The Yard Hook has a blade catch (I own one, and I forgot to mention it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />). I have mine set up to MOLLE to my plate carrier, and I plan to employ it as a dedicated fighter. I personally wouldn't go any longer than the Dereg or YH for a fighter though, something even as long as a DF just becomes too blade heavy. Once you swing it, you're commited to the swing. Unless your follow through is quick, that can be a major disadvantage against an opponent with a smaller, more nimble knife, say a Ka-Bar. The extra reach of a monster chopper is only an advantage when you can keep your opponent at bay. Once he clears your gaurd, it's a matter of who gets the first cut who wins. Another thing, I feel that choppers lend themselves well to long, full arm extension swings, but not so well to rapid changes in direction for draw cuts and defensive cuts. A smart opponent will wait until someone is in the swing through phase before striking at the knife hand. You cut the tendons that support the hand, and that knife becomes a long, heavy meteor. It doesn't do much good when it's laying on the ground. My $.02 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nothing at all wrong with using a large chopper as an offhand defensive blade though. A DF in my left hand with my Dereg in my right is actually my ideal setup <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />