Spyderco Whale Rescue Blade Becomes Puppy Defense

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KITROBASKIN

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[video=youtube_share;ayLIjHbPJJ4]http://youtu.be/ayLIjHbPJJ4[/video]
Here is a Whale Rescue Blade modified for carry. Our puppy got very ill and weak, yet we wanted to give her some exercise, and like to go at night because it is cooler, especially for our sled dog. Coyotes and possibly bears and most unlikely mountain lions, could be an issue, in that we are going to their home ground. The puppy is now six and a half months old now and doing really well, if still a little weak.

I contacted Spyderco and the founder, Sal Glesser about this project. After sending him a 3 minute YouTube video (restricted only to those viewers with a link) of what I was doing with his rescue blade, he indicated it was my prerogative to make this public, and that members of bladeforums would determine the suitability and appropriateness of such a project.

Spyderco has earned my respect for a few decades now, and am willing to recount the times when their knives and the company came through for me.

The beginning of the video starts with a brief view of personal-carry Spyderco knives.
1:14 shows the tools that were used to make the knife.
2:21 is a close up with a view of the part of the blade where I used a Lansky sharpening system to reprofile part of the blade.
3:57 a possibly novel cutting demonstration
~5:16 end of video

It would be most interesting to hear from other members about their positive experiences with Spyderco.
Perhaps there is an existing thread?

http://youtu.be/ayLIjHbPJJ4
 
It's a neat project. Thanks for sharing it.

The major issue I see, is that this blade is sharpened on the wrong side of the curve for defensive/offensive use. If the blade curved the other way, I would have mounted one as a polearm long ago.

I may need to explain that. On large blades you think you might use on large dangerous animals, you would not want a blade shape that will tend to pull the animal towards you. If there's curvature, you want the edged curve facing away, to tend to throw the large dangerous thing away from you. Hope that helps.


John
 
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I'm with Spectre on this one. I think your slashing efforts will be hindered by the blade's tendency to hook and pull. You might score a good first hit but getting the blade back out for repositioning and multiple strikes will be difficult.
 
Nice mod...

who'd thunk a Whale Rescue blade could be utilized to fend off North America's largest land predators from a sled dog by a member based in New Mexico...

the possibilities boggle the mind...
 
Interesting comments for sure.

Kind of rushed some of the video clips and written copy. Our sled dog is old, and previously did not help to defend our (now deceased/cancer) Italian greyhound when attacked by coyotes about 7 years ago. I ran yelling toward the attack, breaking it off.

Maybe 12 years ago my ridgeback/sharpei cross was attacked (was not killed) by a mountain lion. That's when I got into more powerful flashlights; it was dark, and we knew the lion was a problem. He had killed my 1/3rd-mile-away friend's dog, and my really well trained dog and I were going out every hour (I was armed) to see if the lion would come back. My friend had contacted state fish and game the day before. They were able to come out with a person who had lion dogs; I showed them where the attack had happened, they tracked him down, shot him out of a tree. A sad day during a time of desperate drought. The ~160 pound male in the prime of his life had the smell of skunk on him, and was skin and bones.

The puppy to be defended is a flock guardian dog. I was going to put a point on the whale rescue blade with a hacksaw, or a friend's old grinder, but decided to leave the front as a kind of blunt trauma/poke'em hard tip. And instead of a sawing/pulling motion that would pull the offending varmint up close, I figured it would be more of a whacking/hacking action. Hopefully it will be like most insurance policies: never used.

There is the question of blade retention in the handle if called upon in a desperate moment. Thought about wrapping stainless steel wire around the wood, outside of where the tang is. But I really like the weight of the knife as it is. It is heavy enough. And I was also hoping the way I flared out part of the gouge where the tang meets wood, and using a somewhat shock resistant glue instead of brittle/hard, might be sufficient. Did not take the time to map out where the holes in the tang are before gluing it in. Not sure if pinning through the wood is going to be significantly more secure, with my lack of talent. Any at-home solutions anyone has, is most welcome.
 
A Mossburg 12 gauge make a better anti predator tool, and it appears you live in a state that issues CCW...why not just get a purpose built sword if you can't have a gun for some reason?
 
Thanks to all who expressed appreciation.

The mountain lion situation was in a remote place. Open carry on private property. And the Blackhawk Hunter was used 3 times to try to scare off the lion, while my dog was fighting and screaming for her life. The cat tried to crunch her head like my friend's dog got(mine suffered slight wounds to the ear and cheek) but the claw slash required sutures and drainage on the side of her chest. She got cancer lumps near/at that spot less than a year later and died at 13 years old. She apparently could not abide having the mountain lion so close to me when he jumped out of a piñon tree, and took off. He ran a little ways then attacked. I never saw him until he was in the back of a pickup truck.

Now that I am married, we are fortunately near private property to do forest walks but closer to other homes, and guns are heavy, considering especially the unlikelihood of use. The Aqua Salt disappears on the shoulder strap of the nightpack, for the most part. Whale Rescue blade is big and more weight. Hard to forget it is on you. And encounters with humans are best avoided with that piece hanging on you.
 
Interesting mod on the Whale Rescue Blade. I've considered getting one and doing something similar to it for use in my never ending battle with kudzu. Still, as much of a Spyderco nut as I am, if I wanted a large fixed blade knife for defense against predators I think I'd go with something like the SOG Fusion Jungle Warrior.
 
Nice project and video. I like your tinkering!
And I agree, the Aqua Salt is really carry-friendly, and really easy to forget you have it there.

