Robert Desrosiers
12-10-2007, 04:11 PM
I have never been a fan of smaller blades. Typically my attitude has fallen along the lines in the same way I feel about dogs. “Small dogs make noise. Big dogs take care of problems”. But I must say my outlook has changed recently. Not so much as an epiphany, but a realization. I recently purchased a Boker Subcom designed by Correctional Officer Chad Los Banos who lives and works in Hawaii. Mr. Banos has designed a number of blades for both Boker and Spyderco. Presently there are at least 6 variations on his Subcom design available through Boker USA. The “F” black version is what I will be reviewing.
The blade length is approx. 1 7/8” and when closed the overall length is 2 ¾”. The handle thickness is approx. ¼”. The overall weight is listed as 2.5 ounces. Blade thickness comes in at 2mm.
The blade itself is made of the acceptable AUS8. It is a high flat grind drop point with a broad belly. Serrations start at the base of the choil and extend halfway up the belly. At the top of the blade near the spine by the logo there is an unusual thumb stud design. It is ambidextrous (not unusual) with small graduations that look like tiny steps. I found this to work extremely well for one handed opening. The handle is comprised of two slabs. The one being some sort of stainless steel with a black coating which also acts as an integral frame lock backed by a reversible steel pocket clip. The opposite side is made of some sort of FRN. The handle itself has a very deep recess which insures a very positive purchase regardless of most hand sizes or grip variations. It also appears to insure that if there is a loss of lock-up it will not close on the hand do to the flair at the choil. It is also worthy to note that it appears that pressure exerted by the index finger would assist in applying pressure to the lock itself keeping in buried deep within the handle. Very well thought out indeed. There are also three sets of deep scallops integrated within the handle to provide better grip under slippery conditions. On the back of the spine there are matching scallops that become much finer as it extends down the spine towards the point. At the base of the handle is an obligatory lanyard hole.
Opening the blade one handed was not fast but was silky smooth. Lock-up was very positive and there was absolutely no lateral or back and forth play. This is a very nice tight package. The blade itself came hair popping sharp right out of the box. Now, due to the thin blade and broad belly profile I suspect this knife is quite capable of large wound channels with minimal effort. One thing that I did come away with was that although this is not a big knife it feels a lot larger in the hand than it looks. For me at least the back of the handle rests deep within my palm near the base of the thumb. Theoretically this should assist with deep penetration if a solid object was struck so there is less a chance of the blade sliding through the hand causing self injury.
I have been playing around with variations on grips and carry locations for deployment. For duty carry I have been placing it on my right side clip side out behind the waist band in the appendix position. This location is very low profile and benign and access is relatively quick. Another location that is possible is right behind the tie underneath the shirt seam where most cops seem to place their writing utensils(pens).
Though no martial art master by any stretch of the imagination I was able to practice fairly quick deployment and utilize some simple but effective techniques with the Subcom(at least in practice) I feel that if faced with a life threatening situation I could be quite formidable with even such a small blade as this Boker. Utilizing a saber grip and the “sewing machine” technique I was able to land numerous strikes to a cardboard IPSC style target within a very short period of time. I then switched over to an ice-pick grip and reverted to hybrid Kempo meets “Jab-grab-stab” protocol. I found that I could land no less than six combination slash/stab strikes to the neck and face of a 3-D style target in under two seconds. Though I have decent hand speed due to my Kempo background I also feel that the lack of bulk and weight on the part of the Subcom aided the number of strikes I was able to land in such a short period of time.
Msrp on the Subcom runs in $40.00 range. I was able to buy one for $26.00 on-line. So the price point is an added bonus. I am very impressed with this little workhorse and from everything I have read Mr. Banos has hit a real home run with this little gem. Guys at my station were so impressed by this blade that 30 of them had me order them up their own. Don’t pass this one up.
The blade length is approx. 1 7/8” and when closed the overall length is 2 ¾”. The handle thickness is approx. ¼”. The overall weight is listed as 2.5 ounces. Blade thickness comes in at 2mm.
The blade itself is made of the acceptable AUS8. It is a high flat grind drop point with a broad belly. Serrations start at the base of the choil and extend halfway up the belly. At the top of the blade near the spine by the logo there is an unusual thumb stud design. It is ambidextrous (not unusual) with small graduations that look like tiny steps. I found this to work extremely well for one handed opening. The handle is comprised of two slabs. The one being some sort of stainless steel with a black coating which also acts as an integral frame lock backed by a reversible steel pocket clip. The opposite side is made of some sort of FRN. The handle itself has a very deep recess which insures a very positive purchase regardless of most hand sizes or grip variations. It also appears to insure that if there is a loss of lock-up it will not close on the hand do to the flair at the choil. It is also worthy to note that it appears that pressure exerted by the index finger would assist in applying pressure to the lock itself keeping in buried deep within the handle. Very well thought out indeed. There are also three sets of deep scallops integrated within the handle to provide better grip under slippery conditions. On the back of the spine there are matching scallops that become much finer as it extends down the spine towards the point. At the base of the handle is an obligatory lanyard hole.
Opening the blade one handed was not fast but was silky smooth. Lock-up was very positive and there was absolutely no lateral or back and forth play. This is a very nice tight package. The blade itself came hair popping sharp right out of the box. Now, due to the thin blade and broad belly profile I suspect this knife is quite capable of large wound channels with minimal effort. One thing that I did come away with was that although this is not a big knife it feels a lot larger in the hand than it looks. For me at least the back of the handle rests deep within my palm near the base of the thumb. Theoretically this should assist with deep penetration if a solid object was struck so there is less a chance of the blade sliding through the hand causing self injury.
I have been playing around with variations on grips and carry locations for deployment. For duty carry I have been placing it on my right side clip side out behind the waist band in the appendix position. This location is very low profile and benign and access is relatively quick. Another location that is possible is right behind the tie underneath the shirt seam where most cops seem to place their writing utensils(pens).
Though no martial art master by any stretch of the imagination I was able to practice fairly quick deployment and utilize some simple but effective techniques with the Subcom(at least in practice) I feel that if faced with a life threatening situation I could be quite formidable with even such a small blade as this Boker. Utilizing a saber grip and the “sewing machine” technique I was able to land numerous strikes to a cardboard IPSC style target within a very short period of time. I then switched over to an ice-pick grip and reverted to hybrid Kempo meets “Jab-grab-stab” protocol. I found that I could land no less than six combination slash/stab strikes to the neck and face of a 3-D style target in under two seconds. Though I have decent hand speed due to my Kempo background I also feel that the lack of bulk and weight on the part of the Subcom aided the number of strikes I was able to land in such a short period of time.
Msrp on the Subcom runs in $40.00 range. I was able to buy one for $26.00 on-line. So the price point is an added bonus. I am very impressed with this little workhorse and from everything I have read Mr. Banos has hit a real home run with this little gem. Guys at my station were so impressed by this blade that 30 of them had me order them up their own. Don’t pass this one up.