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- Thread starter OldVet69
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I have asked a number of questions on various forums over the years on things as diverse as motorcycles to headphones and I must say I have never had such an overwhelming response to a question. Thanks for all of the advice and information and great jpgs. Again, THANKS VERY MUCH!
I am going to read everything carefully before making any decision. I had already been looking at the H&K knives made by Benchmade. I had thought about an automatic which is legal in North Carolina but since I want a knife to carry in other states, I will probably stick with a traditional folder. Someone mentioned the Sabenza, I actually pulled mine out yesterday after writing my post and I don't have any problem opening the Sabenza with one hand. However, I don't want to carry anything that big (or expensive) everyday. My wife gave me the Sabenza as an anniversary gift a long time ago, and I very seldom carry it. I also have an Emerson combat folder (a Benchmade not one made by Emerson) and I can still open it pretty easily. I have used the Emerson quite a bit over the years and it is a decent knife.
By the way, what is an assisted opening knife? I have seen the term before but never understood what it referred to?
My hand situation is primarily the base of my thumbs. I have a combination of arthritis and tendinitis. The tendinitis is the result of using a computer for 8 hours a day for the past 15 years. Some things don't bother me. I went to the range last week and fired over 200 rounds of 45 (in both a full size 1911 and a Colt officer's model -- both pistols were recently customized with Wilson triggers, Ed Brown hammers and beavertail grip safeties). I also fired a hundred rounds or so of 9mm (out of a Glock 19) and it felt like a pop gun after shooting the Colt Officer's model. I finished with a 50 rounds of 38 and about 50 of 357 out of an S&W Model 60 (3 inch barrel) with stock wooden grips and ended up with a blister on the web of my hand from the wooden grip digging in. However, my thumbs didn't bother me nearly as much from shooting as when I open a jar. It is rotating my hand or my thumb that causes pain.
In any case, I am going to use a firearm if possible, a knife or a stick if I don't have a gun and can get close enough, and will use my hands and teeth as a last resort. I also have a 100 pound heavy bag and a speed bag and plan to start working out on those every day. I may go back to karate but I have had both an ACL and rotator cuff surgery and don't want another injury.
As far as the length of a knife for combat, I must admit I am clueless. My knife fighting style is old school (Kill or Be Killed) and I have never used a knife in a fight. I have been in two fights were the other guy had a knife but neither of them were serious about cutting me. One was in high school and the other in Vietnam. In both cases, the guys were scared of me and pulled a knife in self defense. I am not an aggressive guy so it was all kind of stupid. In school it was over a girl and I talked the guy into putting the knife away, and in the Army I was defending a black friend from getting kicked around by a guy from PR (the black guy got mad at me for stepping in) and there I used a towel to protect my left arm until I got a hold of the guy. Again, he was not trying very hard! I guess I was thinking that a short, wide blade might be as good as a longer blade. I am certainly not going to go waving a knife around like Steven Seagal in Under Siege. I don't think I ever had any training in the Army about using a blade except for a bayonet. What is the spirit of the bayonet? Remember that one? We did use to do the Rear Strangle Hold Take Down (move), but I dont think I will be taking out any enemy sentries.
I bought my own k-bar before going to Vietnam and except for probing for landmines; I never used it for anything exciting. I did cut myself with it once when I wiped the mud off of it after sticking it in the ground looking for a mine (I was a scout dog handler so I was looking for explosives a lot).
Bottom line, a knife is for me a weapon of absolutely last resort before I am down to my hands and teeth. I am in pretty good shape for my age but I am not going to win a hand to hand fight with some young dude who knows what he is doing. I will be moving away and shooting if I can. I am lucky in that I do have access to places to shoot where I can practice backing up, being knocked to the ground etc. I usually carry a 45 ACP (SIG P220) in a belt holster and a J frame in a pocket holster. However, in the dark, or if someone knocks you down from behind I think a knife is a wonderful thing to have.
Also, as I said before, I am very inexperienced when it comes to dressing game. I know that skinners usually have more of a belly (I have a Gerber Gator) but that is about all.
Anyway, I appreciate all of the advice. Any recommendations about a small field axe? Also, I want to start throwing knifes for fun. I have found some on the web and wonder if anyone has recommendations for inexpensive throwing knifes. I have a book on throwing knifes and axes which I bought years ago. I dont see this as a practical martial art but just something fun to do.
