Have you ever seen such a happy group of Szabo knife owners?

Edged weapons: We train to fight with them; we train to fight against them. We train to access them in the middle of a fight. We train to use them to save our lives when all the cards are down, and you can bet the bad guys have them too. If you've ever asked yourself if you're carrying the best possible defensive blade you can find, if you've ever spent time shopping for the highest quality piece you can afford, if you take your selection of defensive blades seriously, you owe it to yourself to check out Laci Szabos line-up of mayhem.

Szabo Rad (top) was featured in one of Jerry Van Cook's
Executioner novels.  Szabo kerambit (bottom) shows real style.

I’ve been a fan of Laci’s work for over five years and I now own several of his knives. I will be basing this review on my personal collection, which is diverse enough to provide you with a good idea of the kind of work Laci does. One look at the line-up and many words spring to mind: Evil-looking, exotic, mean, weird, out there, and wild, to name a few. The knives that spring from the design board of Laci Szabo may be all of these things, but one thing they're not is fantasy pieces. Each and every Szabo blade is purpose-driven and made to perform. They work, too.

The author's personal collection of Szabo knives.

Let's not beat around the bush here, people: Laci makes fighting knives, pure and simple. For those of you who are offended by that term, Laci designs functional tools made to give the user an advantage in a potentially life-threatening situation.  This includes scenarios in which you are faced with a poor unfortunate soul who has decided that society has given him no alternative but to attempt to rob, beat, rape or murder you.

Szabo knives in action.  You'd think twice about facing this guy.

Having filled my semantics quotient, let’s move on and get to the knives. In putting this article together, I had the opportunity to ask Laci many specific questions in regard to his design philosophy and why he does things the way he does. The most important thing about his knives, Laci stresses, is ergonomics. He does not build knives for their looks, evil or otherwise. Each knife is designed for a specific role with the end user in mind. Every feature on a Szabo knife must have a purpose or it’s not included.

Laci believes that the handle is the most important part of a knife. The blade is secondary. The tool should conform to the body; the body should not be made to conform to the tool. The knife should be easy to grab and it should follow the lines of the body. Ergonomics, my friends – this is what Szabo knives are all about.

The UUK by Laci Szabo.  Looks cool, doesn't it?

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the primary design of Szabo knives, the UUK. The UUK is that big knife with the canted blade, the strange arch on the top, and the weird guard on the bottom. It’s also double edged. All in all, it looks a bit like a pistol in execution. If you hold the knife in a forward grip position, the blade points almost directly at your target. Your wrist is aligned much better than it would be with a standard straight-handled knife. When you thrust, the motion is the equivalent of a punch. This design allows for powerful overhand chops.

UUK held in a forward grip.

UUK held in a reverse grip.  There is minimal reduction in reach.

When the blade is held in reverse grip, two benefits become apparent: First, you don’t lose reach like you would with a normal blade. The reach of the UUK in reverse grip is the same as it is in the forward grip. Secondly, in reverse grip, the UUK is capable of a powerful uppercut-like stroke.

"More Yang than Yin," indeed.

Remember that odd arch at the top of the blade? In reverse grip, it facilitates passing motions by catching the offending limb. Laci tells me the arch may also be used as a lever for use in digging or prying situations.

A particularly pleasing line-up, no?

Remember the guard at the bottom? It’s called a stick guard and it offers the weapon hand some protection from incoming attacks directed at the fingers. It may also be used to entrap a stick or blade and either disarm or redirect. Yes, the design takes some getting used to in practice, but once you understand the reasoning behind the blade it will become easier to use.

Wielding the "Kamitachi."

Laci has been designing knives professionally for the past twelve years, though he tells me by the age of three he was already drawing knives and swords. Drawing on his experience in the United States Marine Corps and on historical references, Laci designs combat tools made to work in the real world. By my count, he currently has forty-one designs listed on his website. They run the entire gamut, from massive (check out the Szabowie at over seventeen inches long) to the tiny (see his cat’s claw with an overall length of only four inches) and everything in between. Did I mention that Laci has also designed a kitchen knife set? Between different sized variations of his work and an amazing array of original designs, there is definitely a Szabo knife out there to fit your needs.

