Bear claws ?

[HdV]

Do these bad looking boys have a place in an SD environment ?

[Corné]

I take it that you refer to the CRKT Bear Claws?

IMO they can cause some serious damage but they do have limitations. They are short and thus reduses your reach and they are basically 'slashers' and have basically no stabbing ability. IMO their design makes them good slashers and they will rip anything apart that they come into contact. They should be able to reach the arteries in the neck in a slashing action.

They can thus perform a task but as with all SD equipment...they have their limitations and you need to know these and work around those limitations.

[Lone Ranger]

very well made knives. altho i never bought one, i personally like them. there are smooth blade and serrated edges but i personally don't like the round nose ended bear claws. the pointed ones work well.

strictly for back-up tho. and the handle a bit too thick to wear around the neck but not impossible. lotsa different carry options

if you're asking with intent to buy then check out the Ka-Bar TDi's first and compare.

if you're happy to buy the bear claw then price MilSec first. they're in the dealer section

[Count Bla]

They are short and thus reduses your reach and they are basically 'slashers' and have basically no stabbing ability.

Reach in a knife fight is sort of a non-issue. If you are close enough to stab/slash, you are close enough to get stabbed/slashed (unless an actual ninja with a sword is involved of course nj).

I have a S&W HRT bear claw and I love it. I especially like the finger ring, making it very hard to drop/loose during use. I think they have a definitive place in the SD environment. Not as easy to carry as a folder though, but quicker to use!

[Corné]

They are short and thus reduses your reach and they are basically 'slashers' and have basically no stabbing ability.

Reach in a knife fight is sort of a non-issue. If you are close enough to stab/slash, you are close enough to get stabbed/slashed (unless an actual ninja with a sword is involved of course nj).

I do not fully agree with you. Yes you are correct in a certain way as in real 'up-and-personal' situation, reach becomes a null and void issue but like in Boxing...the one with the longer reach does have a advantage (all other factors equal). Thus IMO a shorter blade does have a 'drawback' but in the bigger picture this issue might become pretty much insignificant.

hpy180

[prepare2win]

short version- bear claws are great.

used one to cut myself out of a car wreck while fading in and out of consciousness. IIRC, the bearclaw was designed by an Alaskan pilot, and the blunt nosed versions are designed exactly for cutting harnesses and seatbelts off trapped people.

while there is a lot more handle than blade, the blade can do a lot of work. it is possible to stab, though not very deeply (no vital organ hits) Your wrist just needs to be at a more natural angle than with a straight knife. good for stab-in, ripcut-out action. but yeah, a bit more blade would've been good. the ring gives excellent control and retention.

I took some material off each side of the handle to give it a lower profile but without ruining the excellent ergonomics. I also smoothed off the inner edges of the ring slightly. The sheath also got hacked- cut down quite a lot so that i can get my finger into the hole while its still in the sheath. I love the positive retention stud that locks it into the sheath, but can easily pop the sheath off where the thumb falls naturally.

I like appendix IWB static line carry (common theme for me) Its a very low-profile, easy to conceal option, a step up from my cold steel urban pal.

[koganinja]

As long as you are aware of the limitations, can be a good knife