"...Since the knives are not training folders themselves (does such a thing exist???)..."
Bryan:
The best training folders on the market are the Spyderco Endura trainer (4 inch blade) and the Spyderco Delica trainer (3 inch blade). These trainers are exact replicas of the regular Spyderco knives of the same names. They feature bright red handles for easy identification and blunted tips/edges for (relatively) safe training. They have a reversible clip (tip up carry) for pocket/waistband carry and the standard Spyderco hole for opening. The best place to get them is at
www.knifecenter.com, where they run for about $40-50. I have one of the Endura trainers, and it was well worth the money. I spar with it regularly and it performs quite well. It has an AUS-8 stainless steel blade (about a 59 Rockwell hardness) and will actually dent aluminum training knives. My wife has a Delica trainer and she loves it.
Alternatively, you could try Emerson knives (
www.emersonknives.com). They have some higher-end trainers, but they are not worth the extra money. I have a Commander trainer (an exact replica of my 1999 Commander), but it cost about $70 and is not much better than my much-cheaper Spyderco.
Benchmade knives just released a series of trainers for three knives: one is automatic, one is a liner-lock, and one is an axis-lock. I have not seen them for sale anywhere yet, but you can check them out at
www.benchmade.com. Also, Edges2 (
www.trainingblades.com) is currently developing a folding trainer which should be out soon.
Take care and train hard,
Jim