Tactical knives, Hype Vs. Reality

[USAFSP]

This thread is centered around the fact that all knives cut and that tacticality has to do with employment, not the look of a knife. Some of us around here are in the military or some type of other job that these companies focus thier sales on. So the question is, do you fall for the hype, or do you buy what fits you because of other factors? Be honest. I mean a Delta troop with a Benchmade Aparition is just as bad ass as if he was carrying a Microtech SOCOM Elite. Here was my situation. I am was in need of a new knife, because I am going away again this summer. Each time time I go away I treat myself to a new knife. I ended up buying a MOD CQD. I looked at many other knives that they had there, and the reason I got this one was because of the plunge lock, which is very secure and the window breaker and the seatbelt/flex cuff cutter, which I will probably use more than the main blade. Yeah it is advertised as a tactical knife, issued to Seals and Dept. Of State blah blah blah. Here is the thing. It's many uses are what a soldier would need. So back to my point. 90% of the other "Tactical" knives out there are nothing more than dressed up folders without any additional uses for "Tactical" applications. The new Microtech SOCOM Elites' with the cutter built into the handles and the SOG folder with the same features have "Tactical" applications. So I will leave this up to you guys to help me figure out. Where is the hype Vs. reality? Also what do you vote for actual "Tactical" folders. Meaning thier features lend to tactical application. Lastly, auto opperation means nothing to me personally. I can carry them and don't because that is one more thing that can break.

 

[tgw914]

I like your idea that a knife can be tactical only if it has tactical applications, and not just because it's black or camo.

 

[Gringogunsmith]

I like your idea that a knife can be tactical only if it has tactical applications, and not just because it's black or camo.

You mean black , camo and skeletonization are merely sales TACTICS

 

[skunked]

"Tactical " just means that you can tack a premium price on it.

 

[beefangusbeef]

employment, not the look of a knife

Yeah that's my thought too. I'm probably not going to cut any seatbelts tactically anytime soon, but I think company's like spyderco and benchmade (to a lesser degree) are a lot more palatable and create just as nice, if not nicer knives. I'm not a big fan of blackhawk in general so kinda stayed away from the MODs.

 

[Necroshine]

When I see a knife advertised as "tactical" I think "gimmick" and skip over it. Like USAFSP said, 90% of knives advertised as tactical are just dressed up folders. The rest may have a real tactical purpose, but they still need to be simple for reliability. And just what about a plain knife is not tactical?

 

[samwereb]

Do any of the knives mentioned have a national stock numer?

 

[Planterz]

"Tactical" to me means more a specific genra of knives. That being a one handed opener, one handed closer. As opposed to, say, a "traditional" knife, which would be two handed opener, two handed closer (like an Case stockman or Buck 110). I guess "Modern" knife would be a better term for the one handed knives, and reserve "tactical" for "modern" knives that lend themselves towards mall ninja and armchair commandos.

 

[Dijos]

You bring up an interesting point. I have no need for "SEAL Tough" or Spec-ops equipment. I am not in the military. I do not need to pry open ammo boxes or whatever marketers tell us what you guys do with their knives. I have the same feeling about training-My self defense needs are different than the military's needs. I don't need to kill the enemy, and in most cases, I do not have the legal leeway to kill people, so the ex-police/green beret tactics are not of great use to me. My friends in the military mostly carry leatherman or another multi-tool. They have large guns for the enemy, what good would a tac knife do them?
I need to tactically repair my house, or fix little things here or there, mostly.

 

[Halfneck]

Friend just got back from training Iraqi Riot Police. When he said he needed a knife to cut seatbelts with a window breaker I sent him a Spyderco Assist.

OMG a real world operator using a knife without a Point for sentry elimination!

He was there for 1 year and the knife did everything he asked of it and more. Someone did not want to step out of the vehicle when they stopped it? Smash the window, cut the seatbelt, and drag them out. Opened MRE's, Cut Paracord, and he had a Whistle to Blow Always got a smile thinking about a ex-West Point football player, Airborne Ranger, 6'4" 240lbs blowing the Spyderco Assist Whistle.

