Help on small defensive production fixed blades

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Jun 6, 2002
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A review of Keatings Draw Point video has gotten me hopped up over the small production fixed blade Gryphon M-10. Since the video is from 1994, I would imagine today’s M-10 is not the same.

So I went the looked at a few small production fixed blades in a similar size and came across the following:

Gryphon M-10
Boker A/F Combat Knife
Gerber Guardian backup
Kabar Impact D-2
SOG Pentagon
Fallkniven WM-1 or the dagger version they make

Keating extolled the rubbery, confortable grip on the M-10, but it looks like they are currently done in Zytel. I am not sure of the steel used, either.

Does anyone have experience with these and can comment on which is appropriate for defensive practice and have a comfortable grip that is reasonably safe to use? Which has a sheath that works well and can ride IWB without further modification?
 
hey Boink!
good meeting you at the NY show... when it comes to making a decision like this, getting opinions is always a good idea.

the best thing to do, though, is to try and get to a place where you can actually try it on yourself... for daily carry, you might find that a particular piece/holster combination is more comfortable than another.

comfort is really important when wearing the blade so that you will have it with you more often, and each person's body type and dress is different

the other thing to consider is the design of a given blade... personally, i like the M10 design, but would look for a custom sheath for IWB use... specifically for me. Several of my own students are quite happy with the standard product and sheath.

for not much more money than the M10, you could purchase a smaller strider knife, i think it is the WC model...

good luck in your search and decision!

hope you're healing up well!

respects, Guro Jeff
 
Originally posted by Boink

Fallkniven WM-1 or the dagger version they make

I just did a thread on this very topic. For my own needs, the fallkniven G1 Garm (3.5" Dagger) seems the best option. It's cheaper than the Gryphon M10, has a better sheath than the Gerber Guardian and isn't serrated (personal preference) like the pentagon.

I personally like to have a true double edged blade because my own drills are loosly based on Fairbairn/Sykes. They take advantage of the double edge.

The Fallkniven neck sheath can be used for IWB carry and has the holes for a Teklok to give you even more carry options. I'll be ordering one as soon as funds become available.

Cheers,

Rob
 
Originally posted by R. Lemmen

I personally like to have a true double edged blade because my own drills are loosly based on Fairbairn/Sykes. They take advantage of the double edge.

The Fallkniven neck sheath can be used for IWB carry and has the holes for a Teklok to give you even more carry options. I'll be ordering one as soon as funds become available.

Cheers,

Rob

I was on Cutlery Shoppe recently and saw a dagger design specifically based on Fairburn's designs. Are you familiar with that one? Why did you get the Fallkniven instead?
 
Originally posted by Guro_Jeff
hey Boink!
good meeting you at the NY show...
for not much more money than the M10, you could purchase a smaller strider knife, i think it is the WC model...

good luck in your search and decision!

hope you're healing up well!

respects, Guro Jeff

Nice meeting you too. Yes, my hand is much better now. Next time I break bricks for test or competition, I'll land the correct knuckles on the target!! LOL!

I'll go check out the WC model. And you're so right about checking out the feel. The video referred to a rubbery handled grip on the M10, but that was in 1994. It's now Zytel, so I think it might be a tad harder and less compressive than the rubbery feel referred to in the video.
 
You may want to check out the Camillus CQB designs. They are also a Bob T design, and the sheaths coem with a tek lock and I think an IWB loop too, though htat last detail I am not sure of. They come in ATS-34 or carbon steel too, which is cool. I think the price is quite comparable to that Gryphon youa re looking at.

By the way, If you are really jazzed about the fast and furious drawpoint techniques, you may want to consider getting a custom sheath made. A sheath fitted to you will make a big difference in your quick draw.
 
Originally posted by Boink
I was on Cutlery Shoppe recently and saw a dagger design specifically based on Fairburn's designs. Are you familiar with that one? Why did you get the Fallkniven instead?

I haven't seen a Boker A/F with a black blade and the Fallkniven has a more comfortable rubber handle. I think I also heard someone say that the steel in the fallkniven is better quality. (Someone correct me if I am mistaken) Besides, in the bootknife size, there is very little difference between the two.

The boot knife is already a compromise made for concealed carry. The original fighting style was based around a 5-6" blade length. (Actually the original fighting style was also based largely on duelling, which, as has been discussed by others in the "tactics/training" forum, is a bad idea.) My cobbled-together philosophy is to keep the blade hidden as long as possible, employ it only as needed, hit fast and hard and get away as quickly as possible.

HTH:)

Cheers,

Rob
 
Originally posted by R. Lemmen
I haven't seen a Boker A/F with a black blade and the Fallkniven has a more comfortable rubber handle.
HTH:)

Cheers,

Rob

Some are made with Kraton; others are made with Theorum. The Fallkniven person who emailed me groused about how magazine articles automatically assume the handles to be Kraton when some of them are not.

