We’ve been blogging a lot lately about efforts to regulate knives, such as a proposed law in Nevada that would make it illegal for a parent to carry a pocket knife to a high school football game.
In researching knife laws, I’ve realized they’re often very similar to gun laws: fear-based and irrational.
I recently checked out a pretty cool video about guns in Switzerland. The Swiss have a proud military tradition and require all males to serve in the militia until the age of 30. When joining, each Swiss citizen is issued a SIG SG 550 automatic rifle, and must keep the weapon at home during their service in case of an invasion. The weapons are inspected regularly to make sure that no unauthorized use occurs and incidents of the guns being used for crime are extremely rare. Militiaman are allowed to keep their weapon after the service, though it is removed of its automatic function.
So, the big question, obviously, is what are the results of this novel experiment?
It’s an age old debate that many knife enthusiasts have discussed for hours into the night in windowless rooms: serrated edge or straight edge?
I think the discussion is often unfairly simplified to a this-one-is-overall-better-than-that-one debate, which is simply untrue.
While you may have personal preferences for different reasons, the functionality of a serrated blade versus a straight-edged blade really depends on what you’re using it for. So, if you’re thinking about what type of blade you’re like to get, here are some pros and cons about serrated, straight and partially serrated blades.
Last week, we ran our first contest at the Cutting Edge and the response was huge! Over 200 people commented on blog posts during the week to enter to win a 51-inch William Wallace replica sword. Since turnout was so good, we decided to give away a second sword as well! Next week, we’ll be announcing a new product give-away, so stop by for another chance to win great knife merchandise. And without further delay, the winners are…
I think it’s obvious to say that war is dangerous. That’s where tensions are always high, lives are at risk and sheer survival is the number one priority.
So, it’s probably no surprise that in wartime situations, knives have a greater propensity to save lives than in everyday situations. However, this next story in our series Knives Save Lives shows just how carrying a knife and having a lot of luck can save a life.
It begins in October of 1993 during the Battle of Mogadishu when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. For anyone unfamiliar with this story, I recommend the film or book Black Hawk Down, which details the skirmish between United States military and Somali militia fighters who were loyal to the Somali president.
Navy SEAL John Gay was part of the operation to recover the crew of the helicopters. As bullets were flying, Gay valiantly carried out his mission until he was struck by an AK-47 round.
For most people, if they’re shot with a bullet in the hip, it could be devastating, but in battle, any serious injury could be fatal because of the presence of an enemy. However, Gay went relatively unscathed thanks to the presence of his Randall Bowie knife.
Last week, Maine lawmakers finally passed that legislation, which will make Maine the first state to allow people to carry switchblades.
Typically, spring action knives are illegal to carry, but Maine is making an exception for one-armed people who cannot open a knife quickly in emergency situations. There is a caveat, of course, that says the blade on the knife cannot be longer than three inches.
While this news is fantastic for one-armed people in Maine who have had to slowly open their knives with their teeth, it’s sparked much mockery and criticism from people around the web. Their main criticism is that Maine lawmakers are not using their time wisely and that this is unnecessary for one-armed people because they’ll never really need a knife that quickly.
Although they may have a legitimate gripe with the part about lawmakers not taking care of bigger issues (i.e. Maine’s growing budget woes), to say that one-armed people will never need knives quickly for emergency purposes is simply wrong.
This post is the last in a week-long series about swords in conjunction with our first Cutting Edge product give-away. Place a comment before midnight (Central Time) on Sunday and you’ll be entered to win a 51-inch William Wallace replica sword ($119 value).
“I could not be a traitor to Edward for I was never his subject,’ said William Wallace while being tried for treason after his capture in August of 1305. Unfortunately, the British government thought otherwise.
After a brief trial, Wallace was stripped naked and dragged through the city by a horse. He was then hanged until he was barely alive, castrated, sliced open and forced to watch while his entrails were burned, and eventually decapitated. His head was covered in tar and placed on a pike on a top of London bridge.
It was undoubtedly a rough way to die, but Wallace had sent many a foe to equally brutal deaths during his reign as the most notorious freedom-fighter in Scotland.
Wallace’s crusade against the British began after infighting amongst the Scottish nobility allowed England to seize Scotland in 1296. While doing so, the British perpetrated a wide range of atrocities against the Scottish people
Historians speculate that Wallace’s wrath was additionally motivated by the murder of Marion Braidfute, a Scottish heiress that he was married to. He took revenge by slaying her murderer, William Heselright, the English Sheriff of Lanark.
From there, Wallace won a string of battles, pushing the British away from Scotland and inciting his fellow countryman to revolution. Often outnumbered and facing armies with superior weaponry, Wallace used military strategy to his advantage. His employment of tactical arrangements—like the Sheltron—as well as his use of strategic terrain defied military ethics of his time.
We’re counting down the top 10 movie sword fights of all time in conjunction with our first Cutting Edge product give-away. Comment on this post or any other between today and midnight on Sunday and you’ll be entered to win a 51-inch William Wallace replica sword .
If you are one of the first ten people to comment on any individual post, you’ll get DOUBLE ENTRIES.