By the way, I served in I Corps with the 43rd Scout Dog Platoon. I was stationed in Quang Tri and worked out of Alpha 4 and Charlie 2. The 43rd was attached to the 1st of the 5th Brigade (mechanized) so I got to ride around on APCs and M-48 tanks. Nothing like a 90 mm cannon to make you feel better at night! I eventually ended up with one of the first super dogs. Mine was trained to work off leash and find mines and bobby traps. The dogs were trained by Limited War Laboratories by a group of psychologists from NC State University. Ironically, I had flunked out of NC State right after deciding to major in psychology. I saw very little shit but walked around some. I also have to say that I cant believe what we are asking the troops to do in Afghanistan and Iraq. Eastern NC is a big military center and some of the guys are doing three or four 15-month tours. They are much better trained than we were in Vietnam, but I dont see how they can do it. I couldnt!
Finally, I am really worried by what I see as a disintegrating social situation. I had a guy call me a m***** f***** (among other things) on the street the other day (he really went nuts) after he tried to pan handle me and I told him to go away. He was screaming at the top of his lungs. I ignored him. I was armed and had 5 other pistols and an AR in my car trunk. I was completely legal but didnt want to spend my day explaining everything to a cop. But it is not just that, it is the crime, the lack of civility at all levels, the fact that we are running out of cheap oil etc. that really has me worried. I am not trying to start a political discussion; I just want to convey my perspective. I am looking at filling in the gaps so I can help my family and others survive if things go really south. I will also be stocking food and doing an EMT course so I am not just buying knifes. I want to move west (MO or WY or ID) but I have a mother in law who is 88 and a mother who is 89. My wife wants to move to Canada (I like Canada but couldnt live there) and my son doesnt want to leave the coast (he surfs and fishes).
I am going to read everything carefully before making any decision. I had already been looking at the H&K knives made by Benchmade. I had thought about an automatic which is legal in North Carolina but since I want a knife to carry in other states, I will probably stick with a traditional folder. Someone mentioned the Sabenza, I actually pulled mine out yesterday after writing my post and I don't have any problem opening the Sabenza with one hand. However, I don't want to carry anything that big (or expensive) everyday. My wife gave me the Sabenza as an anniversary gift a long time ago, and I very seldom carry it. I also have an Emerson combat folder (a Benchmade not one made by Emerson) and I can still open it pretty easily. I have used the Emerson quite a bit over the years and it is a decent knife.
By the way, what is an assisted opening knife? I have seen the term before but never understood what it referred to?
My hand situation is primarily the base of my thumbs. I have a combination of arthritis and tendinitis. The tendinitis is the result of using a computer for 8 hours a day for the past 15 years. Some things don't bother me. I went to the range last week and fired over 200 rounds of 45 (in both a full size 1911 and a Colt officer's model -- both pistols were recently customized with Wilson triggers, Ed Brown hammers and beavertail grip safeties). I also fired a hundred rounds or so of 9mm (out of a Glock 19) and it felt like a pop gun after shooting the Colt Officer's model. I finished with a 50 rounds of 38 and about 50 of 357 out of an S&W Model 60 (3 inch barrel) with stock wooden grips and ended up with a blister on the web of my hand from the wooden grip digging in. However, my thumbs didn't bother me nearly as much from shooting as when I open a jar. It is rotating my hand or my thumb that causes pain.
In any case, I am going to use a firearm if possible, a knife or a stick if I don't have a gun and can get close enough, and will use my hands and teeth as a last resort. I also have a 100 pound heavy bag and a speed bag and plan to start working out on those every day. I may go back to karate but I have had both an ACL and rotator cuff surgery and don't want another injury.
As far as the length of a knife for combat, I must admit I am clueless. My knife fighting style is old school (Kill or Be Killed) and I have never used a knife in a fight. I have been in two fights were the other guy had a knife but neither of them were serious about cutting me. One was in high school and the other in Vietnam. In both cases, the guys were scared of me and pulled a knife in self defense. I am not an aggressive guy so it was all kind of stupid. In school it was over a girl and I talked the guy into putting the knife away, and in the Army I was defending a black friend from getting kicked around by a guy from PR (the black guy got mad at me for stepping in) and there I used a towel to protect my left arm until I got a hold of the guy. Again, he was not trying very hard! I guess I was thinking that a short, wide blade might be as good as a longer blade. I am certainly not going to go waving a knife around like Steven Seagal in Under Siege. I don't think I ever had any training in the Army about using a blade except for a bayonet. What is the spirit of the bayonet? Remember that one? We did use to do the Rear Strangle Hold Take Down (move), but I dont think I will be taking out any enemy sentries.
