CRKT and James Williams

The Otanashi, like much of James Williams' designs for CRKT, is intended to fulfill an SD role, if necessary, although it's emphasis is on cutting, rather than stabbing.

I would guess the intention is to end the fight by cutting an essential muscle, such as the Deltoid or Biceps, which makes it impossible to use your arm.

Similarly, a deep slash to the Rectus Femoris, or Vastus Lateralis, muscles in the leg, will make it difficult to continue the fight, regardless of the target's pain tolerance. Those muscles are part of the essential hardware of lifting and flexing the legs and arms, and if they are damaged enough, there is nothing your target can do.

I've seen plenty of threads like this in SD forums, and it is about now that things start to go off the rails. Around here, we expect that, but if you read the whole thread, you can end up like this:



So let me try to pre-empt the discussion about legality and of effectiveness knives for SD.

There are so many variables in a "fight", that it is impossible to account for all of them. The best insurance you have in a violent confrontation is your training.

Do everything you can to keep the situation from escalating. This should be part of your training, as well.

Keep your cool. You say it's impossible? I say: "practice more".

Know what's legal. You need to plan on this ending in a court case, and having a piece of equipment you are not supposed to have, even if you do not use it, is going to look bad.

If you are not going to kill the bastard, do not use something that could kill him. And remember that a stun charge can aggravate a pre-existing cardiac condition. Weak heart + alcohol or PCP + the jolt from your perfectly legal stun gun, and you're looking at Manslaughter.

Juries think guns and knives are weapons, regardless of their size, shape, or color. If you use either, make damn sure you are on firm legal ground.