I have double feelings about the subhilt

Alberta Ed said:
I always wondered whether subhilts are useful or more ornamental, as well as finger rings on hilts. Seems to me both would limit your grip.
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Definitely useful on a fighter, for the pull reason specified above, and somewhat for retention, but I think the latter is probably overstated to some degree. It's just a small lever for your finger to pull against. It's not going to prevent disarmament by an energetically vicious assault on the hand. Only elevate the level of aggression needed, which does have some value. For me that highly specialized benefit is not worth the trade off in versatility.

not so dull said:
I would say the subhilt improves the maneuverability of the knife.
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I made a few subhilt knives from kit blanks I bought years ago. True you can sort of pistol grip it, which gives you a different push/pull force vector on the handle you can't get from a knife without a subhilt, but I never felt it improved my ability to orient the edge or point. The human hand is more than agile and versatile enough to get every angle out of a more conventional knife handle. If anything, I think a subhilt limits maneuverability, and slows down grip changes.
 
Thanks jbmonkey jbmonkey , interesting, I didn't know that. I still think it would look a bit funny, but it sounds like the grip would still be spot on, at least for a non-subhilt knife.
 
David Mary said:
Thanks jbmonkey jbmonkey , interesting, I didn't know that. I still think it would look a bit funny, but it sounds like the grip would still be spot on, at least for a non-subhilt knife.
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yeah its all kraton molded handle. ive never cut one apart, but im assuming there is no steel under that rubber for the guard or sub hilt. i could be wrong, but I dont think so.

agree it would look kinda odd removed with that smooth ring part still there. I prefer the knife as it is myself visually. also agree it would fair okay for grip without it being a hard rubber. now as to cutting the kraton and trying to blend the cut part in to the rest of the handle..I got no idear. maybe easy, maybe a pain?
 
Draw new checkering with a hot paper clip? 🤷‍♂️🤣
 
I mean it's a great idea in the morning, maybe just not for this... 🤣
 
not so dull said:
I have some doubts about the subhilt of Cold Steel's OSS I recently bought. Not used to that sort of thing. Should I amputate it?

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Don't ruin a decent knife because you bought a design you didn't like!!!!
A subhilt is made to be used in the "fencing" grip, it limits it slightly.
But anyone bleatin' about combat effectiveness or range of grips and more importantly, can it stab through a car door or pry open an ammo crate!?
Probably needs to get out more and calm down a bit.
 
Amputate?

Not if you intend to use it for what it was designed for. . .. stabbing bad guys.

For you (the OP) this may be a teaching moment, where your immediate experience informs your future decisions regarding knives. I would keep; this knife and keep it as built. If it does not meet your imneeds you should get another knife that does.
 
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I'm of the belief that there were Mall Ninjas throughout history..... Something to look Cool.
It's Just something to sell knives.

maybe that added alure to Ones's name, and stories would be told of that pirate/mercenary/rogue who fought like Hell, and went down their Own path in life, not being told what to do.... or what weapon to fashion or wear



*I see it as a liability.
Yes, once in hand, that extra leverage would be nice..... But grabbing it, and unsheathing it in a scuffle would be a B....
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I'm of the belief that there were Mall Ninjas throughout history..... Something to look Cool.
It's Just something to sell knives.
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Yeah, that must've been the reason Bob Loveless used subhilts on some of his models! Couldn't sell the darn things otherwise. 😀
 
Crag the Brewer said:
grabbing it, and unsheathing
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Certainly applies to the supplied Secure-Ex sheath for my Cold Steel BBC .

Even removing the belt dangle and retaining button snap strap , the plastic sheath has ear-like projections that partially cover the critical sub-hilt space .

You have to partially withdraw to get a full grip . Not the fastest set up for sure !

But : Shouldn't be too hard to remove those obstructions ,for a full grip while fully sheathed .

Training to be aware and anticipate trouble , is even more important than a super "quick draw" .
 
Crag the Brewer said:
It's called Showmanship, or am I wrong......
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Perhaps, to recreate a style of the past.

Seriously though, when it comes to the development and evolution of weapons, I figure most features came about for good reasons. Sucks to get your fingers cut off, hence a guard in various forms. Sucks to drop your knife and get skewered by the other guy, hence, perhaps, the subhilt. Etc.

Do we need all that today? Probably not. Still nice to be able to buy such a weapon, though, even if it will never be used in a real fight. Same goes for most daggers/double-edged knives. Take the subhilt away from the Big Bear, it's still pretty much useless day-to-day. So might as well keep it.
 
I think they're pretty cool looking. I saw a movie once where a combat knife had a ring for the index finger and the user spun it and everything, can't remember the name. Are any of us ever going to actually be using a knife for combat? Pretty unlikely but just like my balisongs I'll never use for combat I certainly do play with them and that's why I buy and enjoy them. C'mon, everybody plays with their knives, we all do it, get a big bowie or whatever and whip it around a bit, play with the new folder flicking it open in whatever way or get an auto and open and close it a LOT (much to the annoyance of my spouse who thought the house had an issue from hearing "zwick-zwick" for minutes on end once). That's like 99% of the fun.
 
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