No, they're the real butterfly knives. The Chinese refer to most single edged weapons as dao (knife). The butterfly knives that I train with are called such since they move together a lot -- one follows the other. They're extremely effective and versatile.

 

What the other poster questioned was the balisong knife (Philippine) with the familiar handles that spin around to reveal or conceal the blade.

 

not what I learned.. or had read..

 

while wikipedia is certainly not the end all of information.. it echoes what I have learned..

http://en.wikipedia....Dao_%28sword%29

 

I have been involved in knife and stick fighting for approximately 7-8 years.. but with that said we did primarily focus on modern arms so maybe I am mistaken..

but EVERYTHING I have ever read and found online when searching.. refers to them as swords.. not knives.. what is your point of reference?

 

I am certainly no expert in the butterfly sword (knife) but the notion of using such a rounded weapon in the confines of a hallway to me is not good.. in tight spots with knife fighting you go to stabbing and digging.. (crowbaring) (bulldogging) and that isn't going to happen with something that lacks a good deep point..

Read the first line on your Wikipedia link: Dao translates to "knife"

 

I've been studying in the Chinese martial arts since 1990 and my sources are all the fluent Cantonese speaking training brothers and sisters that know Dao means knife. The butterfly knives that I train are, in my system, called Ji Mo Suerng Dao ( mother son double knives) which are also known as Wu Dip Suerng Dao (Butterfly double knives). Since the butterfly knives are Chinese weapons, then the correct English translation is knife.

 

Southern Chinese martial arts are designed for extremely close quarter situations where elbows and knees are common weapons. The butterfly knives are designed to be used for such close quarter situations and can inflict massive trauma quickly and efficiently since they become an extension of your hands and elbows when flipped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

not what I learned.. or had read..

 

while wikipedia is certainly not the end all of information.. it echoes what I have learned..

http://en.wikipedia....Dao_%28sword%29

 

I have been involved in knife and stick fighting for approximately 7-8 years.. but with that said we did primarily focus on modern arms so maybe I am mistaken..

but EVERYTHING I have ever read and found online when searching.. refers to them as swords.. not knives.. what is your point of reference?

 

I am certainly no expert in the butterfly sword (knife) but the notion of using such a rounded weapon in the confines of a hallway to me is not good.. in tight spots with knife fighting you go to stabbing and digging.. (crowbaring) (bulldogging) and that isn't going to happen with something that lacks a good deep point..

Read the first line on your Wikipedia link: Dao translates to "knife"

 

I've been studying in the Chinese martial arts since 1990 and my sources are all the fluent Cantonese speaking training brothers and sisters that know Dao means knife. The butterfly knives that I train are, in my system, called Ji Mo Suerng Dao ( mother son double knives) which are also known as Wu Dip Suerng Dao (Butterfly double knives). Since the butterfly knives are Chinese weapons, then the correct English translation is knife.

 

Southern Chinese martial arts are designed for extremely close quarter situations where elbows and knees are common weapons. The butterfly knives are designed to be used for such close quarter situations and can inflict massive trauma quickly and efficiently since they become an extension of your hands and elbows when flipped.

 

reading first line..

 

is a category of single-edge Chinese swords

 

I get that the literal translation might be knife.. but there are Dao swords are there now?

 

again maybe there are different methods.. but everything I have seen used fairly large exaggerated motions.. which would IMO be sketchy in a tight hallway.. have any links to videos online of some of the movements you train in..

The literal translation for dao is (not "might be") knife. Getting back to the original argument, the proper name for the weapons I pictured is definitely butterfly knives. But, in the good ole USA, since these weapons are larger than than what we're accustomed to seeing, people refer to them as swords -- even though they're quite smaller than a Daern Dao which is known as a broadtail sword.

 

I train with the butterfly knives in my apartment often and I don't have a problem performing the close quarter techniques in tight spaces.

Although I have a fancy for knives (I have a decent size collection), the butterfly knives are my tools of choice if I had to choose weapons other than my gun. They suit my needs just as a Ka-bar would suit yours.

 

I searched YouTube but I couldn't find our weapon set. Most were Wing Chun variants or other systems which don't match our techniques.

 

 

I get that the literal translation might be knife.. but there are Dao swords are there now?

