If the Yojimbo 2 was not marketed for Self Defense

[Donut]

There has been some discussion of the Yojimbo 2 being used a lot for general use.

What if the Yojimbo 2 was re-released as a general use knife that just so happened to be good for self defense.

Would this thing be considered a heavy duty utility knife? Tactical utility knife?

What steel and scales would be best for this general use knife?


I guess there are two different knives here, what knife would BE best performance-wise and what knife would SELL best.

[Evil D]

Well I understand that a lot of thought went into making this knife a good self defense knife. However wharnie blades have been around far longer than any of us and I'm sure have been used for all manner of utility purposes. I've always said it isn't that a self defense knife works great at utility but rather that a utility knife happens to work great at self defense. The bottom line is the power that the edge style allows in a cut so it works well in many situations.

[Donut]

I agree that it is a utility knife that happens to work great at self defense. Even MJ said he liked and used utility blades as a kid. By design it is a utility blade that happens to work great at self defense.

Maybe the utility version of the knife would have a more basic handle, kinda like the Junior.

[Ned]

I agree that it is a utility knife that happens to work great at self defense. Even MJ said he liked and used utility blades as a kid. By design it is a utility blade that happens to work great at self defense.

Maybe the utility version of the knife would have a more basic handle, kinda like the Junior.

Funny, I was just thinking of modifying a Junior to a clip or wharnie. I like the idea of that handle with the deep choil, compression lock, coupled with a more acutely pointed tip.

[Joshua J.]

I have a feeling a Yojimbo with a utility oriented handle would end up a lot like the Lil' Temperance, but with a Wharncliffe blade.
Maybe we should just wait for that to come out and see if we can't get a different blade on it instead of re-working the Yojimbo?

[Evil D]

Funny, I was just thinking of modifying a Junior to a clip or wharnie. I like the idea of that handle with the deep choil, compression lock, coupled with a more acutely pointed tip.

I spent a lot of time working it out, considering the same thing. In the end after handling a Junior, the handle just wasn't big enough for my hand. Otherwise this was going to happen




As for the Yo 2 handle, if that were changed too much I'd lose interest. For me that's a BIG part of what makes this knife so awesome. Granted I've done quite a bit of tweaking to my own, it still has the foundation to be what I would consider the best handle Spyderco has to offer for my hand. If I had it my way I'd have 5 different knives all with the same handle but with different style blades, and then I'd probably never buy another folder again.

[Blerv]

I think the Yo2 is more than capable for a task knife but the blade shape is certainly ominous (to many). Probably a combination of hard edges and grind lines on a very tall blade.

[Evil D]

I really think the grind has a big part in it. The FFG regrinds I've seen look much more innocent.

[Surfingringo]

I don't really think they would have to change the design at all and I don't think they would have to stop marketing it as a sd knife. Simply give it a bit of a marketing push as a utility/edc in its current form. It's pretty much perfect for that roll as is. I have fallen in love with mine so I, for one, am always on here marketing the thing as a great everyday utility knife!

[Paddy B]

I'm sure I'll end up with one. Seems they are in short supply right now.

[bornagainprimative]

I'd like to see a longer 4" warnclif with s110v and a fde g10 handle!


Dreams dreams dreams

[JNewell]

I think the Yo2 is more than capable for a task knife but the blade shape is certainly ominous (to many). Probably a combination of hard edges and grind lines on a very tall blade.

I wonder if that's true? I would think that the Wharncliffe blade looks so much like a utility knife that it might be a good bit less threatening. But I don't really claim to have a lot of insight on what non-affi types think when they see blades.

[Blerv]

I wonder if that's true? I would think that the Wharncliffe blade looks so much like a utility knife that it might be a good bit less threatening. But I don't really claim to have a lot of insight on what non-affi types think when they see blades.

Yea I don't ask my wife and her friends much, they are all "weapons" after all, right?

I think a FFG Cento4 type blade without the swedge is about the most innocuous way to do a wharnie; like the old Pelican. It's virtually innocent of being "stabby" even if it totally would perform in that manner.

[Ned]

I spent a lot of time working it out, considering the same thing. In the end after handling a Junior, the handle just wasn't big enough for my hand. Otherwise this was going to happen




As for the Yo 2 handle, if that were changed too much I'd lose interest. For me that's a BIG part of what makes this knife so awesome. Granted I've done quite a bit of tweaking to my own, it still has the foundation to be what I would consider the best handle Spyderco has to offer for my hand. If I had it my way I'd have 5 different knives all with the same handle but with different style blades, and then I'd probably never buy another folder again.

Umm Yeahhh...I would have to buy that..Very cool. D

[phillipsted]

I've got a real problem with the Spydercos that have long, very pointy tips - Yo2, Dodo, Matriarch, Des Horn, etc... Every time I touch them, I end up injured. :eek: The webbing between my thumb and forefinger will never be the same since I bought my orange Dodo...

TedP

[TomAiello]

If it was not marketed for self defense, would it be easier to find them?

[chuck_roxas45]

Yea I don't ask my wife and her friends much, they are all "weapons" after all, right?

I think a FFG Cento4 type blade without the swedge is about the most innocuous way to do a wharnie; like the old Pelican. It's virtually innocent of being "stabby" even if it totally would perform in that manner.

There's this...

[xceptnl]

There's this...

So..... a Yo2 with jugged bone inserts would make it less tactical?

[Blerv]

There's this...

Yea the new G10 one should be a real sleeper and fine user :) .

[markg]

As for marketing, there is very little marketing done to the general population for knives from basically any manufacturer. Mostly done in trade publications and outdoor media if done at all. Most casual knife buyers are going to buy first from a big box retailer, then maybe a big box outdoor retailer, etc...

My point is (pun not intended) that the knife will be marketed to knowledable knife folks, who have shown a condition response to say "meh" to the Wharncliffe blade. Our grandpa's taught us a good knife needs to have belly towards the point for skinning and utility tasks, and that has stuck. To those of us who came out of the 80's and love tanto's the Wharncliffe looks upside down. Now, I get it, there maybe no better blade than a Wharcliffe for most urban cutting tasks.

The Yojimbo has a long history spanning many years and a couple of companies. It is a stong design, frankly Mike nailed it when the 2 came out. However there is no "what if" here, if Mike did not design it for SD, there would have been no Yojimbo.

A knife cuts stuff, people are made of stuff. So it should not surprise us that a good knife will serve both a utility task and a self-defense usage. Which comes first is often a "chicken and edd" discussion. :)