I bought my own k-bar before going to Vietnam and except for probing for landmines; I never used it for anything exciting. I did cut myself with it once when I wiped the mud off of it after sticking it in the ground looking for a mine (I was a scout dog handler so I was looking for explosives a lot).
Bottom line, a knife is for me a weapon of absolutely last resort before I am down to my hands and teeth. I am in pretty good shape for my age but I am not going to win a hand to hand fight with some young dude who knows what he is doing. I will be moving away and shooting if I can. I am lucky in that I do have access to places to shoot where I can practice backing up, being knocked to the ground etc. I usually carry a 45 ACP (SIG P220) in a belt holster and a J frame in a pocket holster. However, in the dark, or if someone knocks you down from behind I think a knife is a wonderful thing to have.
Also, as I said before, I am very inexperienced when it comes to dressing game. I know that skinners usually have more of a belly (I have a Gerber Gator) but that is about all.
Anyway, I appreciate all of the advice. Any recommendations about a small field axe? Also, I want to start throwing knifes for fun. I have found some on the web and wonder if anyone has recommendations for inexpensive throwing knifes. I have a book on throwing knifes and axes which I bought years ago. I dont see this as a practical martial art but just something fun to do.
By the way, I served in I Corps with the 43rd Scout Dog Platoon. I was stationed in Quang Tri and worked out of Alpha 4 and Charlie 2. The 43rd was attached to the 1st of the 5th Brigade (mechanized) so I got to ride around on APCs and M-48 tanks. Nothing like a 90 mm cannon to make you feel better at night! I eventually ended up with one of the first super dogs. Mine was trained to work off leash and find mines and bobby traps. The dogs were trained by Limited War Laboratories by a group of psychologists from NC State University. Ironically, I had flunked out of NC State right after deciding to major in psychology. I saw very little shit but walked around some. I also have to say that I cant believe what we are asking the troops to do in Afghanistan and Iraq. Eastern NC is a big military center and some of the guys are doing three or four 15-month tours. They are much better trained than we were in Vietnam, but I dont see how they can do it. I couldnt!
Finally, I am really worried by what I see as a disintegrating social situation. I had a guy call me a m***** f***** (among other things) on the street the other day (he really went nuts) after he tried to pan handle me and I told him to go away. He was screaming at the top of his lungs. I ignored him. I was armed and had 5 other pistols and an AR in my car trunk. I was completely legal but didnt want to spend my day explaining everything to a cop. But it is not just that, it is the crime, the lack of civility at all levels, the fact that we are running out of cheap oil etc. that really has me worried. I am not trying to start a political discussion; I just want to convey my perspective. I am looking at filling in the gaps so I can help my family and others survive if things go really south. I will also be stocking food and doing an EMT course so I am not just buying knifes. I want to move west (MO or WY or ID) but I have a mother in law who is 88 and a mother who is 89. My wife wants to move to Canada (I like Canada but couldnt live there) and my son doesnt want to leave the coast (he surfs and fishes).
I'm a Viet Nam vet too...3rd Mar Div 1968-70..so thanks for our service Professor.
Anyone with your alleged education and collection of knives and hunting experience doesn't sound likely to be asking these type of questions. Some of them absurd...like a 2 3/4 inch self defense, slash, hunting knife.
Going pistol shooting and Deer/Elk hunting but it hurts too much to open your SABenza? Don't have time to log in and thank all of the members who've invested a bunch of time trying to assist you?
Something smells fishy to me.Hope I'm wrong about you.
Didn't mean to smell fishy. Shooting doesn't bother me most of the time. When it does, it is something like pulling a case out that is jammed into a chamber. I am a good shot -- I missed expert with the M-14 by one ring. I only shot marksman on the M-16 but I don't know if they even counted the right target(s). You know how messed up the service was in 1968 and 1969. At least the Army and I trained with Marines at Fort Benning (Marines didn't have their own Scout Dog School).
