- Joined
- Oct 25, 2003
- Messages
- 703
Recently, I purchased the Moccasin Ranger from TOPS knives. The MR is a 1/4 inch thick, slightly S shaped, upswept fighter. 1095 steel is used, and the knife is powder coated black with grey micarta scales. It is a foot long, give or take, and comes with one of those kydex sheaths. I posted a full review in the review section, so I won't go into more design detail here. Instead let me talk about the perfect fighting/defence knife (for me) and let that tell why the MR fits the bill.
A fighting knife is not a compromise. Hopefully, it is one you will keep for the rest of your life. 1/8 inch thick knives are the best slicers, but that's not the knife I want to carry on walks with me. They're thin, what can I say? 3/16 knives are a great medium, however, they just don't have the solid feel of a 1/4 inch blade. So there you have it, I just like the thick blades because of how they look and feel. OK you got me, but so what. A fighting knife isn't the best for slicing onions or chopping down saplings. Use another knife for those jobs.
I would never buy stainless steel knives except to use kayaking. Stainless is brittle. I don't care what anyone says. Blue steel (carbon) sharpens well and has the flexability to take the tough punishment. Again, it just has that "Feel." 1095 steel has always impressed me as being one of the more flexable, and it sharpens like a razor.
The slightly S shaped, upswept design might not suit everybody either. It really depends on your personal fighting style. The key is practice, practice, practice. In history few characters had to rely on their knives more than the "Long Hunters" of the late 1600's till the Revolutionary war. These men traveled, alone or in small groups, in the most remote and dangerous wilderness armed with their single-shot rifle, maybe a hand gun, a tomahawk, and a knife. The knife they probably most often chose, according to archealogical finds and contemporary illistrations, was the upswept, single blade design. These wern't just butcher knives mind you, defence was very much on their agenda. That's good enough for me.
The sheath on any knife shouln't be a consideration. When you carry a knife for protection, the only way to go is to hide it under your clothes. Kydex sheaths are fine for the woods. They're tough, waterproof, won't rot, and they hold the knife securely. Concelement isn't their strong point. For me the best way to hide a foot-long knife is inside the pants, resting just behind the right hip bone. With this stile you can sit, run, ride in cars, and bend over in the grocery store, without revealing your little secret to the world. Just rivet two pieces of thick leather together and put a clip on the outside flap. Keep it simple and keep it slim. I have a concealed weapon permit. If you can get one of these permits, get one. Remember, a knife won't do you any good unless you have it with you. You're best chance of being attacked is in a parking lot, or some place equally unexpected, fight back. Don't let the criminal make the decisions. As in chess, the best defence is to attack. That way the criminal is left with two choices, fight or die.
OK I know I tend to go on, but this knife is just so cool. A lifelong companion is worth $200.
A fighting knife is not a compromise. Hopefully, it is one you will keep for the rest of your life. 1/8 inch thick knives are the best slicers, but that's not the knife I want to carry on walks with me. They're thin, what can I say? 3/16 knives are a great medium, however, they just don't have the solid feel of a 1/4 inch blade. So there you have it, I just like the thick blades because of how they look and feel. OK you got me, but so what. A fighting knife isn't the best for slicing onions or chopping down saplings. Use another knife for those jobs.
I would never buy stainless steel knives except to use kayaking. Stainless is brittle. I don't care what anyone says. Blue steel (carbon) sharpens well and has the flexability to take the tough punishment. Again, it just has that "Feel." 1095 steel has always impressed me as being one of the more flexable, and it sharpens like a razor.
The slightly S shaped, upswept design might not suit everybody either. It really depends on your personal fighting style. The key is practice, practice, practice. In history few characters had to rely on their knives more than the "Long Hunters" of the late 1600's till the Revolutionary war. These men traveled, alone or in small groups, in the most remote and dangerous wilderness armed with their single-shot rifle, maybe a hand gun, a tomahawk, and a knife. The knife they probably most often chose, according to archealogical finds and contemporary illistrations, was the upswept, single blade design. These wern't just butcher knives mind you, defence was very much on their agenda. That's good enough for me.
The sheath on any knife shouln't be a consideration. When you carry a knife for protection, the only way to go is to hide it under your clothes. Kydex sheaths are fine for the woods. They're tough, waterproof, won't rot, and they hold the knife securely. Concelement isn't their strong point. For me the best way to hide a foot-long knife is inside the pants, resting just behind the right hip bone. With this stile you can sit, run, ride in cars, and bend over in the grocery store, without revealing your little secret to the world. Just rivet two pieces of thick leather together and put a clip on the outside flap. Keep it simple and keep it slim. I have a concealed weapon permit. If you can get one of these permits, get one. Remember, a knife won't do you any good unless you have it with you. You're best chance of being attacked is in a parking lot, or some place equally unexpected, fight back. Don't let the criminal make the decisions. As in chess, the best defence is to attack. That way the criminal is left with two choices, fight or die.
OK I know I tend to go on, but this knife is just so cool. A lifelong companion is worth $200.