Tactical Folder?

R

rgc

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Aug 23, 2004
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I hate using the word "tatical," however, I looking for opinions on what everyone considers the best tatical or self defense or fighting folder on the market. Please keep suggestions to production or mid tech knives as I will not be considering any $500 custom jobs. In fact, I am really trying to keep things under $250 (as far under as possible). Right now I am leading towards the MOD Mark I, but I'm still looking. Thanks in advance for any and all info.

rgc
 
Lots of people like the Benchmade AFCK. It's got a nice big handle that works in a number of different grips. There's a significant index finger cutout. It's got a pointy D2 tip. :D
 
I just picked up a Combat Elite RRF and haven't found any problems with it yet.

S30V blade, beefy titanium frame lock, contoured to fit the hand great, and DDR's great foldover pocket clip. The thing is really smooth, locks up nice with no play, and just disappears in the pocket. Price? $200. Not a bad deal for such a great knife.
 
If you're strictly using forward grip, the Axis AFCK is the best fighting folder out there, IMO. Incredibly strong and secure lock, secure comfortable handle for forward or reverse-edge-out, sharp point, can be had in tool steel, thumb-opening hole.

For a knife that works well in reverse-edge-in grip, I like the Axis 710.

If you're willing to go to a bigger blade, the 5.5" blade Mad Maxx is by far the best of the big-bladed folders.

That said, there are a few other strong contenders, like the Manix, which I haven't handled yet.
 
Personally, I want a lower guard on any self-defense or fighting knife. A guard serves two purposes. The traditional one of protecting your hand if you have to block steel-on-steel. And the less obvious, but more important one of keeping your hand from slipping forward onto your own blade during a hard thrust.

I am willing to consider designs with other "hand stops". Deep finger indentations and other grip features can serve the same purpose, if not usually quite as well as a guard. Still, that eliminates at least 90% of the folders that are usually recommended for self-defense as far as I'm concerned.

My other requirements are a strong and reliable lock, a secure grip, a point capable of efficient penetration, an edge with enough belly to enhance slashing attacks, an overall blade geometry and material tough enough to withstand the stresses of combat, and a deployment system that allows fast and certain access under stress. I will also take as long a blade as I can get away with.

The last considerations are legallity and practical carry, both of which work against most of the other criteria for a fighting knife, particularly length. :rolleyes:

Where all that leads me is to the various folder designs that have flipper-openers which become a guard when open. My hands-down favorites are the Camillus Aftermath and Maxx Bowie. You can't really do better in a fighting folder.

If you can't get away with a 5-1/2" blade where you live, find out what the size limit is and pick an appropriate model with similar characteristics. The Camillus Dominator or Heat are my favorites in the sub-4" range. If your limit is 3-1/2" consider the Kershaw Boa. And there are similar designs in even smaller sizes if that's what you need.

--Bob Q
 
i think the Manix is a prime candidiate. it has a deep recess that keeps the hand secure and safe. the lock is MBC rated. the flat ground blade has plenty of belly. the leaf shaped blade profile centers the tip for great penetration. the only minuses are its relatively heavy weight and quite wide when closed. both are due to the manix's big and thick blade.

the lighter and leaner alternative is the chinook II. the bowie shaped blade has tons of belly and the curved tip of the blade is made for backcuts.

both knives IMO are the BEST SD knives out there. if you can put up with the weight that is...
 
even though I am looking at folders, size and weight are not that big of concerns. I would be carrying this knife in a sheath most of the time. For example, the MOD Mark I I was looking at would be carried either horizontally across the SOB or while hiking, it I would strap the sheath to my pack strap. The idea here is that I don't look like a comando walking down the trail (if I am going back woods/off trail who cares and I will carry an appropriate fixed blade). Like wise, I am looking for something a little bigger the my Spyderco Native that can be descreatly carried (even if that means in a belt sheath). What I am gathering is that no one really likes the Mark I.

