A Knife Fit for the Gods

Finally a review of the Erebus from Spartan Blades.
I am partial to tanto inspired blades and this one is a big hit with me. In fact it constantly resides in the gear bag that I haul to the dojo on Monday nights for knife defense class. I called Spartan Blades and asked them if they had a "second" that I could use and abuse. They had one and their only request was that I never sell it because it was flawed. Had I not been told where to look I would not have found the "flaw." Most companies would have sold this knife as first quality without a moment’s hesitation. Such is the standard of excellence that Mark Carey and Curtis Iovito have set for their products. To learn more about these men check out their website. http://spartanbladesusa.com/cart/index.php

The Erebus is fairly straight bladed and has the typical, more American than Japanese, armor piercing tip. That’s OK we were raised on Cold Steel’s tanto design and that is what the average American expects in a tanto. My Erebus has the sand colored coating that I find attractive and which has resisted scuffing during the many thrusts I have made into the cardboard boxes I use for practice.
The lines are very dynamic, fairly bursting with latent energy. This is a knife that is ready and waiting to be used. My first round of tests showed that having a straight edge did not hinder its cutting ability. The Erebus cut through my standard pool noodles with cool aplomb, no fuss, no problem. Thrusts? What do you think? One look at the lines told me that it would point and track right where I wanted it to. Penetration with the Erebus is excellent. While I gravitate toward fighting knives with blades in the 9-10 inch length I realize this is not a convenient size to carry into combat. The Erebus has more than enough blade to reach any internal organ, even through heavier clothing.

The low profile handle is well designed, ergonomic, and sized to comfortably fit all but the largest hands. The guys at Spartan Blades did their research and it paid off. The point of balance falls right at the single finger groove making the knife lively in the hand. The kydex sheath is extremely well built and securely holds the knife in place, even without using the velcro strap. The only suggestion I have is to offer the sheath with the web belt loop and a smaller rubber loop, the type I find preferable for IWB use. The standard set-up is suitable for field and military use but not concealed civilian carry, and yes some of us do carry knives that large. So…..The Erebus is a Great knife, and Mark and Curtis are great people to deal with! Based on my experience I highly recommend any of the Spartan Blades products. That is exactly why we are carrying them on our website.

East Coast Custom Knife Show 2009

EECKS


We’ll be at the NYC East Coast Custom Knife Show from Friday Feb 27th-March 1st. It is being held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Times Square Manhattan 1605 Broadway @ 49th St. NY, NY



Please come see us and help break the boredom! We will have the following for sale:
6 Cobras
3 Sandow Vipers
2 Sandow hunters
2 Sandow combat knives
2 Parkinson Fairbairns
Copies of our Book "The Rhythm of One"
Come enjoy the company of knife loving folks and what’s new in the world of sharp. for more info

http://www.ecckshow.com/#home

The Knowing Smile

The Knowing Smile:

You’ve seen it, the knowing smile. It is the Mona Lisa smirk that people in- the-know use when they are being insufferably condescending. The line usually goes something like, "Oh you teach knife defense, how nice." Then the dialogue devolves into their extensive real life experiences, and unless you’ve been there you cannot possibly know what to do or how you will react. Ok, fine. Now that the posturing is over, pray tell me great master what it is that I do not understand, and how do I make up for my terminal deficiencies?

"It is all about awareness and observation," they will sagely tell you. Sure that is where it all starts but what should I do once the awareness and observation stage has passed and the bad guy has pulled a knife? Well…. they will roll off their honeyed tongue, if you had been aware, you would not have gone to that club, pub, restaurant, ATM, etc on such and such a day or phase of the moon. What were you possible thinking? Ok so I admit I was stupid and I ask your forgiveness, but the guy has pulled a knife, what should I do? Well…..and it goes on like this for the entire conversation, article, or website. By the time you have listened to them drone on and on you will have been stabbed multiple times, bled out, and stiffened in rigor mortise. Getting back to my own little artificial training world.

