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TACTICALDEFENDERTACTICALDEFENDERJohn Benner, president

and founder of the Tac-tical Defense Institute

(TDI), has been my friend for over 20 years. I first met him in a class taught by John Shaw, founder of the Mid-South In-stitute for Self Defense Shoot-ing, where we both realized we were not as good at shooting as we had previously thought. Benner was just getting his training company up and run-ning, and I found him to be both knowledgeable and fun to be around. Our paths crossed repeatedly through the years as we took several training

courses together (he beat me into the ground at a Defensive Tactics Instructor course where I found he was not susceptible to pressure points and I very much was) as well as both of us being in command of drug task forces funded by the same fed-eral grant.

Our methodology for teach-ing the combative application of the handgun is so similar that it is almost scary, even though we developed our doctrine separate from one an-other. I contracted John to train the members of the task force I commanded and I have had the

good fortune to be a student in a number of TDI courses. I only say this to let the reader know that I have great respect for John, but I once thought he was out of his gourd.

Convincing KA-BARA number of years ago, he showed me a prototype knife he designed as a weapon retention tool for uniformed cops. It was a goofy-looking curved knife with a pistol style grip. John felt it would be easy to draw and use as a last ditch close-quarter weapon for a a police officer who might be fighting for pos-

session of his gun. He tried to sell the idea to a manufacturer (no longer in business), but did not get very far. Admittedly, I was not surprised—I thought the idea was dumb but did not have the heart to tell him. Boy, was I wrong! This was not the first time in my life that I lacked the foresight to see a good idea when it was presented to me. Not only did John convince the legendary KA-BAR Knife Com-pany to manufacture his de-sign, there is now an entire line of TDI products manufactured by KA-BAR, designed by John and his TDI instructors.

I should not have doubted him, as John is a man with a great deal of real-world military and police experience. A for-mer police lieutenant, as well as a drug task force coordina-tor and SWAT team field com-mander, John has more than 30-plus years of experience in the street and on the battle-field. He has developed courses in raid tactics, hand-to-hand skills and knife programs that are currently taught to law en-forcement, military and civilian groups from around the world.

As stated, the TDI knife was originally designed for police

officers, to be worn on the off-hand side and drawn like a pistol. In extreme close quarters, where a suspect is attempting to take an officer’s handgun, the TDI knife would be available as a last ditch de-fense option. When coupled with a friction-fit sheath, the unit is easily mounted on an officer’s inner-pant belt and concealed behind the various gear worn on his uniform duty belt. The TDI knife is made with a non-reflective black powder coated AUS 8 stainless steel blade and a textured Zytel han-dle. When paired with the ambi-

by Dave SpaulDing

Don’t let the benD throw you, this last-Ditcher can keep you from singing the s.o.l. blues!

KA-BAR/TDIKA-BAR/TDI

Phot cap here

TACTICAL KNIVES/July 201156 TACTICAL KNIVES/July 2011 57

device that KA-BAR uses on this model. The liner lock moved to the halfway point on the back of the blade and could not be un-locked by striking the knife’s spine on a sol-id object, a test that is used by many knowl-edgeable knife enthusiasts to test a folders locking strength. The liner lock bar has a nice series of serrations that make it easy to unlock while the back of the blade and handle have deep jimping to help hold the thumb in place when using a saber grip. A series of holes have been cut into the knife’s handle to help reduce weight while giving it a very space-age look. A deep, round cut has been placed in the grip to make it easier to slide the thumb onto the opening hole and this cut doubles as a finger groove for the index finger once the blade is deployed. When combined with the checkered grips, this finger groove helps the TDI folder lock solidly in the hand, even when wearing gloves or when the knife is wet.

Field/Street UseIn most knife articles I have read, the end is reserved for field testing and this article is no different. However, the term “field” test would be the wrong way to look at it. The TDI folder was designed to be used for close quarter combat, primarily weapon retention, so I decided to focus on this ap-plication. To do this, I broke out a 3-D fire-arm training target called the Tac-Man that I received from Law Enforcement Targets (www.letargets.com). I then took some cuts of meat, wrapped them in plastic wrap and strategically placed them on this 3-D torso and did a series of slash tests that would mimic what the knife would be used for in the street. I covered the target with a wool jacket that would simulate the type of cloth-ing popularly worn in cold weather. Not sur-prisingly, the TDI folder ripped through the wool coat and meat underneath with little problem. For those interested in cutting

dextrous hard plastic sheath, the total unit weighs only 0.26 pounds, so it is very easy to “carry and forget” until it is needed. The knife measures 5-5/8 inches overall, with a blade that is 2.31 inches long and avail-able in straight or serrated versions. The TDI knife was designed to sell at a low price so that if the knife were lost or left behind, it

would not feel like the owner had dropped their wallet as well.