However, the other day, I very stupidly jammed a SIG P220 mag into a 1911 (it was hot here and I was trying to run a couple of hundred rounds through a couple of customized pistols). My distance vision is almost back to 20/20 but my close up vision is low and I didn't know what I had done until I got home and had to use a towel and a pair of channel locks. That is the type of thing that bothers me.
I have a Remington 700 (ADL) in 30-06 as a deer rifle. I bought it a couple of years ago and ran about 60 rounds through it before having a trigger job done on it. That hurt my shoulder (rotator cuff surgery on the right side). Once I got the trigger job (down for 8 pounds to about 4), I could shoot the groups I wanted. An AR or AK-type rifle don't bother me. I also have a 700 police sniper speciality (with a 3.5 - 10 Leupold Mil Dot scope) and it doesn't bother me to shoot because of its weight.
You were probably in I Corps? Hue? Da Nang? Monkey Mountain? I was with the Army unit that took over A4 and Charlie 2 when the Marines left in 1969. I think they may have been some ARVN in between. If you were up at the DMZ, I have a great read for you. It is on my bookshelf and it is called the Con Thien or the Hill of the Angels. I found the book by accident. It is about alpha 4 and covers the efforts of the Marines (they had some Army supporting units) to build the wall across the DMZ. The author was a LT in the Marines and I learned so much about that place. I had never been able to find Alpha 4 on a map except for the Official Marine Corps History of Vietnam and saw it mentioned on a PBS special about Khe Sahn (spelling?).
But you are right, I can open the Sabeniza with one hand. I just don't like to carry such an expensive knife everyday or put it in a checked suitcase when I fly. Also, I have let my self get out of shape because of cardiac problems caused by sleep apena.
So any case, I didn't mean to arouse your BS meter.
If its from Matel its swell! and one I remember seeing in Dong-Ha carved in plywood of a Marine hootch.
What is the difference betweens the Marines and the Boy Scouts?
You probably know the answer.
Cheers and if I am ever in a ditch being shot at, I would prefer to be with a bunch of marines than any other guys.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2010
- Messages
- 970
from my understanding assisted openers are knives that follow their name sake. where an auto knife opens at the push of a button, an assisted opener has springs [i think bm has a gas powered one?] that quickly opens the blade when you start the manual operation motion
from what i've heard and read, benchmade axis locks open just as fast as spring loaded and full auto knives. the right adjustment, and all it takes is a flick of the wrist. i plan on getting one to edc
sounds like you have alot of great stories, and i'd like to thank you for our service. i'm 20, but my understanding of war comes from a couple quotes [that i'll likely butcher]
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in. ~George McGovern
When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die. ~Jean-Paul Sartre
as far as canada is concerned, why not live close, but in the us? duluth is wonderful. not more than 2 hours from canada, away from alot of the bs in the world. like the nyc and ny state knife bans? don't exist here. i love the mid west... god's country
as far as camp axes go, i was always fond of an estwing hatchet my dad always had laying around, or gerber's axes. the poly handles are great and the axe heads seem to be of pretty good quality
from what i've heard and read, benchmade axis locks open just as fast as spring loaded and full auto knives. the right adjustment, and all it takes is a flick of the wrist. i plan on getting one to edc
sounds like you have alot of great stories, and i'd like to thank you for our service. i'm 20, but my understanding of war comes from a couple quotes [that i'll likely butcher]
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in. ~George McGovern
When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die. ~Jean-Paul Sartre
as far as canada is concerned, why not live close, but in the us? duluth is wonderful. not more than 2 hours from canada, away from alot of the bs in the world. like the nyc and ny state knife bans? don't exist here. i love the mid west... god's country
as far as camp axes go, i was always fond of an estwing hatchet my dad always had laying around, or gerber's axes. the poly handles are great and the axe heads seem to be of pretty good quality
Actually a place that I have considered (I have visited there a couple of times) is Port Angeles in Washington State. It is only an hour from Victoria using the passenger ferry. Port Angeles is a nice little town and there is nothing on the peninsula except for a few small towns on the coast. I like Canada but couldnt live with their laws. I had customs confiscate a big can of pepper spray that I had bought in Yellowstone (bear sized) even though you could buy the same thing in Canada. But my can wasnt approved by the Minister of Aquiculture. I was in Ottawa last summer for few days and a civilian cant own most types of pistols in Canada but the Fish and Game Wardens (I dont know what they were doing on a city street) were wearing hard vests with semi-auto pistols and very high capacity magazines. The police are not friendly in Canada. I think they see themselves as a different group. Some cops in the U.S. are not friendly but many are -- okay especially if you treat them with respect.