1. Kill Bill, Vol. 1 – The Bride Vs. The Crazy 88
This Quentin Tarantino classic, starring Uma Thurman as a sword wielding bride out for revenge, has a variety of legendary and violent fight scenes. In this scene the bride faces the wrath of The Crazy 88 and all their violence. That scene begins around the 4 minute mark, but the previous scene is also worth a watch. The combination of sword fighting skills, violence and awesomeness makes this the number one movie sword fight.
Tell us which sword fight you like most by commenting below and you’ll be entered to win a 51-inch William Wallace sword.
If you are one of the first ten people to comment on any individual post, you’ll get DOUBLE ENTRIES.
What’s sexier than a sword? How about a hot chick slicing up her foes with one? Here, for your viewing pleasure, are the top 10 female sword fighters.
7. Violet Song jat Shariff (Milla Jovovich) – Ultraviolet
Even though the sci-fi thriller was widely panned by critics for its excessive complexity and lack of realism, the film did produce one of the hottest sword wielding fighters of all time. Throughout the film, Violet, played by Milla Jovovich, relentlessly plows through groups of inept fighters with a range of weapons, including swords and knives. Check out the cool scene below where Violet takes out a room of sword fighters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn6btSjAzPk
6. Guinevere (Keira Knightley) – King Arthur
Along with being fierce, Guinevere, from the 2004 film about King Arthur, engages in some truly amazing battles. For her loyalty, skill with swords and other weapons and refusal to give up, Guinevere takes the number 6 spot on this list. Check out some of her fiercest moments from the film in this clip.
5. The Bride (Uma Thurman) – Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2
Say what you will about Uma Thurman, but The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films is one hot sword fighter you don’t want to mess with. In one of the greatest sword fights in cinema history, The Bride takes on a group of masked men replete with gore and violence. Look at some of her moves in the clip below.
4. Xena (Lucy Lawless) – Xena: Warrior Princess
It’s impossible to compile a list of hottest female sword fighters without including Xena. Even though she’s only a fixture on the small screen, she remains the quintessential female warrior. Throughout her six seasons on television, she battled countless enemies with humor and intensity. Kudos to any woman who could carry around that massive sword and wield it skillfully.
3. Jen (Zhang Ziyi) – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The battle scenes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon are whimsical, impassioned and inventive and no one in the film represents this deftness more than Jen. The beautiful sword fighter, who was destined for an arranged marriage but yearned for a warrior’s lifestyle, engaged in several battles throughout the movie including this iconic fight in the trees.
2. O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) – Kill Bill, Vol. 1
Although she may appear innocent and fragile, O-Ren Ishii should never be crossed, as demonstrated from the clip below. The film emphasizes her flawless beauty, grace and fighting skills, especially when pitted against The Bride.
1. Elena Montero (Catherine Zeta-Jones) – The Mask of Zorro
This curvaceous student and love interest of Zorro earns the top spot on this list for her sword fighting skills and undeniable good looks. In the clip below you see her playfully battling Zorro with a rapier fencing sword before losing her clothes to the masked swordsman. Throughout the film, she demonstrates intimate knowledge of sword fighting and uses it for good.
We’re counting down the top 10 movie sword fights of all time in conjunction with our first Cutting Edge product give-away. Comment on this post or any other between today and midnight on Sunday and you’ll be entered to win a 51-inch William Wallace replica sword .
If you are one of the first ten people to comment on any individual post, you’ll get DOUBLE ENTRIES.
3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Yu Shu Lien Vs. Jen
This 2000 epic martial arts film has a number of sword fights worthy for this list, but none tops the scene below that shows these two girls engaging in an acrobatic sword fight.
2. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back – Darth Vader Vs. Luke Skywalker
Even though they’re not technically swords, lightsabers brought back the popularity of sword fighting and inspired millions (including the famous Star Wars kid) to take up sword fighting. This entire list could have been filled with only Star Wars sword fights, from the scene with Darth Maul to the Yoda and Palpatine fight. But, when it came time to decide, this first duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from The Empire Strikes Back remains the most iconic.
Tell us which sword fight you like most by commenting below and you’ll be entered to win a 51-inch William Wallace sword.
We’re counting down the top 10 movie sword fights of all time in conjunction with our first Cutting Edge product give-away. Comment on this post or any other between today and midnight on Sunday and you’ll be entered to win a 51-inch William Wallace replica sword .
If you are one of the first ten people to comment on any individual post, you’ll get DOUBLE ENTRIES.
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark – Indiana Jones Vs. Sword Guy
Along with the Monty Python scene, this battle ranks up there with the funniest. The cleverness of this sword fight (or lack thereof) gave Indiana Jones the rugged laziness that made his character huge. Legend has it that Indy was supposed to engage in a long battle with his whip while the swordsman slashed and fought. Nevertheless, I think this version was the funnier choice.
4. Rob Roy – Robert Roy MacGregor Vs. Archibald Cunningham
Rob Roy is a 1995 historical film about a Scottish man named Robert Roy who battled landowners. In this final duel of the movie, the two characters battle to the death in what amounts to be a very cool scene done without the assistance of special effects.
We’ve been blogging a lot lately about efforts to regulate knives, such as a proposed law in Nevada that would make it illegal for a parent to carry a pocket knife to a high school football game.