 

[USAFSP]

Do any of the knives mentioned have a national stock numer?

Yes, some of them do. The MOD CQD does.

 

[stevekt]

In all fairness many people own stockmen, trappers, and whittlers and will never use them for their intended purposes. I think the label "traditional" is as much a misnomer as "tactical". Technically any knife can be tactical and any knife can be traditional.

 

[chris in mo]

I thought for any piece of gear to be "tactical" it had to have velcro on it, at least that sure seemed to be the case about 1/2 a decade ago. I dont think the tactical thing plays into the equation for most knife pirchasers who know a little bit about knives. If knoves were sold on sales hype alone then Dark Ops would be the leading knife company in the world!

That said I like knives that tend to fall into the tactical catagory because of the features many of them have. I tend to prefer a single larger blade that is one hand openable and has a secure lock of some sort. G10 also happens to be my favorite of the handle materials available so mch of what I buy is in the tactical catagory.

 

[Bors]

Boy it sure is confusing isn’t it. well the definition of “tactical” is

Electronic Franklin Dictionary:
Tactical:
The science of maneuvering forces in combat.
The skill of using available means to reach an end.

That’s pretty vague, well I think that every tool ever devised fits that definition certainly every knife does. I tend to be pragmatic and look for value when I buy knifes. Personally I don’t fall for all the hype. I tend to look at what I’m going to use it for research it and decide which is the best value. For folding knifes I find the best value with Spyderco and SAK. Personally, I like Auto’s and use one everyday to open my mail with . Evan if I could carry one legally I wouldn’t. Your correct more things to go wrong and they generally do at the worst possible time why add to the frustration.

 

[USAFSP]

Usually when I buy a knife I look at the materials that are used for construction, then the lock and lastly the quality of build. I have a few Spderco's, my CQD (EDC) and a Darrel Ralph Gunhammer custom. Any of the above knives can be considered "Tactical", but the CQD does a little more than the others due to its features. I can cut 550 cord, flex cuffs, clothing and webbing without even opening the knife. For rescue and or extraction from a vehicle, the carbide window braker is nice too. That to me is "Tactical" and not hype. A tool that can get the job done. Dork Ops, well........ It's black, and has blood grooves Just kidding about that fellas. Don't wanna make this thread about that company. Gerber has a new orange handled rescue knife that fits the bill too. Any of you see that? We should start a list of knives that have real application.

 

[M Wadel]

yeah the tactical genre is just "fashion". however i do like g10 its the best handle material. i like one hand openers. i wonder when "strategic" knives will show up

 

[Joe Dirt]

They should just get rid of the name Tactical. I am with USAFSP. I like knives that are useful. I think too many people these days get caught up in the latest steel hype and they also get too "proud" of one company. I say just buy what you like and think will work.

 

[Halfneck]

I have seen 2 stories so far in knife magazines about knife use in Iraq.

1st was on some soldier that killed a Iraqi soldier with a knife. Knife was a CRKT large folder (forgot the model).

2nd was a Sniper and his Spotter that had to cross an area being illuminated by Lights while being pursued. Turned out the power lines to the lights ran through the room they were hiding in. One of them had a Gerber LMF 2 and remembered being told the handle was insulated. Cut the lines and escaped in the darkness.

Both knives in those stories are sub $100 knives and would be low on the list of knives posters here would suggest.

 

[rowdy27]

Personally, why mess with a folder to begin with.
I'd rather used a purpose-built Fixed-blade to avoid injury to myself while stressed & haulin' some "meathead" out of his car.
You could carry a Gerber Gut Hook tool (E-Z Zip) for seat belts.
A nice 7" Kabar Extreme Fighting knife (with half-serrations) can do everything else..save the dishes! Cheers friend, Dan

 

[Lavan]

Well....RATS! I just looked at the MOD and it is a screaming BARGAIN! 154CM and carbide breaker. For nearly free. Now if it had a pocket friendly shape, I think I'd hafta get one.