A Carry Knife To Remember

One of the more innovative knife designs, in my opinion, is the TDI knife made by KA-BAR.  This small fixed blade knife is the brain child of John Benner, the president and chief instructor of Tactical Defense Institute located in West Union, Ohio.

The original TDI Knife with reversible clip sheath

The previous mythos was while struggling to retain your firearm against one or more thugs assassins (let’s be real – they get your gun, you’re dead) you would take your free hand, reach down into your pocket, slide the knife clipped there out, open it and strike your opponent with the business end of the knife.  I’ve trained it and it doesn’t work very well.

John’s idea was a small fixed blade that would be practically invisible behind an officer’s reloads and could be taken out by grasping the handle and cutting your way to safety.  He wanted something that a person could strike hard and fast with and not have to hold back in fear of injuring himself.  

The short bladed, curved handle knife with clip sheath has become a favorite of LEOs and armed civilians.  I have carried mine for days at work and nobody paid any attention to it.

Recently I have been hearing about a folding TDI knife.  Part of the problem was designing a lock that would hold the knife securely open, not accidentally close while fighting, and still have that curved handle to prevent you from sliding up onto the blade.

It’s been introduced.  Called the TDI Sidelock, KA-BAR has introduced a folding knife modeled on the TDI fixed blade.  The handles are G10 and the knife is set up for tip-up carry.  You can switch the pocket clip to left or right carry.

The TDI Sidelock -- Bigger bladed, stout design but … better than the original?

Yes, it’s made in China, but it has KA-BAR's quality and knowing John, he would never let his reputation ride on crappy workmanship or materials.  The blade locks open with a stout liner lock.  The lock has a low profile to prevent accidental closing.

It’s a fighting knife.  Oh, sure you can use it as a letter opener, cut string and maybe make shavings to start a fire, but it’s clear what it’s designed for.  Take his knife class and you’ll see it in action and learn how to put it in action.  http://www.tdiohio.com/cqpc.htm#knife

I like it.  I think highly of John and everyone thinks highly of his school, but I’ve got to say the knife misses its purpose:  To draw an edged weapon efficiently, quickly and immediately deploy it to save your life.  The only justification I can see is not being able to carry a fixed blade.  Once the blade is deployed; you have a powerful tool for self-defense.  I already own one.