Civillian / Matriarch for self-defense ?

[AllenETreat]

To : ALL



Having recently received my "Matriarch"

and examined it carefully ( VERY SHARP )

I was curious about how it might be

employed in self-defense / MBC. I read

in 1SKS' on-line catalog that these two

( Civillian / Matriarch ) were created as

"back-up's" for Law Enforcement. But the

question remains : How to apply them thus ?



ATE

[4 s ter]

Hi ATE

James Keating has a video regarding use of the Civilian. It should be very relevant to the Matriarch also.

I haven't seen the video (although I should get it to learn how to use my Matriarch more effectively). Maybe someone else on the forum can comment on the video from personal experience???

Here's a link to information on the video

http://www.combattech.com/catalog/mixed/mixed.htm

[chris2995]

I have the video. He did a good job with it. He talks about various ways to open the knife, how to use it in different defense situations, and rescue aspects. It's worth the money, and I'm glad I have it.

CF

[revolvergeek]

I have the video and it is VERY informative. Some of the production values are not 100% on the copy that I have (in fairnessI have had it for 7 or 8 years old now), but this does not in ANY way impact the usefulness of the material.

Keating goes into great detail on how the design of the Civillian/Matriach (and the Harpy/Merlin to a certain degree) works in defensive situations.

I carried a Civillian for a few years before we had our statewide CCW law. I pulled it one night when two ..uh.. <cough> 'gentlemen' started walking across a large parking lot towards me when I was being stupid and talking on a payphone at about 2am (there was another payphone very close behind them so I assumed they were not interested in my phone).

There really was nowhere for me to effectively retreat to, so I took out the Civillian and started cutting figure 8s in the air and running some of the lines that Keating had shown in the video, while telling the person that I was talking to what was going on. The two stopped, turned around, got in their vehicle and drove off without saying a word. Apparently that blade glinting in the street lights did not interest them at all. That was the first and only time that I ever pulled my knife in a defensive situation, and I am very pleased with the overall outcome!

I don't have the Civillian anymore but I still normally take the Merlin with me when I am flying or going out of state somewhere that I cannot bring my CCW. It used to raise a few eyebrows in my carry on, and with the current state of airport security I suspect they would not let me even check it now.

Sorry to be so long winded, but I just finally got registered (thanks Joyce!) and after lurking for about a week on here my fingers just don't seem to want to stop typing! :-)

[toothed]

Nice post revolvergeek. Welcome to the forum.
I'm a Merlin fan also.

[AllenETreat]

Hi toothed & revovergeek ;
FYI I myself like the Merlin ; I guess it's just that affinity for hooks. Wonder how the
Merlin would fare as a "back-up" ?


ATE

[revolvergeek]

thanks toothed, nice to be here!

I think that the Merlin would do just fine as a backup, even if you don't do anything but grab it in a reverse grip and punch/box normally.

I like the idea of it as a weak hand knife, and using it to hook/cut/deflect like you would with a live hand (where you would normally just deflect or try to grab and redirect).

Did you ever watch 'The Last of The Mochicans"?? If not watch it and pay attention how our hero fights with his tomahawk in his strong hand and dagger reverse grip in his weak. One of the big points Keating makes in the Civillian video is how it functions much like a tomahawk in some ways. Veeeeryyy interesting stuff when you start thinking in terms of a Civillian/et al on one side and a big conventional folder on the other.

[toothed]

revolvergeek, one of the neat features of the Merlin is that the clip can be configured for weakside (left hand) carry for right-handers.

[Pachucko]

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