tactical folder

It depends what kind of money you want to spend. The Blackhawk Mark 1 Type E has a 3.75 inch blade but is 9.5 inches overall when open, cost is between $60 and $100, very heavy duty blade although it could have been a little sharper. I think this is the best buy for the money for a duty and off duty carry knife. If something happens it was only a small investment compared to it's older brother the MOD CQD Mark 1 ($250-$399).
 
I have a few Sebenzas and would not hesitate to put them to the test in an extreme military situation.


I plan to purchase a Crusader Forge which is one of the beefiest Tact. Folders I have EVER seen!
 
RockyMan500 said:
What is the best heavy-duty tactical folding knife available?

With a blade around 4"...
Click to expand...

Esav is right - without a practical, universally accepted definition of tactical, the question serves no purpose other than to stir up responses.

Being so vague, the OP is really revealing they know little about knives and are just looking to buy an impressive toy.

"Best?" generally includes the top of the line models designed to meet the genre criteria (more later). They have to be well made, of quality materials.
"Heavy Duty?" Big, thick, massive, and capable of taking abuse.
"Tactical?" The style is compatible with military use. Non-reflective, quiet, and designed for the unique environment of outdoor use in difficult or unusual circumstances.

That can exclude some knives quickly when specific jobs come to mind: cutting live electrical wiring up to 240V, chipping sniper holes into masonry construction, working with chemical, biological or radiological agents, or being decontaminated. After all, since your weapons can be deconned with caustic bleach, your pocket tools should be, too, with no residual absorption or entrapment of contaminants.

This is where "tactical" knives part from "Tacticool." Grip materials that can draw liquids into the matrix through capillary action are not good. That can leave out most micartas, carbon fibers, fiberglass laminates, etc. The fibrous layers act as resevoirs for contaminants.

Conversely, any grip that conducts electricity is no good either. Hence the insulated handles and scabbards on some bayonets.

So, if you can't cut live electrical wires without further protection, or can't guarantee the knife safe from nerve agents, it's not tactical. It can't support modern military use.

That makes most folders on the market marketed as "tactical" pretenders to the throne. Of course, any knife that hints of military use is already suspect unless it has a NSN for issue - and most of those are not specified as combat tools, just MOS accessories, usually for non combat jobs.

Fortunately, tactical knives do offer utility in a non-dressy style that resists looking worn or dated, in a abuse resistant construction, and in more patterns than we've seen get invented since the early 1900's. They obviously fill a need the regular polished blade, natural handled and traditionally contructed knife doesn't meet.

The trick is to understand most tactical knives aren't.
 
tirod3 said:
This is where "tactical" knives part from "Tacticool." Grip materials that can draw liquids into the matrix through capillary action are not good. That can leave out most micartas, carbon fibers, fiberglass laminates, etc. The fibrous layers act as resevoirs for contaminants.
Click to expand...

G-10 is both insulating and nonporous.... as well as chemically resistant and nonconducting.

I must agree with what you said about the differences between "tactical" and "tacticool". The examples you mentioned are very good ones.

As a side note, I don't think he's trolling in the essence of deliberately trying to stir up an argument. Lots of people aren't knuts like us. :D
 
If price is not an issue and if you do not just want the "tactical look" but a knife that can actually be used in every possible situation that life can throw at you, I would say a Sebenza or an Umnumzaan from Chris Reeve, a T3 from Lone Wolf (discontinued) or a 520/5000 from Benchmade (but this knife is smaller than what you specified).
 
Maybe the moderators should ban the use of "tactical" in opening posts and require the OP to specify "combat," "self-defense," or "heavy duty general use suitable for use in self-defense." The terms would be defined by sticky. We would be working from a common vocabulary.
 
Oh, I forgot to add a category: "tacti-cool" (a knife that makes you look like you could be a real-life ninja if you wanted to be).
 
Swedge said:
Maybe the moderators should ban the use of "tactical" in opening posts and require the OP to specify "combat," "self-defense," or "heavy duty general use suitable for use in self-defense." The terms would be defined by sticky. We would be working from a common vocabulary.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea....
 
Lone Wolf T3, the lockup is incredible, I've used it as a prybar and it's straight as the day it was made.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top