I've been wondering..

Swap out the word traditional with the word nostalgic and you’d be a little closer. If it doesn’t look like grandpapis then it’s not “traditional.” Otherwise it’s mostly a meaningless descriptor.
 
This is like naming your rock band. That catchy name you and your friends come up with in the garage sometimes becomes cringe worthy if you hit it big.

I think the consensus is that Bob Terzuola was the first to use the term. His stuff was a hit and other makers saw that and it blew up; now today you can get a tactical version of just about every day to day consumer good. I have not seen tactical refrigerators or blenders yet but I suspect that's just because I haven't looked for them.
 
Comeuppance said:
I'd say it really comes down to an unfortunate side-effect of marketing. A number of companies - both makers and vendors - cater to the mindset of knives as weapons.
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And thank God they do! I have frequently needed to defend myself by slicing and dicing a '56 Buick. I shudder to think were we would all be without proper tactical knives, built so that they allow us to defend ourselves against machinery. o_O
 
I've often referred to modern knives as 'modern one-handers' or 'clip knives', but the first is tiresome to say and repeat, and the second sounds too narrow. So I'll usually just say modern. BUT...in another couple decades, won't these 'moderns' qualify as 'traditionals'? Then there would need to be a different term.

I dislike the term 'tactical knife' or 'tactical folder'. It sounds so 'tough guy' wannabe.

Jim
 
Modern is the better term to use, as I see it. Traditional and modern both work well, in my mind. I would place "tactical" as a small, subgroup of modern folders and fixed blades.

The term "tactical" is all marketing hype, anyway. You know, if you want to be high speed, low drag, you have to own a tactical knife. Or, IF you own a tactical knife, you ARE high speed, is a better way to put it. After all, who doesn't want to be high speed, low drag?

Unfortunately, the media and lawmakers are both using the term "tactical" against us. I can't go into detail here but, it seems to be happening. Just my opinion.
 
James Y said:
I've often referred to modern knives as 'modern one-handers' or 'clip knives', but the first is tiresome to say and repeat, and the second sounds too narrow. So I'll usually just say modern. BUT...in another couple decades, won't these 'moderns' qualify as 'traditionals'? Then there would need to be a different term.

I dislike the term 'tactical knife' or 'tactical folder'. It sounds so 'tough guy' wannabe.

Jim
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I don't think so in this lifetime. The hinge date seems to be the 50s-60s for traditional and after that for modern. If you consider it there are very distinct visual cues that separate them. We'd need a 3rd evolutionary leap in knives for something like a Sypderco Worker to move from modern to traditional in the eyes of the knife aficionados.
 
GIRLYmann said:
There was a time when modern folding knives were termed as high tech knives
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There was also a time when traditional knives were called modern knives. Granted, that time was over 100 yrs ago. Imagine how cool it was when a Stockman pattern came out and you had THREE blades!!!

Danke42 said:
I have not seen tactical refrigerators or blenders yet but I suspect that's just because I haven't looked for them.
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Behold. The Ninja blender.
51zfGBpSyAL._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg

Ever so slightly more tactical than the "Bullet"

magic-bullet-7-piece-1a.jpeg
 
19-3ben said:
There was also a time when traditional knives were called modern knives. Granted, that time was over 100 yrs ago. Imagine how cool it was when a Stockman pattern came out and you had THREE blades!!!


Behold. The Ninja blender.
51zfGBpSyAL._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg

Ever so slightly more tactical than the "Bullet"

magic-bullet-7-piece-1a.jpeg
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That's too funny! LOL.

That's one of the things I love about BF.com. You never know what people are going to post. I would never have thought about food processors.
 
I never refer to pocket knives as tactical. Because thats not a role one of my folders is likely to ever have to fill. Thats what fixed blades are for imho. I usually just say folder.
 
Defendant,...will you kindly explain to the jury your interpretation of the word "tactical" ?
Would you consider the knife you used to defend yourself as being of the tactical verity?
 
brandoak said:
Defendant,...will you kindly explain to the jury your interpretation of the word "tactical" ?
Would you consider the knife you used to defend yourself as being of the tactical verity?
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Yeah, I try to avoid using the word "tactical" when I talk to people about knives. I also don't use the word "weapon" when talking about knives or guns. It saves me a lot of drama because of all the extreme politics and people being very PC where I live.

I don't even think I own a knife or MT that has a black finish on the blade. I guess I'm not high speed because I don't own tactical gear. :(
 
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