endura trainer

iyn · #1

anyone use the endura trainer? I'm thinking of getting to practice drawing the knife and then other moves.

Michael Janich · #2

Yes. I've been using Endura trainers exclusively since about 1999. They are excellent and allow safe solo and partner training. Best of all, they allow you to combine all the elements of defensive knife use--draw, opening, and contact application--during training. Non-folding trainers don't do that.

Stay safe,

Mike

iyn · #3

Mike,
I'm carrying the stretch 2, which trainer would be better, the delica or endura size?

Dan Vigil · #4

I own the Stretch, the Endura, the Delica and the matching trainers. In terms of practicing opening I'd say the Delica trainer will give you the feel of the stretch's lighter blade - but the Endura will be more size accurate should you get into working defensive maneuvers with it.

When it comes to Spyderco my philosophy since 2007 has just been to buy both and stop trying to pick one... :)

Donut · #5

Dan Vigil wrote:I own the Stretch, the Endura, the Delica and the matching trainers.

You have a stretch trainer? I didn't know that one existed!

Blerv · #6

The worst thing I could say about the trainers is the waved models occasionally hook people. My brother and his friends use them for rigorous sparing tools and have drawn blood.

That is more an indication of how hard they go than the tool's flaw. In normal use and demos (with normal people) they should be outstanding. The non-waved models have even less bite to them.

markg · #7

Blerv wrote:The worst thing I could say about the trainers is the waved models occasionally hook people. My brother and his friends use them for rigorous sparing tools and have drawn blood.

That is more an indication of how hard they go than the tool's flaw. In normal use and demos (with normal people) they should be outstanding. The non-waved models have even less bite to them.

You are are correct about the waved trainers. Becareful with them. On that note, use caution with all trainers, no they are not sharp knives but you can still hurt some one. Make sure to use eye protection, are guards, etc. For more ambitious training knives made from closed cell foam are better suited.

As for for the op's question. I would say the Endura trainer would be a better match for the Stretch. IMHO.

Blerv · #8

markg wrote:You are are correct about the waved trainers. Becareful with them. On that note, use caution with all trainers, no they are not sharp knives but you can still hurt some one. Make sure to use eye protection, are guards, etc. For more ambitious training knives made from closed cell foam are better suited.

As for for the op's question. I would say the Endura trainer would be a better match for the Stretch. IMHO.

Great point Markg.

My little note aside, Spyderco's trainers are amazing in that they replicate a real folder. You can still bruise knuckles and what-not but for all intents and purposes if you train they are an excellent aid.

Dan Vigil · #9

Excuse my poor writing skills. I have a stretch, an Endura, a Delica and trainers that match the Endura and Delica.

Donut · #10

Okay, whew, I thought I was missing the boat!

iyn · #11

Thanks guys the endura trainer is a great " knife" to practice with. I'm more comfortable with the endura than my delica. Now I'm thinking of getting the delica trainer to practice weak hand draw.

VictorLouis · #12

Ok, I've been having a bit of hesitance lately on rocker-locks based on what I've seen on the You Boob. But then I thought of the trainers, and it seems they will see far more abuse than most EDC knives. Do the FRN backlocks hold up? I'm not talking spine wacking nonsense, but real-world practice with hard stabs (to the limit of its blunt tip, LOL), slashes, slight twisting , etc?

In seeing how CS's Tri-Ad works, having the force come back into a stop pin makes sense to me. Linerlikes, compression, etc. have them, but rockerbars don't.

Michael Rigg · #13

I have a Delica trainer that has been in use for more than 12 years. Thousands upon thousands of inertial openings with no lock failure. I also own several Endura trainers and newer Delica trainers that all see hard training use. No failures.

I recommend The Spyderco trainers to all of my students.

Get a trainer, and start training with it. It is way too easy to over-think yourself into inaction.

DAYWALKER · #14

VictorLouis wrote:Ok, I've been having a bit of hesitance lately on rocker-locks based on what I've seen on the You Boob. But then I thought of the trainers, and it seems they will see far more abuse than most EDC knives. Do the FRN backlocks hold up? I'm not talking spine wacking nonsense, but real-world practice with hard stabs (to the limit of its blunt tip, LOL), slashes, slight twisting , etc?

Aloha VictorLouis,

Well, I've trained like Blerv's brother and markg. I'm not as good as my friend Mr. Janich, nor are a lot of people in, "the real world".

That being said...

I never used any of the :spyder: trainers because back in my day, they didn't exist yet. What we'd do is totally grind down the edges and round off the tips of the said models you mentioned, except for the Stretch, as that didn't exist yet either. We'd wear "protective gear" in the form of old duty jackets, shin guards, football thigh pads, dirt bike chest protectors, even full face motorcycle helmets! :D

The "drones" I made of the Enduras and Delicas were subjected to a LOT of thrusts, slashes, etc...even had a lotta real world screw ups, like falling and then having the force of the fall get concentrated into the tip or spine of the drone either in the yard or on concrete without mats, getting up from the ground with the "assistance" of the blade flat, blade getting stuck in gear, like the shin guard vents and then of course twisting action would occur to violently remove the blade, speedy slashes and then realizing the knife shifted in hand and you were slashing with the blade spine, etc...a lot of real world stuff happened in accordance to the, "law of Murphy" back in the day. :D

I droned out a few folders back then for training purposes, and only one of them, another lockback disengaged. It wasn't a :spyder: though. NONE of the :spyder: drones I "made" ever disengaged during hard training.

That being said, we were training with the "actual" locks on said models, and they never failed. I'm not sure, but I don't think the locks on the trainers are different anyway from their live counterparts. So if it's Spyderco, I say go for it...we did.

Train safe, keep it "real" and take care! :cool:

kennethsime · #15

Donut wrote:You have a stretch trainer? I didn't know that one existed!

I'm pretty sure they don't make a Stretch trainer, and that this was an oversight/typos on Dan's part.

In the event that I'm wrong, please excuse my ignorance and send me one ASAP.

SolidState · #16

I suggest picking up 2 trainers and 4 archery arm guards. It's always better to have enough for a partner to train with you.

Blerv · #17

Lockbacks are very durable. YouTube is better for funny cat videos than researched knife presentations, on average.

VictorLouis · #18

Daywalker, your experience is invaluable. Thanks, all!

DAYWALKER · #19

VictorLouis wrote:Daywalker, your experience is invaluable. Thanks, all!

Aloha VictorLouis,

You're VERY welcome...this forum has some great, knowledgeable members. Keep it real, and train hard.

Stay safe and mahalo! :cool: