The Best Tactical Folder

Paul, I like the Carnivour for one reason: It is solidly built and Heavy, with a lock meant to break well after the handle and blade it holds together. The Pioneer is one solid tool as well, and a much more practical choice in a utility knife, as the Carnivour is much more of a weapon by design. (It is certainly being put out by REKAT as such.) The Crawford has a great, secure grip, but the Pioneer is easier to handle for a variety of chores. It is a good, practical size, and is available in a wider variety of styles. As far as the new spring actuated locks go, Benchmade is probably going to drop the Axis into every new design it comes out with in the next few years, much as they were almost exclusively using liner locks in the last few.

What I like about the integral lock is its simplicity and reliability over most other types of locks. The Rolling Lock and Axis have it beat for brute strength, but rely on hidden mechanisms with many more parts that can fail. I am sure one day we will have a miniature hydraulic lock strong enough to support the weight of a small truck. It still won’t be as simple and elegant design as the Integral Bar Lock, and will only be a marginal improvement in what I need a knife for.

(Yes, we do like to talk about knives. Believe me, there are worse things that can happen to a thread.)


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James
San Francisco, CA

 
James, good points. And believe me when I say how much I enjoy the way threads like this one progress. No offense intended. And I think I know what you were referring to with your last sentence. I returned to that thread after the lock was in place, so I didn't get the chance to give my two cents. Feel free to email me if you want to talk further, as I agree with the Moderator that the lock was needed.
Paul
 
Well, the thing is, Ed asked what's the best "tactical folder" and then started talking about the CRKT S-2. That sorta' started up two lines of discussion. Do ya' wanna' talk about the best, or about the S-2?
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Besides, maybe it is not too late for Ed to exchange that S-2 for a REKAT Pioneer!
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[This message has been edited by Steve Harvey (edited 12 October 1999).]
 
The single best folding fighter today is probably the Sifu. The CSVG isn't all THAT far behind, and if you can't afford more than $75 or so is absolutely the best buy available. At the moment my daily carry when I can't pack The Outsider is one of my AlMar QuicksilverVs, the 5.5" slim linerlock. It conceals well and it's greasy-fast on the draw, but it's lockwork is substandard...I consider it a good "fast slash and run" blade despite the weak lock.

The Sifu will soon replace it.

Jim
 
I say that the Sebenza is my faforite folder bar none, but even a LDC-9 or Tanto model would come up short, literally, against the Sifu when things get "tactical". The Reeve folder has it beat in versatility, but I think that Jim finds the Sifu versatile enough for its intended purposes.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
If this thread is going to head in that direction, let me throw in a vote for the Civilian for defense PLUS another folder for utility tasks. Neither role needs to be compromised.

Jim knows I'm not against the mega-folder concept, but I think Sal really hit a homer in designing a knife with true slash-and-run defense in mind rather than "fighting."

-Drew
 
If you consider the best price performance, Outdoor Edge's Impulse is the sure winner. In my new knife examination experiences, the Taiwan made Impulse even beats most other US made's costing average 3 times more.
 
You ask a simple question, you get a million different answers. LOL. IMHO any knife can be the "best" tactical knife. It depends to some degree on quality, but most of the mentioned offereings use decent steel and craftsmanship. The component that makes a knofe the "best" is how it feels to YOU. Is the form and shape of the handle comfortable in YOUR hand? Is the balance right for YOU? Is the weight perfect for YOU? Is the locking mechanism one that YOU are comfortable with? Does it feel to YOU that the knife becomes and extension of yourself rather than a foreign object in your hand(s)? You find the answer to those questions and you've found the "best" knife. Just my .02
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If you must got with a folder under $100, I would go with a spyderco, or benchmade. I have heard many bad comments (from my customers and friends) about CRKT folding knives. Most having to do with the strength of the locks. If you can afford to pay more, and need a folding knife, then the Sebenza would be a good choice. A friend of mine has a nearly new Sebenza for sale. If you would like you could e-mail me to find out who. That would save you some of the cost. As said though, if you must go with a folder under a $100 skip the CRKT and go with a benchmade or spyderco.

