Personal Opinions Regarding What Constitutes "Combat" Dedicated Folders

J

JClineburg

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Sep 1, 2012
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There are many opinions ascribed to what defines a "tactical" or "defensive" folding knife. I personally have my own preferences. I was wondering what others may think of the matter.

I avoid knives that incorporate frame and liner locking mechanisms within their design when considering a combative application. This is because I have had many instances in training (with a blunted blade) where my hand actuates the liner, causing the blade to disengage and sometimes close (luckily it's a blunted edge). Because of this, I prefer lockback designs, as well as axis locking designs.

I also appreciate the incorporation of the wave feature, as rapid deployment is very important. This feature is not always available. Whenever is it not available, the blade must be extremely smooth and consistent in deployment.

Choices in steel are less stringent for me when considering a combat-dedicated folder. This is because I was always taught to never employ a combat-dedicated blade for utilitarian tasks (because you will hopefully NEVER have to use it, and you need this blade to always be sharp, not dulled from use). Because of this, I always carry a second knife for EDC utility purposes.

I am well aware of the tactical-oriented manufacturers; however, many of these manufacturers offer one of the personally desired features while omitting the other.

I will generally carry a Benchmade 860 Bedlam, Cold Steel AK-47, Boker Jim Wagner, or a Cold Steel Rajah II (I circulate my carry options) along with a second blade dedicated for EDC utilitarian purposes.

I was just wondering what others with differing/greater experiences may be thinking.
 
I used to care about all that stuff but now I don't. Basically it needs to lock, have feasible one hand opening of some sort and have a somewhat pointy blade 2.75 inches or longer.
 
JClineburg said:
There are many opinions ascribed to what defines a "tactical" or "defensive" folding knife. I personally have my own preferences. I was wondering what others may think of the matter.

I avoid knives that incorporate frame and liner locking mechanisms within their design when considering a combative application. This is because I have had many instances in training (with a blunted blade) where my hand actuates the liner, causing the blade to disengage and sometimes close (luckily it's a blunted edge). Because of this, I prefer lockback designs, as well as axis locking designs.

I also appreciate the incorporation of the wave feature, as rapid deployment is very important. This feature is not always available. Whenever is it not available, the blade must be extremely smooth and consistent in deployment.

Choices in steel are less stringent for me when considering a combat-dedicated folder. This is because I was always taught to never employ a combat-dedicated blade for utilitarian tasks (because you will hopefully NEVER have to use it, and you need this blade to always be sharp, not dulled from use). Because of this, I always carry a second knife for EDC utility purposes.

I am well aware of the tactical-oriented manufacturers; however, many of these manufacturers offer one of the personally desired features while omitting the other.

I will generally carry a Benchmade 860 Bedlam, Cold Steel AK-47, Boker Jim Wagner, or a Cold Steel Rajah II (I circulate my carry options) along with a second blade dedicated for EDC utilitarian purposes.

I was just wondering what others with differing/greater experiences may be thinking.
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Which trainers of what particular models were these?
 
Personally I wouldn't carry anything other than a pistol that had no utilitarian value. To me that's dead weight.
 
When you say "combat-dedicated", do you mean a knife to carry with you into battle (in which case I wouldn't even think about carrying a folder, except for utilitarian use), or do you mean basically a folder you intend to reserve for 'self-defence' purposes, in which case the subject has been discussed many times already, and recently, and you're probably better asking your question in Prac-Tac?
 
I believe that any use of the words "tactical" or "combat" in reference to folding knives is more about marketing than anything else.

I would personally NEVER choose a folding knife, ANY folding knife, for use in an emergency situation. Any lock can fail. And there's more than one way for them to fail. Imagine for example if dirt or other matterial gets into the axis lock and it doesn't engage properly when you need it. As far as lockbacks, I once pulled my Buck 110 out of my pocket to use, opened it up, it wouldn't lock, when I looked I saw a small wad of pocket lint stuck between the lock and the blade. But when unobstructed that lock is rock-solid.

I feel that folders will always be greatly inferior to fixed-blades when it comes to using a knife in an emergency situation. And I know that if I ever needed to use a knife in an emergency situation, I wouldn't want it to be inferior in any way. Not if my life is on the line.
 
I don't think the Axis or Back Lock is going to be superior in any self defense situation. You could grip the knife too tight in fear or anything and it has just as much of a chance at failing that any other knife does. I find the frame lock to be a great locking mechanism and no matter how I grip it, how hard or tight I grip it, it never fails. Unless you have your finger specifically on the lock and are moving it in such a motion to unlock it, I don't see the likeliness of it failing on you.

