An
Edged-Weapon Self-Defense System Developed by Michael D. JanichAn
Edged-Weapon Self-Defense System Developed by Michael D. Janich"Yojimbo" is the name of a classic Akira Kurosawa Samurai film starring Toshiro Mifune. Literally, it means "bodyguard" in Japanese and, in my opinion, is an extremely appropriate name for a personal defense knife.
Basically, the Yojimbo is a folding version of the Ronin. Based on the same wharncliffe-style blade, it features a longer handle with a tapered, extended butt for use as an impact weapon.
The first Yojimbo was a liner-lock folder with an O-1 tool steel blade and ambidextrous thumb stud that I made myself to illustrate and validate its concept. Although I offered the design to Spyderco shortly after they adopted my MBC curriculum, they were not interested in it at that time. Later, after the success of the Mike Snody custom versions of my Ronin, Spyderco expressed an interest in producing a commercial version of that fixed blade design as well as a folding version -- the Yojimbo.
Mike Snody's one-of-a-kind Yojimbo prototype, with a liner lock, D2 blade, and carbon fiber handles.
The development of the Spyderco Yojimbo has been a meticulous process that has lasted more than two years. To accelerate the process and fuel public interest in the Yojimbo design, I asked Mike Snody to make a handmade prototype of the knife in late 2002. His phenomenal one-of-a-kind effort prompted an immediate interest in the design and helped motivate Spyderco to complete their Yojimbo prototype and unveil it at the November 2002 New York City knife show.
The prototype of the Spyderco Yojimbo, featuring G-10 handles, a CPM-S30V blade, and Spyderco's unique compression lock. Production versions will be available with either blue or black handles.
The Yojimbo is listed in the 2004 Spyderco catalog; however, as of January 2004, it is still undergoing final pilot-run testing to ensure the maximum possible strength from its compression-lock design. It is hoped that full-scale production will begin during the first quarter of 2004 and that this long-awaited knife will be available to MBC enthusiasts soon therafter.