 

again maybe there are different methods.. but everything I have seen used fairly large exaggerated motions.. which would IMO be sketchy in a tight hallway.. have any links to videos online of some of the movements you train in..

The literal translation for dao is (not "might be") knife. Getting back to the original argument, the proper name for the weapons I pictured is definitely butterfly knives. But, in the good ole USA, since these weapons are larger than than what we're accustomed to seeing, people refer to them as swords -- even though they're quite smaller than a Daern Dao which is known as a broadtail sword.

 

not trying to be difficult or anything..

but you insist they are butterfly swords because of the literal translation of Dao.. but then you go on to tell about Daern Dao but that is not a knife.. for some reason that is a sword.. even though it contains the word Doa as well.. can you understand the confusion there?

 

you insist one is a knife.. because of the word.. but then claim the other is a sword.. with the same word? sounds a little confused.. sounds as if Dao is used in reference to swords as well..

not trying to be difficult just trying to understand..

 

I train with the butterfly knives in my apartment often and I don't have a problem performing the close quarter techniques in tight spaces.

Although I have a fancy for knives (I have a decent size collection), the butterfly knives are my tools of choice if I had to choose weapons other than my gun. They suit my needs just as a Ka-bar would suit yours.

 

was not implying one is better than another.. a Kbar has its shortcomings as well.. it is small.. so lacks reach.. I was simply pointing out the shortcomings of the butterfly swords (knives) in that in a short tight area stabbing wide slices (as I have seen with this weapon) seem to be difficult.. of course your home is different than anyone elses... and was simply pointing out that the lack of defined sharp point would seem to greatly reduce its stabbing ability.. do now you have a weapon in a somewhat confined area that can't stab well.. and would be difficult to generate a hard slicing motion.. again.. I was just trying to understand the practical use.. which is also why I was asking about videos.. since I figured maybe it would help me visualize how you were using it..

 

it is a genuine curiosity about your choice.. not an "I am right and you are wrong" kind of thing.. I know you might have taken it that way because of the "sword / knife" thing.. but as you pointed out.. other Dao ARE actually swords?

not trying to be difficult or anything..

but you insist they are butterfly swords because of the literal translation of Dao.. but then you go on to tell about Daern Dao but that is not a knife.. for some reason that is a sword.. even though it contains the word Doa as well.. can you understand the confusion there?

 

you insist one is a knife.. because of the word.. but then claim the other is a sword.. with the same word? sounds a little confused.. sounds as if Dao is used in reference to swords as well..

not trying to be difficult just trying to understand..

 

I said the Daern Dao is "known as" a broadsword which was to help you visualize the size difference between that and the butterfly knives. When I teach people to use the Daern Dao, I always translate it as a "knife" since I try to preserve and pass down my knowledge as I was taught by my traditional teachers. But to summarize and hopefully reach an agreement with this matter, yes... there are Chinese single edged daos large enough to be classified as swords even though they're translated as knives.

 

Going back to the original argument, you stated to another poster that I "meant to say" butterfly swords when, in fact, I did not. Since I specifically train with those weapons, I was aware of the translation.

 

 

 

was not implying one is better than another.. a Kbar has its shortcomings as well.. it is small.. so lacks reach.. I was simply pointing out the shortcomings of the butterfly swords (knives) in that in a short tight area stabbing wide slices (as I have seen with this weapon) seem to be difficult.. of course your home is different than anyone elses... and was simply pointing out that the lack of defined sharp point would seem to greatly reduce its stabbing ability.. do now you have a weapon in a somewhat confined area that can't stab well.. and would be difficult to generate a hard slicing motion.. again.. I was just trying to understand the practical use.. which is also why I was asking about videos.. since I figured maybe it would help me visualize how you were using it..

 

it is a genuine curiosity about your choice.. not an "I am right and you are wrong" kind of thing.. I know you might have taken it that way because of the "sword / knife" thing.. but as you pointed out.. other Dao ARE actually swords?

Just to confuse things a bit more there is a Chinese term for sword which I think is pronounced "gim" and that happens to be a double edged weapon.

 

The butterfly knives can stab but they were designed to penetrate deeply with a chopping or slashing manner. Since there are two, I can parry against an enemy's hand and simultaneously chop or slash with the other. We move high and low with the weapons and often target the joints, tendons, ligaments, etc., to incapacitate different parts of the body.

