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Old 26th January 2007, 08:19 PM   #14
VANDOO
(deceased)
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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WOODEN SCABBARDS ARE ESPECIALLY BAD ABOUT ALLOWING THE EDGE TO COME THRU WHEN REMOVING OR PUTTING IN THE BLADE. THE DANGER IS COMPOUNDED BY A DOUBBLE EDGED BLADE AND AT ITS WORST WITH A LARGE MORO KRIS WITH A WAVEY BLADE. IF THE SCABBARD IS TIGHT AND YOU ARE PULLING HARD IT WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE AND YOU MAY GET SEVERAL CUTS ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER FROM A WAVEY BLADE. I HAVE YET TO FIND A OLD MORO WEAPON WITH A DULL BLADE AND CONSIDERING THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SHARPENED IN OVER 100 YEARS THAT IS SOMETHING TO RECOMEND THEM.

DAMAGED OR THIN LEATHER SHEITHS CAN ALSO GIVE YOU A CUT IF YOU HOLD THEM THE WRONG WAY. THE KERIS SCABBARD IS MADE IN A WAY SO IT IS USUALLY NOT DANGEROUS BUT ONE DANGER WITH THEM IS IF YOU HOLD ONE BLADE DOWN BY THE HANDLE ONLY THE BLADE CAN COME OUT AND STICK IN THE FLOOR, BREAK OFF THE TIP OR WORST STICK IN YOUR FOOT. TO MAKE FAST SLASHING MOTIONS WITH THE KERIS WHILE NOT HOLDING THE BLADE AS WELL AS THE HANDLE CAN ALSO ALLOW A BLADE TO FLY FREE AND FIND A TARGET. SO IN SOME WAYS THE STORY OF INDONESIAN OR MALAY KERIS FLYING CAN BE TRUE.

I HAVE NEVER LET A BLADE FLY OUT OF MY HAND ACCIDENTALLY BUT HAVE CUT MY HANDS A FEW TIMES DUE TO WOODEN SCABBARDS BEFORE I LEARNED BETTER AND DID ALLOW A KERIS BLADE TO FALL OUT AND STAB MY FOOT ONCE WHILE LOOKING AT THE CARVEING ON THE HANDLE TOP. SO IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY REAL SERIOUS WOUNDS AND NEVER NEEDED STICHES BUT I SUSPECT THERE HAVE BEEN STICHES REQUIRED IN MANY CASES.

THE ONLY OTHER WAYS OF REMOVING A SCABBARD I CAN THINK OF AT PRESENT ARE HITTING WITH THE SCABBARD STILL ON AND CUTTING THRU IT WITH THE FIRST BLOW ALLOWING IT TO DROP FREE (KAMPILIANS) HOLDING THE HANDLE AND SLINGING THE SCABBARD OFF AFTER REMOVING IT FROM YOUR SASH. IF THE SCABBARD IS FIRMELY ATTACHED TO YOU BY SOME TYPE OF WEBBING YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO HOLD THE SCABBARD WHEN DRAWING.

RICK THOSE LITTLE FOLDING KNIVES DO HAVE THEIR OWN DANGERS AND THE ONE YOU SHOW IS ESPECIALLY GOOD AT CUTTING FLESH WITH THAT VERY SHARP SERRATED BLADE. WE CARRIED THEM AS WORK AND FISHING KNIVES ON THE OIL RIGGS OFFSHORE . NICE LITTLE KNIVES.
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