Best tactical knife maker

G

GLively

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Oct 25, 2006
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Who in your opinion are the top tactical fixed knife makers. Give reasons why, such as blade design, balance, best materials, handle design, price, or superb finish, to name a few. I would like to buy a nice tactical and would like to get some ideas.
 
Walter Brend makes some real nice knives.

Bud Nealy,

Bob Lum...

There are quite a few top knifemakers offering models that could be called a "tactical" fixed blade
 
My #1 would be Shane Sibert. I've got 3 of his fixed blades and they're all oustanding. The designs are great and his workmanship is top notch, they are tough knives. Plus his handles give some of the best grips I've ever found in a knife.

Others I'd suggest looking at would be Greg Lightfoot, Bud Nealy, Al Polkowski and Tom Krein. They're all in an affordable range for custom tacticals. As mentioned above, a lot depends on how much you want to spend. Brends are beautiful knives, but you could lay out a couple grand to get one, so picking the price range before the knife is helpful.
 
Define tactical. Do you mean it in the context of fighting or self defense? Or more in the vein of combat utility, as in a replacement for a Kabar? If the latter, here's a spread of knives that I find useful, and makers that are worth considering:

goldilocks.jpg


Top to bottom:

Busse NARK
Sibert Global Explorer
Primos Grande Hunter (more traditional than modern)
Krein TK-7
Lightfoot Hammerhead
 
Al Polkowski, RJ Martin, Ryan Wilson, Bobby Branton and Jim Hammond. I don't think he is making knives at this time, but I would also recommend looking for something from Jerry Hossom.
 
On the custom front I'd second Walter Brend, if you can bring yourself to use the knife :)

For productions I like Striders and CRK fixed blades. Tough as nails, simple and effective designs.
 
I'd like to spend about $500. I would use it primarily for SD but it would be a bonus if the design could be used when camping. Does anybody know about Jay Fisher? I saw a nice design, the buldog, on sale for $450 that looked nice.
 
If you really want a knife for SD, very little can beat some of the good production companies out there - Spyderco, Emerson, etc. The reasons are multifold but include:
- Best price / quality ratio: custom will get you uniqueness, but not better quality per se.
- Availability of training drones: indispensable if you're serious about training for SD.
- Anonymous / untraceable purchase: It's much harder to find who bought a Spyderco Delica than a one-of-a-kind custom. Given that in some circumstances you might not want to either stay around or keep the knife, this is meaningful.

Custom tacticals are in my opinion like the high fashion production. Yes, you can buy them and use them everyday, but they really are collector items meant to be displayed and taken out once in a while. The exceptions to my reasoning are (1) if you are in a line of work where you will need that last 5% of performance, and where you can legally use a knife without fear that it will incriminate you or even be confiscated (i.e., military & LEO), or (2) low price "using" customs like Caffrey's EBK or Foster's Blue Collars.
 
Joss, you make some excellent points concerning tracability. Most likely I would use the knife for SD at home on an intruder or in a camping situation. When at work or out I carry a BM710, or a CS Black Sable due to the concealablilty and legality in California. I sure would hate to lose either of them.:mad:
 
Todd Begg: highly functional and innovative designs, some of his knives border on Art and some may argue that he isn't a tactical maker.


R.J. Martin is my favorite maker, in the category (knives I can actually afford to use) nobody can surpass his work in the 350.00 to 500.00 range.
 
Have you looked at Chris Reeve Knives fixed blades? I am partial to Tom Krein. I do not own any Shane Sibert knives, yet, but frtom everything I have read and seen, they look incredibly tough!!
 
Joss said:
If you really want a knife for SD, very little can beat some of the good production companies out there - Spyderco, Emerson, etc. The reasons are multifold but include:
- Best price / quality ratio: custom will get you uniqueness, but not better quality per se.
- Availability of training drones: indispensable if you're serious about training for SD.
- Anonymous / untraceable purchase: It's much harder to find who bought a Spyderco Delica than a one-of-a-kind custom. Given that in some circumstances you might not want to either stay around or keep the knife, this is meaningful.

Custom tacticals are in my opinion like the high fashion production. Yes, you can buy them and use them everyday, but they really are collector items meant to be displayed and taken out once in a while. The exceptions to my reasoning are (1) if you are in a line of work where you will need that last 5% of performance, and where you can legally use a knife without fear that it will incriminate you or even be confiscated (i.e., military & LEO), or (2) low price "using" customs like Caffrey's EBK or Foster's Blue Collars.
Click to expand...

Joss,
I am going to disagree with you a little....don't get me wrong factory knives have gotten a whole lot better over the last 5-10 years. BUT I still think that there are advantages to custom knives. Especially since the high end factory knives are approaching the prices of some of the customs!

I believe that custom "working" fixed blades by many of those mentioned here also have a lot to offer. Many of the factory knives skimp out on the carry systems (sheath). By the time you have custom sheath work made you have invested more money and are right at the custom price level.

I often carry a couple of factory folders and a custom fixed blade. My current carry knives are a Kershaw G-10 leek, a SAK Pioneer, a Benchmade Griptillian and a Burnley Personal. These take care of my edc chores very well!! Yeah, I may be over "knifed" if that is possable, but it keeps me happy.

Check out the fixed blades by Dan Koster, Luc Burnley, Bob Dozier, Gene Ingram, and Shane Sibert! I think they all offer GREAT fixed blades at prices that are competitive to high end factory knives. Yes they are a little more, but they do offer more performance...and OPTIONS, so you can have a truely personal knife. There is something to be said for knowing you have a true High performance blade that is personalized for you!!

Tom
 
GLively said:
Who in your opinion are the top tactical fixed knife makers. Give reasons why, such as blade design, balance, best materials, handle design, price, or superb finish, to name a few. I would like to buy a nice tactical and would like to get some ideas.
Click to expand...

The question was "Tactical" fixed blade knife makers. So, although there are great factory knives out there, if we are looking at custom makers then I think this is what GLively was asking. In addition, his price range of $500.00 can easily take him into a custom knife.

Utility knives may surely be used for any purpose, but if we are talking tactical then here goes.

Although, I will not use the term "best", "top" or other otherwise, I would put Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer in the realm of exceptional tactical Knifemakers.

Not only design, function and materials, but also re the accessories that they provide. High end Eagle™ carry systems and Strider’s no nonsense warranty.

Take care, Neil
 
Totally missed the $500.00 limit!!! For that price you can almost get two knives from most of those I mentioned in the above post!

Tom
 
If your production should fail who are you going to call?? The peace of mind that if you purchase a custom......your resolution should a problem arise is a phone call away.

The warranty attached to most customs is ironclad.

With just the selection of makers mentioned above you should be able to find one or possibly 2 knives that suit your needs.

spencer
 
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