Showing posts with label kali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kali. Show all posts

Cold Steel San Mai Gurkha Kukri Kraton Handle (Secure-Ex Sheath) Review

Cold Steel San Mai Gurkha Kukri Kraton Handle (Secure-Ex Sheath)
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I purchased this blade for my bug out pack and have used it to see what it could do. My tests occured in the North Eastern United States (northern Ohio and Michigan upper P). First of all, i don't believe the kukri is worth the price. the company has used its brand equity that it built from previous legends in their line (veitnam brass hilt tanto). As a result, you have a very high sticker price and not very much to offer. Now the blade does come sharp, but not as sharp as any Columbia River (which are the sharpest out of the factory commercial knives avaliable). Cold steel tries to say "yeah our knives are the tuffest out there"; the fact is, this kukri is a very expensive people slicer! this is not a tactical knife. it does wear fast when used against an oak tree/any hard wood! How is it that when i make contact with an oak tree it dulls the balde "what the fu..?". I can beat an oak tree to death with an ontario spak axe or machete and not a single bit of damage? because those tools do not have the "V-g1. Vg1 steel may have its advantages if you work in a slaughter house, but for survival the rigidity of the steel for the tip was not the best choice.
In short, I never have had a problem with a $30-$40 ontario work horse and they are much easier to sharpen when in the back country! I would go for the Columbia River Ultima tactical fixed blade (WITH VEFF seration) and an ontario in the woods any day. The Veff seration is the BEST IN THE WORLD!! I can't emphasize enough how awesome Columbia River product are! they are better than cold steel and they cost much much less! Also, Columbia River knives are the sharpest out of the box "period". If you want the back country package please don't make the same mistake i did and spend your money on this expensive dust collector or end of the world people slasher; furthermore, the fact remains that this thing is meant for cutting meat and rope and cardboard! that is it.... You see the demonstrations on Cold Steel...all they cut: 1.) meat, 2.) rope, 3.) cardboard, and 4.) water gallon jugs. that would be great if you were cutting those things to make a shelter out of in the woods.
In summation, i wish i had not purchased this kukri. I had to post this review because i know that most people won't use theirs and have it sitting for the "end times". It is not good to have this and then find out when it is too late that you will have a very difficult time sharpening this knife when you use it (convex blade) and it really honestly can't do tuff survival work. save the money and get a columbia river m16 13sfc, columbia river Ulitma 7" with Veff seration and a good ontario chopper! those have never let me down; never ever ever.... Now my dad would suggest the old school cattaragus 225q or machete (good old heavy stuff, but not that great!).
the point of this review is to let you know that just because cold steel use to be the best doesn't mean that they are anymore. DON'T BUY A NAME BRAND buy what is actually good!
I hope that this helps.

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The Gurkha Kukri's VG-1 San Mai III blade will out-chop any factory or handmade knives; including swords twice its size, even expensive, hand forged Japanese Katanas. It's the heaviest Kukri on the market. The blade is almost an inch wider near the tip than at the handle, shifting the knife's balance point forward to allow a substantial blow to be struck with minimal effort, using inertia alone to complete the cut.

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Deluxe Kali/Escrima Stick Case Review

Deluxe Kali/Escrima Stick Case
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This is surprising well made for a bare bones case. It does have two additional compartments, however, only one has a velcro closer. Still, great value for the money. Highly recommended.

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Deluxe Stick Carry Case. Carries multiple pairs of sticks. Durable 22 oz vinyl.

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Cold Steel African Walking Stick, 37-Inch Review

