Not amused by this knife's name

Cosmic Superchunk

Cosmic Superchunk

Joined
Jan 28, 2001
Messages
3,709
In the latest issue of TK, I noticed an ad for Szabo knives which referenced a folding knife called "El Saca Tripas" which could be seen on their website. This is what the knife looks like:

saca_fold_small.jpg


While it is a very interesting design, I am not amused by the name chosen for this piece. Szabo knives have always caught my eye for their spartan appearance and defensive qualities, but what were they thinking when they named this thing?

The phrase "El Saca Tripas" is Spanish and literally means: "The Intestine Extractor" which to me seems to be in very bad taste. With all the anti-knife hysteria going on, especially after the 9/11/01 tragedy, just imagine what misguided legislators will say when the get a hold of this one! Is it just me, or does anyone else think this is pushing it a little?
 
In other words "The Disembowler"? Sure looks like it could do the job.

To say it is in poor taste would be an understatement, even discounting 9-11-01.
 
I seriously doubt Laci Szabo designed that knife for anyone's amusement, or whatever the antiknife histerics may think. I've read more antiknife crap on this forum in the past week than I have in the liberal press. The simple truth is that if these knives had been allowed on board those planes, the only dead people today would be terrorists!

Call knives "tools" all you want. The fact is knives are weapons, just like guns are weapons. The reason a great many people own, keep and carry them is in the event they are needed for self-defence.

Laci is an ex-marine, and even though he is in his mid-thirties, he just re-enlisted in the Army Reserve so he could further serve his country. If someone has a problem with Laci or wants to snipe him on these forums they're going to find he has a great many friends who greatly admire his character and ideaology. If you have something to say about Laci, say it to his face!

The next knife I am building will be called "Retribution", and it will be designed for killing bad guys, like terrorists. Screw "politically correct"! I'm fed up with it!
 
I HEAR ya Jerry! I've been fed up with all this politically correct stuff for years. A name is just that...a name. SO WHAT!
 
Wow !!
Thanks for the heads up !!!
I have several of Laci's knives (including the AWESOME Keruuk), this one looks like another super duper piece !!
Donald
 
For what my two cents is worth the United Cutlery/ Hibben fantasy knives are more objectionable than what is talked about above.

Szabo's knives are designed to accomplish their purpose well.

Me, I carry a stamped stainless folder much like the military versions of the scout knife with a large hole drilled in it to take a snap to go on my jeans beltloop.

Or plain sight carry hooked on one of my shirt buttons making it into a neck knife when I'm outraged. Despite it's innocuous look it's a John Primble castrating knife. Sometimes I have my fantasys of using it on a deserving subject too.
 
I've talked to Laci a little bit about this knife. He has been working on this design for a while and the name of the knife tells you what it as designed for. I have never been a fan of giving knives wicked sounding names. Most of the times when you hear some name given to a knife it's just to sell it and for no other reason. In this case, Laci is being very up front and honest about what this knife is for. The name isn't flash or sales.
 
Dear Mr. Hossum, I have no doubt about Laci's patriotism or yours for that matter, however, the issue is not about any personal gripes with Laci Szabo's character or ideology.The issue is about the name of a particular knife.

Now, first off I wish you all the luck with your "Retribution" knife, for which I do admire the name.

Secondly, the name "El Saca Tripas" is as bad as calling a knife "The Decapitator" or "The Flesh Ripper." What is politically correct or not depends on your point of view. Unfortunately, we do not live in a world where everybody is a knife enthusiast. If that were the case, then the name would not matter, however, we live in an increasingly paranoid world where the mere sight of a Victorinox Classic on your person is enough to stop you from boarding a plane.

As civilised people, we need to think about our society as a whole and we must realise, that what is preceived as inoffensive to us may be seen as graphic and/or obscene to others. Try explaining the name of the knife in court. This is not about political correctness, but about common sense and responsibility.

Again, it's not the knife, it's the name. I'm sure the knife is well designed for it's purpose as defensive weapon, and I have no problems with that. What I do question is why use such a name? What is the need for such a name? I think the name you selected for your knife "Retribution" is a great name. It sends out the right idea for it's intended purpose. However, to call a knife "The Disemboweler" is in my opinion, poor taste.
 
One heck of a cool looking knife. God help the person who is forced to used that knife for it's implied purpose and gets to explain the name of it to a jury.:eek:
 
Originally posted by Runs With Scissors
One heck of a cool looking knife. God help the person who is forced to used that knife for it's implied purpose and gets to explain the name of it to a jury.:eek:
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I mean. ;)
 
Originally posted by Jerry Hossom
I seriously doubt Laci Szabo designed that knife for anyone's amusement, or whatever the antiknife histerics may think. I've read more antiknife crap on this forum in the past week than I have in the liberal press. The simple truth is that if these knives had been allowed on board those planes, the only dead people today would be terrorists!

