My recent article on the Cold Steel ODA brought out some comments from Maajak World readers. While most agreed with my views on the R-1, ODA and Randall #1 ........ they also had questions about another very popular Cold Steel knife, the OSS subhilt fighter. This review will also encompass the Big Bear Classic from Cold Steel as well. (plus, any other knife that would fit the sub-hilt description). I will focus on the Cold Steel versions because of their quality and ease of aquistion. But, for the sake of balance and general information I will also mention a few other subhilt models that are available for purchase in todays ever-growing cutlery market. I hope you enjoy !
So let's get going with this Maajak World look at
one of the most misunderstood knives on the rack !
First developed by Bob Loveless, one of the founding members of the knife maker's guild, the Black Bear Classic is perhaps the quintessential combat knife. Its 8" blade offers excellent reach, and the sub hilt practically eliminates the possibility of the hand being dislodged or coming into contact with the blade. The cost-effective twin of the above mentioned BBC is the OSS subhilt fighter offers all the advantages and performance of a custom knife at a fraction of the price. The double edged blade is made of Carbon V steel for strength and edge retention and comes razor sharp. For the ultimate grip the handle, guard, and subhilt are injection molded in one integral piece of Kraton. This saves unnecessary costs while delivering the durability, security, and control the subhilt is famous for. To house the blade safely, yet leave it ready for instant use, every OSS comes with a high tech tactical style sheath made of Secure-Ex and Cordura.
OSS Sub-Hilt Fighter
in the field
Sleek & Graceful
a steel shark w/ a
trigger to twitch .....
The "subhilt fighter" (SHF) is a knife that doesn't appeal to everyone. Some men swear by them. Other men say they are awkward and tempermental. Some men even claim a SHF is a liability in close-quarter combat and get this, for the very same reason that those who prefer a SHF would recommend one ! Let me explain further and see if you agree or not.
A SHF has real positive grip-lock. This isn't a knife for doing the Comtech six-part dexterity drill with ! Like many knives, this is a one grip type of handle. As the index finger wraps about the lower trigger one hell of a firm grip is established. But, being so "locked-in" as it were, it also causes some concerns about having your digit broken. Being inside the arc of the subhilt is a lot like being inside the trigger guard on a pistol. A knife can be wrenched during a disarm attempt or when bound up in fabric etc. If this happens, yes, the finger can be wrenched or broken. But, over these many, many years now have I not always stressed that the grip of a knifeman as being of paramount importance ?
Indeed I have ! So let us make the "one-grip" aspect & the "locked-in" aspect into positives, eh?
We realize the liabilities, but w/ minimun effort we can neutralize them. I say Onward.....
A Subhilt Fighter is usually graceful in the right hands. On a large knife the "trigger" on a SHF is a nice addition. It provides control and articulation from the knife more so than from your limb. Ideal for those with arthiritis or stiff wrists & fingers. It takes a mere tug on the trigger to make it happen !
To move a SHF properly it takes some "getting used to" as a different set of principles must be realized and then applied. Be ready to modify your basic matrix of motion you have been employing. (see paragraph above). More below!
There are those who would tell you (and impress you) that by having a SHF you have a better grip to extract the knife with after stabbing someone. Well perhaps that is true. But it is also VERY obvious... duh, tell me sumthin I DID NOT know ! Like how to USE that tigger-like appendage from whence this knife garners it's name for something besides the obvious.
Ok, let's start here then:
The SHF is a knife which allows you the option of employing two different types of cuts & slashes. (see below) And No my friend, other knives do not have this capacity nor this quickness. It is unique to the performance of a well fitted, intelligently designed sub-hilt fighting knife. Say.... have you ever noticed that the crowd who uses sub-hilt knives are often somewhat "elite" ? It's true, I have noticed this myself. Many times educated, professional people choose a SHF over other knives. Why is that ? I believe I know a possible reason. Many people who have been on a college campus have also been exposed to FENCING at some point. Many schools have competitive teams and clubs. Even a fencer who has only been taught the rudiments of the sport will have a better knowledge of how to properly use a SHF than most martial arts players. You see the SHF is merely a modified orthopedic grip that is often encountered in fencing circles. A fencer knows the secrets of a SHF and uses them for all their worth ! Ok, are you ready to learn more about this ?
Using your knifefighter super powers can you make out the similarities I have wrote about ? Do you see the multiple "triggers" on the fencing weapon below and the solo "trigger" on the SHF to the right ?
For knife fighting purposes the SHF is one of the tops in my book ! And I am going to explain why I say this as we go deeper into the exploration of the attributes of the SHF Comtech - Keating style ! After this article you might just want one of these babies ! And anything I print here ..... YOU can prove for yourself w/ only the slightest amount of experimentation !
Inward versus outward actions
Upon the eight universal planes of motion
The orthopedic, or pistol-grip, which takes the need for a firm hold on the weapon even further. Critics of the pistol-grip, however, claim this leads to a "deathgrip" on the foil and inhibits true mastery. ??
