blackened clips/blades?

J

judge

Joined
Dec 20, 1999
Messages
584
Are the Endura and Delica with metal clips available with blackened clips and blades? I´m not on the shiny side, concerning knives for self-defense (my primary use for spydercos9.
 
Judge - Both the Enduras & Delicas have been made with black clips for some time.

sal
 
Spyderco is one of the few knife companies that are commonly called "tactical" that don't do black blades. Or bead blast. I prefer black to bead-blast, by the way - less ugly.

I'm wondering about the relevance of non-reflective blades to civilian self-defense, as opposed to military combat. If you're within sight of enemy soldiers with rifles and worse, you don't want any part of you to be easily seen, including your knife blade, so cutting inanimate objects under combat conditions may call for a non-reflective blade. But how does a non-reflective blade help if you're drawing the knife in reaction to a bad guy who has seen you up close and is trying to do you harm?


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Good question James. Shiney is always better for defense. If the "bad guy" sees the blade (or gun, for that matter) then he is more likely to be discouraged from pursuing agression and is likely to beat a hasty retreat. That IS the object of DEFENSE, isn't it?

The only time one would need a black/dark stealthy weapon in combat would be to set up an attack or an ambush. That is certainly not what most folks would consider defense.

Oh, I'm sure someone can come up with scenarios where a stealthy weapon might be an appropriate tool for defense but it would be an uncommon circumstance and would probably stretch the meaning/definition of defense, especially in the civilian/urban environment, beyond that which is usually deemed appropriate. (Wow! Did I say all that?)

As for the black blades, Spyderco tried that and had problems with it. The black blade Delicas and Enduras are no more. (Except for one black blade Delica that I have in the showcase at the store.)

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Dennis Wright
Wright Knife & Sporting Goods
(Buy a knife...confuse a liberal)
La Mesa, CA
1-800-400-1980
wrightknife@ixpres.com

 
Here's a civilian use for an all blacked-out knife. You may want the "flash" of a silver blade for defense, but sometimes you just want to open a box or package without drawing excessive attention. I'm talking about a "non-combat" environment here. Sounds kind of silly, I know, but my Gerber A-F Covert and Spyderco Native seem to wave "Yo, over here!" but my BM 705 axis-lock just does the job. To be honest, the 705 lock doesn't snap as loudly also.

If you really want to get into it, the whole concept of a "tactical folder" is just kind of silly. Every pistol magazine now has to accompany the latest wonder pistol with the latest wonder tactical folder in the photos. Who are we kidding here? When your pistol runs dry, your first thought isn't going to be "Well, time to wade in with my Emerson!" it's going to be "Oh @#$%! I need to get the hell out of here!". :-)
 
Here's a civilian use for an all blacked-out knife. You may want the "flash" of a silver blade for defense, but sometimes you just want to open a box or package without drawing excessive attention. I'm talking about a "non-combat" environment here. Sounds kind of silly, I know, but my Gerber A-F Covert and Spyderco Native seem to wave "Yo, over here!" but my BM 705 axis-lock just does the job. To be honest, the 705 lock doesn't snap as loudly also.

I thinked "blacked-out" is really just a matter of taste, and if you like it, go for it. However, if you really want to get into it, the whole concept of a "tactical folder" is just kind of silly. Every pistol magazine now has to accompany the latest wonder pistol with the latest wonder tactical folder in the photos. Who are we kidding here? When your pistol runs dry, your first thought isn't going to be "Well, time to wade in with my Emerson!" it's going to be "Oh @#$%! I need to get the hell out of here!". :-)
 
Here's another thought as to the prevalance of blackened blades: One market for tactical knives is, surprise, the military market. It makes sense that this trend would carry over into the civilian one, just like cammy pants in the inner city.
 
Dennis,
You have mentioned clear situation: bad guy against good guy and all is known in advance. In real life situation is sometimes by far more accomplished: you don't know is guy good or bad until he attacks you. If you draw your knife or gun against someone who isn't going to attack you can to provoke an attack or/and nasty legal consequences.
On the other hand, if guy is really bad and is really going to attack I have a lot of doubts that he'll escape seeing your shiny blade.
So my advice (based on live practices, sorry) would be: "Don't draw your knife or gun if you aren't really ready to use it. If situation doesn't justify killing your assailant - it's a lot of stupidity to demonstrate your weapon. But if you are sure - your life is in danger and you have no another way to save it unlike cutting or shooting your assailant down - do it without prejudice. Believe me, your chances to survey will be much more real."
I think it's a very important reason to vote on non-reflective knife or gun.
One reason more: in close combat it's much more difficult to recognize non-glare weapon in your hand to attack it.


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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 28 December 1999).]
 
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