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I also dig carrying in the bag strap, makes unsheating so quick, silent and comfortable. It's also one of the few sheaths that I trust for upside down/CM carry, it's the perfect retention in my opinion, of all the plastic or synthetic ones I've tried

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:thumbup:
 
Sal reground a Jumpmaster to change the edge profile. I would love a Whale Rescue with the sharpened edge on the outside of the curve, instead of the inside. You could make something like a naginata:
400
The downside to this is that I don't know how many users want a Spyderco spear!

The Peacent, it's even better if you can draw the knife with the same grip you'll use it in, rather like drawing a handgun: you don't want to have to change your grip after presenting the weapon.

John
 
It is great to hear from members about their perspectives. And very nice to see the excellent photos of the Aqua Salt. Been carrying the modified Whale Rescue quite a bit, even once during daytime. Lashing it to the lower part of the night-pack strap, seems to be an OK placement but is not the quickest in terms of presentation. Planning to carve the butt for more comfort with some hand holds.

I need to apologize as profusely as possible to Mr. Glesser because my first email to him did not go through, and I had assumed it did. He told me he did not remember getting it. And he was right. He also explained that he gets 50-100 emails a day (if I remember correctly)

Over at candlepowerforums I began talking about my history with Spyderco, and want to just say how much time saved, and how much more effective, the Spyderco knives have made me through the years. Many Thanks
 
Spydercos are life-changing knives if you've limited yourself to lower end tools and depended on poorly designed instruments to do your job/work.

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They definitely know their stuff
 
Not too long after the Spyderco Endura and Delica came out, (a long time ago) I was working with a landscape company that prided itself with de-emphasizing grass lawns, for a more natural, 'native' look. One way to make areas less likely to sprout up a profusion of weeds, is to put down mulch. In our case, it was pine needles; bales and bales of pine needles. Well, I do not remember how long my Endura endured, but after a good while, the lock would no longer reliably keep the blade open. It must be said that every time I finished spreading one bale of needles, the knife was opened up to cut the polypropylene twine, then closed and put in the pocket. This was done much, much quicker that anyone else working with me, using a conventional pocket knife. Never did I abuse the locking mechanism. The knife shop owner where I purchased it recommended that I send a "nice" letter to Spyderco, explaining the situation, and return the knife (Don't do this now days; Talk to Spyderco first). Quite a few weeks later I received a new Endura that I ended up giving to a friend, because I had already purchased another. One that lasted a long time until I gave it to my brother in law.

The reason why I gave it to my brother in law was that one of his cows had died, and he was curious to see if the cow's internals might give a clue as to why the death occured. He had some pocket knife that was just not cutting it, so I loaned him my (always serrated) Syderco. Opened her up, guts smeared to the armpit: No clue as to why it died. But he was seriously impressed with the blade.

At that point, it was time to look for another Spyderco. To be continued...

{This is what I posted on candlepowerforums}
 
This knife still gets occasional carry, primarily later at night. But this blade is kind of like the crysknives used by the Fremen of the desert planet Arrakis in the Frank Herbert novel "Dune". Respectfully, it does not get pulled out unless it is going to seriously cut something.

The Spyderco Aqua Salt is the alternative. Our puppy is now over 90 pounds and the almost 7 year old son often tags along.

Wanted to thank Spyderco again for being a great company that provides excellent tools that keep going the long run, year in and year out.
 
In your situation, I would look at the WASP Injection Knife, if you feel that a bladed tool is the way to go.
 
Hey rodriguez7,
Sorry for the late reply. RLDubbya's response kind of took me away, as I did not want to be played a fool, but now it seems that the suggestion for the WASP Injection Knife could have been sincere.

We live in Central New Mexico (Albuquerque area). How about yourself?

Regarding the gas injection knife:
Sounds like a tool for a despicable assassin, or maybe a shark defense scenario where the user feels like he can keep his wits about himself enough to actuate the gas release. I harbor no such thoughts about being prepared enough to handle a likely attack from behind when least expecting it, to stab a lightning-fast creature who will sit long enough for me to remember to push a button with my head in its jaws. The additional factor is that being attacked by an animal predator is an extremely, extreme rarity. Carrying such a knife would not be practical for me personally. The Whale rescue Blade is almost over-the-top as it is, but strangely satisfying (plus the full bloom affection for Spyderco, helps)

Hats off to the knife community.
 
Yes, I am as serious as a heart attack. The WASP system was developed to save diver's lives. It works. I know they are hungry to expand their market. It seems to me, following the maxim of proper tool for the job, the WASP could be invaluable deployed in a situation with a large feline attacking.

If I ever manage to confuse you again, please feel free to ask me for explication. I oftentimes have thoughts that strike me as perfectly cogent and simultaneously manage to strike others as marks of a broken and perfectly insane mind.
 
OK RLDubbya. Thanks for your response. We each have our own perspective and yours deserves respect. A heart attack is no joke.

Our puppy is now probably getting up to 100 pounds and since her first estrous has become more logical. Hoping she will not need to be defended. At night I still look up when in ravines or anywhere a big cat could pounce from above. Yes I know it is highly unlikely, but I'll tell you the night my dog was attacked, even though I did not see any of it, the sound of my dog fighting for her life was chilling beyond description.

I refuse to put a laser or flashlight on a self defense firearm because I know I won't be able to commit to the training necessary to function in a high stress event, possibly shooting someone when all I wanted to do was light them up. This is another reason the gas injection knife won't work for me. If a person can see a shark making closer and closer passes, then the injection knife would be plausible, seems like.

Still carrying this blade many nights...
 
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