Special Blade Forum Edition D-2 Sifu may not be 1st Run D-2 Sifu's

T

toothed

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See the thread on D-2 Sifu shipping estimate started by Jim March. What do others who placed an order for the SE "First Run" Sifu feel about the situation?
 
Bob's doing it right. What good would it do to sit on D2 when they've got the rest of the parts to do a run of regular Sifu's? This is normal business for every manufacturer.

Hank
 
Toothed

At no time did REKAT or Blade Forums ever say the BF Edition would be the first D-2 Knives or Sifu's for that matter. So there is nothing to feel about. Being small we can't afford to let product set around unfinished.

Christina Montero
 
Toothed,

I can see your frustration. I also have an order for the SE Sifus and thought they would have D-2 exclusive of other Sifu versions. It may diminish future value as a collector's item if this is not the case.

However, this was all assumption and I must admit that at no time did REKAT say that the SE Sifus would be the only REKAT knives in D-2. It is actually the D-2, and modified handle which makes the SE Sifus exclusive.

Thinking about it, I'm wondering if I should switch my order at ONESTOPKNIFESHOP and purchase the D-2's with the regular grips since a fingerless SIFU is contrary to the SIFU's original concept of a fighting folder. The grooves are, afterall, what helps make the knife a SIFU. We'll see.
 
Speaking from a purely functional point of view (versus a collector), I think if your hands are anywhere within the "fairly normal" range or even close, you want the full fingergrooves. The SE grip (what I call the "oversized Carnivore") may have advantages for both very large and very small hands that don't comfortably fit in the regular grooves.

Now, that's purely a theory. But there have been reports of very fat-fingered folks not liking the grooves.

Bob did a very good job of making the original grooved grip work with a wide array of hand sizes, but there are limits. The SEs should fit even more hands, but at the cost of the "back choke" longer-blade-reach grip available on the original.

Jim
 
Jim,

I have "medium" hands so I never have comfort problems with most production knives. So based on your info, I'm really beginning to wonder which would be the better SIFU...

In your own personal opinion, what would be the hypothetical advantages/disadvantages of grooved handles vs. ungrooved as a work knife, self-defence knife, collector's knife?

Thanks.
 
As a collector, the "giant Carny" Sifu will fairly rare, but I don't know if that'll translate to cash value.

The good news is that the "choke up" grip available in the original full-groove grip just doesn't feel very good, to me. Some people seem to like it though...more commentary on that is needed because really, that's one of the main things you'll gain in the original versus the "giant Carny".

I guess if you also rotate a Carny into your carry, switching between that and the new-grip Sifu might be easier in terms of "similar feel".

My main reason for wanting the full-groove original is that I don't want to switch. Once something works, I don't change it on a whim
smile.gif
. Also, if you use a grip style that relaxes the "trigger finger", the original is better...remember, Bob Taylor is FMA-influenced and that's classic "Kali grip".

With all THAT said, it would be very easy to take that new Carny-type grip and put "very mild" fingergrooves in it by sculpting the G10 with a dremel tool and a barrel sanding adapter. WEAR A MASK and do it outdoors, and I'm not talking about fresh grooves so extreme you modify the liners. I'm just talking about "edge sculpting". If you did this, you could create new "mini grooves" that *exactly* match your hands and grip position styles.

Upshot: they're both good knives. If you have an unusual hand size OR prefer grip flexibility (a "rapidly shifting grip style") the new Carny-type is nice plus you could perhaps tune it further. The original a more "rigid" grip and is better if you're "FMA-influenced" and tend to relax the forefinger plus offers that "reach grip" by shifting all fingers back one notch.

I hope Bob Taylor joins the thread, or any Sifu freaks with more training than I've had. All of the above is purely my opinion and I'm NOT very well trained.

Jim
 
Well, I think I'm going to leave it to fate. That is, I'll take whichever knife comes out first since I'm torn between which one to get.

I rather like having a "limited production run" like the SE Blades Forum Sifu. The grooveless handle also makes it less threatening, and more friendly. I don't know if this is really a good thing.

However, a grooved handle is the way the designer intended the Sifu to be. In addition, I think the grooved handle makes more sense as a self-defense knife as it offers better grip especially if you double it as a kubotan type weapon in the closed position.

We'll see...
 
The SE sifu should not have been made. There will be a mess if you slip without the finger grooves on such a large folder.
 
RS, I wouldn't go that far. For starters, anyone who tends to use a "forefinger biased" grip will be in very good shape with the SE. Even without that, the G10 is pretty grippy stuff and as noted, it'll be possible to increase it's grip at the user's option.

The similarity in feel to the Carny will be a help to some.

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Possible correction: for years now I've thought that Bob Taylor had some FMA influence in his combative arts skillset. My memory says I picked that up in reading about the theories behind the Hobbit FB. But I have no details whatsoever and I could be wrong; it's been pointed out in private that I am. I'd be interested in a more accurate overview of Bob's MA past.

This isn't meant as a slur on Bob. I consider him one of the top grip ergonomics experts in the combative blade world, along with Mad Dog, Ernie Mayer and damn few others. Regardless of his background, the Sifu and Pocket Hobbit are the two best "relaxed forefinger grip" folders available, and it's that characteristic that's a hallmark of FMA grip ergos.

Yo Bob, where did you learn your stuff?
biggrin.gif


Jim
 
Nevermind, found his bio from TRS, the people he does videos with: http://www.trsdirect.com/taltay.htm

No FMA reference. No biggie.

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One more note in defense of the SE Sifus: if you favor a reverse-grip, the SE should handle just as well as the original. You'll be hooking your pinkie into the one remaining groove and it should work just fine as-is.

I found my Sifu unusual in that it has absolutely no preference for forward versus reverse grip handling. IT likes 'em both. I'm personally a forward-grip kinda guy but the designed-in flexibility was impressive.

Jim
 
I don't think there will be any problems with slippage - there is still a sizable palm swell and initial finger groove(s). Maybe one of you lucky buyers will test it and see, but, quite frankly, I just can't see it.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

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