow it leaves something to be desired...hard to explain. I rate the sheath and tek-lok as "adequate". A custom sheath for your prefered angle in maybe IWB would be ideal. Think of multi angle concealment pistol holsters vs. a custom holster...maybe that helps explain the difference.

Also the tek-lok doesn't allow carry if you wear a properly thick belt (you usually need a double thick belt for secure concealed pistol holster retention.

Overall, I think the Ronin is a bit big for a neck knife, unless you wear layers of clothes, are rather tall, and not sporting a beer keg about the mid section.

[zenheretic]

Scott, thank you. gonna check out the Ronin and Yojimbo, if i decide to go up to NGK tomorrow.

Don't forget to wear a belt so you can test the Ronin sheath...also you will need some para cord or other material to test in neck carry.

[smcfalls13]

I am not fond of the tek-lok as well. It is fully functional and reliable, but like most tools or designs that are multi-functional, it doesn't excell in any department. It is designed to allow several sheath angles rather than one sheath angle. This obviously allows options for the masses, but somehow it leaves something to be desired...hard to explain. I rate the sheath and tek-lok as "adequate". A custom sheath for your prefered angle in maybe IWB would be ideal. Think of multi angle concealment pistol holsters vs. a custom holster...maybe that helps explain the difference.

I can't stand Tek-Loks for two reasons. One is that they stick out so far from the belt. I like the J clips or whatever they're called, because the knife will be much closer to the body, and less prone to whacking into things.

The second reason is that for all the "versatility" of the Tek-Lok, the holes are never where I want them. They're always like 1/8" off from where I need them to be. I'll take a custom sheath and attachment any day, even if it costs $50.

[txtroublemaker]

spydermdz, I have a question, what's with all the MBC stuff?? You seem to have quite a bit of interest in knives for self defense yet in your profile you show to have a CCW permit. I would think whatever hand gun you carry would be a way better self defense tool than a knife, you know the whole "bringing a knife to a gun fight" saying. Anyway, just a question...

[Dr. Snubnose]

Like Smcfalls13 I hate the Tec-Lok....all I do to securely carry my Ronin is to put some paracord through the shealth holes to attach it to my belt....works great for me, and doesn't ad the bulk of the tec-lok and it stays put and close to the body....Doc :D

[zenheretic]

I can't stand Tek-Loks for two reasons. One is that they stick out so far from the belt. I like the J clips or whatever they're called, because the knife will be much closer to the body, and less prone to whacking into things.

Yeah that too. :p

[spydermdz]

spydermdz, I have a question, what's with all the MBC stuff?? You seem to have quite a bit of interest in knives for self defense yet in your profile you show to have a CCW permit. I would think whatever hand gun you carry would be a way better self defense tool than a knife, you know the whole "bringing a knife to a gun fight" saying. Anyway, just a question...

I train with a martial artist here in East Tennessee that is a former Seal. I met him by working at the gun shop we both help out at.. He and i were talking one day and he asked me if I was into martial art, etc.. I told him yes i was. I had always noticed he always had knives on him and he could twirl one or manuever one like no other i had seen.. So one day we got together and started training... We still train today, just not everyday like we did before I started my new job... I have learned tons of great moves. But lots of it has to become muscle memory in order to be life-like in a real combat or SD situation.

thats why.

scott, i want the civilian bad. however, i think mike has like 130 on the civilian or something.. not a terrible price. if i remember correctly (someone nail me if i am wrong but i think its in the ballpark of 130) and no i dont have frequent driving miles. LOL. i need em. i can usually make it there and back on a full tank. its 224 miles both ways... i love honda civics... :D but the drive is absolutely breathtaking. nothing like driving through the beautiful mountains and hills of Upper East Tennessee and southwest Virginia. Beautiful country for sure!

[thombrogan]

Spydermdz,

Why not stick with getting the most you can out of your flat-ground Chinook II and your Manix for now? Set up some practice targets in your training area and have at them with the Chinook to get a feel for how the knife passes through various materials when cutting or thrusting. It'll give you a lot of good tactile feedback for your Chinook so you'll know the difference between a good or so-so strike without relying on your eyes (some bad people attack at night or try blinding their opponents before striking and sensory distortion happens during adrenal dumps). It'll also dull your Chinook so you'll get valuable practice bringing it back up to SD Carry level sharpness. Buying an extra Chinook and rounding off its edge and point (big time, that is, making it into a trainer only folder) will let you practice drills where a training partner tries to jam your arm/hand as you attempt to draw the knife. Since you're using the knife as a self-defense option; it's likely that anyone attacking you doesn't want you to draw your knife, so the 'extra expense' may be worth its weight in blood and flat-ground Chinook II's.

