Finally! A Knife I Actually Had a Paw In!! (Whaddya think? I wanna know.)

[Vampire Gerbil]

bset
Good Evening.
It is I, Vampire Gerbil!

So I went to Blade Show '03 and saw a buncha friends and had a great time. While wandering out in the back loading bay to exercise my lungs with tobacky, I got to talking to one guy I didn't know, telling him an idea I had for a knife. He then pointed out another guy to me.... guy's name is MSGT Kim Breed.
His name was somewhat familiar, even to the likes of me!
So I told him that I work uniformed and armed with one of those things that goes BANG! and entered many a drunken establishment with many a drunken badboy within. I then stated to MSGT Kim that one of my main concerns was if some drunken dweeblewazzerknuff (Forgive the language... I'm not "quite right in the head) decides to go for my thing that goes BANG!
Oh yeah, that thing is a Kimber Tactical Custom, in .45acp of course... with Rob Simonich's Gunner Grips (The BEST grips I ever found on a 1911 style pistol.)
This one here: My Kimber Tactical Custom in .45 acp.
So I told Top Breed that I wanted something for weak side carry, that'd open up as soon as it came outta my pocket, with a serrated / hooked blade to grab Mr. Badperson's wrist and make him go away.
Sure, I know Weapon Retention techniques, but this is so much sexier.
:::::::::droool -ooogle-oogle:::::::
About a month later, MSGT Breed sent me a picture of it, saying it was a "bitch" because it already bit someone. (I suspect it was him!)
OK, I know what you're thinking.
If it'd bite the likes of KB, it'll prbably kill me like those little African dolls that chased Karen Black around her room in Trilogy of Horror! That Emerson Kerambit nearly severed my arm, a webpage about it can be seen at my KeramBITTEN Page,

• BE WARNED! If you have a squemish tummy, you may puke!

However, I'm an optomitrist.... one of those guys that thinks the eyeglasses are half full... of poison.... and wanted the blade anyhow.
So without any further adoo-doo, this here's the blade that was maken for me:

But seriously, I'd like to know your opinion, especially about its intendeed pupose, the design and prettyness of the blade in question(don't ask me what the blade material is.... all I know is that it's made of some kinda metal that's about 4" long) But the handle's are carbon fiber, and the thumb studs are longer than most, so when ya remove it from your pocket (No! Not underpants/thong!!) it'll be open against your pocket and be ready to pursuade someone to get the hell offa my Kimber, DAMMIT!
Uniformed armed people's, especially, whether Security or LEOs opinions are especially welcome, since it'd be a good seat belt cutter-offer, but obviously I wanna know what everyone here at BFC thinks of this beast.
(Top Kim don't know me too well and was more than hesitant to name it "The Vampire Gerbil" so as of now, it's un-named.
I hope this is something that folks think is a good idea... otherwise my delicate pysche might never recover!
Seriously though, lemme know your opinions on the blade, remembering its purpose; it ain't gonna be a good steak slicer, ya know?

Off to toss some Kerambits and broken beer bottles just to get some more scar tissue callused,
I remain,
VG

PS - All of you makers..... I know.... I know.... but don't get insulted that I didn't ask you to do this. I woulda just had to pick one, and didn't wanna offend anyone so I picked a guy that I didn't know (officially) and one that didn't know me.
That make sense, right? Even from me??
End of PS

 

[Gollnick]

Name: The Pahrump Lefty.

 

[anonymous]

eek..

slash & hack, but don't thrust. ain't no guard on that handle to prevent finger splits.

novel design though.

 

[VampyreWolf]

pahrump stumpy

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I think "Vampire" would describe it pretty well. Even if used by a "Gerbil".

I like those serrations. I like the sinuous series of downcurves. It looks like a Vaquero Grande that's had a little too much to drink. This should make it all the more appropriate in its intended place of employment. (Once it gets out of your pocket, I mean.)

