is the guard really that useful ?

I never even considered double guards at all.
Personally, I don't see the point of a double guard, but a single guard makes perfect sense, at least to me.
The Blackjack Trailguide II and the Small are perfect examples of great single guard designs, in my opinion.
 
When I buy a knife I look at the total package and intended use. The knife as a whole must make for sure non slip grip during intended use and way I work. All knives do not need a large guard. Some knives do.
The design of the handles and grip area and grip material have a lot to do with your hand staying off the blade. I like knives that have guards or designs that seem to promise to keep my hand off the blade. I don't like knives with sharp pointy blades that beg to be thrust into something and slick smooth handles and no guard.
There was a recent story on BFC where somebody stabbed into a sofa and hit a wood support with a microtech LLC, and their hand slid right up over the serrations. OUch. I recently bought a large MOD Dieter CQD MK1 and really like the side hilts on this knife. Its like guards on the side of the knife. Great idea. Plan to get the smaller version made the same way. But no matter what method is used, its important to look at the total design of the knife and then think about its intended use when evaluating the need for guards. They can add safety or just get in the way depending on what your doing.
 
Guards are very useful in my opinion. A guard has saved me from a severe injury at least twice. Both times, while push cutting, the blade got caught up and my hand slipped up the handle and would have ended up on the blade had it not been for the guard.

Since I have never used a knife in a fight against another knife, I can not comment on the effectiveness of a guard in protecting your hand under this circumstance. I am sure that it would afford at least some protection though.
 
Its just my opinion, but any knife considered for even secondary defensive work and primary utility should have a guard, groove, something to keep your fingers from sliding forward in a pushing situation. Now that I think of it, I cut myself w/ a Kershaw Random Task while cutting some fireproofing off a steel column. It takes a lot of effort to push the blade all the way through this stuff and get a good cut. My hand was sweaty and slowly slid up the knife onto the edge. It wasnt deep, but seeing my own blood still bothers me.
 
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