Best Combat Knives Available Today?

To the OP, you may want to stick to designs that have been around for awhile throughout history instead of going with over expensive "tactical" knives that are geared toward the military spec-ops type marketing.Hence my tanto suggestion, I figure if they were carried by the samurai which were one of the premier bladed warriors throughout history then it's a design worth looking at.Daggers and clip points are other examples.
 
I study archaeology in school, and as far as I know the oldest, most tride and true combat knife was made out of obsidian. I wouldn't really recommend that in today's combat zone...
 
And not only did they not use a tanto as a weapon, the tanto that they might have carried looked nothing like the modern Armerican tango design.;)
Nternal said:
To the OP, you may want to stick to designs that have been around for awhile throughout history instead of going with over expensive "tactical" knives that are geared toward the military spec-ops type marketing.Hence my tanto suggestion, I figure if they were carried by the samurai which were one of the premier bladed warriors throughout history then it's a design worth looking at.Daggers and clip points are other examples.
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While some of the companies formed by ex-military personnel may make very good knives, assuming that special ops soldiers are the premier experts in the design and manufacture of combat/tactical knife making is almost like assuming that calling on Bob Loveless would have been a wise choice if you needed to be rescued from Somali pirates. Just saying.:D
brewcitymike said:
If you can spend around $250-375 check out Okuden knives such as the SST or Ammo Daddy, they are made by Brain Wagner who makes an amazing product and is the king of kydex sheaths too. Here's a pic of each model
SST
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ammo daddy
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Also check out Spartan knives which are in the $325 area and are made by all ex-SF guys, but as for production knives Gerber's LHR or LMFII are good, SOG has some decent stuff, Benchmade's Nimravus is a great one and again if you can spend the $200+ then put Grayman knives on the top of your list. Their stuff is truly battle proven(if you are actually deploying, this is your company)
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jdm61 said:
And not only did they not use a tanto as a weapon, the tanto that they might have carried looked nothing like the modern Armerican tango design.;)
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I wasn't suggesting an american tanto, Even if they didn't use a tanto as a weapon(I'm not sure that's true) the shape still remains similar to the japanese style blades they did use.I'm sure you understand the point I was trying to make regardless.
 
For $150? Something with a full height flat grind drop, spear or clip point blade{or as close to full height as possible) a comfortable handle that doesn't look like it was designed by Klingons, best steel and heat treat that the price point and a guard or guard like feature that keeps your hand and the edge apart.
Nternal said:
Also jdm61, what do you suggest then?
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+ another for Scrap Yard . The 711 or 511


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HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !
 
jdm61 said:
For $150? Something with a full height flat grind drop, spear or clip point blade{or as close to full height as possible) a comfortable handle that doesn't look like it was designed by Klingons, best steel and heat treat that the price point and a guard or guard like feature that keeps your hand and the edge apart.
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Oh sure - pile on the Klingons.

To the OP - get a Kabar USMC and relax in the knowledge that you have a functional piece of history in your hand.

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Beckerhead #42
 
KA-BAR 1217 Fighting/Utility Knife. Tried and true. A million Marine's can't be wrong.

Becker BK7 Combat/Utility Knife. Modern incarnation of the classic Kabar F/U knife.

One will cost around 55$. The other, $75. Made in the USA, carbon steel, Rc 58-59.

My offerings at least.

Moose
 
I love the Ka-bar design as well and I carried one in the woods pretty regularly growing up. Lost more than one and bent a few guards throwing them. Didn't do a lot of hammering with them, so don't know how the butt would hold up. Point was a little high, IMHO, for sticking stuff. Also, the sharpened back edge on my favorite (Camillus version) makes it "technically" a double edge blade, check you laws. The new single guard next Gen Ka-Bars are nice, as are the BK7 and BK9, I'd upgrade to micarta scales. I haven't handled the S7 yet, but am a big Bussekin fan. Only problem I have with ResC/rubber is that on rare occassions critters will eat it if given the opportunity. I had a pair of Tevas that I left out on an overnight trip and woke up the next morning to find that something with small needle like teeth had went to town on one of them. I'd take a look at the Ratmandu as well, or maybe something from Bark River, ST5 or ST8? Lots and lots of options.

GregB
BaconBeavers:)
 
If you want pretty much the best you can get i would go with winkler knives. real deal no BS combat knives made by an abs master smith : http://www.winklerknives.com/knifeidx.asp?type=Winkler Knives II and they arent going to cost you a grand.

for the cheaper end of the deal.. shadow tech will make you a custom for very little http://stknives.com/Home_Page.php

and my personal favorite combat knife maker is currently grayman knives read the reviews, and see what the guy is all about: http://graymanknives.com/feedback.html
 
Check out Himalayan Imports' Khukuris, they are in your price range, and are definitely combat knives with the history to prove it.
 
pistol_bayonet_540.jpg


But seriously... if I was really going into combat, I'd personally go with a knife between 5" and 3" in blade length. That's just me--and I'm an armchair commando.

In that size range, the Benchmade Rant appeals to me for its design and price-to-quality ratio (i.e. cheap enough to not care if it gets lost or broken, but good enough to trust). There are longer versions of the Rant, the names for which escape me.
 
PayetteRucker said:
No, I didn't. I just completely disagree with you. My point is just because it was used a long time ago doesn't mean it's valid now. A tanto design is the last thing I'd carry.
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Why? I have done stabbing tests with my knives and the best stabbers in my experience are Japanese style shapes,clip points and persian style.Also, why would it be invalid today? Are our bodies that different now? Better materials and steel I can agree with but otherwise....
 
Nternal said:
Why? I have done stabbing tests with my knives and the best stabbers in my experience are Japanese style shapes,clip points and persian style.Also, why would it be invalid today? Are our bodies that different now? Better materials and steel I can agree with but otherwise....
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I believe my previous post offers a solution to this debate: the pistol bayonet is a new design yet uses a modified clip point.

There you have it.
 
Nternal said:
Why? I have done stabbing tests with my knives and the best stabbers in my experience are Japanese style shapes,clip points and persian style.Also, why would it be invalid today? Are our bodies that different now? Better materials and steel I can agree with but otherwise....
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there's alot more to hand-to-hand combat than stabbing, and there's alot more to a combat knife than just fighting. A tanto's point is all it has going for it and I guarantee you any well designed drop or clip point will sail through human flesh just as easily as a tanto. Why sacrifice all other utility, all other efficiency, just for a designated stabber? Seems kind of ridiculous to me. A combat knife needs to be a compitent all-arounder first, a survival knife second and a hand-to-hand combat knife last. How often does a grunt use his knife for hand-to-hand combat? If the answer is likely, forgo a fighting knife for a tomahawk.
 
PayetteRucker said:
there's alot more to hand-to-hand combat than stabbing, and there's alot more to a combat knife than just fighting. A tanto's point is all it has going for it and I guarantee you any well designed drop or clip point will sail through human flesh just as easily as a tanto. Why sacrifice all other utility, all other efficiency, just for a designated stabber? Seems kind of ridiculous to me. A combat knife needs to be a compitent all-arounder first, a survival knife second and a hand-to-hand combat knife last. How often does a grunt use his knife for hand-to-hand combat? If the answer is likely, forgo a fighting knife for a tomahawk.
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Actually the tanto can slash pretty good too, what tantos are you looking at
 
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