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The push dagger is a knife very oriented to self-defense and that has its own specific area of application and an ancient history.
Today’s knife industry often repurposes many “colored” objects from the past.
It is a cutting weapon that has many years, perhaps already created thousands of years ago even if with larger sizes and different shapes, but today there are still versions of push daggers available both custom and industrial as those of Cold Steel.
While the origin of the Push Dagger was probably conceived in India it is in the United States that it has a long history.
The design and shape of the Push Dagger
The Push Dagger is a push dagger usually consisting of a short blade and a “T” handle that allows it to be grasped in the palm of the hand.
This results in the blade protruding from the front of the fist between the fingers.
Clearly this ergonomics of use has advantages in terms of self-defense but also disadvantages if you want to use it as a traditional cutting tool.
It is particularly useful in close combat, and has been used in the past by gamblers on American river boats, by soldiers of the First World War who will end up discovering its dangerousness and still today it has a wide use and diffusion.
Beware that Italian law does not allow the port of push dagger!
A bit of history of the push dagger
In 1800
Daggers have been worn by many people as a weapon of defense in what was then a frightening and uncertain new world, according to Harold Peterson’s “Daggers and Combat Knives of the Western World.”
Before the invention of reliable guns, the dagger was used by gamblers and those who lived in the Old West as a defense weapon.
It also proved useful for residents of river port cities along the Mississippi River or in ports like New Orleans where they often landed strangers with strange intentions.
The blade also became popular for a short time in Germany where it was known as “the fist-knife“.
The First World War
During World War I, where brutal trench warfare led to the need for cutting weapons for hand-to-hand use, the push dagger once again emerged in popularity.
Driven in part by a shortage of guns, the push dagger was released to many soldiers in Britain, according to Ron Flook’s “British and Commonwealth Military Knives.”
During World War II the dagger was used again, this time released to British commandos and those of other specialized forces.
Typical uses might include eliminating the sentry and, again, close combat.
Today, the dagger push dagger is still a popular choice.
Such a blade offers a self-defense tool regardless of the situation.
It provides an easily accessible weapon that can be used in close situations where other knives may be more difficult to use.
It also provides a powerful addition to your EDC or Go Bag.
Military versions made in Italy derivative
S.E.R.E.1
S.E.R.E.1One of the military versions of the Push Dagger is the S.E.R.E. of Extrema Ratio, the Italian company world leader for military knives that has created this version of push dagger with special characteristics.
S.E.R.E. 1 was born from the idea of a study group composed of Special Forces operators, martial artists and experts in survival techniques.
The acronym S.E.R.E. refers to the four principles “Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape” that make up the training program provided to the
Military personnel at high risk of capture.
The Extrema Ratio development team wanted to reinterpret the theme of the combat and survival knife in a modern way, inspired by the concepts of the Great Survival Knives of the past, without wanting to resume their design.
The handle is inspired by a typical angle, which operators would call “friendly”.
The similarity with knives of the “push dagger” type should not be misleading; the S.E.R.E. 1 is suitable for both tip and cutting use, the grip in fact, unlike the classic blades of this type, is fixed between the index and middle fingers, thus forming a single axis from the tip of the blade to the user’s wrist, and allowing its use even in reverse grip.
The top of the handle has a “top hammer” relief, or a sort of hammer of circumstance that lends itself well to various tactical uses: here emerges the advantage of the design of the S.E.R.E. 1 compared to traditional survival knives, which obviously have a single shank.
The blade has been designed with strength and easy handling in mind; the geometry of the tip guarantees maximum penetration, at the same time its axial profile with a triangular base protects its resistance.
The design of the blade
The design of the blade has on the one hand a partially serrated profile to facilitate the cutting of ropes, and on the other a classic silhouette cutter; the central loop, which has the dual function of lightening and turning-crickets, recalls the maritime origins of its creators.
The peculiarity of the knife is that it has been specifically designed to be used even without the handle; the two holes in the part dedicated to the handle facilitate assembly.
The S.E.R.E. 2 G.O.I.
Today a new version called S.E.R.E. 2 G.O.I. has also been made.
S.E.R.E. 2, adopted by the Raiders Operational Group of the Italian Navy, is the development of S.E. R.E. 1, created by a study group composed of Special Forces operators, martial artists and experts in survival techniques.
This variant of S.E.R.E. 2 is developed according to the needs expressed by the Department.
The acronym S.E.R.E. as already mentioned above refers to the four principles “Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape” that make up the training program provided to military personnel at high risk of capture.
The S.E.R.E. 2 is suitable for both tip and cutting use.
The unique grip of its kind, unlike the classic blades of this type, is fixed between the index and middle fingers, thus forming a single axis from the tip of the blade to the user’s wrist, allowing its use even in reverse grip.
The handle has the same ergonomics as the butt of a firearm; this grip allows an instinctive and immediate use, being able to easily integrate the training into the training activity.
The geometry of the tip ensures maximum penetration, at the same time its triangular-based asialine profile protects its resistance.
The design of the blade has on the one hand a partially serrated profile to facilitate the cutting of ropes, and on the other a classic silhouette cutter or belt cutter that, unlike the previous model, has resharpenable and interchangeable blades.
The central loop, which has the dual function of lightening and turning-crickets, recalls the maritime origins of its creators.
The peculiarity of this knife is to be designed specifically to be used even without the handle.
The two holes in the part dedicated to the handle facilitate assembly.
The steath
The kydex steath has a basic retention that can be used alone for operators who need extremely quick use of the knife, and a removable lock if necessary.
The knife comes to you with double safe for ambidextrous mounting.
Present as an accessory an insert with a cutting screwdriver.
The S.E.R.E. 2 G.O.I. comes with belt clips for fastening to the belt and paracord for fixing on the M.O.L.L.E. system.
“Using the gun, knife or other weapon for us is the same thing: it’s just the extension of the hand.” (Quote from a department commander.)
Conclusions
Even today I find it a very versatile knife for the most diverse uses, compact and extremely dangerous for the way it can be used.
Andrea
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