allenC,
as far as I know, what nyeti carries depends on what he is doing at the time. He is in police aviation (helicopter), and there he carries Strider fixed blades and always a folder, as I understand it. hen off duty, I know that he carries at least a Commander.
I agree that if one really needs the speed, then fixed is a better option than an open folder! I myself don't understand open folder carry sheaths. But as far as fast opening folders go, I think that a wave opening properly done si going to be faster than opening a non-waved folder, for the most part.
But all of that doesn't really matter if one doesn't train like things are on the street. Standing in front of the t.v. practicing quick draw/open is good practice indeed. But on the street you have bad guys coming at you. Maybe your hear rate is high and you are out of breath from trying to run away but now you are backed into a corner. And so on. These situations should be acted out on the mat. You have to add a lot of stress to the situation and see hwo fast you can pull out your knife. From my own training I've changed a lot of things. I don;t like high riding fixed blades. My hand naturally goes lower when I'm stressed- I think I hunch over a bit. Makes sense, as my body is trying to protect itself. Therefore, with fixed carry I need a lower riding sheath. With folders I found that when stress is introduced, it is easy to miss grabbing the folder if it is a "low ride" folder. Low ride means there is less sticking up for me to grab on to. Many times my thumb would miss getting into my pocket too in trying to pull out my folder. I also learned that I liek thumb studs better than opening holes. I can find the stud and flick the knife open faster, as I don't have to push my thumb over as far (it feels awkward) to engage a hole. I also like doing a technique that Steve Tarani descrbes. I draw my left arm/hand across my stomach while I draw my folder with my right hand. This I feel covers up my body better, and seems to make the opening flow better for me. On a side note, notice that witht he wave opening, you remove one element of fine motor skills needes on fast openings. With no thumb stud/disk/hole needed for opening, all you have to do is grab and stab!
All of those issues need to be sorted out on the mat. Though quick draw may not be needed in 98 out of 100 altercations, often it is th quick draw that tilts the odds in your favour in thse other 2 situations. From my own readings of knife instructors, folks who have been in knife fights, police officers, etc, I find it necessary to prepare for the 2% of altercations whre quick draw is necessary.
Than said, does anyone know a good reason to carry a folder open? About the only thing that makes sense to me is that you can own one knife, and treat it as a fixed blade and as a folder. But that, I'd say, is nuts! If you're going to carry a folder open, why not get a knife with the best lock ever: the Fix-T lock! hehe
