The Pros and Cons of Cold Steel Trainers

I keep a Cold Steel FGX Ring Dagger in one of the planters in my garden just in case

The Internet is full of people who forget that your access and ability to defend yourself is restricted in most of the world and even in many American States. It’s also full of people who give out advice to those people that is nonsense. I say that to just point out before going on – if you live in a locality where you’re not allowed to, let’s say own a machete, you probably aren’t allowed to defend yourself at all. England I’m looking at you.

So this is post basically for Americans outside of NYC and New Jersey, where self defense is de facto illegal.

So today’s Q&A is about Cold Steel’s series of synthetic “trainers” and their Nightshade series of hi-tech plastic (ish) knives. These are non-metal replicas of swords or other weapons made from high tech materials like polypropylene which make them weatherproof and virtually unbreakable. Cold Steel also makes a series of very inexpensive self defense “blades” like the one pictured above made out of similar high tech materials. They are specifically designed to be not only usable in self defense but corrosion proof. You can keep them in a flower pot, in the shower and other places you wouldn’t keep a knife or gun. Here’s a video demonstrating some of these synthetic blades:

There is also a series of walking/hiking sticks made out of the same sorts of specialty materials. They are popular, cheap and available online but stocks are running out and prices are going up so you’re going to want to move on getting them if you decide to. I’ll give you a mini-review of some of the ones I have before moving on.

I own two of the walking sticks (the Walkabout and the Ax Head) and on technical (just a way of saying hard) hikes through Paris mountain I carry the Walkabout both to keep my footing and for defense from animals. The trail me and the Mrs travel can be rough enough to break a wooden stick (Sulphur Springs if you’re curious)

Here’s a video of the walkabout:

I have Ring Dagger I keep in a pot. It’s been in my garden for years and has suffered no ill effects.

I have a Balicki stick. This is basically a modified Escrima stick. Like the other stuff it’s tough. I’ve never had to hit anyone with it but it’s light and fast. If I’m wearing a deep enough ruck while hiking I sometimes tuck it in. Here’s a video of it:

I have a Trench Hawk trainer. It’s a training tool for people who own their Trench Hawk which is a sort of battle axe. The trainer is made of Santoprene which is a kind of rubber but this material is very hard and capable of seriously injuring someone. I think it makes an excellent war club. I keep it near my bed.

And I have Bokkan shaped like a Katana. I use it for exercise when my arthritis flares up and I can’t lift weights. It’s not because I’m a weeb.

Now for the pros:

1. They are very cheap. I provided links to the company website and one Amazon link not because I have some sort of affiliate code (I don’t) but because i wanted you to see how inexpensive you can get these for. They are easily affordable. by anyone – some of the products are in the sub $10 range.

2. The don’t need special care. No knife sharpening/oiling, no special care needed. They are designed to be abused.

3. The trainers are legal almost everywhere. The knives are illegal where any other knife is. Like England.

4. On that note they’re explainable. The Internet gun community likes to conflate what should be with what is. When you defend yourself and injure a person, especially in a blue or purple state, you will have to explain why you had the weapon you use, maybe to a jury of people specifically picked by the prosecutor to lean toward wanting to put people who defend themselves in prison. That’s why people telling you to use a Glock with a sound suppressor for home defense are wrong. In certain areas weapons that are “jury friendly” are good ideas. The trainers make you look like some nerd who LARPS in a re-enactment group. This makes you seem more harmless to juries than if you used some other type of weapon.

5. They’re great for light workouts, practice using them will build muscular endurance.

6. They come in a variety of styles and forms so there’s something for anyone.

7. The walking sticks will put off people who want trouble.

Now the cons:

1. For self defense you’re basically signing up to either beat someone to near or actual death or stab them with a high end prison shank. Not for the feint of heart or physically disabled.

2. You need to figure out your skill and physical ability levels – and increase them. Fighting people with these will require you work on things like generating power, timing etc.

3. You’ll look…eccentric…traveling around with a black synthetic walking stick. I am an eccentric so I don’t care but you might.

4. Melee weapons do in fact run out of ammunition which is your ability to swing them around. You see people on the web claim that swords are superior to guns because they don’t run out of ammo. This is nonsense. Most people physically can’t fight for more than two to three minutes effectively, especially with something heavy, without taking a break.

So my recommendation is a buy but first look through the options and see which ones will work for you. If you’re into marital arts or HEMA get the sword trainers for example because you already know how to use them. If you’re in a restrictive state don’t buy the knives. If you’re in a free state and have a garden the knives are a good buy. But if you’re disabled or don’t have the physical ability to fight people skip it.

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