The Clinch Pick came about as a result of a very specific issue, which was identified at the extreme close quarter range of combat. That issue is joint articulation and tool accessibility. Within a few feet of someone else, for the most part, we have a full range of motion with all of our joints. However as the gap closes and bodies collide and limbs entangle, we often can't use our arms in their entire range of motion. We might have our arm pinned across our body and may not be able to articulate our shoulder. If one can't articulate their strong side shoulder as an example, it's almost impossible to reach a piece of equipment located at or behind the strong side hip point, a place preferred by many for primary tool carry. Combine this issue with fighting in a confined space and the problem doubles.

A hardware solution then would be multiple tools, which are strategically placed on the body permitting rapid access. The first priority is identifying those areas on the body. In looking at placing a tool on the body, the ShivWorks team identified waist carry, slightly offset from the center line as being a viable option. Not saying that this is the only area but one of several. This is usually referred to as "crossdraw" but it really isn't. This is actually just slightly off-set from the navel as in this picture.

The Clinch Pick is mounted for tip up carry. Traditionally fixed blades are carried tip-down and one has to articulate their wrist usually to grab the handle. When we bend the wrist we compromise our grip strength from the initiation of the draw-stroke and that may mean the difference between a successful tool deployment and dropping whatever you're trying to grab. After deciding on where we would place it and how, we began to work on the envelope. The knife had to be concealable in everyday attire so that meant hiding it effectively under shirts and jackets with short tails. This meant that the handle could not drop below the belt-line very much. Also since the blade would be riding upward it had to be long enough to do the job, but short enough to not dig into one's midline.

We experimented with length and came up with 5 ½" and a 2 ¾" blade as optimal. The knife would ride canted with the handle lowered and fall nicely into the natural crease at the junction of the abdomen and the pelvic girdle. To keep the handle length down we went with a contoured egg-shape that fills the palm yet remains extremely short. Now we could comfortably wear the tool standing or seated and have an extremely fast, convulsive, stress proof draw-stroke.

Notice also that the Clinch Pick stands off slightly. It's a given that outside the waistband carry makes tool access easier than inside the waistband carry. IWB conversely is usually more discreet. The Clinch Pick is designed for rapid deployment and we didn't want people fumbling to wedge a thumb or finger between their torso and the tool when speed was critical. The end-user can carry the Clinch Pick however they want but we strongly encourage everyone to go with the carry method that the tool was designed for. As for application, the Clinch Pick is utilized in a forward grip edge up application or in Pikal if drawn with the off hand. Forward grip edge-up application may be read about in the tutorials section of the site under PSP 10. I have however taken some photographs that show a standing and seated progression. Let's take a look at those now
In this photo I've been clinched on the high line from an oblique angle. How we got here is not important for this progression as the focus here is a tool deployment option. We can see that from this angle my right shoulder is jammed into his chest tightly which has limited my shoulder and elbow mobility rearward.

To access the Clinch Pick requires almost no joint movement. It's just there and I go for it now, curling my bicep slightly inward and shooting my hand under the tail of my shirt. Remember that this is a hardware option and software options should be considered also.		Because there is only 2 ¾ " of steel to clear from the kydex, the Clinch Pick immediately indexes right at the centerline of the body.
I'll now thrust into the armpit. When I hit I'll pull and drive forward which drags the sharpened top edge back towards me. My convulsive locked-wrist grip and the egg-shaped handle have married in a solid grip that allows me to use the tool in this levering fashion.		That follows into a groin thrust which bows him forward.

And then finally a femoral thrust to the inner thigh combined with forward drive through his ruptured centerline. When we hit on the inner thigh we want to drag the inserted blade to us and try and sever everything we can.

Attacked while seated, the Clinch Pick is still accessible from it's placement. My off-hand moves to his face and rakes while the strong hand shoots beneath the shirt and clutches the egg-shaped handle. Remember that this is just a conceptual photo series. I'm not suggesting that you stab everyone who grabs you. The short blade pops out and indexes nicely at my centerline. You want to thrust from here and not draw back to try and get more power.   A short, powerful, arcing thrust to the abdomen drives the blade home. I rip upwards while still raking his face.   Finally I finish off by grabbing his left hand with my raking hand to keep it from interfering and drive a thrust under his chin, upwards. In summary the Clinch Pick is a tool that evolved as a hardware solution to a specific problem. It is available for purchase through Trace Rinaldi who may be contacted through our links section.