Magnum Opus

“Magnum opus (plural: magna opera, also opus magnum / opera magna), from the Latin meaning "great work",[1] refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, composer or craftsman.”  Source Wikipedia

Here we have a pairing of Magnum Opus, great works, the Anaconda .44 Magnum by Colt Industries and the Crossada by Bob Dozier. The James Keating designed Crossada is beyond the pale (in a good sense) surpassing the standards of most common fighting knives.

My first impressions were mixed as I picked it up and hefted it. I say hefted because it is a stout knife intended to drive through muscle and bone. Once again I cussed my small, short-fingered hands. The micarta scaled handle is well contoured and pleasantly shaped but just a tad too big for me. I will adapt, because the knife is awesome and cries out to be worked with. The name engraved in the blade is descriptive of the knife’s other unique attribute, the screw-in cross guard (quillons). Once installed, the blade and guard, as seen from the pointy end, are cruciform in shape

Having re-watched the Crossada DVD by James Keating I am anxious to give it a go. I bought the DVD many years ago but for some reason I bought many knives other than a Crossada. My Lamey Bowies are works of art and serious fighting knives and the Crossada is very utilitarian looking by comparison. Well that is what it is, a tool, a functional weapon that has something no other knife has, “blade catchers.” So why is that a big deal? The blade catchers provide you with a mean of catching and stripping your attacker of his own weapon. Would you not agree that is monumental?
Check here for some fine training DVDs on this knife and other related topics:

http://www.alliancemartialarts.com/dvd%20catalog/All%20Pete%20Kautz%20Alliance%20DVDs.htm
My next move is to order a trainer from Laci Szabo and then find someone willing to practice against a Crossada trainer. http://szaboinc.com/home.asp  I'll do a full report once I have spent some meaningful time with the legendary Crossada. Thanks Master Keating for a knife with such potential.

Knife Sale

By week's end I am going to list a bunch of knives for sale so start saving your pennies. Sales will be based on the first timestamp committing to buying the knife not just an "I'm interested." These knives are all first quality with no abuse or wear. Many were bought simply to let me play with them for critiquing in our up-coming book. Prices will be very close to my purchase price, no gouging or silly mark-ups, just recovering my expenditure. I am giving my readers first choice before I list them on the forums or ebay. If you are looking for something special email me at ghdave2@hotmail.com and I'll let you know if it is one of the knives going on the block.

This n That

I have a couple things on my mind. One is the huge increase in the number of counterfeit knives on Ebay. Where are they coming from? What do you think? They're all coming from China. I am sick of chinese forgeries and copycat products. Now a seller in canada is carrying them so when it says imported it doesn't mean imported from Canada, it is from CHINA and then canada. My wife and I are boycotting everthing Chinese made that we can. Sometimes it just means doing without. Several of the Chinese knives were stunning copies and I would have liked to buy, but still its unethical. I continue to contact Ebay but it seems the knives continue to proliferate. They are counterfeiting Kiku Matsuda, Walter Brend, Strider, Mark Terrell, Richard Derespina, and Spartan Blades heavily. Spartan Blades is run by two American Veterans and their products are all american made, from all american materials. Great guys to buy from, so don't support the chinese rip-off artists, BUY AMERICAN.

NEXT:
http://times247.com/articles/social-security-admin-requests-massive-amounts-of-ammo

http://blog.alexanderhiggins.com/2012/08/13/dhs-purchase-750-million-rounds-ammo-167361/

Have you seen the disturbing news about the hundreds of millions of rounds of ammo that the Dept of Homeland Security and other branches of govt are buying? Yes hundreds of millions of rounds of hollow point handgun ammo and ammo for what they call "Assault Rifles," (thats the term they use if we own them.) Did you wonder why ammo prices are going up and supply is getting more limited again? Today this unhappy news was followed up by a small news story about the Social Security Administration buying 147,000 rounds of hollow point ammo in one order. More to follow? The question begs asking, WHY does the SSA need a half a million rounds of ammo? Is there something coming we are not being prepared for?
Now keep in mind that it is against the Geneva Convention to use hollow point ammo against foreign enemies. Let me say that again, it is against the Geneva Convention to use hollow point ammo against foreign enemies. Chew on that for a while and see how well you digest it. This news story hit my stomach like a cup of 8 hour old coffee.

