What is the purpose of the sub-hilt?

[Richard]

I did a search on this, didnt really find a whole lot of information. What is the intended purpose of the sub-hilt design? Is it for making a more secure grip? Is it designed strictly for a fighter for some purpose? Just curious as to its original intent.



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Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795

 

[Wulf]

Most common on fighters, the subhilt is useful when withdrawing, or pulling the blade out of an object (read: victim

).

The subhilt does, however, tend to get in the way when the reverse grip is used. Depending on the desired purpose and techniques employed, a subhilt may or may not be desireable.

I do think they look pretty cool though

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http://www.apechild.com

 

[Jeff Clark]

The subhilt reduces the amount of impact on the side of the forefinger during a thrust or stab and helps retain the knife during chopping action. It could help control the knife for most activities where the knife was slippery with blood. I would not want it on a hunting knife since it gets in the way of using the knife held inverted (edge upwards). You might tend to get blisters if you use a subhilted camp knife for extensieve chopping.

 

[Carpe Noctem]

I read a great article in Fighting Knives magazine by J. Keating on the subhilt, this would've been back in '95. According to Jim, the subhilt along with a full guard produces a push-pull dynamic (thumb pushes on the rear guard while the index finger pulls on the subhilt) that increases accuracy in a knife that is primarily designed for western-style knife combatives (thrust-heavy curriculum)

Hope this helps...

Ryan

[This message has been edited by Carpe Noctem (edited 07-06-2000).]