 

Cold Steel makes a set of Butterfly "Swords" (yeah, yeah) which I'm not too crazy of the design. You can see in their video below towards the end (guy with pig) shows the knives moving together. His technique is off but you can see the amount of trauma that the knives can inflict.

pics?

 

 

Here's a generic shot of the BK-7. I used to have a Busse FFBM, but it was just too big to be really usable. This one is a much more useful size to carry, plus it can still split wood in a pinch. It's also exponentially cheaper, they're anywhere between $55-70, depending on where you look. The only downside is that the sheath is really cheap. There are some nice kydex options out there though.

I said the Daern Dao is "known as" a broadsword which was to help you visualize the size difference between that and the butterfly knives. When I teach people to use the Daern Dao, I always translate it as a "knife" since I try to preserve and pass down my knowledge as I was taught by my traditional teachers. But to summarize and hopefully reach an agreement with this matter, yes... there are Chinese single edged daos large enough to be classified as swords even though they're translated as knives.

 

Going back to the original argument, you stated to another poster that I "meant to say" butterfly swords when, in fact, I did not. Since I specifically train with those weapons, I was aware of the translation.

 

 

 

 

Just to confuse things a bit more there is a Chinese term for sword which I think is pronounced "gim" and that happens to be a double edged weapon.

 

The butterfly knives can stab but they were designed to penetrate deeply with a chopping or slashing manner. Since there are two, I can parry against an enemy's hand and simultaneously chop or slash with the other. We move high and low with the weapons and often target the joints, tendons, ligaments, etc., to incapacitate different parts of the body.

 

Cold Steel makes a set of Butterfly "Swords" (yeah, yeah) which I'm not too crazy of the design. You can see in their video below towards the end (guy with pig) shows the knives moving together. His technique is off but you can see the amount of trauma that the knives can inflict.

 

if you are confident then it is a good weapon for you... and even after watching the video.. it confirms what I was thinking about it being limited to large motions.. when we train with a traditional modern "fighting knife" you can stab plunge and attack with a straight forward and back motion even while being in a completely limited confined space..... and you can also slice if need be.. while there is no question in my mind you are more adept with your skill than the guy at cold steel it is still only a slicing motion and requires left to right movement.. no real plunging.. so if I am coming down a stair well with knife at ready and encounter an individual one straight forward plunging motion will likely be enough to end that threat.. on the other hand if I am wielding two large rounded knives I am going to need to slice.. while maintaining my balance.. in a small tight environment.. to me.. in a small interior area.. it just seems overly complex and limited (to me).. but like I said.. if you are confident.. by all means.. you are good to go.. the thought of fighting in that method is completely abstract to me (this does not make it "wrong" or "bad")...

 

the reality is all of this is pretty moot since if there was a bump in the night I would be bringing out a rifle anyway.. lol

 

Here's a generic shot of the BK-7. I used to have a Busse FFBM, but it was just too big to be really usable. This one is a much more useful size to carry, plus it can still split wood in a pinch. It's also exponentially cheaper, they're anywhere between $55-70, depending on where you look. The only downside is that the sheath is really cheap. There are some nice kydex options out there though.

 

oh wow that is not the one I thought.. my mistake.. nice knife...

Thanks StriderTB!

I don't keep a knife around, but I do have a tomahawk at the ready. It's a SOG Tactical Tomahawk, and, admittedly, a bit unweidly-- but I've been getting use to it.

 

I do hope to get my hands on an RMJ in the near future as I'm really starting to prefer the tomahawk over the fixed knife.

I don't keep a knife around, but I do have a tomahawk at the ready. It's a SOG Tactical Tomahawk, and, admittedly, a bit unweidly-- but I've been getting use to it.

 

I do hope to get my hands on an RMJ in the near future as I'm really starting to prefer the tomahawk over the fixed knife.

 

I would've guessed you would be more of a Bolo knife or small Katana sword.

I have a cold steel gi tanto the knife is huge I don't think the person on the receiving end will be happy I think its rocking a 7 in blade and is made out of 1055 steel.

I have the Hanwei tactical Wakizashi in my bedroom but just ordered a cold steel Gladius machete. I think the Gladius may be the ulitmate close quaters combat weapon . I see it as a good weapon to use were space could be limited and also offers increased reach over a fixed blade knife such as a Kabar.