Tactical Over Used?

singularity35 said:
Tactical socks? tactical shoes?
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well, you could use those as weapons against people. the socks would be used as a flexible weapon like a chain or sarong, and the shoes would obviously be an impact weapon.

but yeah i meant more in the context of knife descriptions. i guess it could apply to some rescue type knives, but wouldnt we just call those rescue knives?
 
singularity35 said:
tactical shoes?D
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actually i believe fred perrin designed some kind of small spike or something that is attached to the front of the shoe, or shoelace, and used to inflict lacerations with kicks. great for savate practitioners. maybe someone knows about or can find the item i am talking about.
 
this is all could find, fred perrins shoe spike, meant to be held by the laces.

FPShoeSpikes-t.jpg
 
It's just the current buzz word that the marketing people use.

If a knife is labeled Tactical we are all supposed to go OOOOOOOHHHHHH AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH OOOOOOOOOHHHHH and all jump in and buy them.

So they picture some Model dressed up in Camo with the X knife in hand and we are all supposed to go OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHHH OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH.... I gotta have one of those......


I don't freaking think so..... ;)

I was really in the USMC and all that crap doesn't impress me at all..... :rolleyes:
 
Tactical is an advertising term. I assume it is to connote association with the military, and thus implies sturdier gear than civilians use.

We have been dealing with this kind of term for over a century, so you might as well get used to it (i.e. naming products to sell because of the association with a term, not based on their actual qualities). By the early twentieth century housing promoters were naming their developments "Leafy Horizons" or "Oak Streams" no matter how gritty their locations actually were. Or cars named after wide open western locations, like "Tuscon" or "Montana", then sold to housewives in New Jersey.

Ever notice how many realtors use the name "Buena Vista"? Overused, kind of like..."tactical". As long as it sells goods, we will see more and more "tactical" products. Just like all the other advertising we're used to.
 
Definition of a Tactical Folder:
A tactical folder as "a knife used by people who need a dependable piece of solidly build equipment, a folder that gives you -- in all cases -- confidence".
 
irbailey said:
When I hear the word tactical used in reference to knives, I straight away think of blades that are too thick to cut properly, pointless non-reflective coatings, square shaped handles that hurt after you've used them for a few minutes, unnecessary thumb rests etc which serve no purpose other than hurting your hand, and the words 'marketing gimmick'.
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You sir, have summed it up beautifully. "too thick to cut properly" is exactly what I associate the word with.

I think it is overused so much because a knife company can charge more for a knife with the word in its name. Take a $100 knife. Now add 'tactical' to it, and they can instantly price it at $140 and people will buy it.
 
Sure it might be over used, but it dosn't bother me much. To me it is just an easy way of acknowledging a specific style.

Just like if you were to say "bushcraft knife" or "gentalmans folder" or "classic western" style knife. These are all knives, they all cut and stab, but when these generic names are thrown out there it at least gives you an idea of what style it is, as well as general theme of design and appearance the item will have.

If people don't like the term "tactical" maybe someone should try and come up with a better term to describe that style of knife or gear. :)
 
Don't forget about my "tactical travel tray" made by Maxpedition.:p I actually like it a lot, but Maxpedition calling it "tactical" is laughable.
 
In my opinion, a lot of knife makers that market to these "tacti-cool" folks simply over think their knife designs. The simpler the better for me. A knife is one of the oldest, most basic tools known to man. Design it to do what it needs to do well, and forget all the other bells and whistles.
 
If there was no such thing, would we have forums, testing videos, magazines, passarounds, etc?

As long as you do your research and don't buy into the junk or the hype - I say bring it.

I'm glad knife makers keep coming up with new ways to keep us spending our money - or it wouldn't be much of a hobby for me.
 
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