My ideal of folding combat knives

[luethge]

You need to stop posting pictures of this knife. The 15 keeps moving closer to the top of my short list because of you! But then, I’m highly suggestible…

Do it. They cut well, easy to sharpen, no bearings, no springs, not too big, not too small.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

By combat knives, are we talking stabbing knives?

Crossbar lock gives me comfort.

 

[DocJD]

Only two lock types I'd fully trust are the Cold Steel Tri-ad and the butterfly/balisong (if made right) .

Others might work fine , but I've not tested them for myself .

Both these locks will also scale up, to work on very large folders .

 

[GrumpySoreOldBastard]

I'm old and boring my choice would be a Gerber Applegate Fairbairn combat folder.

 

[snow and steel]

You would use a good Leatherman more than you will use any knife in an active "combat zone". There's typically a blade or two in a Leatherman as well, if you need to open a package or an MRE.


In the rare occasion you truly needed a combat blade [cut some rope or straps RIGHT NOW, or lord help you it's come to using it] you'd want a fixed blade.


But to play along..... you don't have either, you need a knife that folds and fits in a pocket. So I'm assuming you're not dressed up in plate carriers and mag pouches. Something mote discreet? Grey man? Blend in? Don't ask don't tell work? Yeah I'm ruining the fun... so anyway...


The blade should be designed so that it should bend before it breaks to avoid damage to the user if abusef. It shouldn't be anything exotic - if you had to ditch it or if its seen in your pocket you don't want it to stand out. In fact it should be indistinguishable from a billion others just like it. It shouldn't scream tactical. It should be cost effective so that if it is ditched or broken you don't cry over it. It SHOULD be an auto, so you can open it quickly, and with one hand if the other is injured. You need an excellent point and at least 3.5" of blade for adequate prying or penetration.


Ergo my suggestion is the buck 110 auto.


Runner up a boker Kalashnikov, althoughi it's slightly flasher than ideal.


A case could be very well.made for an impromptu "prison shank" spike - no markings, little cost, and wouldn't even scream "weapon" if tossed into a pile of construction refuse... but it's not a folder for your purposes.


Them again.... what do I know?

 

[PNWhovian]

 

[Boattale]

By combat knives, are we talking stabbing knives?

Crossbar lock gives me comfort.

Or back lock. No liner or frame locks

 

[PNWhovian]

You would use a good Leatherman more than you will use any knife in an active "combat zone". There's typically a blade or two in a Leatherman as well, if you need to open a package or an MRE.

Not necessarily. I carried a Swiss tool on my deployments but used my Sebenza and my Cold Steel Voyager way more.
Lots of people used their knives far more than their multi tools.

 

[shunsui]

These look a little funny, but when you hold it in your hand you appreciate the design more. Fits perfect in your back pocket.
Cold Steel Mayhem

 

[RPZIP]

If I have to fight someone using a folding knife, I want the CS Espada XL.

I'd want one of these .....

 

[Ebbtide]

Not a Spyderco Chinook to be seen

 

[Bnowelder]

View attachment 3074334

99.99% of the time a “combat” knife will be used to open MRE’s

View attachment 3074334

99.999% of the time a “combat” knife will be used to open MRE’s, pry something open or used to clean out your fingernails during times of absolute boredom. If it has come down to hand to hand with a knife, sh@t has truly “hit the fan”!!!! If it comes down to a knife fight imma use my M16 or at least try to find a 6ft piece of pipe JS

 

[The True North]

Not a Spyderco Chinook to be seen

I had a Chinook 3 with the fine jimping, but it got stolen during a break-in.


Still furious about it.

 

[Weiss]

This was in a pocket the one time I seriously thought I might need to make use of a knife for self defense.



Were I to consider beforehand what folding knife I might take into potential combat, I'd choose differently. This little one (above) was for general cutting tasks on the job I had at the time, which later gave way to this one, not because of its utility as a fighter, but because the larger blade, plus the combo edge, gave me greater ability to cut the various things I kept coming across.



Were I choosing nowadays, it'd probably be one of Cold Steel's Recon 1 or SR1 knives. I kind of like this one.

 

[whp]

I consider "combat" to be different than "knife fighting".
Sitll voting "Cold Steel" though.
"Cold Steel" tends to be synonamous with "overbuilt".

I agree.

 

[MrMoose]

 

[donnord]

Gerber Parabellum with the lanyard attached to my wrist. Don't want to have the blade kicked out of your hand. If I know I am going to be in a knife fight I would bring a gun! A folding knife is not a good knife fighting tool. If it's in your pocket you need to retrieve and deploy, that requires you dropping one hand to your pocket. Similar with a fixed blade except the deploying part. That is a good time for your opponent to strike cause you only have one hand. I see a folder as a last resort, if i'm on the ground it might come in handy. I trained with several LEOs for many years they always said everyone gets cut in a knife fight. Knife on knife I'll probably run and avoid the stitches.

 

[Bigtoad777]

 

[SharpBits]

A knife for knife fighting is not the same as a combat knife. Combat knives are used primarily as a tool, but can be used for other purposes. Fighting knives have one purpose. That’s how I see it at least.

 

[smith357]