Cold Steel African Walking Stick, 37-Inch
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I had seen the African Walking Stick/Knobkerrie in the Cold Steel catalog and was struck by the familiar design. Despite the dearth of reviews, I put it on the Christmas wish list. And here it is Christmas day and I have one in my hand. (Makes it a bit hard to type...)
I have a vintage African walking stick, purchased at auction, that has been my companion on many walks over the years. It has held up well, but the tip now shows some wear and there are chunks missing out of the knob (perhaps from contact with another "knob", long before I had it). I wanted a "workhorse" version of the original, one I could bash up and thus save the antique from further distress.
The two sticks are beside me now, for comparison. The Cold Steel version is about 2 inches shorter and half again as thick in the shaft as the wooden one; the knobs are about the same size, though the burl head on my wooden one is more oval than round. I've just put them on a scale -- the polypropylene stick is just under 2 ounces heavier.
I am 6'4", and one of the things which attracted me to the Cold Steel stick was the 37" length -- many canes/sticks are shorter, and the 37" length is about the lower limit for me to have a comfortable angle of the arm when resting a stick on the ground. But this design is not really intended to serve as a cane; "walking sticks" are sticks you have with you when walking, and are typically carried rather than rapped upon the ground. The knob serves as a mace head for defense, but also is a counterbalance for the shaft, important for proper swinging of the arm.
The two sticks have very similar balance points, which suggests to me observation and care on the part of the designer(s) since a poor balance more rapidly tires the arm. Bent strongly across the knee, the polypropylene stick flexes less than 2 inches, then instantly returns to straightness. Rapped on the floor, the stick makes a good solid "thud". The knob fits comfortably in my largish hand; the knob might be slightly too large and the stick slightly too heavy for a person of slight frame to use constantly. The "beaded" shaft makes for a good grip.
Overall, I give this stick high marks. It is a worthy version of a classic design, and I look forward to having it with me on walks/hikes. Nothing better than having a third leg on a steep trail, or a longer arm with a heavier fist when things get tight.
------------------------------------------
Followup --
I've had this product for a while now and am returning with some further impressions/insight.
Something I had been concerned about was the thermal characteristic of the polypropylene plastic; specifically, whether it would be uncomfortably chilly for winter use. I find the plastic is similar to wood in how it heats up and cools off -- I left it in the car overnight in below-freezing weather, took it in my bare hand in the morning, and it warmed up like the wooden staff I had left beside it. It will be a while before I can try the black material in full desert sun.
I've been putting the stick through the paces, and have found several uses for it which would perhaps surprise the makers:
1) Isometric exercise. Hold the stick with straight arms at chest level, gripping it with one hand at each end (one hand just below the knob), and put it under pressure like you are trying to bend it. (It will flex slightly.) While keeping it under tension, raise your straight arms in front of you until they are over your head, then reverse and bring the stick back down to your thighs. Now do the same thing with the stick vertical in front of you, and twist from side to side while keeping the stick flexed. A surprisingly effective workout; the stick flexes just enough to engage the muscles to keep it under tension, and your chest muscles get a workout too. Exchange your grip and repeat -- the "bead" toward the bottom of the stick is smaller than the one near the knob, and exchanging hands gives a different workout to hand and forearm. Try also a motion to the side like you are paddling a canoe, while keeping the stick under tension.
2) Tote yoke. I tried hanging two full bags (15-20 lbs each) on the stick. The beads keep the handles from slipping off, and the bead at the balance point makes for a natural grip when carrying at your side -- *much* more comfortable than carrying the same bags by the handles and easy to switch from hand to hand. I tried the same arrangement resting across my shoulder, and found the beads make a reasonably comfortable rest there. (A bandanna/t-shirt wrapped around that point might make it more comfortable for a long haul.) Instant yoke for carrying bags or buckets.
3) Foot massager. OK, I know this one is "out there" for people primarily considering this as a self-defense weapon, but it works! Roll the stick across the floor under your foot, with medium pressure. The various-sized beads on the staff allow different pressure points, and the geodesic head is great under the arch. After a long hike, a good way to relax the feet.
The only problem I found with the stick was a small, slightly sharp molding seam that went across one edge of the geodesic head. An emery board made short work of smoothing that off. I will say again that the stick may be slightly too heavy for daily use by a smaller person.
I continue to be pleased with this stick, and recommend it along the lines I have discussed.

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Adapted for the western marketplace, the Cold Steel African Walking Stick features some of the best parts of traditional Zulu Kerries like an undulating shaft, and the traditional geodesic ball grip. However, instead of using a costly exotic hardwood, we've made ours out of black Polypropylene. This means that, in addition to being unbreakable, it's also impervious to the elements. It will never rot, warp, crack, splinter, swell, shrink, mildew or fade, and it's ready for all the wear and tear you, and the world, can dish out. Although its primary mission is to be a walking stick to aid one's balance when crossing uneven, slippery, wet or rough terrain, it can also serve as a pointer, lever, or probe. It also makes a formidable tool for self-defense in an emergency.

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Training Equipment - Straight Rubber Knife Review

Training Equipment - Straight Rubber Knife
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As others have noticed the paint cracks and peels quickly so it gets ugly fast. Other then that it's perfect. I've had a couple dozen of these for training classes and they've held up perfectly for almost five years now. They bend but don't break, hit hard enough to tell you've been struck, but don't leave any lasting injury. I strongly suggest avoiding head shots or wear appropriate eye protection though. Great value-priced training tool.

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Ideal practice tool for self defense training. Comes curved and straight.

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Kali/Escrima Sticks Review

Kali/Escrima Sticks
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Well, seems like I've been fooled! The sticks are 26 inches instead of 28. More over the pattern is not the same. Anyway, do not buy this item.

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Eskrima or escrima refers to a class of Filipino martial arts that emphasize weapon-based fighting with the stick, staff or knife. Alternative terms which have entered into common usage include kali and arnis. Eskrima and arnis are the most common among the many names often used in the Philippines today to refer to these arts.The teaching of the basic skills in eskrima are traditionally simplified. With limited time to teach intricate moves, only techniques that were proven effective in battle and could easily be taught en masse were used. This allowed villagers, generally not professional soldiers, a measure of protection against other villages, as well as foreign invaders. This philosophy of simplicity is still used today and is the underlying base of eskrima. Because of this approach, eskrima and the Filipino martial arts in general are often mistakenly considered to be "simple". However, this refers only to its systematization, not effectiveness. To the contrary, beyond the basic skills lies a very complex structure and a refined skillset that takes years to master

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