Have you gravitated away from "combat-type" blades with time?

Yeah I still like combat knives, the Ek from Ka-bar is on my list too. My two favorites were the CR Green Beret and the Busse TGLB. As for Rambo type knives, well I still love those lol and have several. Not nearly as useless as you would think I've used my hard. Everyone has different tastes and there is plenty of room for all.

When I carried a combat knife for real 30yrs ago or so it was a Gerber command 2 and I beat the hell out of that poor thing, pried open ammo crates, opened rations, dug with it, hammered it into things. Just abused it and used it.
 
Combat knives are what first caught my eye, and I still love 'em, but other than finally adding a couple of "grail" tactical fixed blades to my little collection, I mostly look for those with utility value. To be fair, I've found some of the Ontario SP models to be great camping/hiking knives, which works well for me since they serve a legitimate purpose while also having visual appeal. Most supposed bushcrafting knives don't do much for me visually.
 
Getting a CCW license for a gun has changed my prospective and my obsession is controllable or just spread out over obtaining the perfect guns along with the perfect knifes. For those with similar obsessions the "perfect" pencil is the Palonino Blackwing.:)
 
Bufford said:
There are many hunting knives robust enough to fit the bill for use as a combat knife.
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Would you rather carry a foot-long belt sheath package weighing over a pound, or a 5 inch closed folder weighing less than 4 ounces and that clips to your pocket? Same blade length.
 
I have always remained neutral. I buy a knife that I like whether it is a combat knife or a nice traditional folder.
 
By combat knife, I'm assuming it is meant that the blade is primarily designed for killing?

I would consider a Kabar USMC more of a utility knife myself, and things like a karambit or Fairborn Sykes more of a combat knife...

As far as it goes I own 3 Bench made Infidels one I use for EDC comes in very handy for true one handed ambidextrous use, also Edc a Benchmade Ruckus, own a Busse TGLB I use for camping, hiking, and hunting, hmm just ordered a Benchmade model 51 morpho bali-song..some might consider all those as combat style knives but to tell the truth the Busse would be the only one I'd fight with, and likely I'd rather use my Scrapyard 1111 for a fight (which is not a combat knife) or a Tomahawk...

Is leatherman considered a combat knife? I'm guessing Leatherman knives see much more combat that most any other brand these days....

I think "combat knife" is no longer a valid category, everything now seems to be labeled "tactical" or "survival" in modern sales terms...with the exception of Busse Combat, who markets as a combat knife, but sells more safe queens than users...

What the hell ever happened to people using their knives for doing knifey things?

I don't even know what I'm saying anymore, so I'm going to go do combat with some steak an eggs for breakfast while using my Swamp Rat Rodent Solution..
 
Hello Captain O.,

I do not have a 'combat knife'. I never really wanted one. I was never a collector. (I preferred firearms especially handguns and becoming a proficient shooter. I only shoot a few rifles now due to my hand issues.)

I never had a combat knife. The few former military knives of my late husband's (Vietnam Veteran.) were not 'combat knives'.

My MT husband has an older combat - survival knife.

I do own and use fixed blade knives now but they are not considered 'combat' knives.

I do own a Sog Fasthawk, an Estwing camp axe and a Fiskars hatchet but I do not consider them combat tools! They have another purpose. I guess if push came to shove - you could use them if that is all that you had.

Combat? I was never in combat and I do NOT plan on it.

Take care.

Cate
 
Firestrike said:
By combat knife, I'm assuming it is meant that the blade is primarily designed for killing?
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That would be my general definition, but there is abundant crossover in my opinion. The Kabar USMC bayonet/utility knife is used by many in the woods as a general knife even though it was designed for the combat environment. The new EK No 4 which is a double edged dagger is a combat knife and has little practical use outside of "combat" if you have any other choice of knife to use at the time. But I feel sure someone could open a can of beans with it.
 
The only combat knife I own is a Gerber Mark II I bought in the late 70s when I was 20 or so. It has done nothing other than reside in a drawer ever since. Nicely made knife in L6 tool steel, but something I have never ever had any use for. One of those impulse purchases of youth.
 
asdf12345 said:
Would you rather carry a foot-long belt sheath package weighing over a pound, or a 5 inch closed folder weighing less than 4 ounces and that clips to your pocket? Same blade length.
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No. Neither, both are too heavy or impractical. I prefer smaller for both folders or fixed blades. However when I was a teenager I would have probably have carried what you just described, but choices change as one gets older.
 
Firestrike said:
I would consider a Kabar USMC more of a utility knife myself,
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Funny how perception is. I see the USMC Kabar as a fighting knife. Nothing about the knife strikes me as utilitarian. It can be useful for sure but I don't see general utility as a goal in any of the design features.

As to the question, in a way. I'm gravitating more toward "old timey" designs because they seem to be designed to cut things rather than be an "all in one" tool. Nothing wrong with that if that's the type of knife you need but for me I just want to cut stuff. A sharp sak is a better cutter than every tactical blade I've owned and the Opinel 8 in my pocket today puts the sak to shame. It's now my benchmark for how a knife should cut.
 
Shotgun said:
.... I see the USMC Kabar as a fighting knife. Nothing about the knife strikes me as utilitarian. ....
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It doesn't matter how you perceive it today. The Mark II knife was a utilitarian bowie pattern similar to the popular commercial hunting/field knives of its time. It wasn't designed to serve in modern urban environments.

n2s
 
I am still very much into combat style knives, but I would never carry one for a myriad of reasons. One, most of them look too scary for the average person. Two, they are often illegal due to double edge, at least daggers. Third, and the most important is they are very limited in their use. I would in IT, so I don't see a need to use a dagger for opening boxes or cutting cables and ties.

I do have a few combat knives that I have as part of my BOB for the SHTF situations that will probably never happen.
 
Daggers are legal in my state. But I doubt I'd stroll through the downtown area with one strapped to my belt.
 
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