A Product Review by Michael Janich
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The Ray Rogers "Rayzor"
Now that the modern tactical folding knife has
been with us for more that 20 years, it’s hard for some folks to remember what
everyday carry defensive edged weapons were like in the “old days.” Before
clothing clips, thumb studs, Spyderco holes, and Emerson waves, tactical folders
usually took the form of some kind of lockback folding knife like a Buck Model
110 or a Gerber Folding Sportsman. If you were truly visionary, you might have
attached a Flicket or similar device to enable you to open your knife
one-handed.
But if you go back even further, you’ll find that one of the
most popular – and feared – items of pocket cutlery was the simple straight
razor. Although not specifically designed for personal defense, the straight
razor had a number of unique features that made it very suitable for that
application. Specifically, it was easy to conceal, could be deployed and opened
with only hand, and, best of all, was typically razor sharp.
Certainly a switchblade was a sexier weapon and, though more
symbolic than functional, could still pose a serious threat. However, few things
are more frightening than the thought of facing a determined opponent armed with
a weapon that you know is razor sharp and will easily slice through just about
anything you put in its way.
The major shortcomings of the straight razor, of course, were
the fact that the blade could not be locked open and that it lacked a thrusting
point. Of these two, I consider the former to be the razor’s most serious
drawback. Despite the development of a variety of techniques and fighting styles
designed to work around this flaw (ranging from “pinch” gripping the blade to
the “foldover” grip with the blade resting against the knuckles of the fist), in
my opinion, a razor could never live up to its full potential as a fighting
blade without a proper lock. Fortunately, Washington-based custom knifemaker Ray
Rogers has changed all that.
The “Rayzor” is a Ray Rogers creation that combines the best
elements of a modern, liner-lock
tactical folder with the style and incredible
edge geometry of the traditional straight razor. Its handle consists of 1/8-inch
titanium slabs that are milled to create integral bolsters and accept
hand-fitted micarta scales. A separate titanium liner is sandwiched between the
blade and the reverse handle and split to create the guts of a very stout
liner-lock mechanism. The 4-inch blade is crafted from BG-42 stainless and
boasts the distinctive shape and deep hollow grind that define a classic
straight razor. All these pieces are expertly fitted together with stainless
steel hex-head fasteners, yielding a package with exceptional fit and
finish.
My favorite – and perhaps the most elegant – aspect of the
Rayzor is its one-handed opening
feature. Rather that the conventional stud,
disk, or hole arrangement, Rogers retains the blade shape of a traditional
straight razor – including the narrow ricasso – and combines it with a
strategically placed relief cut in the obverse bolster. The resulting
arrangement exposes the arched finger cutout of the blade above the cutout in
the bolster, offering, in essence, the functional part of a Spyderco hole as a
thumb purchase. This elegant arrangement works very well and provides a very
quick one-handed opening.
I also like the fact that the handle on the Rayzor is
generously overbuilt and that the butt of the handle tapers nicely to fit the
flow of the clipped blade tip. Aesthetically, it looks great. Functionally, it
provides a hell of a fistload when closed and a very focused striking point at
the butt, reinforced by three layers of titanium liners, a solid micarta spacer,
and two micarta handle scales.
For ease of carry, the Rayzor is also equipped with a very
compact clothing clip attached to the reverse-side bolster. This allows the
knife to ride very low in the pocket, yet offers a very quick draw.
OK, so we’ve got a very cool, incredibly unique blend of
traditional straight razor and modern tactical folder. Is it a viable personal
defense weapon? In my opinion, yes. First of all, although many self-proclaimed
experts recommend thrusting over cutting because it is more likely to produce a
fatal wound, I prefer to structure my edged-weapon tactics around functional
self-defense rather than killing. As with firearms, the goal is “stopping
power,” not “killing power.” And stopping someone with a knife has more to do
with cutting the structures that allow him to be dangerous than inflicting a
mortal would that kills him but doesn’t produce an immediate stop.
With all that in mind, a knife that cuts like crazy through
most types of clothing and all the strategic connective tissues underneath is
definitely a viable defensive tool. As for its lack of a point, although I
typically prefer a blade that will cut and puncture, in some jurisdictions,
weapons that are “readily adaptable to stabbing” are prohibited. Also, there is
often a legal line between “cutting” and “stabbing,” with the latter considered
to be a more serious act. With this in mind, the unique point of the Rayzor
provides an interesting option for the controlled application of force. It is
certainly sharp enough to cause extreme pain, yet it will not penetrate like a
conventional blade point
Also on the positive side are the fact that the Rayzor’s
handle makes a potent impact weapon – either with the blade open or closed – and
that its lock is very stout and substantial.
The only shortcoming that I see to the Rayzor’s lock
arrangement is that the deep cutout in the bolster – a common feature among many
liner-lock knives – allows the index finger to contact the liner when gripped in
a standard grip. On conventional folding knives, I consider this a bad feature
because the lock could accidentally disengage if the knife were to roll in the
hand during a ballistic cut. With the Rayzor, however, I simply chose to grip it
more like a traditional straight razor, with my index finger in the blade choil.
This provides a very secure grip, allows the knife to index very well in the
hand, and provides an extra measure of safety to keep the hand from sliding up
onto the blade if it is used to thrust. It also leaves a generous portion of the
handle butt exposed for striking and hooking.
Overall, I found the Rayzor to be an interesting blend of
classic streetfighting hardware and state-of-the art tactical folding knife
technology and craftsmanship. As a utility tool, it is also equal or superior to
the best sheepsfoot and wharncliffe blades out there, offering all the same
choices in a “pointless” blade style.
For
more information, contact Ray Rogers, P.O. Box 126, Wauconda, WA 98859,
509-486-8069 or visit www.rayrogers.com.
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