How thick is the blade? How strong is the tip? How long is the lifespan of an entrapped malefactor?

 

[tarsier]

Howdy VG,

I can't give you much advice on that blade, since all I carry are boring utility knives. One thought that comes to mind is whether the liner lock will be secure in a left-handed grip. I can't tell from the picture.

Beyond that, I have to say that I opened this thread with great trepidation. I remember some discussion about another knife you designed at the blade show. That one was meant to be worn more in the center of the trousers and below the belt. I was afraid we were going to see pictures of that one...

 

[enkidu]

Looks like a Spyderco Civilian went and had a baby with a
Chris Smith Tactical Folder

Just eyeballin' it, it looks like the blade would fit nicely in the handle. Any pictures of it folded? So who made it?

 

[SCARFACE]

Yea when i first saw it i thaght of my civilian and my matriarch, looks cool the tip dosent look nearly as sharp as a civilian though

 

[Ookpik]

VG:

What are you going to do with all the hands that you cut off? You could turn them into shrunken monkey paws and sell them.

 

[satin]

First reaction - "whoa, cool, sick Vampy, just sick"

Critical reation - as a knife maker, who likes to think he specializes in practical defensive/tactical stuff, but also has a flair for the sick, these are my thoughts.
The serrations look interesting to me, they look like they would definately do their job on flesh etc. Perhaps some hand in cloth, but I cant say for sure I'd have to actually use them. Some serrations do drag more, others dont.
The handle is a nice shape, looks like it would be comfortable and hold the hand well. I would change a couple things - first, I would make the scales G-10 or Micarta, and either bead blast, checker or divot them (ala gunner grips). C/F is SLICK sh*t, and theres no good way to texture it without it splintering, which can be nasty for your hands. Other than that, I'd like to see the front dropped down a bit more, to make a "guard" of sorts.
For reliable opening under stress, when you are going to be down on fine motor skill, I'd prefer to see a thimb-hole opener which is much easier to find in situations like that than a small post.

Other than that, I like it. WIth the Civilian on the market it might be over-kill other than as wow cool/collector factor, but its not really a bad design overall, should work. I prefer a more direct approach, closer to the Civilian which looks sick, but is actually really streamlined in execution and principle, and has simplicity going for it. I'd really have to handle this one though to get a feel for its practical directness or lack their of however.

 

[satin]

Oh, one more though.... one more thing I do like compared tot he civilian, is that the blade appears to be angled to the handle when open, sorta like a Szabo UUK - this makes it all the more effective, you get a lot of point first bite with the blade shape like this, and the cant only makes it better. The point hitting first makes a sort of thrust wound in miniature that the rest of the blade follows into and opens up - so slashing with a hawkbill is much more damaging than slashing with a bellied blade that hits on its edge, and sort of skates along, not always biting that deep in.

 

[bryce]

Not Exactly to my taste but to each his own. It does Look Evil though I wouldnt want to see you playing with that in a dark alley....

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I don't think the BG is going to see VG playing with it until it's too late to worry

 

[Ebbtide]

Call it the "One Amed Bandit"

 

[Ookpik]

How about ‘Captain Hook’?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

With all those serrations, Ginsu Vulture comes to mind as a name for this knife. Sorry, but that is the first thing that popped into my head.

 

[maximus otter]

VG,

I think it should be called the "Hand's Off." (Note punctuation).

I hereby stake my claim to a free copy in payment for my cerebellum sweat in devising the name.

maximus otter

 

[Vampire Gerbil]

Howdy, it's me!
I mean, Good Evening... etc.

Guess I'll respond to everyone as they posted back at me, so here goes nothin'....

Gollnick, naming it "The Pahrump Lefty" is a good idea for those of you that are allweird and stuff, meaning that you use the wrong hand to do stuff. And please, PLEASE refrain from telling me what else you do with your left hand.
I might be incurably insane, but some things I just plain can't handle, ya know?


