slippery weapons Archives

I first came to Texas from New York City on a motorcycle in 1972, ending a sort of “Then Came Bronson-Easy Rider” extended tour around the USA. One thing I did learn is that “I don’t need much stuff.” Comedian George Carlin did a comedy bit on this subject about people’s stuff, and making “smaller versions” of their stuff. As a result of such travel, I possess a concept, “Can I fit it on my chopper” mentality. This March 2025, I am moving in my new wife Sandy. This means clearing out my condo. All things big and small. I already gave away a lot of stuff after Jane died years ago. So now I will be moving very little. I look around my barren condo and still think, “Should I bother keeping this? Or that? Can I fit it on my chopper?” I am an unfrozen caveman. So for starters here, for my upcoming opinions, I am not a collector for collection sakes.

Who wouldn’t want to collect this nifty Johnny Cash knife thingy? Ahhh, me. I am not a knife or gun collector, no more than I would collect hammers, screwdrivers or wrenches. I just don’t care. You get the message – the “tool” message.

I guess this also comes from my Army and policing days. I am just interested in efficiency. Don’t misunderstand me, I like looking at your cool knives and guns – I will honestly admire them – I just don’t want them or need to own them. If you do collect these things, have a collectors’ mind, and you have the money and time for such a hobby, then if you are happy? I am happy.

The only time that my eyebrows are extra raised is when the lines between pretty and necessary-survival are blurred (and maybe bloody). One of these blurry problem areas is the texture of grips and handles. I always shake my head when I see collections of slick, baton-stick, knife handles and gun grip handles.

Speaking of bloody, Johnny Cash once wrote about the “kicking and the gouging and the mud and blood and the beer.” There’s also guts, water, oils, sweat, bad gloves and other substances that can make life very slippery and your hands and tools very slippery. Legend has it that the Gurkhas would dip their kukris in motor oil and then train with slimy, slippery grips. And what if your hands are injured and-or are freezing? Snake Blocker likes to stick practitioners hands into freezing water, then let them train with incapacitated hands, in his Apache Knife Course. You make things worse with pretty, shiny, slick handles.

I always shake my head when I see slick, metal knife handles and gun handles. A considerable amount of time, money and research has gone into making working tools like hammers, saws, screw drivers etc., very grip-able. But like wise tool-makers, many wise expandable baton, gun and knife makers and sellers have also researched and labored to make your weapons stay put in your hands with textured grips! People like to suggest that textured gloves solve some of these problem, but will you ALWAYS be wearing gloves? 24-7? Don’t take your gloves for granted in crime and war.

It’s bad enough when people have extra stupid hand-fingers on grips. Like this knucklehead for a major magazine using only 3 fingers on a handle to stab clothing, muscle mass and bone. This is mindless, leftover mimicry from some martial arts.

“I want my weapons to be tools and my tools to be weapons,” – Paul Howe

Deeeeep pockets! Some folks will suggest that a super-textured knife or pocket pistol handle might slow down weapon draws from pockets. Okay. Most knifes are clipped on pockets, but I guess some people do bury their knife in pockets. Small pocket pistols too? Okay. I guess you have to calculate the situational slick versus textured risks. There was a fad a few years back with car keys. The key itself was hidden inside a carrier and you pressed a button to eject the key, much like a switchblade operation. But if you hit the button while the device was in your pocket, the key shot out making the “draw” from your pocket cumbersome. I accidently did this several times with my car key and thought about this problem with some button release switchblades.

I am not endorsing anyone or anything here. I am just making a suggestion, forego pretty and slick, and get the most textured grips on your firearms, knives and sticks-batons. In my Force Necessary stick, knife and gun courses, in Level 1 of each, I emphasize and display the vital importance of grip-handle textures. (The issue of the SIZE of handles and grips is a whole other important essay.)

Can I fit it on my chopper? I don’t think cavemen used or bothered to collected fancy, slick weapons. And they probably used ALL their fingers when holding them. Get a damn handle on your handles!