length of blades on fighting knives

M

michaelsosborne

Joined
Jun 26, 2000
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I've noticed that some of the standard 'fighting' knives used today have a blade length of anywhere from 6" to 8", but that some of the Bowie fighting knives can range up to 13" Any thoughts?
 
The bigger the better, as long as it's
a) light
b) quickly removed from sheath.
(sometimes they're just to big to be quickly removed)
A good sheath system in also crucial if you're serious about carrying a combat knife.

Although, something you have to keep in mind in that for the modern soldier, realistically, there are no knife fights. Commandos might use a knife to covertly kill a Bad Guy, and you just don't need a huge knife for that.
 
A very good question.

Big knives can easily be carried openly. Small knives are easier to conceal. If I'm carrying openly, I'd rather have a knife AND a sword. However, laws count for something. Also, ease of carry does too. A soldier may be better off with a 13" bowie, but then again he or she has to carry that sucker, and ther emay not be much room for it on a belt kit. A 6-8" blade, like a kabar, can be used for fighting, it can be used to make a meal or set up camp, and it can be carried with relative ease.

There are a lot of other variables here. Your question is a good one!
 
A longer blade will give you better reach. The blade should not be unwieldy though. For in close fighting a shorter blade blade would be better, but if I had my druthers I'd prefer to do my fighting from a longer distance.
 
You left the question pretty wide open.
Please let us know if you have a specific situation in mind. For home self-defence, use a Claymore, if you want to........
The only reason you'd want a really big knife is because you think there might be a chance you'd actually get into a knife fight, so you'd want a knife bigger than your enemies.
 
As stated above. Distance is better but in some cities today you can't carry a good size , so 3" - 4 1/2" is good for Fixed Blade. Folders will be 2" - 3 1/2".


S/F,
Ceya..Ceya Knife Designz
 
Personally I was thinking 6" at the short end for a serious combat knife. 12" blade is probably about as big as most people would find reasonable.
 
In the above posts, it appears many use the terms "fighting" and "combat" interchangeably where techincally they should not be. A "combat" knife is the tool of a soldier. Soldiers used combat knives to open boxes, cut aiming stakes for machineguns, cut plastic sheeting or other fabrics, open MRE's, open cans, cut equipment away from dead enemy soldiers, dig, probe for mines, etc. A "fighting" knife is specialized weapon for eliminating the enemy. Most soldiers would not carry a "fighting" knife because a "combat" knife would be more utilitarian, but many soldiers don't understand these concepts very well until after their first deployment. Combat knives are rarely used for fighting, but although fighting knives are not very appropriate for field craft those who own them often press them into such service. I will leave it to others to place each knife in it's appropriate category -- I have my own opinion as do most.

Bruce
 
In my humble opinion the Bagwell Hells Belle is the finest fighting knife made and it has an almost 12 inch blade...
 
Ontario's helles belle is the best fighter to I think,The best blade length for an all around fighter/utility is 7 inches.Knives like a Simonich Raven,CR Yarborough,Ontario Ka Bar,and the like are great all round do everything knives.IMO.I also would add that I would never want to engage in a knife fight esp due to health concerns of your opponent.
 
Look into a knive called the "Hissatsu" if you're looking for fighting knives. They're supposed to be rather good, but then again, I've never been in a knife fight.

If you're looking just for pure fighting, then I'd suggest a shoto or something of the like...but then again, carrying one around, especially outside, is definitely not practical.

Most importantly - for a fighting knife, learn how to use it! Learn an art or just a practical knife style. This is much more important that merely having the biggest knife around.
 
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