Over the years, Laci has contracted several different makers to produce his designs. Earnest Mayer of Black Cloud knives was the first one to make Szabo designs. John Greco has made knives for Laci as well as Wendell Fox, Fred Perrin, Bud Nealy and James Piorek. Rob Newton currently produces most of Laci’s designs, though Perrin, Nealy, and Fox are also current makers as well.

Szabo knives by Rob Newton.

What this means to you is that if you’d like to see a knife done in a different steel or finish, you have that option. All of these makers have put out quality products and Laci wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel fortunate to own examples of Perrin's, Newton's, Earnest Mayer's, and John Greco’s work. I can tell you from experience they are all top notch. Rob Newton currently employs 5160 steel in his Szabo designs, though any steel is available. Laci feels that 5160 offers exceptional impact resistance, which is a desirable characteristic in a fighting blade. Laci also employs Charlie Porter to make training versions of his blades. If you believe in taking your training seriously (shouldn’t we all?) there’s a companion trainer out there to match your Szabo knife.

Szabo Rad is a two-stage knife, the blade of which extends
from the handle when closed. It is carried in a sheath.

Open, the stylish Rad is a full-sized fighting blade.

What should you expect when you call Szabo Inc.? You’re not going to get a clueless receptionist who will put you on permanent hold; I can promise you that. Laci himself answers the phone most of the time. The rest of the time, Ren will handle the calls. Ren is an absolute delight to talk to and a 100% cool person. Laci refers to her as his right hand. It has been my experience that between these two, you can get answers to all of your questions. Ordering is done quickly and professionally. No wasted time here, folks.

Szabo kerambit (bottom) in action.

Among other things, Laci is also available for training in hand-to-hand, stick, and knife work. He has trained the 124th Infantry Brigade and the 221st Mobile Infantry prior to their deployment. Laci trains combat personnel most of the time, but he is available for civilian seminars or private study. Laci promotes weapons work as a primary means of self-defense. Someone with little or no experience in personal defense will need an edge in combat. If a person is familiar with and comfortable with weapon work, then anything within reach can quickly be used for defense.

"Passing" with a Szabo knife.

A Christmas tree with Szabo knives under it makes for happy holidays.

Laci puts out a no-frills method of hand-to-hand training that reminds me of the Applegate and Fairburn methods. Eye gouges and palm strikes, among other nasty techniques should be expected, as these techniques are designed to quickly end any fight in which a soldier may have to engage.

What does the future hold for Szabo knives? Expect production versions of some of his more popular designs. Laci tells me that Spyderco is already working on a prototype of one of his designs and that Strider Knives is planning to produce a UUK sometime in the near future.

Besides designing knives, having commercial pilot’s licenses, skydiving, and training military personnel, Laci also does a little acting from time to time. He recently completed filming on a movie called “The Vault.” (Hint: Expect to see Szabo knives on the screen very soon. Laci tells me that he used a UUK in the film and the bad guy is swinging a Spec-Ops Fugu.)

They're not movie stars, but the applications are the same regardless of celebrity.

In closing, let me make a few other points. These are all well-designed and seriously built knives, competitively priced in the mid-range. Laci’s web page, www.szaboinc.com, is also a good source for a wide variety of other tools and knives. You will find a diverse selection of impact weapons, Fred Perrin knives, and resource materials. Laci also sells the instructional videos of Master at Arms James Keating and will recommend a specific tape or series of tapes for each of the knives he sells. Go check out the website and give Laci a call if you have any questions.

Take some time to understand the evolution of the blade, and see for yourself how Laci has merged ergonomics and modern-day materials to create a superior line of tools for self-defense.

 

The author may be contacted at: thesharp1@juno.com
Laci Szabo may be reached at: www.szaboinc.com