[RSSZ]

Streight blade is measured from the point to the hilt. Doesn't matter weather it's sharpened or not. Although I never could understand why the heck someone would want a blade that is half sharp. It's double edged for me !! --------

 

[RSSZ]

Sorry Euc,should have mentioned that my blade is carried so it can be used before or after my Kimber. The blade is (I think) strong enough to penetrate an eye socket,front of the neck, or kidneys, clavical artery or brachial artery. I do not use my carry blade for striping wire,opening birthday presents,coring apples, cleaning my fingernails or caping animals.
I do not carry a blade so I will be able to loan it to anybody or so they can"see it".
My blade is carried just as concealed as my firearm and I treat it (like my firearm)as a CONCEALED WEAPON. -------

 

[RSSZ]

Bowie Knife, one of the "greatest fighting blades in history"?
IMO, no way ~ no how. How many men carried a TRUE Bowie??
The ones that did, what was it used for?? As the very last resort,fightin' knife.
There are some great single edged knives out there, but not as (strictly) fighters.
If I could only carry one blade, and it had to chop wood, hammer/beat/pound stuff, process a whole buffalo (including breaking the bones), and the other daily chores that the men of the old west had to do, I would probably carry a Bowie also.
There are some great single edged blades out there that are considered fighters.
The old style Randall fighter comes to mind.
The Randall that I chose was the Mod 14 Attack. It had a well sharpened 1/3 back edge. It was thick, heavy, very well made, and tough as nails.
The knife is 38 years old and is still the blade that I would choose to go into battle with.
It was my "Bowie Knife". The one knife that did it all.
Those of you out there that carry the folders, them little box cutters/Xacto Knives, and the other little cutting implements, are carrying you own version of the Bowie knife.
You're carrying a blade to be pulled/used in your daily activities. A blade that will do everything that you want it to do.
But, seriously,think about it, if you knew that you were gonna be drawn into a KNIFE FIGHT today, would you choose to be caught holding a "box cutter"???
Some of you carry 2 or 3 guns and 50 rds of ammo but will be content to carry a 2-3 inch single edged blade. (Actually,thinkin' on it,maybe that's why you carry them "box cutters")
I understand that your local laws dictate what some of you can carry.
This is not to be critical of the means/methods that you have chosen for you and your families self defense.
As I do, carry what you feel that you will need to do the best that you can, to defend yourself and your family.
After all, when the real SHTF, you don't want to be left standing there with your ____ in your hand. ------

 

[RSSZ]

KPT, Your absolutely right ref. the back cut.(although I call it something else) During training/sparing with my buddies wearing our black long sleve shirts,and using a training knife with chalked double edged blade,we get"cut" more that you can imagine. After an encounter with our pardner, our forearms,back of the hands,tricep areas,and thigh area has more white marks that we care to admit or make excuses for. But chalk don't lie. With a good double edged blade and some training in the art of the back cut(slash),fightin' a street punk would be almost too easy. The blood flowing from his forearms and the loss of mobility would quickly drain him of his resolve. Of course this is not a given so..........train hard,fight easy. ------