Dad's Knife

Dad's Knife:
This taken is from my website: www.fairbairnsykesfightingknives.com
Here’s a story about an unlikely knife that went to war. My father was a career officer in the US Army and made three tours to Vietnam. He was often in the very thick of it including hand-to-hand combat. During one assault by the VC he used his M-16 rifle on full auto until it burned out, then he used a picked-up VC rifle as a club until it broke and finally after night fell they got down to fighting H2H with a knife.

Back in 1967 before he went to Vietnam and ended up in that major assault he saw a Schrade “Sharp Finger” hunting knife that I had and asked me if he could have that knife to take with him. Ever since I was a young child he would bring me a knife home from his summer training at Fort Drum, NY so it was my pleasure to give the Schrade to him. After he had been over in Vietnam for a while he wrote to me and asked if I could send him another one. Luckily I had received one as a bonus for subscribing to “Guns and Ammo” so I sent that one along too. In 1993 my father passed away and his new son (my Vietnamese stepbrother) kept most of his belongings.

Fast forward another 18 years to today. Tragically my stepbrother died very unexpectedly and my Dad’s Vietnamese wife asked me if I would like to have the knife back that I had given dad. She returned the Schrade G&A “Sharp Finger” which was one of the knives that Dad actually carried. He also carried a Russell “Yukon Skinner” I sent him on one of his tours. Dad had a strange preference in fighting knives, but one thing I do know, he said “The only thing you ever need to know about knife fighting is to never get into one.” That’s good advice from a man who had been there and done it. Miss you dad.

He retired as a Lt. Colonel with (3) Bronze Stars, Air Medal, VN Cross of Gallantry, Purple Heart, and many other combat awards.

Major Cleavage

No you naughty boys, I am not talking about that kind of clevage, but it sure got your attention! I am talking about my latest cleaver style fighting knife from Channing Watson. This is the same talented maker who made the nasty looking hawkbill knife and also the very exotic push dagger for me. I saw one Channing had made on the USN forum for another member and I asked him to make me one with a few changes. I wanted the clip angled back slightly more than the other knife and I also wanted the clip sharpened.

As you can see Channing makes an awesome cleaver style knife just waiting to carve up Zombies or other brain dead looters, gangsters, etc. He made the nine inch long by two inch wide blade with just a little sweep so that it will slice better and then he put a very sharp edge on it. The clip is not quite as sharp but it will improve penetration, which is what I was looking for. The frosted hamon wraps back around the tip and up the clip point contrasting nicely with the rest of the highly polished blade. The sculpted black micarta handle scales provide a comfortable and firm grip. They are firmly attached to the full tang which is drilled for a thong hole. The overall length of the cleaver is fourteen inches

The Watson cleaver came with a fitted light weight kydex sheath. No bulk and just enough tension to hold it securely in place. I have attached a simple nylon belt loop. The knife is very active and fast in the hand. There is enough weight-forward for chopping and good sweep for slicing. Cleavers are not sexy looking but like a machete, a bolo, or a smatchet, you can bet they’ll make an awful mess. Thanks Channing for another super knife. Here is a website for Mr. Watson

http://www.havocworks.com

James Williams Hisshou

I thought I would do a review of the Hisshou from CRKT. Like the Hissatsu it is a James Williams’ creation, founder and CEO of Bugei Trading Company. Part of my reason for reviewing this knife now is to respond to a few reviews posted on Amazon.com about the knife. A couple of the reviewers slammed the knife as being too big, or too curved, or having a number of other professed faults. I bought mine quite a few months ago and I have no complaints. Have I carried it into battle yet? No. Have I carried it on my belt to the mall to show off my manliness? No, I rather think the police would object to that Mall Ninja sort of activity.
Let’s get real, James Williams designed this as a combat knife, pure and simple. For those who bought it to trim your toenails or open your mail I am sorry you foolishly wasted your money. The Hisshou is big, it is a wakizashi sized knife, a veritable short sword. It will carry best when attached to your web gear, back pack, or armor carrier, not dangling off your waist with your pants hanging down ‘round your crotch. Like most edged weapons today it is a weapon of last resort. If your M-4 is dead, your Beretta is out of ammo, and no one is able to bail you out, then this knife is your next go-to-weapon. One reviewer complained about the quality and I have no idea what he was talking about. For a production knife this is a superbly built weapon, and as such you are going to pay a fairly hefty price.



Yes it is more radically curved than many fighting knives. This curvature will, in the right hands, make it a superb slashing knife. Does the curvature prevent launching stabbing attacks with it? NO, it may force you to work on your technique some. Obviously the Hisshou is not a dagger nor a stiletto, but it will stab. Every weapon has its weak and strong points and it is up to the warrior to best determine how to maximize the performance. One of the more exotic fighting knives in my collection, the Kamaitachi, is a Laci Szabo design. When I asked Laci about its proper use he replied that he thought it was self-evident. Translation: you figure it out stupid. Work with it and it will tell you how it likes to be manipulated. Same thing for the Hisshou, work with it some see what it can do.
My very first thought when handling my Hisshou was that a mid-sized version would be absolutely perfect, like Goldilocks, the bears, and the porridge. Well evidently James heard what people were thinking and, along with CRKT, he produced the Shinbu. Am I going to buy a Shinbu? You bet I am, because I have always gravitated toward 9-10 inch blades in fighting knives as being optimum. That does not in any way diminish my opinion of the Hisshou.

As usual I am less enthusiastic over the sheath and its attachment system. Admittedly you can adjust the belt loop up and down or lace the sheath to your web gear but I am not sure what the little strap’s purpose is. It would make more sense to include some molle straps. In its defense the sheath body is well made. The overall length of the Hisshou is 18.5 inches with a blade length of 12 inches. The sori (depth of curve) is almost 7/16 of an inch. The Hisshou is not an EDC knife but in no way do I regret buying this knife. But I think the Shinbu would be a better compromise.