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The Urban Series

Gonna package them up and get them out tomorrow. I've been carrying both of them around for the last couple days, we have become friends. ;) :thumbup:

These are both very nice blades and were a pleasure to carry. At first, I didn't think I would like the Urban Hideout. After holding it I was surprised to find it was quite comfortable for such a small blade. It would be a very handy utility blade. It's very light in hand and I imagine it would slash well. I wouldn't want to stab it into anything in fear of cutting my hand though.
The Urban Backup was my favorite of the two. I love this size for an EDC knife. It was super comfortable in hand in any grip. I love how the grip filled my hand and the deep choil made it feel very secure, your hand would have a hard time slipping up onto the blade. I carried it in my pocket at first then added a piece of bicycle inner tube around the kydex and attached it to my belt. Very easy and discreet carry.

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I wouldn't ever want to use a knife against anything other than inanimate objects, but the UB would be a great self defense knife for sure. I don't need to tell you guys JK knives are tough. I would never be worried about one failing when you need it the most.

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Thanks a million for letting me handle these!

Please PM me the address of the next person. :) :thumbup:

Thanks for making these John!
 
I took pics too. Just need to get them posted. I have more to say about them! Thanks for the review.
 
Nice photos! I will be on the lookout for these. John is there a time frame on these? I will be training with a friend on Thursday and will be able to better evaluate then. Looking forward!
 
Big caveat before I begin my initial impressions. Since I have been asked to review knives that can be classified as defensive or fighting knives,I will probably be talking about ways to use a knife for offensive/defensive purposes. As I have been training many decades in martial arts, I do not consider myself the expert on all things martial or pointy. However I am a big proponent of proper training from qualified teachers, every man woman or child has the God-given right to defend himself, and a fine knife that can serve the dual purpose of utility and defense is a beautiful thing to me.

Initial impressions, as follows, top photo:

The Urban Hideout is very light, thin and inconspicuous. As a neck knife, you do not even feel it there, and in pocket it is very comfortable. From this top photo, it does not scream fighting knife, but looks and feels like an excellent utility knife (sharpened swedge not withstanding).

2nd photo: I wanted to zoom in a bit on the blade of the Urban Hideout; here is where you can see where that grind shines. Using the UH as a stabbing tool, that grind will serve its purpose very well. I tend to agree with Rockywolf about the handle, it is a bit insubstantial in the hand. Since John can customize anything, I'm sure the knife could also be offered with a handle option. I am going to need to play with the trainer knife and a partner to see how it feels in a more dynamic action.

3rd photo:
Table top of the Urban Backup knife. Maybe the picture speaks for itself, what a pretty knife.

4th photo:
My preferred grip for a fighting knife, the hammer grip. Most people know how to make a fist, naturally, and this grip works well for holding and controlling a knife. All I can say is that the Urban Backup feels really good in the hand. Initially it feels very well balanced, and when I went through a few forms with it, it was smooth, solid and quick in the hand.

More impressions after training!
 
Good thoughts WC. I took pics in hand too and haven't subscribed to photobucket to post them. My hands look like yours--meaty. I'd like a bigger, rounder handle if I order one.
 
John, I'm bringing them to my buddy's dojo tomorrow, where we will drool over them, and I will ship them back to you (or to whomever you want me to ship them to) on Monday. Will post some last minute comments as well.

Rockywolf--ha! yes I guess I have typical martial artist hands. Been hitting things a long time, lol. I can see your point on the handle, it's fine for me as I'm not a big guy. That Urban Backup sure feels nimble and dangerous in the hand though--good work by John.
 
My verdict on the two knives is about the same as stated above, but to encapsulate:

The Urban Backup is an excellent knife for the stated purpose of "defensive/offensive" blade. We found the handle to fit perfectly into the hand when "rolling" the fingers into a fist, just perfect. Someone would have to have extra large hands to find the handle to be small, I think. The sharpened swedge portion is a very effective thing to have, for back cuts, etc. Normally, when "checking" in a supported block, the secondary hand (non knife hand) is checking somewhat closer to, or on the wrist (from how I learned it anyway). So, for me, that does not make the double edge overly dangerous although I see Rockywolf's point as well. The solution could be to offer the sharpened swedge/double edge as an option for those who would want it. Overwhelmingly, me and my training partners were very happy with the Urban Backup.

Urban Hideout: the concensus was not good, for its intended purpose as a back up "defensive/offensive" knife. The thinness and shortness of the handle were the main culprits here. When held in the hand, there is not much to keep the knife still, we found it wobbled from side to side, an uncomfortable feeling. Coupled with the shortness of the handle area, it did not feel secure. I could see that knife being taken from me in the heat of action, a most unsatisfactory possibility. So, for a fighting knife, I give it a thumbs down. For a cool as heck utility blade, I give it a higher mark. Hope this helps everyone, and thank you John, for including me in the test team. We had a lot of fun with these. Shipping today, and sending you an email or pm also John.
 
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