For me, I guess a "Combat Folder" doesn't really matter. As long as it opens nice, and is sharp I'd be good to go. I however, do not own a knife for this purpose. I keep all of my knives sharp and know if I really needed it in a defensive situation it would be there. You can't count on a knife to save your life. It's really your own instincts that play the biggest role.
 
If I'm carrying something with no purpose other than self defense, I want it to be a bit more effective than a folding knife.

That being said, as a thought experiment, I'd probably value something that uses as little fine motor control as possible and has a very acute tip. Just from working the ER I know that I'd rather be slashed than stabbed, so reversing that thinking I'd want something really, really stabby.
 
I like the 4" blade and roughly 5" handle size. No shiny pocket clip or a handle butt that hampers thump-capping by having a longer spine side or glass breaker.

So far my favorite has been the CS Large Vaquero. It has a very good handle and blade design that work well even with a rushed, poor grip.
 
I wonder if when the adrenaline starts flowing and the temperary superhuman strength is exerted whether any folder would do. I could definately see locks failing and blades breaking/folding. A good example are the matching dents that I put on each side of my motorcycle tank when I got into an accident (just squeezing my knees bracing for the impact).
I think a fixed blade would be the only way to go.
 
This is the closest thing I have to a Combat/Tactical Self Defense folder, and do not own it for that reason:
WilsonCombat3.jpg


It's a Frame Lock with thumb stud opening.
Smooth as butter and strong as an ox.
It's a great knife and I think it'd make a good defense folder if needed to do so.
 
I consider all my knives to be possibly combat folders. For me, the important features in SD are also important for EDC. One handed opening makes life easier, strong locks are more safe for any application, and the most important thing for me, is a deep finger choil or a ramp for the thumb. I was cut when my hand slid down the blade, and now I find that any knife without some sort of separation from finger and blade makes me feel unsafe. Obviously it's not, but I'm just a lot more comfortable with that feature. And anything sharp can be used for SD.
 
Minibear464 said:
I consider all my knives to be possibly combat folders. For me, the important features in SD are also important for EDC. One handed opening makes life easier, strong locks are more safe for any application, and the most important thing for me, is a deep finger choil or a ramp for the thumb. I was cut when my hand slid down the blade, and now I find that any knife without some sort of separation from finger and blade makes me feel unsafe. Obviously it's not, but I'm just a lot more comfortable with that feature. And anything sharp can be used for SD.
Click to expand...

I agree. If a pen can be used for SD, I'd say any quality folder would be "better" than a pen(well, not taking into account that a pen is mightier than a sword).
 
For "combative" applications I recall some testing from the late Bob Kasper where most liner locks failed due to the torquing / twisting during hard cutting practice, not spine pressure. Most liner locks are not designed for that sort of pressure.

That being said, Kelly McCann (one of Bob Kasper's contemporaries and still active trainer) has his own range from Blackhawk and a new one coming from Emerson which have liner locks, and he would never push anything that hasn't been tested. The Blackhawk Crucible one does has nested liners tho. It seems most of the designs I like are only available as liner locks...

I vaguely recall Chris Caracci (ex-SEAL and designer on the Benchmade AFCK) being against the Axis lock at some point too - claiming it was too easy to disengage under stress cutting. I think it was the protruding release studs he didn't like.

I have YET to see any serious complaints about the Cold Steel Triad Lock and if I was seriously likely to be in a combative situation with a folder, that's what I'd choose. But for my general day to day usage I'm pretty happy with my Emerson liner locks and Starbenza frame lock.
 
I've had several Emerson folders (pre-Wave) that have served me well, and continue to do so. I would consider them to be as close to "combat" folders as the definition allows. I also own a few Cold Steel folders that are quite good and functional, although not as well made as the Emersons. One other knife that I've always been fond of is the original Gerber-Applegate folder. It's definitely more of a "fighting" folder rather than a utility knife, but it is a fine alternative to the similar fixed blade models.
 
"Combat" folder?

ox·y·mo·ron
   [ok-si-mawr-on, -mohr-] Show IPA

noun, plural ox·y·mo·ra  [ok-si-mawr-uh, -mohr-uh] Show IPA, ox·y·mor·ons. Rhetoric .
a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”

I can see perhaps a self defence folder, but honestly for "combat" I would rather have a stout stick then a folder. For a self defence knife, I would personally NEVER use a liner lock- as I'm left handed and they no worky well for us sinister folk.
 
Toxie said:
"Combat" folder?

ox·y·mo·ron
   
Click to expand...

Lmao I was just about to post this,

IMO anything that folds is a tool, a sword is a weapon, a pocket knife is not.

I do own some SD oriented folders, but I would not recommend any for military use / "combat".
 
I thought that "combat folders" had to be made by fake special forces types.
 
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