Mad Max vs my right index finger

[kawanin]

Happened at lunch time today...I,m sitting there in my vehicle parked by side of road for a break...I,m flipping open my Mad Max by Darrel Ralph and just having fun with open and shut using those flipper guards..I look out the window.hmmmmmmm?! look at that shrub hanging over the fence, decided to put the Max to a little "workout". So out of the truck, over to the shrub, out with the blade....

Let me first describe the Mad Max briefly for those that might know what this Knife is. It is a HUGE folder with a 5.25" blade,bowie style on mine, intergal lock and massive titanium handle slabs that holds the D2 blade in place..to get a perspective on size..hold a 12" ruler in your hand...thats the length of the Max in "ready" position

So, back to my "incedent" picked out a couple smallish branches 1/2" or so and swung, nice and clean, one swipe, right through em...so I went to work..swipe, swish, the blade a swinging....and then...

..blade folded on me!!!!

NOT THE FAULT OF THE BLADE!!!!!!!....This being a BIG knife, I had a low grip on handle, and was swinging it sort of like a machete..my hand was below lock bar where it should have been ensuring a tight grip on lock bar that holds blade open...I can only guess what caused it to close besides my own foolishness..I think blade either bit and held a branch and when I pulled out for a second stroke it hung on just long enough to defeat the lock..or on a back stroke I hit spine on a branch and that caused it to close on me...like I said..I should have had a more secure grip just below the flippers and I,m sure this wouldnt have happened.. as it is, trip to emergency..2 hours in waiting..50 dollars to Kaiser for the visit and 6 sutures in my right index finger just below the knuckle, ( about 1" below my previous cut from 10 years ago with a puma 4 star folder and a lansky sharpener..but thats another story

)

So..especially ironic as I have been enjoying the recent posts in this forum on Newbie gets cut..and pretending you didnt cut yourself

.."enjoying" as in "been there, done that.

As a side note, the Dr. sewing me up and asking how it happened, showed me his "cut", huge gash under his left wrist from a wood chisel he did last year that requirerd micro surgery for him...(made me feel "slightly " better)

Be careful Guys and Gals!!!! I been handling blades for over 30 years so not a newbie..but sure feeling STUPID

right now...

I think I will stick to my CR project II for brush removal from now on.......

Darrel if you end up reading this..I still love this "little" gem....thanks..

------------------
as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another....Pr.27:17

 

[Darrel Ralph]

The project one sounds like the right tool for the chopping job.

One thing that I have learned over the years is that locking liner type knives is that the lock bar will fail if twisted in the direction of the lock .
They all do it if the twist is just right and your finger meat is between the liners,
even if you are down a ways on the lock from the front of the knife.

The MADD MAXX is built with NO thumb space cut out in the frame to unlock it. It is relieved on the inside of the frame to make space for your thumb to unlock it. This way it is straight across from one side plate to the other to stop some of this twist unlocking.

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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
MADD MAXX !

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 03-06-2001).]

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Yea, yea, so you cut yourself. How is the knife?

Keith.

 

[kawanin]

Knife is still "shaving" sharp,it did need a bath...that was my original intent for a post...tell you all about the knifes cutting ability,....I did get to cut about 20 branches before it got me....I was actually thinking about attacking a telephone pole with it

....as in my Mad Max chopped a tel pole in half....maybe after I heal

 

[CPR]

Ouch! Another reason to hold a knife without any digits in the blade's path! To be fair, any lock can be defeated with the wrong grip. I almost cut the tip of my index finger off with a M-UDT by holding it improperly and cutting speaker wire. The base of my thumb engaged the button lock and I barely averted a nasty cut. I hope your finger heals well!

Take care,
Chris

 

[Double Edge Dave]

Knife nuts are like rugby players.Eventually
we all bleed for our hobby

David

------------------
AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member

 

[Gene]

kawanin,
Sorry to hear about your "slice". I've done it myself more times than I care to remember. Glad you're enjoying your MM.

Darrel,
On the Mad Max, are the relief cutouts halfway down on the locking slab where you are supposed to place your thumb to disengage the lock?

 

[Jim March]

When Darrel first showed me prototype drawings, one of the first things I told him was that the pocket clip had to be designed such that it didn't interfere with using your own grip stringth to reinforce the integral lock with your own grip strength. I actually questioned whether a clip was a good idea at all...or the clip should be assymetrical to curve it away from the lockwork so that grip strength is applied more directly to the lock.

Right Darrel?

This accident appears to be a result of using the Max as a woods tool versus a fighter. From what I can see of the pics of the final design, it IS possible to reinforce the lock by grip strength. If so, that is absolutely the type of combat grip y'all should be practicing.

As much as I love the idea of the Max, until it ships with a curved grip like a Vaquero Grande or Sifu, I'm going to have to pass on it. From handling the somewhat similar grip on the SOG PE2, it just doesn't "feel right" to me...there's no "fluid feeling" to tip movement with this sort of "classic dagger" "stretched symmetrical hourglass" grip shape.

That said, if you're a fan of the "Gorilla grip" and a straight hard-pounding no-finess powerstab style, this thing has serious merit as a streetfighter.

I think the Max is almost ready to unseat the Sifu as king of the combat megafolders, but it isn't quite there yet for me.

You know what'd really rock? Keep the current pivot, guards, lockwork and blade thickness, BUT turn the blade into a radically back-curved scimitar style blade, and bend the grip to match the blade curve. HELL yes. It'd feel downright sexy, look absolutely evil, and on a hard-target stab it would put the pressure back up against the spine and blade stop versus the lockwork. It would have slicing power from hell and would minimize problems with the lockwork type.