Nope I have never killed anyone with a knife, nor have I been killed in said manner, therefore I do not know how I would react to being killed. So if you train with me you are definitely taking your chances. If you don’t train with anyone will your chances improve? I think that is what the knowing, smiling people are saying. If I got it right all you need is to be aware and observant and take their classes on observation and integrating mind, body and spirit. Great, I am sure that integrating stuff will stop a speeding bullet or a flashing knife. You might have guessed that I just read another article on what professes to be about the "realities" of knife fighting, but it sure seems more like a guide to meditation/mindfulness. Their business ad offers to teach you about "living fully alive," (as opposed to living fully dead?) and "martial kinematics." You know, all I was hoping to find was one useful self-defense technique or concept. What was I thinking? They got me, I should have been more observant.

Keep smiling : )

Sentiment du Fer

Sentiment du Fer: feeling the blade
I am not a skilled fencer by any stretch of the imagination. But I have taken a few classes and read many texts on foil fencing and rapier fencing. (I have even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express or two.) Aside from the length of blade, there are many similarities between fencing and dagger or knife fighting. You will note the motto "In Ferro Veritas" posted on our website, in steel there is truth. We believe this, and that the steel in a person is shown by their actions on the fencing strip, in the kendo hall, or the dojo.

While reading "The Inner Game of Fencing" by Nick Evangelista, I came across another term I had not heard in quite a long time, that being "Sentiment du Fer" or vulgarly translated, feeling the blade. To quote Sir Richard Francis Burton,

"The sentiment du fer is that supreme art of digitation which is to the complete swordsman what the touch of the pulse is, or rather was, to the old physician who disclaims the newfangled thermometer. It begins to make itself felt as soon as the blades come into contact. Essential to the highest development of our art, it is the result of happy natural disposition, of long study, and of persevering attention. To the hand it gives lightness and that indescribable finesse which guide the cue of the billiard player; to the passes it communicates quickness directed by an appreciation of the case which can hardly be subjected to analysis. It is that mysterious résumé of delicate manipulation, of practised suppleness in wrist and forearm, and of precision in movement, which makes the adversary feel powerless before it, which startles at the same time that it commands him. No quality in a swordsman is more rarely found in any degree approaching perfection."

It would be extremely uncommon for two knife duelists to physically cross blades before engaging. But is there a sentiment du fer that extends beyond the tip of the blade, whether sword or knife? At what point does the engagement actually begin in time and space? These are questions worth exploring and their investigation part of my raison d’etre.

The Image is from Camillo Agrippa's manual

No Time for Class

No Time for Class:
I must be doing something wrong. This time I lost a new knife student after only two classes. Now this is the same guy who emailed me and said "I want you to know I really really want to learn this." Yeh well horse-pucky. My dad used to say "people in Hell want ice water."
What some people don’t understand is that wanting is not enough. You have to do more than want. I want a bright red Ferrari Enzo but it ain’t gonna happen unless I give some guy about $200,000. Wanting and having require working. Did I offend you I know that is a terribly nauseating thought. Ahh…what’d you say? Oh I see, you just don’t have time for it.
But seriously, I really want to be a lethal master of defense, a knifer extraordinaire. Really? Prove it to me. Come train with me and get dumped on the floor, get your knuckles rapped, or your wrist bent. I don’t have all the answers but I can guarantee that watching U-tube isn’t going to make you into a knife-fighter. Ah hell it doesn’t matter to me if no one wants to learn this stuff. Someday it’ll be illegal to defend yourself anyway. Maybe sooner than you think. Too bad you didn’t have some time.

Image by Salvadore dali

New Page

Hey!

Come take another look at our website. We have added a new page listing current events and things to come. This is also the best way to keep track of our new product offering. For example, this month if you purchase $300 or more from our website we will include a Nemesis Ti-card absolutely free of charge. (The free one is the plain version without bottle-opener.) This is a $25 item! Check out and the new page and give us your feedback.

New Cobras are on the way and new custom fighters and Bowies will be added soon. We are also going to offer shoulder sheaths as an option for the new Cobras. This month we shipped knives and books to Oregon, Nevada, and Italy. People are finding our website and finding good deals. Thanks for looking and for your continued patronage. We appreciate your support.

http://www.whiteshadowsecurity.com/