Getting the Point: The Knives We Carry and Why
By Kregg P.J. JorgensonLet’s face it, these days folding clip-on knives are as much a part of our duty uniform as ball point pens. While neither is issued both are everyday practical and useful tools on the job.
In Law Enforcement circles we carry knives primarily for two reasons; utility use and last resort self defense. Either we’re using them to slice up donuts or we’re in a life or death struggle where we hope the knife will make the critical difference when we can’t get to our service weapons. And like knowing which pens won’t leak in our pockets or break apart while we’re using them we need to feel the same about the clip-on knives we carry, if only for a more important reason.
“Whoa! Time out!”
“What?”
“My…eh,…knife just broke. It fell apart so can we continue this fight another time?”
“You kiddin’ me?”
“No. Look at this piece of crap…the locking screw’s loose, the blade won’t open, and the mark of excellence fell off.”
“Lemme see. Where’d you get it?”
“Flea market. $9.99, two for $18. Three for $25 if I ordered the 3-D Hollywood commando Action Hero glitter sheath.”
“Cool!”
Actually, it isn’t because that’s not how it works in real life. There are few, in any second chances, when it comes to life and death struggles. There are no time outs and no do-overs. There are only winners and losers where the only real trophy is survival. Unfortunately today, there are few, in any uniform standards when it comes to clip-on folding knives. Most departments or agencies offer tacit approval for the knives while providing little to no real training or policy on when or how to use them.
Sure, there are a few basic defensive moves taught in many Academy settings or as occasional alternate training but for the most part officers are left on their own when it comes to proper knife handling or learning thorough and combat competent level training, let alone which knives to carry and why. Still, the tacit or quiet approval is given because the clip-on knives offer multiple uses, whether it’s cutting through seat belts at an accident scene, handling dangerous powders and substances, or meeting any number of field utilitarian needs.
Tactically, the clip-on folding knives offer a more crucial use such as in a life or death situation where it appears that a bad guy has got the upper hand on an officer’s weapon in a struggle and something has to be done and done quickly.
Statistically, six percent of officers who are killed in the line of duty die when the bad guy wrestles away the officer’s weapon and uses it against him or her. While that number is down from the 20% figure that used to loom like a dark cloud over Defensive Tactics training it is still high enough to present a serious concern for Master Defensive Tactics instructors. As many dedicated Master D-T Instructors continue to add and argue for more advanced level training, equipment, and time officers are left to seek outside training on their own dime and whenever they can fit it into their work schedules.
But a good first step has to do with equipment, as in what kind of folding knife are you carrying and why? And to better answer several of the basic questions or in the very least to offer some qualified opinions I took my questions to several professional and distinguished knife experts.
First, I went to Steven Dick, the Editor of the highly acclaimed Tactical Knives Magazine. Steve Dick though is more than just a magazine editor or knife aficionado. During the peak of the Vietnam War Steve Dick served as a LRRP in combat with E Company, 20th Infantry, later re-designated as the legendary Charlie Company-Rangers, 75th Infantry. He took part in the usually deadly and always dangerous behind the lines long range five to six man patrols that gave meaning to the phrase silent and deadly. That experience, combined with his decades of knowledge in the tactical knife business carries the kind of weight worth listening to.
Next, I contacted Datu Kelly S. Worden of Natural Spirit International. A highly talented all around fighter and life-long American combatives martial artist Worden is the former weapons editor of Full Contact magazine and Fighting Knives magazine. Proclaimed by the late Professor Remy Presas as the first American Datu and Senior Blademaster of Modern Arnis Worden over the last four years also has served as a Combatives instructor for the 62nd USAF Combat Controllers at McChord Air Force Base and for the last seven as a Combatives Instructor for the U.S. Army’s 1st Special Forces Group at Ft. Lewis, Washington. In addition he has designed the WORTAC tactical folder fighting knife for Timberline Knives. The term ‘Datu’ by the way means Chief or Tribal leader in one Filipino dialect and usually means Master level or more in stick and knife fighting. It is a high honor and not an easy rank or title to obtain.
Finally, I called on Arrestling Founder and SWAT team entry specialist Don Gulla and Gary Drake (who is also the President of Raider Tactical Training) for their combined input. Gulla’s Arrestling System, a police based martial art using duty gear, red guns, and training knives, has been credited with saving the lives of dozens of officers in violent street encounters. Gulla has just been awarded a Sixth Dan Shihan Master’s level certificate from Dutch Judo/Karate fighting legend, Jon Bluming. Bluming who was awarded 9th an d 10th Dans in Judo and Karate by the Japanese, is highly regarded in that nation gave us the term, Budo.
Gary Drake’s Close-Quarters Confined Space Survival Tactics Seminars has received acclaim and recognition for its overall effectiveness and application. Master DT Instructor and mixed martial artist Gary Drake was also honored by Bluming as a ‘real fighter’ and Bluming should know as his students have included Chris Dolman, a three time World Sambo champion and Willem Ruska, two time Olympic Judo Champion. By the way, one of Dolman’s former students is Ultimate Fighter Bas Rutten.
