I recently did a seminar in London, England, and suffered several flight delays along the way. This caused my wife and I to spend almost 30 hours in airports with nothing much to do except people watch. Something we noticed was the frequency with which airport personnel (police, customs, etc.) carried knives, and that about 1/2 of these knives (or more) were all from one manufacturer - Cold Steel!

Now, for those of you who have been living under a rock for the last 20 years, let me tell you a little about Cold Steel. They first became known in the 80's for the Tanto styled knives they produced. They would drive these through car doors and 55 gallon steel drums to show the point strength and durability of the blade! No one had seen anything like this...and Cold Steel became a sensation.

Durability and cutting power have always been hallmarks of Cold Steel, and they became one of the few in the industry to promote vigorous testing of their own blade designs under severe conditions. The "torture-tests" they perform on their knives can all be seen on the FREE video called "Proof", along with some outstanding test-cutting demonstrations and a look at some of the throwing weapons that they produce as well! If you have not seen this, you will be amazed at what they put these knives through, and at the strength and durability they exhibit.

Today, Cold Steel produces dozens of knife designs, ranging from small folders to Bowie knives and kukris. They also do a full line of Medieval weaponry, including axes, warhammers, swords and spears! All of their wares are top quality, built to last and hold an edge like nobody's business. I never fear using anything from Cold Steel in the field because I know it is solid and reliable.

The X2 Voyager is the largest knife in the Voyager series. Coming in at 13 1/4" long open, it is like having a Bowie knife in your pocket. Yet at only 6.6 oz. in weight, it is very light and easy to carry all day. You can even wear it with just sweat pants! The long, narrow profile doesn't hog your pocket, either. For a knife so long, I give the X2 big credit for ease of carry, which is a crucial (and often overlooked) consideration.

A knife you leave home because it is too awkward to carry is no good! For example, I own other knives which are good, but are heavier and bulkier than the X2 and yet considerably shorter when opened! Guess which ones I leave in my desk most days? The X2 is quite long (7 1/2") closed, but it is relatively slim (1/2") and light.

The handle design of the X2 is identical to that of the Vaquero Grande, and the blade design is simply a longer version of the clip-point blade found on the XL Voyager. While these are familiar elements, when put together they give the knife the appearance of a Spanish navaja. The navaja is a traditional large folding-knife that was used by the gypsies (and others) in Spain. Sometimes these could be a foot or more long...when closed! Cold Steel has done an excellent job of updating this classic style for the 21st century.

The handle design allows for two grip positions as well as the possibility for true two-handed manipulation and deceptive hand-switches known to the Spanish styles.

You can hold the X2 closer to the blade and have a long, extended pommel for hooking and trapping (the short grip), or you can hold closer to the pommel and gain an additional hand's-width of reach for slashing and thrusting (the long grip). For example, when I hold the X2 in the first position, I have an effective reach of 7", but by holding it in the second position I gain an effective reach of 9 1/2"!

Also, by holding the X2 in the long grip, you take advantage of the curve in the design of the handle. Far from being merely a decorative Spanish flair, what this curve does is change the angle of the blade then the wrist is in the locked cutting position. When you tighten the grip, the blade is angled forward at about a 30 degree angle, allowing for heavy slashes and chopping actions as well as faster snap-cuts and easier point control on thrusts. An ideal grip for long-range Western blade tactics. Contrast this with the 90 degree angle that the blade takes to the hand when the knife is clenched in the short grip! The short grip is better suited to short, strong slashes and thrusts.

MT Voyager vs the X2 Voyager

The X2's cutting power clearly showed on cutting tests we did with water-filled 1/2 liter and 1 liter bottles. The X2 had no problem with these targets, cutting them in half with ease. Bottom line? If you like large folding knives or have an interest in the Spanish styles, then check out the X2 Voyager! I bet you'll want to get one, too! Maybe a new "X2 for XMAS"? You've been good all year...right?

If they ever give an award for "The most dangerous president of a major company" than I expect Lynn Thompson to be at the front of the line. Lynn has spent his life learning not only how to make great knives, but how to fight with them as well. On the Warrior's Edge series, he presents an approach distilled from over 20 years of research on the world's knife-fighting arts.

