[archy]

I have both the six inch and the nine inch San Mai tantos. They handle as if they have a life of their own. Perhaps they do. Cold Steel makes a mighty fine knife.

I have a prewar Khukuri I favour, but the Cold Steel modernized version is nothing to dismiss, though I'm traditionalist enough that I really prefer a wood or horn handles to the Cold Steel rubber grip. But for someone less dedicated than I am to the Old Way but who still likes the effective Kukri design, the Cold Steel is hard to beat, and is indeed less likely to slip in the hand.

The recoil of a 7,5x55 Swiss G11 round going off withdraws the Pioneer bayonet neatly, and serves as a coup de grace at the same time. Convenient. I've got a M1917 bayonet for my M97 shotgfun, and my kid has a lond Australian bayonet for his Indian S.M.L.E. rifle as well. We're of sufficient Viking/North Germanic heritage as to appreciate steel as described by Marquis.

-archy-/-

[Noumenon]

There's a lot to be said for tradition. The classic kukri is one of the deadliest fighting knives around in the hands of one who knows its ways. My wife and I were schooled in the Shaolin way, and I found the Way of the Knife much to my liking.

As for tradtion, the bayo on my NM Garand serves well - it's the old 10 incher. Love the feel of that rifle. Shoots way better than I can.

Got a feeling that I'm going to get a chance to run that barrel red hot.