Both Gulla and Drake are veteran law enforcement professionals and Master DT Instructors whose real-world fighting experience and on-the-job encounters only add more credence to the renowned panel. Let’s begin with Steven Dick.
When asked why an officer (or civilian too, for that matter) should carry a good quality knife he said this: “A knife is probably the most useful all-purpose tool anyone can have on them. The more you carry one, the more uses you eventually find for it.”
The former Army Combat Ranger added, “Good quality for the same reason. As much as possible you want to eliminate equipment failure from your problems.
“My pick for the everyday carry would be the Spyderco Delica, Endura and Military modes (both sizes), Cold Steel Large Voyager, Columbia River M-16 and M-21 series, most of the larger Benchmades, Buck/Strider Police and Military, Foster M1911, BladeTech Pro Hunter, Ontario Rat Model 1 folder, Blackhawk Crucible, Lone Wolf/Harsey Tac Hunter, Al Mar SERE 2000, or Kershaw Zero Tolerance,” he said, listing the reliable folding knives and their manufacturers.
He also added “that there were others I could have added to the list since there are many good knives out there.”
When Kelly S. Worden was asked which knife was the ‘best’ he smiled knowingly. “What’s the best knife to use?” he said. “It’s whatever knife you happen to be carrying when you need it,” he said, matter of fact. Worden’s qualifying comments though rely on quality as being the deciding factor adding that “during evaluations, I also put a great deal of weight on the technical input provided by trusted colleagues also involved in the knife industry.”
“Bringing custom to customer, Benchmade Knives, the “made in the U.S.A.” company stepped up to the plate and collaborated with Bill McHenry and Jason Williams making the model 710 Axis Lock Tactical Folder. I also recently acquired the Benchmade Mel Pardue model of the Axis Lock #0317 of the pre-production run and find it to be of equal quality and another fine example of tactical carry efficiency.
“Additional knife companies that offer good edged steel at reasonable prices are, of course, Sal Glessor and Spyderco,” he said. “Ken Onion and Kershaw have teamed up to produce a multitude of dynamic blades all providing serious quality, unique design variables, and of course the patented assisted opening mechanism that has impacted the knife industry in a very serious manner.”
Worden also spoke highly of Ernie Emerson and his knife designs, Jim Keating, a legend in knife combative circles, and his knife designs from Spyderco and. M.O.D. (Masters of Defense), and Sypderco’s and M.O.D. products from Mike Janich.
I also asked Worden about his own WORTAC knife from Timberline. WORTAC in the acronym for Worden’s Optimal Response Tactics, which is receiving great reviews and international acceptance as a utilitarian tactical folder for civilian, police and military users.
“It’s a large lightweight sub-hilt, pistol-grip tactical folder,” he said. “The large WORTAC offers a 3.9 inch flat ground AUS 8 blade with a re-curve cutting edge with a deep belly depth of one and a half inches,” explained Worden. “The handle length is a full five and a half inches and three quarters of an inch in thickness.”
The WORTAC comes in large and small models and offers a host of other practical features for a versatile personal carry folder including a subtle taper drop point tip that compliments the grind lines and overall appearance of the non-glare bead-blasted tactical blade. A drop butt handle allows for a no-nonsense comfortable grip equally secure when held in standard, saber, or reverse grip.
“Regardless of what knife we carry we should not forget our position in the eyes of the law,” added Worden. “The level of force implemented to detour the aggressor will be in direct reflection to the depth of our personal responsibilities.”
To this end Worden employs the Filipino martial art defensive concept of ‘de-fanging the snake’, which means you take only what is given to neutralize the threat. “It’s a logical approach, both legally and morally,” added the senior blademaster.
SWAT Entry Specialist Don Gulla and Raider Tactical’s Gary Drake are two law enforcement Master D-T Instructors who constantly in search of effective ways to improve officer safety. When it comes to fighting knives both officers are quick to point to quality knives like SOG, Benchmade, Emerson and Ka-Bar TDI. “They’re consistent in their quality and what’s more they’re well aware of law enforcement wants and needs and have designed products to meet those needs.”
Drake cites Spenser Frazer at SOG Knives for really listening to the Police and Military communities in coming up with new, efficient and innovative quality knives designed to meet their crucial wants and needs.
Both Gulla and Drake were instrumental in helping to bring about SOG’s SEAL Pup Elite, the Pentagon, Assisted Opening Flash and training knife designs.
“We wanted knives that law enforcement officers could rely and count on when they needed them,” said Drake. While some point to cost as being a factor when it comes to carrying a quality folding knife Gulla listens understandably and then asks the critical question- “How much is your life worth to you?”
Note that the common theme among these talented professionals is the word ‘Good quality’ in front of the word knife. Heed their words, take their training classes when available, and subscribe to magazines such as Tactical Knives to keep up on the latest innovations, training, or issues.
In closing keep in mind the old Chinese proverb that says ‘When two tigers fight, one will be killed and the other badly mauled.’ The same applies to any life or death struggle you encounter in the streets. With the right training, tools and mind-set you will survive but you’ll also carry your scars.
To carry less scars, carry the right kind of equipment.