Call knives "tools" all you want. The fact is knives are weapons, just like guns are weapons. The reason a great many people own, keep and carry them is in the event they are needed for self-defence.

Click to expand...

Gotta agree, starting to wonder if this is a knife forum or a pocket tool forum lately. Now as far as the name goes I think it sounds corny myself. The knife speaks for itself without some goofy macho name.
Bob
 
If we were more willing to discuss personal defense, and had already explained to everyone that disembowelling bad guys is far preferable to watching thousands murdered, then knives would not be so terrifying to so many. If people were not so afraid to discuss weapons, then the right people would carry them and bad guys would be reluctant to use theirs.

I make a concealed carry knife, designed especially for an undercover narcotics agent, which I call the "Narc". Some might find that name offensive; screw 'em. The knife is specifically designed to be worn in the small of the back with the handle canted towards the user's preferred hand, where it will be drawn in either forward or reverse grip (edge out) as needed. If the user's arms are pinned or held, he will draw the knife in reverse grip, point slanted outward, and twist his body while sliding his hand across his own middle. With modest luck it will disembowel the bad guy (preferred) or at least slash his arms badly enough to allow the user to escape or attack.

It, like many of my knives, has no purpose but personal defense. That means killing if necessary. The blade is lousy for whittling or trimming hangnails. There is no corscrew built into the handle. It is for killing, rather than be killed. If you think that's hard to explain to a jury, try explaining why you're dead!

Wake up, we live in a dangerous world. I'd suggest you buy one of Laci's knives, then get and wear a T-shirt announcing in both Spanish and English that you are carrying an "El Saca Tripas". You will be amazed at how dramatically your presence influences bad guys to behave.

Oh, I forgot. A lot of bad guys can't read! So much for what bleeding heart, politically correct, BS has done for our society...
 
FWIW, I think the way to combat all this political correct dribble is to attack the people pursuing our knives head on. We should not be forced to hide what something is because of the fear of what "they'll" think. It's a legal product and we need to keep it that way and fight the urge to name a kick butt knife "The Pink Lady" or something innocuous.

Capitalism is what has made this country what it is and it's why he can name it what he wants. He could call it his new "Hey Liberal, this is the knife your nightmares are made of" knife and I would still think it was cool.

I understand the sheeple mentality as much as anyone but they're going to whine over the knife not the name.

Words don't kill people.
 
If you do a little more checking, you will find this knife is based on a knife used in Mexico for gutting sheep. Thus, the English translation of disembowler. Does this mean that a skinning knife should no longer be called a skinning knife?
 
Thank you, Jerry! I am tired also of having to walk on eggshells when expressing my views. This forum is pretty PC. In conversations, I have made a point of NOT prefacing my views with "This may not be politically correct, but..." I just call it like I see it, and let the chips fall where they may. I tried the PC route in grad school, and it made me feel dirty! :D

Why is it that only people like us have to watch our words? There is a BIG difference between being polite and PC, and one of these is good!

Put me on your list for that knife! I'll send it as a present to a Marine of Laci's choice. Been thinking of doing that anyway with some of my CS knives.
 
Dirk's right, the "Sacca Tripas" is the name of a traditional French, Spanish, and Basque knife design used for gutting animals, also for fighting often in conjunction with Savate tactics. Since the name is a traditional cultural knife name, it shouldn't be any more offensive than calling something a "Facone'" or a "Jambiya" or a "Tanto".
 
For me the age of PC ended on 9/11/01. I was never much for it anyway. I do believe in reasonable debate and respect for those deserving of it. We all need to speak our mind now, and stop the quibbling. The first maker out there to make a knife called the "Castrator" gets my vote and my money. It should be mass produced and given to every one of our military personnel sent to fight the good fight. Indeed, words can be powerful, especially when they clearly indicate intentions.
 
A skinner is just that, a skinning knife. There is nothing rakish about it. Now, take a REKAT Sifu or Cold Steel Vaquero Grande or a Spyderco Civilian. The mere sight of one of these knives is enough to make any would be attacker think twice about harming you. The same is true with Laci's knives. That is the knife's purpose. To defend. There is no need for a crass name. As far as Spanish, Basque and French skinning knives, they are knives designed to do just their intended job on animals. They are not designed as primarily personal defence or martial arts weapons. To each his own I guess..:rolleyes:
 
I'm torn between trying to argue (with some of our more violent BF members) the validity of peaceful etymology and insisting upon the "domestic usefulness" of our cutting instruments and why we should be gently persistent in conveying our affection for these tools. Wouldn't you want someone to be tactful and politically correct so you won't give them the wrong idea? Why cause trouble? A peaceful image is paramount! Why can't we all just be SENSITIVE to others' world views?



But to be truthful, I would REALLY like to buy one of these SHEEP BELLY SLITTERS COMPLETE WITH MATCHING T-SHIRT and send it to Chuck Shumer as a fukking token of my defiant sh!ttass appreciation!!!!

Respectfully yours,

Karl

EL SACA TRIPAS! :D
 
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