Hiya Anymouse!
I agree with you that it's not set up for stabing, but that's how I wanted it to be. The way I was thinking was that a professional uniformed person would be the "target audience", and were he or she to use that as a stabber, an After Action report would mention this blade, and if it came to court, I could see a defense attorney showing it to a jury and say how wicked it was.
Again, what I had in mind/designed it for, was for a very specific purpose (to get their damned hand offa my weapon!) so even though the blade is very scary looking, its ability to kill outright would take some effort. It's not something that one should go for the throat or any other vital naughty bits, just to grab their offensive wrist to make them go away.
Yep, they'll have some tissue damage on their wrist, but I wasn't even thinking about slashing said offensive wrist just yet. I wanted to just press the blade against the wrist as a "come-along-you-bad-and-evil-hand.
Does that clarify it a bit?

VW - Nice quasi-rhyming name, but I can't use it.
That's what my wife's been calling my uhh... "special purpose" and I think she trademarked it.
Thanks for the input though!


Esav, I was thinking that naming it "Vampire" miht be a good idea myself, so be scared! We're thinkin' alike!
As for the serrations, damned if I know how close it is to the CS Vanquero.... I just told Top what I wanted and left it up to him.
I don't know the blade thickness just yet, but I should know by the end of the week. (I sent Top Breed an MO today so I'm hopin' he rushes it to me) Once I get it, I'll get all the particulars and post 'em.
Again, I can't say how strong the tip is but I know that I asked that it be made very goodly. In any event, the tip's not something Im planning on using all that much.... come to think of it, the knife itSELF isn't something I plan on using too much either, since that'd mean a bad guy went very bad on me, and even though I can handle myself, I'd much rather run away, RUN AWAY!!
But again, it's not meant for stabbing.... it's more of a pursuader, ya know? (I till have other edged goodies on me if I REALLY wanted to go Stabolistic though.

Tarsier, have no fear! I wouldn't post something like the photo that spooked ya here at General. I DO know right from not so right.... at least today I do.
As for the liner lock, I dunno. As I said, I told Top Breed that I was gonna carry it lefty, so I'll assume he made the propr adjustments so I don't lose another finger, foot or liver. In any event, if I have problems, I have no doubt that Top'll make good on it for mem, so I amen't ("Ain't" is SO not good grammer!) too worried about it. But I'll check it just the same... probably wouldn't have had you not mentioned it. Thanks!

Enkido,
I can't argue with the Civilian/Clint Smith Tac Folder. I originally said that I wanted a blade similar to the Civilian, one made for trapping a wrist. I have a Civilian already and this seems like a better mousetrap.
Then again, when it comes to originality, Picasso I ain't.
Here's the one pic I have of it closed:

Got a bit of a hump, but nothing to whine too much about, at least for me. (I am not anorexic, so I can hide stuff pretty well. In fact, my backup weapon at this time i a Beretta Jetfire... I think...? It's the .22LR version.Once I got it on my CCW Permit, I kept it in a pocket holster, left upper front pocket of my jeans and nobody's ever noticed. That was Plan A for a while... but with a .22, I'd have to empty it in someone's head to be sure it worked.
Bad news fo him AND me, ya know?

Scarface - Yep, it don't look as sharp as a Civilian.... but this has the serrations going all the way out to the tip where the Civilian leaves about 1/2" plain and that's where ya see how sharp it is.
But those serrations ain't exactly dull and by their very nature, they stay sharp even in milk.
Oh wait... just had a 1960's commercial transmitted to my brain.
I meant to say that they stay sharper MUCH longer than a plain edge, and their "hooking" ability's what I was really going after.
If I need a plain edge for something, I have a slew of other sharp things on my duty belt for that occassion.

Satin... yeah, sick is what I am!
Thanks!!

As for the "dragging" problem, Kim said that at first, he had this problem then worked it out, so at this point, I have no reason to disbelieve him, ya know?