The tapes present the core lessons from the renown Cold Steel "Cut and Don't Be Cut" workshop. Usually the lessons are presented by Lynn and his assistant in the studio, but occasionally we see out-takes from the workshops, with participants following along. This adds to the feeling of training in person, and all through the tapes Lynn teaches in a very conversational manner. It is more like learning how to do something from a buddy rather than from an overly-technical "how to" book.

The material is all on "knife-fighting" in the classical sense - two individuals squared off with knives drawn at long range. The curriculum is heavily influenced by Western fencing and to a lesser degree the Filipino martial arts. In a case of parallel evolution, several of the guards Lynn shows which he came up with through hours of sparring are actually very old Western fencing ploys (the high prime guard and the long Spanish guard).

Lynn was unaware of this when he shot the tapes, but was typically pragmatic when I mentioned it to him. "Well, that figures." He said, "It works!" Indeed it does! That is the point with the whole series, too...what works.

Lynn gets right to the heart of the matter and discusses the core elements you need to develop to be able to "cut and not get cut" without all the fancy terms and drills seen on so many tapes. He shows the basics of how to cut, thrust, move, evade, and counter in a progressive manner. The drills are all done in a very "live" manner, with both participants wearing a fencing mask and hockey gloves so they can go full speed and really try and hit each other while doing the drill. This greatly accelerates the learning curve, as people know instantly whether they are doing things right or not!

Two classic books on knife fighting I have always enjoyed are Slash & Thrust and Blade Master by John Sanchez (available from Paladin Press). In these slim little volumes, Sanchez outlines the basics of fencing based knife work and then advises readers to practice with a partner. In his own way, that is what Lynn Thompson does on the Warrior's Edge series. He gives the viewer the basic tools they need to get good, he shows them how to practice, and then he tells them "Get to it!"

The Warrior's Edge series is very accessible, information wise, to the layman. I think that anyone could learn from these tapes if they wanted too...there is nothing too technical or confusing, and there are a number of solo drills shown which is good for the novice so they can develop all their tools. I think that if two people got these tapes and the other required gear (fencing masks, gloves, safe training knives) in a year they could be pretty darn good, even training once a week for just a few hours, with no prior experience.

Though knife-on-knife dueling is not the only aspect of knife work which should be explored, for the subject they cover and their thorough, easy explanation of long-range fighting, we give these tapes a big thumbs-up!

Tape-by-Tape Breakdown:

Volume 1, Introduction To Long Range Knife Fighting: Subjects covered will be three ranges of knife fighting, and the types of knives you may encounter and demonstrations of their cutting and piercing power. Other topics include, how knives may concealed, how to make a Cold Steel® style training knife, why your knife must be strong and sharp, and how to grip the fighting knife. This is a bonus tape and will be included free of charge with the purchase of any of the tapes in this series.

Volume 2, On Guard Stance & Footwork: This tape teaches the clock concept, our basic on guard stance, common mistakes made in assuming the fighting stance, and footwork, including forward, backward, lateral, diagonal, and circular movement as well as the replacement step, lunge, fleche and leaping attack. This is an absolute must have tape as there are no knife fighters of any consequence out there who don't possess superior footwork.

Volume 3, Thrusts & Slashes: How to use the point of your fighting knife to execute the rake, speed jab, power stab, and epee thrust as well as elliptical and circular stabbing methods. Also taught on this tape will be how to use the edge of your knife to slash cut, chop, hack, snap cut and vertical whip as well as the 12 angles of attack.

Volume 4, Defense: How to use defensive footwork, defend against attacks on your knife hand, evasion patterns and techniques, parrying, stop hitting, counter slashing and stabbing and blocking with your knife edge. Also taught will be the use of the empty hand to stop-hit, beat, parry, block, tap, and chop with, and the concept of Mai, or judging distance will be covered.

Volume 5, Offense: How to recognize and exploit the 21 common openings or weaknesses in your opponent's defense. The five principles in creating openings and the 11 pillars of strategy.

Volume 6, Training Drills and Sparring: How to perform training drills that will develop the skills and attributes you need before proceeding to spar. Also actual sparring instruction and demonstrations including the use of the various postures and techniques taught in our long range fighting method.