Ronin Gear aluminum training folder

My training partners and I had been looking to acquire some folding training knives for months (maybe even years) when I stumbled across some Ronin Gear aluminum training knives on-line. I bought four, and they have been an awesome addition to our knife and knife defense training.

The Ronin Gear trainer is extremely inexpensive. Even with the low price, the trainers are still high-quality training tools. The handle profile is very similar to a Ridge Runner tactical folder I’ve had for years (pictured at bottom on the right), which makes me wonder if the Ronnin Gear trainer is a knife kit assemble with a dull aluminum blade. I've seen similar packages for sale on custom knife-maker supply sites and in their catalogues. I've tried to find more information about the company and their products on-line, but have had no success.

The source of the trainer is unimportant, the super training experiences we’ve had with them is paramount. The trainer has a 3.25 in. dull aluminum blade, and is 4.75 in. folded. It’s a liner-lock design with a thumb stud for quick deployment. The rubberized grip has checkered panels that provide solid grip.

Training with the folder is outstanding. It has good grip, balance and weight. The dull edges and rounded tip are safe enough to slash and stab any target but the face safely (within reason. I’m sure you could impale someone with it if you tried). Since the handle has the same profile as a real knife, it has a very realistic feel to it. With the aluminum blade, the trainer can easily be mistaken for a live blade when it’s in motion.

The sole negative I’ve experienced in a number of training and sparring sessions is the liner lock failing. It’s only happened during the most dynamic practice and it never failed to the point where the blade was pinching fingers. This would be a major concern for a live steel knife, but for the trainer it’s just a minor annoyance.

Overall, the trainer just plain feels good in various drills and training. It has a superior feel to rubber and wooden knifes when practicing offense, defense, disarms and sparring. You don’t need a lot of protection to spar with it, but you’ll still need some protection to go full speed against all targets – some padded gloves and goggles or a fencing mask. The folder also allows you to practice defending from the draw and transitioning between weapons. I consider this a huge benefit because the knife I’m most likely to carry is a tactical folder.

These folding trainers are a fantastic addition to anyone’s training arsenal. I’ve had nothing but compliments about them since I added them to my own training weapons goodie bag. I highly recommend them for anyone who does any bladed weapon training.