As for the handles, the jury's out til I get the blade. I have CF grips for some of my 1911's and they feel just fine. They're MOSTLY smooth, too.
In any event, should I have a problem, I'm sure I could get replacement handles made. That's another thing for me to look at once it gets here. Thanks!
As for the hole to open it, the way this was designed was that it'd open against your pocket, ala the WAVE feature on some of the Emerson knives. No, it doesn't have that little "wave" on it, but the thumb studs should act the same way. When I fist spoke with Kim Breed, MSGT, he showed me a knife he'd carried that was set up the same way (with the thumb studs) and that worked out just fine, so I'm figuring this'll do the same thing.
As for its slashing ability, time MIGHT tell. Personally, I don't ever wanna use it... but like Grandpappy said, "C'mere, young whippersnapper. I got some really good candy on me. FIND IT!"
No wait.... he said something else....
"Hope for the best; Prepare for the worst."
(There's an anecdote there about the cocolate and me hoping for the best, but getting the worst, but I ain't going there, ok? Yeah, didn't think anyone'd wanna hear that one!)


Bryce, thanks for your honesty... although you coulda come right out and said that you didn't wanna see ME in a dark alley with a knife or even just bare hands!
I am truly fugly. :barf:

Esav said,

I don't think the BG is going to see VG playing with it until it's too late to worry

Oh MAN, ya got that right, my friend!!! )I tend to shriek like a 50's science fiction woman when fighting, ya know? That'd drown out any "clicking" they may hear.
Good thought, Esav!!!

EbbTide, "One Armed Bandit" ain't gonna work.
I work in Las Vegas, remember? If Vinny, Tony Two Noses and Vinny the Fishraper found out I named a knife after a slot machine, I'd probably fall into one of those bazillions of holes out her.
Thanks anyhow.

OOkpik, that ain't a bad name, but truth be told, I really wanna have "Vampire" on it somewhere.... just because, ya know?


Keith,
Ginsu Vulture's a good name.... the only problem is that I'd keep cutting my boots into little pieces and ten cut up some lettuce for a healthy meal.
That'd be silly.


Maximus! Great Idea! I just love the puncuation. Only problem is this damned PC world we're in and they'd come after me for it if they caught the punctuation.... Then again, calling it "Vampire...."something would get me in hot water too, so who the hell knows?
Oh, one last thing...
Please don't ever mention your cerebral sweat in any posts. That's even ickier than that page where I documented my stitches (Link's at the top post from me)

Shuddering sqeamishly,
I reamain,
VG

 

[Ookpik]

VG:

How about ‘Vampire Vivisection'. By the time they say it, it’s too late!

 

[satin]

C/F isnt dangeorusly slick tilly ou get it wet. But when you get it wet, watch out. I figure a knife like that, should expect to get some blood on it, and your hands would probably be sweaty as well, perhaps even before you drew the knife, and that could be problematic with slick scales. Even textured G-10 (factory textured like yous ee on the Civie) can slip when drawing with wet hands, especially if your pocket clip is tight.
I work with C/F a lot, as I do a lot of non-metallic blades, and thats my only real problem with the stuff is a difficulty in getting it "grippy" without splintery. But, it is pretty cool looking stuff, you gotta love da carbon fiber
New scales wont be hard to get made if they are needed though, like you said. You could probably fashion them yourself if you have a few basic tools.

I see what you're saying about the thumb stud now... should work. The thumb-disk on an Emerson custom '7 would catch like a "Wave" in tighter jeans - something extended like that post should catch well in a variety of pants, looser fitting even. And its not a "hook" device either - wonder if it still conflicts with any patents? Guess not.
I still want one with a hole opener... I can hack into the hole and make a large size "Tsunami", that still offers me hole like opening advantages if it doesnt catch. But I've always been a blasphemous little bast@rd like that anyway

Cool knife, VG. Enjoy it.