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.