Hank Reinhardt's Book of Knives: A Practical and Illustrated Guide to Knife Fighting

by Hank Reinhardt

  As you have gathered by now, inside an automobile is a poor place to chop with a kukri. That’s where you need the knife’s inwardly curved edge to saw, and its point to stab. This is true, too, outside the car when an opponent closes with you and perhaps grabs your clothing. Use that inward curve to saw him across the neck, the inside of his thigh, behind his knee, and across the Achilles tendon of his ankle.

  These are your basic moves for fighting with the kukri. You and your sparring partner should practice them until both are perfect in both maneuver and timing. Later you can add variations as you practice, in case your opponent comes up with surprise threats we have not mentioned. Remember fighting skills are like a pyramid. What I have given you here is just the base of the structure. The point of the pyramid is up to you and the only way you will get there is to practice these moves to improve speed and timing.

  BOWIE KNIFE

  The first time I ever saw a large Bowie knife, I was whittling an extremely hard piece of hickory into a spear. I had fire-hardened the point and was laboriously scraping it when Hank walked up and asked what I was doing. He looked at the point and said, “Let me see that.” And he started shaving it with his pocket knife. He looked up and said, “The hell with this. It’s taken the edge off my knife.” He disappeared into the house and returned with his Randall Smithsonian Bowie. In about ten seconds he managed to chop a very serviceable point on that hickory, which saved me a lot of work.

  I had seen Bowie knives before in the windows of pawn shops, and of course who could forget the movie Iron Mistress? This was the very first time I had seen anything actually cut up with one. This knife is truly America’s gladius.

  Reproduction gladius, 28 inches overall length. HRC218

  For this book, we’ll define a Bowie as a knife four inches or longer with a clip point and a sharpened top edge. The ability of this weapon as a tool of carnage is legendary. So much so, that it is still outlawed in many Southern states.

  Blade by Jim Fikes, 14 inches overall length. HRC647

  Legend has it that the first Bowie knife was crafted about 1827, by an Arkansas blacksmith/knifesmith named James Black, according to the specifications of Alamo hero James Bowie. Legend insists that a Bowie knife had to be sharp enough for shaving, and heavy enough to use as a hatchet. It had to be long enough to be swung as a sword, and wide enough to paddle a canoe. This description might be slightly exaggerated, but there is no doubt the Bowie was a large knife with a blade sometimes fourteen to eighteen inches long. It was soon the object of tall tales and legends from Virginia to Texas.

  As with the kukri, as repeating weapons proliferated, the knife became a secondary weapon and got smaller in size.

  Modern reproduction Bowie, 14 inches overall length. HRC129

  A historical Bowie; the blade alone is 14½ inches long.

  From The Antique Bowie Knife Book, Charles Schreiner III collection

  The most highly publicized story of its use occurred at the first session of the Arkansas General Assembly in 1837. A bill offering bounties for wolf hides sparked an argument between Rep. Major J. J. Anthony and House Speaker John Wilson. After several insults were tossed at each other, Wilson descended from the Speaker’s platform. And when they reached the bottom step each man drew his Bowie knife.

  Perhaps in hopes of averting a fight, someone shoved a chair between them. But Anthony and Wilson each grabbed a part of the chair in his left hand and began slashing with his right. Anthony cut downward at Wilson’s left wrist and almost severed it from its arm. He then threw his knife at Wilson, but it failed to strike on its point and fell to the floor. Wilson then thrust his knife to the hilt into his foe, and Anthony collapsed and died a few minutes later.

  Wilson was arrested, expelled from the House of Representatives, but later was acquitted in trial on the grounds of “excusable homicide.” It was bloody episodes like this that energized Southern legislatures to outlaw the Bowie knife.

  There are also several states where a great many knives are illegal due to blade length and design. Before you carry any knife on your person it is up to you to contact your state attorney general’s office and determine the exact wording of the law. Don’t follow the advice of some potential jailhouse lawyer, or the opinion of a friend who says, “They told me it was okay.” Don’t even pattern your knife-carrying habits upon what you read in the newspaper, or watch on television. Do your research and find out the facts.

  Now, here are some choices for a current Bowie knife. One that Hank and I both had fondly desired is Randall’s No. 1.

  Randall No. 1, 12½ inches overall length. HRC601

  This is an excellent choice; probably the best is the seven- or eight-inch blade. This knife is fast with good point speed and, although hollow ground, it has a good deal of edge toughness. It can be bought in several different handle styles from stag to Micarta. In addition, an excellent, high quality sheath comes with the purchase.

  Another fine example is Cold Steel’s Laredo Bowie. On the ones I’ve tested so far, the factory edge has been book-cutting sharp. It is a well designed knife with good handle qualities and a very strong flat grind. If you are fairly tall, six feet or above, it’s very easy to carry a Bowie knife in the twelve-inch length. But if you’re shorter, one of seven or eight inches is the better choice.