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Lynn GriffithMy website
GriffithKN@aol.com


 
I like the Benchmade Mel Pardue 720S. The axis lock is extremely smooth. I like the ergonomics of the grip, it seems to fit my small hands really well. Their warranty is highly regarded.
 
Jim always has to remind me what tactical means in regards to folders. Ask me agian and I'll tell you the Sifu, if it is all that I expect it will be. And dammit, he has a point about that ugly old Tacquero Grande too, much as find it personally repulsive. But dangit, tactical means ready for whatever right? Is the Sifu or VG ready to skin a squirel? I du'know. They wouldn't be my first choice to slit the belly of a trout no bigger than the palm of my hand either, but I guess they would do the job if you were careful.

Dang Sasquatch knives (mumble, mumble)
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Well, you guys have officially persuaded me to a different knife than the S2. After much thought (smell the smoke) I have decided to purchase a REKAT Carnivour. The reason behind the decision: it seems that the Carnivour has a good following (unlike the S2) which means it has been tried and tested by many experienced knife users. My other reason is that the Carnivour offers that awesome handle release. I have been turned from the path of the darkside!

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ED Grendel
 
Corduroy, I was tempted to give the Spydie Civvie an "honorable mention" if you buy into the "rip and run" gameplan/mentality. I do NOT despise that plan, but I don't entirely trust it either. The problem with it is, if you really truly have no choice but to stand your ground and fight against a determined aggressor, the Sifu or CSVG are better.

For a dog defense knife, the Civvie should NOT be relied on as a fast stopper. In fact, for dog defense the Sifu may set a new standard in folders. The lock can handle a hard target stab; as Kevin McClung (former veterinary tech) mentioned long ago, even big dogs have two weak spots on top of the skull on either side of a central hard ridge. So a 150lb Rotweiler that could take a direct slam with a 2x4 can still be dropped with a hard stab down through the brain. The Rolling Lock is possibly the only lock I'd trust for that. And if you have to stab upwards to the vitals, the Sifu or CSVG offer the reach.

The Civvie would be a poor choice in comparison. It'll work if the opponent is NOT all that determined to geek you; it can do a horrendous ripping slash that could make a mugger think twice maybe. But slashes are only "psychological stoppers". They can't do the mechanical damage or central nervous system shutdown necessary for a fast STOP when things are totally hairball. To do that you need to stab deep, unless you've got the skill to do extremely well-placed "surgical slices" and at that point, you will neither need nor want a Civvie. I'm NOT at that point but I've seen people who are...they tend to carry 4" to 5" plain non-serrated edges, exactly what Mad Dog's daily carry is (shortened one-off Arizona Hunteroid).

As somebody only a tiny step up from "unskilled" I want the biggest stab-capable monster I can score. For now, that's the Sifu.

Jim
 
Excellent choice, Ed. I am sure the S-2 is a good knife, but the Carnivore is excellent. You will get a lot more blade for your money.
 
Nice choice. Now see what would have happened if we actually paid attention to the purpose of the thread?

If the clip carry is not to your liking, I beieve that a kydex sheath has been developed for this knife. Do a search on the REKAT forum.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
Sounds like you made your decision - however if you want to move up a few notches and get hold of a tactical that will last a really long time and is also an Elishewitz co design -then I'd say checkout the Mission MPF in Ti - has a great feel - excellent locking..and looking. The way the back of the blade ramp and handle is set up you can really power though any repetitive cutting - boxes/sheeting material.



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Jim,

Good point about the Civilian's "slash and run" mentality. That option is not always available. Therefore one would more options in techniques. I have the Matriarch and like it as a collector's item. But truthfully, for self defense I would rather have a knife that can slash and stab. That means a knife with a strong, reliable lock like the Carnivore, Pinnacle, Axis or Synergy (the latter being on the high end of cost for production). Of course, if I were in California, yeah... I'd put in the SIFU (mega monster folder...) as first on the list.

sing

AKTI #A000356
 
Way to go, Ed. This entire thread is EXACTLY why I like Bladeforums. Both expert and non-expert opinions can be culled through, giving guys like me and Ed the most information possible before making a purchase with our hard-earned money. Thanks, everyone, moderators especially, for providing a place where we can have fun, learn more about knives, and get the most for our cash. BTW Ed, my Carnivour came this week! Awesome, simply awesome.
Paul
 
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