By the way, I did look on line at the Combat Elite RRF. I do really like what I see and would love to get one in my hands to check it out.

Thanks and keep the info flowing,

rgc
 
I would strongly endorse the Spyderco Chinook II.Price,design,quality it is hard to beat.I also like the Benchmade 630 Skirmish,the Benchmade 806D2 is a really great favorite of mine.There are many others for consideration I haven't mentioned.You may also pick-up a previously owned Chris Reeve Sebenza sometimes new in box in your price range if you have time to check the forums and ebay daily for that great price to pop-up.take care!
 
Either get a Benchmade 806D2 (or a Benchmade 805)...OR don't take my advice and get whatever you want to get.
 
With all respect to Mr. Talmadge, The AFCK feels fine to me in edge up and edge in grips. For that matter, so does the Nimravus once you do a bit of filing on it. You just have to clamp down. It might just be my hands.

Although many here would not consider it a quality folder, the zytel CS Ti-lite is a cheap folder with a decent lock that's fast to deploy. It has a thin stilleto blade and a very sharp needle point.
 
Will P. said:
With all respect to Mr. Talmadge, The AFCK feels fine to me in edge up and edge in grips. For that matter, so does the Nimravus once you do a bit of filing on it. You just have to clamp down. It might just be my hands.
Click to expand...

Will, different hands make all the difference. But, by way of explanation, the AFCK feels fine to me too, in reverse grip edge-in. It's when I train with it that way that I start having trouble. The blade on the AFCK is joined with the handle at an angle. That's part of what makes the AFCK such a fearsome slasher in forward grip. But in reverse grip edge in, when I do a pakal thrust or jab, the point ends up off to the right from where I'm aiming, due to the blade/handle angle. Worse yet, because it's off to the right, the thrust doesn't go in straight and loses steam. I can fix this by breaking my wrist, but that kills one of pakal's strengths. So, much as I love the AFCK, it's a forward-grip-only knife for me.

Still, how you're put together does make a difference; it could work fine for you.
 
Camilus Dominator("ROBO" spring assisted opening, mine is very nice!), or, Emerson Karambit w/"Wave" opening system, both have titanium handle/lock, the Camilus is s30v, the Emerson is 154cm. Both about $160-$180. That's what I would get.
 
I understand that people have different brand/size preferences, but how come no one's even agreeing on the blade shape? I understand that there are forward and reverse grip, so can we at least pick a blade shape thats superior for each? I would think reverse grip, you'd want something that had a strong tip, and good penetration...but I'm not sure about anything more then that.
 
In the end, once you hit the important blade shape constraints (and many blade shapes will do that), I don't think blade shape matters that much. The main one, in my mind, being a sharp point. From there, it's fine-tuning: anything from a higher point (e.g., tanto-style) to a lower point (clip-point or drop-point style) to lower still (wharnecliffe-style) all will work just fine. Relatively more belly or less belly; recurved or not. They'll all slash, they'll all penetrate, with some tradeoffs here and there. You can sit and worry about fine-tuning the blade, but once you have one of the many blade shapes that will do what you need it to do, IMO you're better off taking a closer look at the lock, handle format, blade grind, opening mechanism, ease-of-carryability (to make sure you'll really have it on you), cost, etc.

All of which is reflected above ... Manix is kind of a combat wharnecliffe, AFCK, Dominator, Combat Elite and Chinook get you various clip points and drop points, 710 gets you drop point w/ recurve. They're all pretty much good. The only suggestion I'd disagree with is having a hawkbill (ala a karambit) as your first choice; in my opinion, too limiting in techniques that are applicable, and in the case of the karambit, too limiting in blade size. Maybe interesting as a backup blade, I suppose.
 
I'm surprised that noone has mentioned the Benchmade 520 or 420 . both are plenty tuff and would fill the bill .
 
Emerson Commander
Cold Steel Vaquero Grande
Benchmade AFCK and TSEK
Spyderco Chinook
CRKT Kasper Fighting Folder
 
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