  The custom world is full of Bowie knives. You can afford to be choosy. The next time you talk to a custom knife maker, you need to sound him out on these subjects: Will your knife be tested before he delivers it? The test should include flexing the blade and watching it return to true. Edge-holding ability should be tested as well. Your custom blade should cut a hundred pieces of one-inch manila rope without going dull. You should be able to drive your knife into a hardwood board without bending the point. You should be able to cut through a two-by-four plank at least three times, and the handle should be tightly mounted afterwards.

  If your custom bladesmith’s knife won’t pass these tests, then it’s better to find someone else’s work that will. If you must tote a Bowie, then stick one in your sheath with a blade from eight to twelve inches in length, well tested, and book-cutting sharp.

  FIGHTING WITH THE BOWIE

  When it comes to fighting with your Bowie, you are well armed. Like the kukri in the previous chapter, you have tremendous cutting power at your command. If your knife is well designed it should have terrific point speed. You can achieve deep penetration, wider wound tracks, and the ability to move in and out very quickly.

  As you face your adversary, you can beat him to the cut by using the Reinhardt Snap, slicing him across his fingers, the inside of his forearms, or the top and outside of his wrist. Also, a lightning quick thrust to the opponent’s hand is now possible. Driving the point two inches into his wrist or hand is a good start. Equally neat is a quick thrust to the inside of his thigh, using the sharpened back edge of the Bowie and using the arterial illustration for your key targets.

  Human arterial system.

  A lighting quick straight line thrust to the front of your opponent’s throat, or a quick snap cut across the carotid arteries of the neck—these are some of the moves that make the Bowie a superior fighting tool.

  If you miss a cut, you can easily snap back underneath to cut your opponent’s forearms or inside his thigh, by using the Bowie’s back edge.

  Snap back underneath to cut the thigh.

  Some suicidally inclined antagonists have committed the folly of trying to snatch a Bowie away from a foe by grabbing that long blade. This is a losing game if the back edge is properly sharpened. If someone grabs the top of your knife, give it a quick twist to the left, then yank it backwards, breaking his grip and cutting his palm.

  Now that you are aware that your Bowie can cut in both directions, practice this in your sparring. But don’t neglect additional practice with inanimate objects. In the previous chapter we used the kukri to slice water-filled jugs. Practice this with your Bowie as well. Get out your length of free-hanging
manila rope, and blaze away with the Reinhardt Snap, whacking off pieces of rope until the act comes easily. Now stack two water-filled soda cans and practice cutting the top one in half without turning the bottom one over. You can also roll up newspapers.

  Practice with your Bowie until the art of cutting comes easily. Photo by Whit Williams.

  Remember, the only way to learn how to cut is to cut. You need to constantly practice to keep your strength and speed up.

  And while you are keeping yourself in shape, don’t forget the health of your knife. Test your Bowie knife constantly by cutting free hanging rope. Keep both the point and the edge sharp, And if you buy a custom blade make sure the bladesmith has cut through at least one two-by-four, and has flexed the blade at least 24 degrees out of line and seen it return to true.

  THE DAGGER

  Now, for man’s oldest self-defense knife: the dagger.

  Reproduction bronze dagger, 11 inches overall length. HRC175.

  I don’t think there is any shape that has been praised or cursed as much. Critics of this shape will tell you it’s not very strong, that it has very little cutting power. But you need to look at the dagger not as a tool but purely as a weapon. The point isn’t very strong if you try to lever up rocks, or dig up roots with it. But if used for its intended purpose, the dagger is one of the most versatile fighting designs.

  It can be forged very light and thin, which makes it a joy to carry. It has the ability to cut in either direction. It’s very difficult to snatch a well-shaped dagger from somebody’s hand; a pyramid shape is hard to hold onto.

  EVOLUTION OF THE DAGGER

  One of man’s oldest fighting knife shapes is a piercing weapon. It doesn’t matter whether it was made of wood, stone, or metal. Its advantages are many. In the early era of armor, a dagger-shape point would push through links of mail, and in a later period easily through the visor of a knightly helmet.

  The dagger shape is primarily an awl-style with two parallel edges and it makes for a wonderful fighting blade. The ability to cut in many different directions expands your attack and defense in different ways. So, not only can it be used as a penetrating weapon, but properly designed and sharpened it makes an excellent tool as well.

  Many early daggers were of bronze. Although bronze is an excellent material, it still has many flaws. Its inability to withstand shock is one of them. Even with this drawback, it is more than strong enough for excellent penetration. As we progress to the era of iron and steel, the ability to cut with a dagger shape becomes a reality. A very common medieval shape, the baselard, is an example of strength in both its ability to cut and penetrate.

  Reproduction medieval baselard, 14¾ inches overall length.

  From the collection of Jerry Proctor.

  This blade was so popular that it was celebrated in poems, as you can see from the example below. (Okay, not great poetry.)

  Lesteneth, lordyngs, I zou beseke,

  Ther is non man worst (worth) a leke,

  Be he sturdy, be he meke,

  But he bere a baselard.