Proper understanding of how to use this knife provides you w/ 2 ways to slash at hi-speed.
One being the standard way. The primary cutting edge leads the stroke and the wrist must be severely articulated to make a decent cut. With a SHF you'd merely "pull the trigger" to tighten the arc, protect the hand and deliver the cut of choice. Even with a regular slash, the SHF has a few advantages over a standard knife. This regular manner of cutting is one which begins at an out-point and then cuts inward, toward a central target. Many of the FMA do this style of cutting.When using your SHF there is also another way to cut. That is from the center out....
Just the opposite from the other way ! This system revolves around the thrust, not the cut. So cuts can come off of the thrust ... that's right, from the center out-----> a very unique proposition based upon deception, timing and the grasp of advanced principles. Have a gander at my home-made chart below.
You'll get the idea and then just try it w/ a SHF. You'll see !
REGULAR WAY ..........
........................................... SUBHILT FIGHTER WAY
First, Go to point, tug on the trigger to produce fast, accurate four to eight inch cuts and recover to guard ! Go to center w/ your thrust and then snap out to any one of the eight angles.
NOTE:
To do this you must know the timing of the weapon, the body, the foot or feet.
THESE elements are what make the knife successful. Without timing etc the game is lost and you endanger yourself. The subhilt becomes a liability.
The SHF & DREADED BACKCUT
"Oh dread device of constant contention, what bizzare twist of mind & hand could cause thee to wreak havoc any greater than in times past? Bowie upon Bowie, is this the apex of the game ?
What play (if it exists) of painful pugnacity could add to the rachetted revelry of swift steel in motion ?
What deft defense is it ? Ah, perhaps the sub-hilt can teach us a trick or two on backcutting" ?
jak
....Let us consider the SHF & the backcut now....
The deadly backcut is done in a lazy, arcing loop. It's a flick of the wrist in the truest sense. It is attack, defense, counter ..... all rolled up into one neat motion. It requires timing and accuracy to make it work right. When you "flick" your backcut out there towards the opponent let's say you are seeking to perform a # 1 angle (in the FMA) but in this case the knife will be inverted as well as your hand. The backcut is a retracted - cats paw type slash, that makes a whole lotta of difference ! From speed and power to deception and threat.... the serious knifeman should know of the backcuts superiority. And that it can be enhanced !
Try this in your experimentations: Play the backcut several times with a standard knife.
Repeat the motions, but this time use your SHF knife or trainer. As the backcut hits it's appogee, pull the trigger back towards yourself. This will cause the wrist to lift even a bit higher, the arc of this hand-sleight is thus enhanced. Get used to pulling the trigger of your SHF at the right time. It is this "twitch upon the trigger" which adds the deceptive speed and power that SHF affectianados adore. Effortless cutting, hi-speed mobility and control w/ finesse, gosh.... some sweet-assed attributes ! They can spoil a man ! A SHF may just make ya sort a lazy !
More than 20 years ago, when the orthopedic grip began to florish [sic] in all the salles d'armes in France under the pretext that the electric blade did not have the same balance as the old blade, F.I.E. President Commandant Bontemps -- no man for half measure -- decided to prohibit its use by fencers under 20 years of age "except when medical certificate prescribes its necessity." He had to renounce this project quickly before the avalanche of medical certificates that piled up on his desk. Then freedom was left to everyone to use the grip of his choice, and we observe today that a very clear majority of fencers, in France and in the world, uses the orthopedic grip.
To ban the grip, of whatever sort, seems excessive. It is not at all proven that the grip was at fault in Smirnov's accident.
The grip makes the weapon, the weapon influences the style, and often determines the method or school. Formerly, the two fundamental schools of foil, Italian and French, founded their principles on the use of weapons of different structure.
The Italian foil with crossbar, with a very short grip, requires holding the pommel against the wrist by means of a strap. There still exists caricatures of the illustrious knight Pini, at the end of the last century (at encounters with his French rivals Merignac and Prevost) carefully wrapping his wrist with a sort of ribbon of impressive length. To my knowledge, neither Eugenio Pini nor the great Italian fencers of the period preceding the last war, who used the Italian foil, ever killed anyone when they broke a blade. If I'm wrong, people will certainly let me know. And if that had happened, would they have banned the crossbar grip and destroyed the Italian school with the same stroke? It is not so much in the grip that we must intervene, but rather in the manner of execution, which has considerably evolved since electric scoring came into use.
FYI / NOTE:
Train safely !
* COOL FEATURES (why)
* HOW TO USE A SHF (how)
Comtech / MAAJAK 1 / Subhilt Fighting Knife Page
10 / 04
In the season of the volcano
The subhilt is just a modified orthopedic grip !
THANX FOR READING!
Sincerely,
Master At Arms
Be sensitive to the change you will feel when going from a regular single edged knife to a double edged sub-hilt fighter. Slow down, real slowly and try to "get the feel" of this weapon. Take five or ten minutes moving this knife about, slowly and smoothly and that my friend will equate into something good later down the road. Hurry the process and miss the sensitivity switch and you cheat yourself.