[spydermdz]

[quote="thombrogan"]Spydermdz,

Why not stick with getting the most you can out of your flat-ground Chinook II and your Manix for now? Set up some practice targets in your training area and have at them with the Chinook to get a feel for how the knife passes through various materials when cutting or thrusting. It'll give you a lot of good tactile feedback for your Chinook so you'll know the difference between a good or so-so strike without relying on your eyes (some bad people attack at night or try blinding their opponents before striking and sensory distortion happens during adrenal dumps). It'll also dull your Chinook so you'll get valuable practice bringing it back up to SD Carry level sharpness. Buying an extra Chinook and rounding off its edge and point (big time, that is, making it into a trainer only folder) will let you practice drills where a training partner tries to jam your arm/hand as you attempt to draw the knife. Since you're using the knife as a self-defense option]



thom, i have decided to do just that... and thanks for the helpful info there. i think the chinook will actually impress me when i actually try some strikes with it on set up targets... any ideas on what kinda targets to set up thom?

[spydermdz]

also thom, i have decided that i am going to use my chinook and train with it and when it gets rough, just buy another chinook since thats what i carry mainly... i feel comfortable with the chinook.. i dont know whats wrong with me, i get the feeling to buy more spydercos and i just realize when i sit down to think, hey, you have the best spyderco for you and the one you like the best... wake up, carry the **** out of it, enjoy it, its tough as nails, and will be the best for you.

i just need to keep reminding myself of these things... :p

[Dr. Snubnose]

also thom, i have decided that i am going to use my chinook and train with it and when it gets rough, just buy another chinook since thats what i carry mainly... i feel comfortable with the chinook.. i dont know whats wrong with me, i get the feeling to buy more spydercos and i just realize when i sit down to think, hey, you have the best spyderco for you and the one you like the best... wake up, carry the **** out of it, enjoy it, its tough as nails, and will be the best for you.

i just need to keep reminding myself of these things... :p

Naw!!!!!! Keep looking....you'll find a better one.....Like I tell the wife..you can't cook with one pot!....Doc :D

[smcfalls13]

[quote="thombrogan"]Buying an extra Chinook and rounding off its edge and point (big time, that is, making it into a trainer only folder) will let you practice drills where a training partner tries to jam your arm/hand as you attempt to draw the knife. Since you're using the knife as a self-defense option]

This is EXCELLENT advice.

I don't train any knife drills, but I have a friend at work who wanted to try some techniques, so I volunteered to get my a** kicked in the interest of education. Learned some very interesting things.

If you try and draw your knife from your pocket, all your opponent needs to do is apply a little pressure to the outside of your elbow(doesn't take much) to keep you from being able to deploy it. Without bending your elbow, your elbow has to bend at a much higher angle to extract the knife, which you won't realize until you discover your knife is still in your pocket and you can't move your arm.

This not only leaves you weaponless, but also removes that arm from the equation temporarily. So now you have an opponent at close range, and only one arm with which to defend yourself.

Learn to get the blade out before your opponent is within grappling distance, if you can't, you're going to have problems.

When getting my a** kicked. I attempted to draw my knife from a range of probably 8 feet("chatting distance"), and my friend closed the distance and put me in some crazy grappling hold. He had all his body weight against my knife arm, so I couldn't deploy my knife, and a simple choke hold prevented me from fleeing. In a choke hold, with only one arm available, he could have held it until I passed out.

Learn to get your blade out before your opponent is in range, and if I learned anything that day, it's to move. Back up and draw your knife. Don't just stand there and think "I've trained for this, I can get my knife out faster than he can do whatever". You'll lose. Gotta keep moving.

Then again, take my advice with a grain of salt, because I don't actively train for that kind of stuff. I'm a runner, not a fighter :p

[zenheretic]

You see Scott, you forgot to throw down the Ninja smoke to help you disappear. You just cant' have enough Ninja smoke.

[stonyman]

Spydermdz, it is good that you have found your go to Spyder. The above advice is good advice with the practice and trainers. The problem is all solved until Sal and his folks comes out with the next quality piece! It does not necessary change your go to spydie, but it finds away into your possession. .... Spyderbite! Take care and God Bless!

[Halfneck]

The Chinook and Manix easily translate back and forth for training purposes. It is when you go to a different knife type like the Kerambit or the Yojimbo that you need to modify the training.

[thombrogan]

smcfalls13,

I tried those drills with BOB (the torso and noggin on a base filled with hundreds of pounds of sand or water) and didn't feel comfortable (I got pinned by a no-armed man! :o ). One thing which helped (for me) was to push at the 'assailant' (or palm-strike or swat) with my non-knife hand while drawing a knife with the other (whichever hand can't reach a knife is the non-knife hand the other hand, whichever it is, always has a knife nearby). It'd get me off line, so that's always fun. I figure, in actual use, it'd let the attacker know he'd be getting a free knife after beating me unconscious and robbing me.

[smcfalls13]

You see Scott, you forgot to throw down the Ninja smoke to help you disappear. You just cant' have enough Ninja smoke.

Ninja smoke is so difficult to get here

[Dr. Snubnose]

[quote="smcfalls13"]Ninja smoke is so difficult to get here ] You can always find some Ninja Smoke hiding behind trees Doc