Make It Fold!Since the original knife came along, several larg-er versions have been introduced as some felt the short 2.31-inch blade was not big enough to do the job. Consider-ing the knife’s original intent, this view may not be accurate. But “to each his own,” so lon-ger, larger versions were introduced. Since its in-troduction, the TDI knife

has been used in four documented weapon retention situations, all with successful re-sults. More importantly, the TDI knife has proven to be an excellent general patrol knife with many additional uses being cre-ated as needs/demands develop. John was continually asked to introduce a folding version, something he was reluctant to do, as a folding model would nullify the sim-plicity in drawing that the original model achieved. However, as demand grew, John reconsidered and sat down with the folks at KA-BAR and developed a folding version of the TDI knife. In his own words, “The pri-mary reason I wanted the folder was we at TDI encourage people to carry more than one knife. You need to have one for ‘chores’ and one for possible combat, depending on the situation. I felt it would be good to have a folder with the same blade angle, feel, weight as the fixed blade knife—that way everything is the same. It’s based on ‘The SIG Principle’–simple is good—I’ve heard that somewhere!” John is making a refer-ence to a section from my book Handgun Combatives, which I appreciate.

Around The BendLike all TDI knives, the TDI folder has a fi-nal configuration that is bent so it sits in the hand like a pistol, but it is this bend that gives the TDI knife its capabilities. The new folder is similar to the large TDI knife in length, weight and feel. These larger ver-sions feature drop-point and Tanto blades that are black powder coated AUS 8A stainless steel and are available partially-serrated or with a plain edge and measure 3.68 inches. Overall length is 7.56 inches and each knife weighs 0.4 pounds. A lightly textured and ergonomically shaped Zytel handle provide a comfortable, secure grip.

Packaged with a hard plastic friction sheath, fitted with nylon/Cordura MOLLE straps, the knives can be mounted on a standard pant belt, a duty belt, or any other gear that uses the daisy chain system. The straps are revers-ible and can be attached so that the knife can be worn horizontally or vertically. The folder will be available in a drop-point configura-tion only, either plain or with a serrated edge. A spring steel belt clip allows the knife to be carried in a tip-up configuration, the mode of carry that I prefer due to simplicity. Why sim-plicity, you ask? To draw a tip-up folding knife, all you have to do is insert the thumb of the drawing hand behind the knife’s body and allow your remaining fingers to wrap around the clip. Once the knife pulls clear of the pocket material, the fingers can then secure a more positive position on the handle while your thumb moves to the hole on the blade for rapid deployment. The clip is reversible for right- or left-side carry. In the case of the TDI folder, the hole cut into the top of the blade has a flat bottom with an elongated semi-circle at the top which seems to engage the skin on the thumb positively. I had very little problem getting my thumb into the opening hole and deploying the knife.

My test knife had a smooth opening ac-tion that locked solidly via the liner lock

The TDI knife was born from the training school of the same name. TDI is a full-service institution that offers training in hand-to-hand, impact weap-ons, edged weapon and every level of firearm. The folding TDI knife is the same as the large TDI fixed blade in size and shape.

The liner lock on the TDI folder is robust and solidly locks the blade in place.

Holes have been drilled into the handle to reduce weight. Notice the solid checkering on the grip surface.

The jimping on the top of the blade and grip solidly locks the gripping thumb in place. Continued on page 85

The saber grip allows the TDI folder to be used as either a stabbing, chopping or slashing weapon. The grip sur-face is quite secure.

The TDI folder rides securely in the pock-et, tip up, while offering a low profile.

TACTICAL KNIVES/July 201158 TACTICAL KNIVES/July 2011 85

tests like this, check out the TDI website for the videos they filmed in cooperation with KA-BAR. These may change your opinions on the capability of small knives.

Will the folding TDI Knife replace the fixed blade version? Not likely, as the simplicity of the original design is outstanding—no mat-ter how much you practice drawing and opening a folder. Like John, I see the folding model as a supplement to the fixed model, or as a replacement for the fixed model, for the off-duty or plainclothes officer who wants the knife’s capabilities but doesn’t want to carry a sheath knife when in soft clothes. Like all of the knives in the TDI line, the folder will surely be a huge hit. It fills a need that few others, if any, can fill.

Continued from page 57KA-BAR

For More InformationKA-BAR Knives200 Homer St., Dept. TKNY, 14760; 800-282-0130www.ka-bar.com

A wool winter coat was used to cover the meat for a more realistic test medium.

The author slashing and hacking away with the new TDI folder.

TK