  Myn baselard hazt a schede of red,

  And a clene loket of led,

  Me thinketh I may bere up my hed,

  For I bere myn baselard.

  My baselard hazt a trencher kene,

  Fayr as rasour scharp a schene (bright),

  Euere me thinketh I may be kene,

  For I bere a baselard.

  (FROM THE ERA OF HENRY VIII. SLONE MSS)

  Swords often influence knife shapes. As the rapier became a fighting sword of the late medieval period, the dagger developed into a companion fighting blade in its purest form. With the elaborate hand protection to help facilitate parries, you see development of the elongated guards enhancing the ability to protect the left hand.

  Reproduction main gauche, approximately 24–25 inches overall length. “Main gauche” means “left hand” in French. HRC121

  The dagger as a fighting knife has never slowed in its development. An excellent modern example is Randall’s Model No. 2.

  Randall No. 2 kit blade, hilted by Hank Reinhardt, 12¾ inches overall length. HRC603

  At the beginning of World War II, knifemaker Bo Randall received a sample of the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting dagger.

  A reproduction Fairbairn-Sykes with a metal grip, 11½ inches overall length. HRC612

  As legend has it, Bo threw the knife into a hard local palm tree, and about half an inch of the point snapped off. Bo felt he could do better.

  Also it’s quite possible that there was a great deal of input on this project from Colonel Rex Applegate. The truth of the combined effort of these individuals is somewhat lost in the mists of time. Randall’s final product was an extremely strong, well-designed dagger shape which developed a cultlike following. From the lowest-paid GI to the highest ranks of the U.S. military, it is still celebrated today as an excellent example of a dagger.

  All fighting knives have advantages and disadvantages. Let your surroundings be your guide. As there is a vast difference between a Ferrari and a tractor, fighting knife shapes vary similarly according to their use. For example, if you are heading into a jungle environment, a kukri is an excellent choice, but not a dagger. Try to pair your weapon with the terrain.

  During World War I, a dagger-shaped knife, roughly about five to six inches in length, had been issued to German troops. Later on this same shape with a metal clip-on sheath had been reissued in the Second World War. This was a handy way of concealing your dagger under your clothes or in a boot top.

  There are several reproductions of this same dagger still available. It is as good a choice today as it was in 1918. Boker Knives produces this item now. I have stabbed this reproduction into an oak chair top with no bending of the point. Neither the handle scales nor the guard loosened. Right out of the box its blade cut a hundred pieces of half-inch sisal rope without going dull.

  I don’t think there is any dagger style more cursed or blessed than the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. This double-edged dagger was made famous during World War II through its issue to British Commandos and the nascent SAS. It is still available from many sources today. And used for its intended purpose, as a weapon not a tool, it is a pretty good fighting instrument. I recall back in the day Hank used to talk about going to a surplus store in Atlanta in the 1950s and seeing a barrel full of Fairbairns, different models in various kinds of sheaths, for twenty-five cents each. Boy, have things changed. Now these same knives are selling for $950 to $1,000. Needless to say, this puts them in the high end collection category and out of the cheap carrying category.

  You can still get a good Fairbairn reproduction, and they vary greatly in quality. I’ve seen some from Sheffield Cutlery and Flatware of England that were so hard that one could break the point off by merely flexing it. I’ve seen others so soft that they would easily bend by applying a light pressure to the point. Once again, the only way to determine the quality of your knife is to test it.

  TESTING THE DAGGER

  Put on your safety glasses. Place a paperback book on a table, and put the point of the knife at a 45-degree angle to the book and press down to flex it. Your knife should bend and return to true. Then flip the knife over and repeat the process on the other side. If the knife hasn’t taken a permanent bend, take two paperback books, one on top of the other, and stab into both books, point downward. Here is where you could put that icepick grip to good use. You should have a great deal of penetration. Both the guard and the handle should be intact and not loose.

  Once you have tested your dagger, make sure the edges are sharp on both sides. It’s impossible to test a dagger for book-cutting sharpness because of the double edge. However, you can check the edges by seeing if they are shaving sharp. If they are, you are raring to go.

  Down through the ages the dagger has been a real whiz-bang in combat and assassinations. Those who consider this knife style as romantic and impractical should consider this story told me by a naval aviator in Worl
d War II. His plane was shot down during a sea battle and he quickly found himself floating in a sea full of desperate Japanese soldiers, victims of a nearby troopship sinking. Our hero had on the only life vest available in that part of the Pacific Ocean, and immediately large numbers of Japanese paddled in to take it away from him.

  Our aviator stood them off with a .45 automatic until he ran out of ammunition, then he yanked out his dagger boot knife and began stabbing in all directions. He managed this startling stabbing feat because his dagger was secured to his arm by a lanyard. Without it the Japanese could easily have taken the knife away. He continued stabbing and pushing bodies away until he was rescued by a passing destroyer.