That knife is SO SICK, by the way. She's a screamer! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

i'm buying one regardless <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Definately mandatory for me. I already have a guard-less Regulator.

I have to say, I don't even care for the guard. With that out of the way, I could see it costing more to be "reinforced" or to attach a separate guard. I don't even know how it would work to cut out the knife blank to reinforce the guard. Since (to my understanding) the Res C handles are jammed on to the tang of the knife, would it even be possible to "slip" the handle over reinforcement?

Can I ask everyone... what you would use/need a guard for?

If it's to protect the Res-C from batoning then maybe you're using the wrong knife for the job. I'm not saying the Reg isn't a great woods knife or that anyone shouldn't do whatever they want with it. I'm only saying that there is no ONE knife solution for every task out there. If you want a great 7 inch camp knife get a Tramp or Chopweiler or SOD.

However, if you need the guard for blocking another opponents knife in a fight... then I can't say a lot to that, because I've been in a total of zero knife fights. I have never thought of the Reg's handle shape as a "guard" in the sense that it keeps your hand safe from an opponent's knife. I see it as a guard in the sense that it keeps your hand safe from you own knife. On a thrust or dig the handle shape helps keep your hand from sliding up the blade especially in wet conditions.

But again, I have no experience with that either, it's just a thought.

I keep reading how everyone's concerned with the "un-reinforced guard" and keep scratching my head as to why.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Yeah that is what I'd imagine a metal guard would be for. to block cuts or protect something from sliding up the blade and into your hand while cutting/chopping.
that too.

Honestly, I picture it as more of a combat knife than a purely camp chore knife, not that it can't do both. And about the guard, I'd like to see a reinforced one. But on the other hand, I think Dan knows more about the subject than I do. and I trust his judgement on producting a great knife 100%. I'm buying one regardless of the guard because it looks like an amazing knife and the test team reviews seem great. But also I did notice that the guards on many of the users were extremely chewed up.

To those of you who are big fans of a guard for catching the other person's blade this assumes that you will be in a "knife duel" where both opponents have equal initiative versus a "knife fight". Most knife fights outside of the combat zone are ambushes prison style. If you think the film "The Hunted" accurately depicts knife fighting you are wrong.

Inside the combat zone I would submit that the knife was eclipsed by the suppressed pistol when the need to kill someone silently arises. Additionally, prior to drawing a knife to kill someone in the combat zone the Soldier or Marine would most likely shoot the bad guy or muzzle strike them, or butt stroke them to death or smash their face in with a helmet or radio or any other thing that is quicker to get to then a full sized combat knife.

To me the most important feature of a guard is to protect my hand from riding up onto the blade regardless of scenario i.e. stabbing or slicing or batoning or hacking or whatever. From a combat zone context again if I hurt myself using my knife then I am now a liability to the rest of my unit and their lives are in danger as now I am focusing on my own wound instead of on the enemy.

My thought is the only reason the guard on the Regulator needs to be enforced is to protect the Resiprene-C handle during heave uses such as batoning.

At the same time the cost of reinforcing the guard will be passed onto the buyer and may actually be more then the cost of sending the Regulator back to Scrapyard if the handle ever did indeed get damaged. So now you have to look at the cost of USPS versus the increased cost of the knife if the guard is reinforced.

My two cents...

-Stan

Yeah I read or heard somewhere that 99.9% of "Knife Fights" are assassinations.
In the sense of an attack on someone unarmed and unaware.
But on the other hand, why not have it just incase? I wasn't basing my suggestions on "The Hunted" more along the lines of Bowie Knifes and Jim Bowie. But, I agree with what you are saying. But there also are occasions, Drunken Brawl Outside a Bar where someone comes slashing at you where having a reinforced guard wouldn't be a bad thing. Unlikely as it is.

Here's a question:

How would reinforcing this "guard" protect the Res C from batoning? I make sure the handles of my knives don't rub on whatever I'm batoning, nor do I hit the handles of my knives. Even without the guard, it seems any Res C would be just as likely to get damaged when batoning. That leaves knife duels as the reason for a reinforced guard. In my extremely limited knowledge of knife fighting (as heard from a martial arts friend of mine), it seems dueling with knives isn't very important. He showed me a few moves that mostly consisted of slapping away your opponent's arm/hand to avoid being slashed with a knife. I for one, would do my best to stay away from an enemy's blade. That means no blocking his knife with my knife. Anyway, those are some more thoughts of mine.

Vendetta13,

My apologies if I came on a bit too strong in my rant. It was not my intent to do so.

The biggest thing to remember with knife engagements outside of the combat zone is unequal initiative (i.e. you are ambushed) and weapons access (can you effectively draw and employ your knife during the ambush).

Based upon those two criteria, training time required to become proficient, training time required to stay proficient, the likelihood of a knife fight happening at all, and the likelihood of bad guys blade precisely impacting your reinforced guard, I would say the feature is not needed.

When I think "knife fight" here is what comes to mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWQfgwuOAxo

-Stan

I'm not offended at all, I get where you are coming from, I'm just saying...Things happen beyond anyones control and if I'm carrying a knife I'd like the option to not lose fingers in the 1-trillion to 1 chance i am in a west side story knife fight. I mean technically you could always run instead of squaring off with someone as well, or shoot them. I just like having as many options as possible in case....I just like the extra little 1% of preparedness/defensive capability.