D-Guard options

[gak]

What are all the different D-Guard materials you guys/gals have tried and tested ? I'd be interested to see all the different looks you can get, and hear what has worked well and what hasn't...

 

[Bigfattyt]

para cord wraps are common. They are soft, and don't get in the way.

 

[knifeknutWA]

nuthin better then beating the shit outta busse

 

[Bigfattyt]

nuthin better then beating the shit outta busse

ya, look at my post "cutting contest" for some good pics of beating that FBMLE

 

[cjpgeyer]

Here are the ones I've done so far...

And of course, the 'Cobra' D guard

Some one got a pic of a Holy Terror attached to an ASH1?

 

[resinguy]

Is the para-cord wrap D-guard actually functional? What does it do for a user?

 

[RoyalM]

If you go to Badmojo website there's a tutorial on there, other than that just google stuff like decorative knots and cobra-head knot. There's loads of different ways of doing it and it's down to personal preference what's the best.

I've just stuck to para-cord at the minute but will be trying a couple of new materials soon. Here's some links and pics of my knots:

http://homepage.mac.com/zombiekiller/badmojo/dguard.html
http://www.boondoggleman.com/prj_cobra_bracelet1.htm
http://www.layhands.com/Knots/Knots_Decorative.htm

I tried different styles for the looks and for use, the HR for example has the same as the CGFBM. The difference was I used a thinner cord and tied it with less of a 'D'. It means if I have my hand in there it's held on tight, even without using my grip and if i'm in a hurry I can grab over the top of the 'D' and still hold the knife well.

 

[Jeepnut22]

Is the para-cord wrap D-guard actually functional? What does it do for a user?

On choppers and even mid-sized knives, I have found that it aids greatly with control and leverage when chopping or swinging the blade. I've experienced this with an Uncle MoFo and an SFNO.

With regards to grip or finger protection, I would think that it would be useful against items that were not sharp.

 

[Ikarus]

Is the para-cord wrap D-guard actually functional? What does it do for a user?

With a para-cord d-guard, your fingers can never slide up on the edge :thumbup:

edit: of course, this goes for all d-guards, not just para-cord

 

[LeatherRose]

I did a d-guard following the directions from the forum for Rab. Used leather lacing (what did you expect). Outside of having to try a few times to get a look I was happy with (the lacing has a rough and smooth side) it wasn't hard and I think it came out ok. Definately not soft/smooth like para-cord.

 

[RoyalM]

As to the usefulness of a para-cord D guard, I agree with the previous posts about it stopping your hand slipping up the blade. For me it also gives a feeling of security to my hand so that I can concentrate on chopping rather than worrying about my grip.

On the HR it works well as it secures my hand firmly to the blade so i'm never in danger of being disarmed. I tried it on a practice blade and it worked well, there's a tendency to open your hand when you take a hit to the arm or the back of the hand. This kept the knife in my hand throughout hits in sparring and that meant it kept me armed and better able to keep fighting. It does mean you can't switch to reverse grip and back but then I tend not to when sparring. I would probably do this to any of the mid-sized more fighting orientated knives.

 

[Jeepnut22]

More good points above!

One of the other things I do when I make D-Guards is I add a wrist keeper. Put my hand through and sinch (sp?) it up snug, then hold the knife. If the knife ever does come out of my hand, it isn't going to go far.

 

[suttond]

I don't know where you guys buy your cord, but this site seems to be the cheapest that I have found.

http://www.countycomm.com/550cord.htm

 

[resinguy]

Yep, County Comm is good for all kinds of neat stuff.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I have had it stop my hand from a scrape while chopping, but mostly it just looks neat, and it gives you like 12 feet or so of para cord on the knife if you ever needed it for anything. ...mostly just fun to do. I like to use the wrist keeper strap in the front handle tube hole. I need to shorten mine up a bit.

 

[shigawire4sure]

Not sure Ive ever really needed a D-guard, just adds a little security if the need arise. Here are some Ive done.Nothing fantastic but workable for my me(and my knuckles).This is the smallest knife I would use a D-guard with. I had one on a GW for a while but didnt really add anything.

 

[BubbaThud]

The big thing I noticed about the D-guard, aside from the lack of worry about running my fingers up the blade, is that it keeps junk from hurting my fingers when I'm chopping. I don't know if I place my chops poorly, or if junk just flys up and hits them, but the backs of my fingers are always red and painful after I've done some chopping if I don't have a D-guard on the blade.

I use thin climbing rope...it's pretty much just paracord, but it comes in all kinds of cool colors. If I ever finish it, I'll post a pic of my glow-in-the-dark D-guard

--BubbaThud