Either way, I wonder if the two materials are technically the same? The rubbery feel must be a secure grip.
 
I had the opportunity to handle both the G1 and the A/F and I found the G1 to be more comfortable. I can't comment on what type of elastomer was used in either handle. I think that the best thing to do is pick them both up and try them out.

Cheers,

Rob

P.S. Bummer about the hand. Broke a knuckle doing stuff like that myself. Never really healed exactly right.
 
Boink, you know that I'm a big fan of that Keating video as well...I think the knife he uses is bigger than 3.5"...how can you do the "snaking" with such a small blade? I believe James recommends a max of 5.5-6", citing the Cold Steel Peacekeeper as "just about the biggest you can go"...so what about it? And why production? What about David Dempsey's dagger or a Corkum Liberator? True, those don't have guards but as James suggested, you could do some "capping" :)

RL
 
Originally posted by RL
Boink, you know that I'm a big fan of that Keating video as well...I think the knife he uses is bigger than 3.5"...how can you do the "snaking" with such a small blade? I believe James recommends a max of 5.5-6", citing the Cold Steel Peacekeeper as "just about the biggest you can go"...so what about it? And why production? What about David Dempsey's dagger or a Corkum Liberator? True, those don't have guards but as James suggested, you could do some "capping" :)

RL

Is the Gryphon M-10 only a 3.5" length? I couldn't tell from the video and the website at Cutlery Shoppe gives no crucial data in their product pages.

I guess I can go bigger, but - It's so hard making decisions, I figured it was all figured out - just go and get what Keating was waving around in the video, and you're done! Then - I go to a site and see not only this knife, but others more recent and in a similar classification. And I notice that the M-10 has gone through some modifications - more then likely not for the better, as happens wtih any other product category.

Dempey's dagger and Corkum Liberator I have to see. But then again, there's been some thought about going back to production blades expressly for real tactial use and practice - purpose being that the knife WILL get messed up. And that getting a trainer in the same style; or using a secondary duplicate to make a trainer with - is more of a reality with production models. Then - should you ever need to ditch the damned thing, it won't be so painful -- the justification keeps going on.

Ahhhh - but that Dempsy and Corkum --- (like Homer Simpson singing the praises of Duff beer) :)
 
Dempsey Dagger coming up (here's a new one in Bodycote Tungsten DLC)

DaggerDLC1.JPG



Here's a Corkum Vindicator (similar to the Liberator....he has a few dagger styles)...

SC01787.jpg


So, are you sure that you want production knives? :)

RL
 
Boink,


Pleasure doing business with you on the Mirage X Operator's. Thanks for your patience.

I have an Al Polkowski Companion that I really like. CRKT is now making a production version that comes with an IWB sheath. Not sure if that fits the bill for what you are looking for but the price is right for a good defensive knife.
 
John, what's an IWB sheath? Is this a new crkt companion sheath? Are there pics of it online?
 
Boink,

Jeff Loffer of Cutlery Shoppe just sent me an M-10. The blade is 4" of AUS-8, handle is Zytel,and grips just fine. This is a good no nonsense defensive blade.
 
Originally posted by nonbox
John, what's an IWB sheath? Is this a new crkt companion sheath? Are there pics of it online?

IWB = inside waistband

RL
 
I have the Pentagon in a Survival Sheath IWB sheath. Much better for concealment than the factory one IMHO.

My M10 is AUS8. 4" blade. I am not fond of the factory sheath. Could be better for me. I shall have to have Robert over at Survival Sheath make one for me next payday.

WWW.SURVIVALSHEATH.COM is his addy.
 
Originally posted by RL
[B

Here's a Corkum Vindicator (similar to the Liberator....he has a few dagger styles)...

So, are you sure that you want production knives? :)

RL [/B]

Here I am trying to save a few bucks you show me these beauties. It's a tough enough decision in the production realm alone, let alone getting custom stuff into the mix!! LOL!
 
Originally posted by John
Boink,


Pleasure doing business with you on the Mirage X Operator's. Thanks for your patience.

I have an Al Polkowski Companion that I really like. CRKT is now making a production version that comes with an IWB sheath. Not sure if that fits the bill for what you are looking for but the price is right for a good defensive knife.

John, it's my pleasure. I hope things are good while you're keeping the peace over there in Kabul.

The Polkowski Companion I own is on the block, as I have had to face up to the fact that my hand is not large enough to really grip it good. (Lest anyone get the wrong idea, hand size does NOT have any relation to one's johnson size.) ;) ;)
 
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