Finally: On a more pleasant note, I just got back from a trip to Barnes and Noble. I bought a copy of "Strategy in Japanese Swordsmanship" by Nicklaus Suino, and a new translation of "the Book of Five Rings" by David K Groff. This is probably the 8th translation I have of Musashi's famous treatise on strategy.  Why my interest in these two books. Well my previous post tells you that I have been training in Iaido and Kenjutsu for many years. But there is another reason or two. Musashi's book, like Sun Tszu's, is timeless in its myriad applications of strategy that go beyond merely swinging a sword. This copy is hardbound and very nicely illustrated for $25.

Next, several years ago Suino sensei wrote a book on Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu swordsmanship that laid out the techniques using pictographs or stick people drawings. I did not find that one too appealing. This book though is ilustrated with actual photos of the techniques in 2-3 steps,  This is adequate for you to get a feel for the techniques but certainly far from making you into a master swordsman. The text though carries enough weight to make it educational and worth the $25 price tag. (Idiot, Amazon has the same book for $9.98.) OK so anyway, why books on swordsmanship, not in my style, and when my focus has been on knife-fighting for so many years?

Here is why. Most forums, experts, and instructors will tell you that learning any form of swordsmanship is a waste of time when it comes to street self-defense. I am on the opposite side of that debate. Many sword techniques, good ones anyway, can directly translate into knife techniques and even some empty hand techniques. Problem is..... not many teachers care to investigate anything outside of their style or comfort zone. This concept of using sword techniques is part of the text in my coming book. Inside it I will explain why this is true and how to apply it. Still a ways from being finished, but the text is done, leaving the photos of the techniques to be taken. Someday I'll get it finished, hopfully not posthumously.

Now the Rest of the Story

I suppose there comes a time in everyone's life when they wonder what they have achieved in life. I am approaching 64 years old, and sometimes I wonder. Have I wasted a lifetime making a living? Was it all worth the struggle? What do I have to show for it, and all of those other meaning of life questions.

As you have probably guessed I have a lot of knives to show for it. In fact how does one explain to the wife how three Fairbairn~Sykes knives show up in the mail in two days? OOPS! Bad timing I guess. But there has to be more in the end than just things. Having Things is good but what else have I accomplished? Winning a free trip to Vietnam in the SeaBees in 1968. There are things and times that stand out that are more pleasant. Meeting my wife while I was stationed at Camp David, MD. Staying married for 42 years now. Driving in my first Sports Car Club of America race, even more so the first one I won. Working as crew for McLaren Racing and as crew chief for Budweiser Racing. The birth of our daughter who became my greatest treasure and closest friend. Really earning my Black Belt in GoJu Ryu karate after training for five years as a white belt. My daughter and I training in Japan with Yagyu Nobuharu and Yagyu Koichi Sensei, those are some wonderful memories. My wife was along for the fun side of it.

Back in the early years of my marriage I built custom muzzle-loading rifles as a hobby, about 30 of them. By the time I quit I was actually getting pretty good. Working weekends as a 19th cent gunmaker at the Genesse Country Museum I learned about how many stupid questions the public can ask. Who says there is no such thing as a stupid question? Studying the Old Celtic faith with a childhood mentor for nearly 35 years and finally being ordained as a priest (yes Celtic priests are allowed to marry). Good God what a night that was! Performing a few weddings and all too many funerals. Writing my first knife defense book, "The Rhythm of One" and seeing it come together with the help of my daughter/editor who was by this time a Nidan in Karate and a far better swordsman than I. 2010, spending a week in North Carolina with my daughter at the Blackwater Training facility practicing, Tactical Carbine drills, a really great time but don't expect to find any good restaurants in the area.

The last great time I had was in 2011 at the Storm Mountain Training Facility near Elk View, WV. I was there with my buddy, yep my daughter, taking a long range Precision Rifle class. That was when, after 50 years of shooting a rifle, I finally learned how to correct for wind and elevation at long ranges. Using "kentucky windage" doesn't work too good when the target is only 2 feet square and 800 yards away. You'll be hearing more about Storm Mountain in the coming days. Last and far from least my daughter's marriage to a man worthy of her hand, another kindred warrior I am proud to have as a son.

For all of you who have been dedicated readers, enjoyed my knife posts, endured my political rants, and stayed through it all, now as Paul Harvey would say, "you know the rest of the story." So far its been a pretty good one.

fairbairn website

I  have finally added some new stuff on our fairbairn website. It is located under ww-II knives/second pattern/named knives. I also added a short piece under the cast handle section on a new knife which is theater made. More of the post war 7/8 size knives will be added soon under the section on post-war knives. Enjoy! http://www.fairbairnsykesfightingknives.com/index.html