Darrel? Please

?

Jim

 

[kawanin]

This accident appears to be a result of using the Max as a woods tool versus a fighter. practicing.


Jim[/B][/QUOTE]

Jim, well, not to many of us can walk down the street with our mad max and start flailing away at people...while it is really built as a fighter,,and I said so in previous posts.....how many of us knife nuts besides LEO's and military might actually be involved in a knife fight?

and even for them...not to often I bet....

Darrel did offer to take a look at mine and strengthen the spring tension on it, which I think I will take him up on that offer, but still, as I said if I had been higher up on grip, I don't believe the lock would have failed ...

alot of the knives we buy are really intended for use as fighters, and nothing else....we buy them to play with and admire..

Unless I,m wrong ....maybe some of you guys can tell us your actual knife fight stories

......

I do agree with you on the pocket clip though Jim...it can be carried in pocket, but its pretty huge for that.....

 

[Darrel Ralph]

Hey Jim

Someday! One thing at a time.! ITs in the works Jim for a curvy style for those who like there handles curved.

The clip does not interfer witht he lock tention put on with the grip The lock gets tighter and tighter as your grip!

The knife is wide enough that the bar is get the hand pressure.



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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
MADD MAXX !

 

[Jim March]

Kawanin: I carry my Sifu as a pure self defense piece. Where I live, I can't yet get a gun carry permit, so the Sifu is carried and treated in similar fashion - it doesn't even make an appearance in public unless it's around people I know won't freak.

If all I needed was a cutting tool, I'd carry something much smaller.

In 18 years of always having a fighting-grade folder or better on me, I've been glad twice. Both times, lunatics armed with clubs ran off, which is fine by me.

I don't leave the house unarmed. Ever.

Now, Mad Max in my opinion fits into the same category. And as Darrel just said above, as long as you hold it in a fighting grip, your hand will strengthen the lock and this type of accident won't happen.

I'd love a "Snake Max" as a curvy version might be called

.

Jim

 

[PENGUIN]

Kawanin, sorry to hear about the finger - hope it heals quick - getting mine next week( I hope!).

Jim, if Maxx isn't curvy enough for you check this one out - Scorpion - 5" blade - one of Darrel's greatest!

Enjoy! This is Mad Maxx's little(sic!) brother.

Bill

 

[Jim March]

I'd prefer a massively oversized EDC

.

This critter pictured above is cool, but...other than the clip, there's not much to prevent a "slip-up" accident.

Jim

 

[Darrel Ralph]

Jim
I am build the edc in a 4 inch now.

Thanks to Dirk and Will Fennel!

I have plans for a massive mad max 7". Have a few nutz that want them.

------------------
Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
MADD MAXX !

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 03-08-2001).]

 

[kawanin]

Originally posted by Darrel Ralph:

I have plans for a massive mad max 7". Have a few nutz that want them.

Darrel......add me to the "nutz" list for the 7" max...I want one

!! make the blade with thicker stock if possible...oh YEAHHH!!
Consider this post as my request..Thanks..
David Buhrer..to be sure I will e mail you also.....


Jim, I was wondering if you had actually held one of these Mad Max blades in your hand yet? If you put one in your hand and hold it with the combat grip you describe, I think you will find what feels like an extension of your own arm..with 5 plus inches of blade on the end and 2" of skull crusher out the bottom of your grip...folding fighter for sure

...also agree with you about being armed...I see you are from CA...I,m sure you saw the news of miss whipple being mauled and killed by the 2 dogs...a knife might have saved her life..I know I have felt better with a blade on my person and I believe a knife in her hands or a bystander might have dispatched the dogs..at least a fighting chance anyway..

In fact thats a good topic for those people that always ask.."why do you have such a big knife?"..or any knife at all..tell them about the lady and the dog attack..I know my wife feels a little more comforted by the fact I am "carrying"

 

[ARtsig1]

I have been reading this post with much intrest since I have a MM on the way. In fact it was finished up today and shipped via UPS with a Saturday delivery! So by this time tomorrow I will have a much better idea of what this knife feels like. Needless to say I am VERY HAPPY. As to the 7" model.............. I think I will go in the opposite direction and plan on the 4" to 4.5" model. Of course after tomorrow who knows, I may want a 12" model!!!

------------------
Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12

 

[kawanin]

All right..you will like the mad max!...I went ahead and ordererd the 7" .just got off the phone with Darrel,made sure everythng was just as I wanted....he is going to make my lock stronger with the tension on it..on the one I got cut with......still was my fault, I don't blame knife at all,...but would be nice and he wil take care of it,,,no prob.these wil be great collectibles for large folder nutz

I was thinking of trading in my 5.25" max on the larger one...but then I realized something!...How could I give away my "Blood" brother??!!

........................................enjoy life to the MAX!!!

 

[Jim March]

What's the prices on these bad boys? Esp. the 7"?

I'm not sure whether a 5.5" serpentine or a 7" straight would be better though

.

Jim

 

[kawanin]

Originally posted by Jim March:
What's the prices on these bad boys? Esp. the 7"?

Darrel sent me an e mail saying the price on the 7" would be 750.00

saving my money now

Jim,I think this 7" will definitley drop the
sifu to #2 on your list of fighting folders....or even #3 after the 5.25" mad max

...

Gene,,,the cutout relief for the lock bar is near the top of bar , its just cut out on the inside instead of out like normal..the slabs are so thick, he was able to cut out the inside of one that allows your thumb to engage lock bar to release it.

thanks all you other guys with the kind words towards my "blade wound"

nice scorpion penguin!..almost got me one of those too...!

[This message has been edited by kawanin (edited 03-10-2001).]