What is the REAL "Fastest gun of the east?"

[sniperboy]

You know I have always been a religious fanatic under the doctrine that says that the fastest way to draw your knife is by the latch drop. I have believed that for a long time until a few nights ago. One of my 'pupils'

and I were talking about balisongs... been a long time since we did.

She could not do the latch drop opening so I tried to show her. Her remark was that it was firstly dangerous and secondly slower than a windmill opening. I was ofcourse all over her on that... the latch drop feels so cool gives it a 'hands free look' and is the fastest.

So inevitably it was a stand off. I do not claim to be a Doc Holliday (inside joke to those who email me

) fastdraw, and she doens't play balisongs often but got the windmil ice pick down pat.

We spend say 20 minutes say 30 minutes drawing the knife repeadtedly. From ready unlatched, from on the floor to pick up, from latched, we were evenly matched (oh how shameful i need oto practice more), but I am embarassed to say that I slipped up 2 times for every one time her latch got in between her handles. She only slipped up say once.

This really changes things for me. Keep in mind that the windmill can be done in horizontal position (into stabbing action) you don't have to 'drop' to open it so you can get it into action quicker. Latched unlatched it didn't matter - she didnt have a belt but I presume that it wouldn't make much of a difference except maybe that under stess i might slip up since she sould be grabbing the handles and I would be going for the latch first.

Just a thought...

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<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]

 

[Gollnick]

While the latch drop certainly is quite fast, I've never felt that it's a very reliable and secure opening. I'm partial to the double-flip out-to-in myself. Fast and reliable.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com

 

[Clay]

I can snap a windmill opening faster than a latch drop these days.

I've taped myself and analyzed it till I'm almost blind from staring, and for the life of me I can't figure out why it is.

But the good news is, my Windmill "snap and stab" technique is SSSSSSSSSSSSsmokin'.

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Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!

 

[ramius]

I've never liked opening to the reverse grip with a balisong since the opening motion exposes a handle that could hit something/someone and stop me dead in my tracks (in more ways than one). While I'm proficient in reverse grip, if someone is close enough to warrant a reverse grip I'm probably (a) behind the game and (b) more likely to use the handle as a flail trying to buy myself some distance.

If I have time, I'll sacrifice my left hand and open with my right in a straight drop that leaves the blade positioned for a strike into the 5 line or a counter on most any other line (but especially the 1 line) to defang the snake.

Since I'm not a big fan of sacrificing, I also use a bandanna/hat/whatever to (a) mask my weapon hand and (b) give the opponent something to strike at besides me.

Anyway, I'm not a fan of opening in reverse grip unless you can do an overhead reverse grip opening into an eye pick. I'm pretty good, but I don't practice that move enough to access it under stress. My straight drop I can do in my sleep. The rest is gravy... counter/defang, come to bargaining.

In my estimation, the greatest benefit of the bali is the least used... and that is the flail ability of the other handle. It will buy you distance and time... and those two items you will never have enough. Flail... distract... open... defang... bargain/deanimate/depart. Not necessarily in that order

My least favorite thing about the balisong is that unless you lock the handles, it's hard to shift grips. And no, I'm not going to reopen or roll it or whatever. I'm too busy moving and watching someone else to do that stuff. It's a weakness and the bali has more strengths than weaknesses. Otherwise I wouldn't carry it.

Anyway... that's my opinion. So there.



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-ramius
"oderint dum metuant"

 

[Mike Turber]

For me the latch "ice pick" drop is the fastest.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
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