pmcimagazine.com
SKALLYWAG TACTICAL: D2 DAGGER
while wearing tactical gloves. After deployment of the blade is
made and the user has an opportunity to transition to primary
weapon such as a rifle or handgun, the ring allows for minimum
effort to retain by simply holding onto it with the pink finger
of the support hand while establishing a master grip. According
to former Navy Seal, Jeff Gonzalez of Trident Concepts, studies
have shown that once a fixed blade is deployed in a high stress
environment, its often better to just hang on it rather than try
to secure or simply drop it to the ground.
The overall design is based on an Ancient Greek Hoplite
spear that was engineered to penetrate armor. The D2 can
certainly deliver deep, plunging penetration, but its cutting
surfaces can also inflict rather impressive slashes to make it
a true dual threat. As illustrated in several company approved
video demonstrations, the D2 handler uses large chunks of
hanging meat to show the results of quick, close quarters
slashes. The results are clean, 6” to 7” lacerations approximately
3” deep. Even in our own early testing, the D2 pushed through
a Kevlar level IIA panel and then sliced through a layer of thick
denim fabric before lacerating a 2” wound channel into a pork loin.
The D2 Dagger blanks are constructed from a billet of D2 tool
steel, professionally CNC milled. These blanks are then skillfully
ground and finished with an overall length of approximately
7.85” with a width of only .25”. The dagger is made of up of
the 4” tear drop shaped ringed grip and a razor sharp 3.85”
double edge blade. The edge is cleverly ground to a 40-degree
angle to deliver a maximum wound channel. The simplicity of
the grind makes it easy to maintain its sharpness with a simple
whetstone in the field. Featured prominently down the middle
of the blade on each side is a blade fuller, enormously called
a “blood groove” by some. The use of a blade fuller is actually
a technique used to strengthen the blade as well as reduce
overall weight.
To help mount this handy little tool, the D2 dagger ships
with a Kydex sheath that is roughly the width of a single row
of Molle loop. The sheath features a small metal clip that slips
holds the blade tight to your gear without slop to enable it
hide virtually anywhere amongst your kit. This sheath also
works very well to aid in carrying the D2 inside the waist band
opposite your concealed carry weapon. I am a
huge advocate of carrying a compact handgun
and fixed blade knife combo as part of my
daily load out.
Skallywag Tactical helps promote training
and familiarization of their dagger by offering
a very affordable aluminum training version of
the D2 that is blunt tipped and unsharpened
to the same dimensions as the live blade.
With this, one can safely train to put the tool
to use in real time during grappling situations
before transitioning to a primary weapon. If
you a firm believer in training like you fight,
the D2 dagger and trainer combo are a “must”
to purchase together. The live blade retails
for US$150 while the trainer comes in at only
US$30.
Currently there is even an aluminum version
of the live blade as well that retails for US$49.
Over the past six years or so, I have been
carrying a Skallywag Tactical dagger on my
chest rig and other kit stored behind items
such as a magazine carrier, cell phone holder
or admin pouch while teaching various rifle, shotgun and
handgun courses. I also have carried the D2 tucked inside my
belt regularly as a last-ditch line of defense when out and about
in everyday life. I’ve come to know the company and their
dedication to those who stand the line against good and evil,
foreign and domestic. Their products and team spirit of work
hard and rest as easy as the Caribbean breeze have managed
to supersede just being a knife company.
Skallywag Tactical offers a wide range of knives as well
as partnered training are all top notch and have rallied many
others from all walks of life into their own lifestyle. Much
like Jimmy Buffet and his Parrot heads or Kenny Chesney and
Barefoot nation, the modern-day pirates of the Skallywag
Lifestyle have become a subculture of tactical awareness and
seafaring dreams. Steering the ship is a good friend to many
in the blade and firearms world, Craig Burhart, affectionately
known to his crew as “The Captain”.
I mention this solely to illustrate the immense degree
of the value that having a great product and supporting the
people whose lives may depend on their blades can have in
an industry. Any industry for that matter. Good folks caring
about others for global issues, reliable tactical products and
supporting other small businesses does several things. It makes
it possible for folks to get through life or death situations and
gives them a better world to enjoy after they survive. This is a
key point that more people in the industry can learn from.
Skallywag Tactical designs each blade with a specific
purpose and intent. Consider the D2 dagger as the rip cord on
your emergency parachute hidden amongst your defensive
tools. I suggest everyone who carries a firearm whether it’s
professionally or for personal defense should own one. To learn
more about the D2 dagger or the elite newer
variant aptly named the Guardian, set sail for
www.SkallywagTactical.com and learn more about
what the Captain and crew have to offer.
Till next issue, Fair Winds and Following Seas!
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