I grew up in the south and have lived here all of my life except for the service but I would like to move west. North Carolina now has over 9 million people and it has a lot of problems. The triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel-Hill) has lots of great restaurants, pubs, and things I like (Carolina Ballet) but there is a shooting almost every day. The small city where I live has constant crime around our campus.
I will look at the Gerber Axes. I think Gerber knifes are well made.
There is no doubt that war is horrible although there are some people who enjoy it. I think war is sometimes necessary but when it is not then it is a crime. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan are all controversial. The U.S. would never have gotten into WWII if hadnt been for Japan attacking Pearl.
Anyway, enough politics, I was considering a Benchmade Axis knife when I started asking for advice. From what little I have read, it sounds as though that is considered the strongest locking mechanism. I am mainly familiar with the Walker liner locking mechanism. I also have one of the first run of the One Handed knife sold by ????? (I am blanking on the name). That locking mechanism will fold up because I have done it luckily I didnt cut myself. I am also going to check out a Zing. I need to go by the local Wally world to look for some cheap ammo anyway.
I wanted to think RoadLessTraveled for the photo. The HK looks about the right size. I have usually bought serrated blades so I could cut a seatbelt. Since I havent really practiced cutting webbing, how much better is a serrated blade for that task? I got the Sabenza because I read an article in some magazine about a British soldier and fireman who used his Sabenza to cut out the windshield of a car.
RoadLessTraveled, if that is your wrist, where did you get the bracelet? Looks like the ones we used to make out of bootlaces except I see it has a fastener?
Again, thanks for all the advice!
I grew up in the south and have lived here all of my life except for the service but I would like to move west. North Carolina now has over 9 million people and it has a lot of problems. The triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel-Hill) has lots of great restaurants, pubs, and things I like (Carolina Ballet) but there is a shooting almost every day. The small city where I live has constant crime around our campus.
I will look at the Gerber Axes. I think Gerber knifes are well made.
There is no doubt that war is horrible although there are some people who enjoy it. I think war is sometimes necessary but when it is not then it is a crime. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan are all controversial. The U.S. would never have gotten into WWII if hadnt been for Japan attacking Pearl.
Anyway, enough politics, I was considering a Benchmade Axis knife when I started asking for advice. From what little I have read, it sounds as though that is considered the strongest locking mechanism. I am mainly familiar with the Walker liner locking mechanism. I also have one of the first run of the One Handed knife sold by ????? (I am blanking on the name). That locking mechanism will fold up because I have done it luckily I didnt cut myself. I am also going to check out a Zing. I need to go by the local Wally world to look for some cheap ammo anyway.
I wanted to think RoadLessTraveled for the photo. The HK looks about the right size. I have usually bought serrated blades so I could cut a seatbelt. Since I havent really practiced cutting webbing, how much better is a serrated blade for that task? I got the Sabenza because I read an article in some magazine about a British soldier and fireman who used his Sabenza to cut out the windshield of a car.
RoadLessTraveled, if that is your wrist, where did you get the bracelet? Looks like the ones we used to make out of bootlaces except I see it has a fastener?
Again, thanks for all the advice!
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 493
maybe a buck kalinga folder? good shape for skinning and I'm sure it would work for self defense.
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2010
- Messages
- 38
Nice to know that you are considering an HK14205. It is an excellent knife. I also have an HK14255 with the tanto blade - same weight and just as good but looks a little more intimidating.
Unfortunately, it is not my wrist and I can't help with the bracelet. It's a stock picture. I was looking online for a photo of an HK14205 and this was the best I could find.
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2010
- Messages
- 1,379
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2010
- Messages
- 252
+1. The axis lock (or Spyderco ball bearing lock) makes it easy to open a knife.
I noticed that some people have problems opening knives all the way, because they move their thumb sideways instead of upwards.