Les Robertson
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 10, 1998
- Messages
- 3,565
Tactical knives represent more of a "look" than they do a knife for a particular "tactical" situation.
Secondly, the term "Tactical" knives became part of the knife lexicon to help everyone understand what you were talking about.....a category.
Much like a "hunting" or "Bowie" knife (I have seen "Bowies" with a 5" blade.
I know for me, I think of the knives of WW1 and WW2 when I think of Combat Knives. That is probably because marketing type people have been calling them that since 1917. The LF&C Knuckle Knife from WW1, the K-Bar, M3 or the Fairbain/Sykes are probably the epitome of the "combat" knives. Doesn't mean they were the best, but most knife people know at least what a couple of these knives are.
The category "tactical" has probably replaced "combat" as a marketing term. Tactical is more PC and speaks of the more "elite" type units, SEALS, SF, SWAT, etc.
It's like other "marketing" terms that are used to describe categories.
What is a "Survival" knife? It is the knife you have on you when you are put into a survival situation. Although most people think of a hollow handled knife, with emergency supplies (but isn't this also a tactical knife?). And of course the Swiss Army knife. Notice if you say Swiss Army Knife, most knife people know what you are talking about. Even though there are numerous variations and at least two well known makers of this knife. On top of that how many models of this knife are actually used by people in the Swiss Army?
What is a fighting knife? The knife you have on your person when the fight starts.
FBI statistics show us that more people are killed each year by the common household butcher knife than any other type of knife. Why? Because it's the one that the wife can get to when she is in the kitchen and her husband descides to start beating the hell out of her.
I would bet that wives/GF's kill people with knives each year than do all the elite forces combined. Mostly because the knife is not their primary weapon.
I suspect if a SWAT person is using their knife to subdue a suspect (as with people in the military, things have really gone wrong).
I don't know who coined the term "tactical" in regards to knives, but Im glad they did.
It was much better than "those ugly black knives".
Someone brought up EDC. As more people start using that phrase, you can expect the marketing people to pick up on it.
Years from know the thread will be how can a 12" Bowie be an EDC? For most of us, it can't be. However if you are up in the interior of Alaska, it could be.
So the debate will rage on, what is an EDC and how do you define it.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion. However if you try and shove a sqaure peg into a round hole you will find it doesn't fit.
Meaning, try and keep you knives in line with accepted definitions. Example, tactical knives do not have Ivory scales.
You can make one like that or buy one like that. However, don't be surprised if it is a tough sell.
Now, if you develop a new catagory such as "Presentation Tactical" now that is a different story. As that will probably evoke in peoples mind the image of a knife that could be a "tactical" knife if it didn't have a Damascus balde and Ivory scales.
However, if you tried to present that as a "tactical knife" most people would be inclined to disagree with you.
BTW that's a great story about the Steven Dick, Bob Teruola and the Thumb Disc. Im going ask those two about that one.
Secondly, the term "Tactical" knives became part of the knife lexicon to help everyone understand what you were talking about.....a category.
Much like a "hunting" or "Bowie" knife (I have seen "Bowies" with a 5" blade.
I know for me, I think of the knives of WW1 and WW2 when I think of Combat Knives. That is probably because marketing type people have been calling them that since 1917. The LF&C Knuckle Knife from WW1, the K-Bar, M3 or the Fairbain/Sykes are probably the epitome of the "combat" knives. Doesn't mean they were the best, but most knife people know at least what a couple of these knives are.
The category "tactical" has probably replaced "combat" as a marketing term. Tactical is more PC and speaks of the more "elite" type units, SEALS, SF, SWAT, etc.
It's like other "marketing" terms that are used to describe categories.
What is a "Survival" knife? It is the knife you have on you when you are put into a survival situation. Although most people think of a hollow handled knife, with emergency supplies (but isn't this also a tactical knife?). And of course the Swiss Army knife. Notice if you say Swiss Army Knife, most knife people know what you are talking about. Even though there are numerous variations and at least two well known makers of this knife. On top of that how many models of this knife are actually used by people in the Swiss Army?
What is a fighting knife? The knife you have on your person when the fight starts.
FBI statistics show us that more people are killed each year by the common household butcher knife than any other type of knife. Why? Because it's the one that the wife can get to when she is in the kitchen and her husband descides to start beating the hell out of her.
I would bet that wives/GF's kill people with knives each year than do all the elite forces combined. Mostly because the knife is not their primary weapon.
I suspect if a SWAT person is using their knife to subdue a suspect (as with people in the military, things have really gone wrong).
I don't know who coined the term "tactical" in regards to knives, but Im glad they did.
It was much better than "those ugly black knives".
Someone brought up EDC. As more people start using that phrase, you can expect the marketing people to pick up on it.
Years from know the thread will be how can a 12" Bowie be an EDC? For most of us, it can't be. However if you are up in the interior of Alaska, it could be.
So the debate will rage on, what is an EDC and how do you define it.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion. However if you try and shove a sqaure peg into a round hole you will find it doesn't fit.
Meaning, try and keep you knives in line with accepted definitions. Example, tactical knives do not have Ivory scales.
You can make one like that or buy one like that. However, don't be surprised if it is a tough sell.
Now, if you develop a new catagory such as "Presentation Tactical" now that is a different story. As that will probably evoke in peoples mind the image of a knife that could be a "tactical" knife if it didn't have a Damascus balde and Ivory scales.
However, if you tried to present that as a "tactical knife" most people would be inclined to disagree with you.
BTW that's a great story about the Steven Dick, Bob Teruola and the Thumb Disc. Im going ask those two about that one.
