Top 5 "Tactical" Knives

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Wolfeye

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I know there's probably a thread on here about this, but what do you guys think the best "tactical" knives are? The meaning is: "knives the work well for combatively dangerous situations," so it can include survival purposes.

For an extra #6, that one can be a big knife, but the others should all be something a person can carry around in a pocket, purse, or under a jacket. I have my own ideas, but I'm basically trying to find out about gear that I don't know about.
 
As is probably going to be stated many times, a gun is far superior for the sake of self defense. If you don't have training in the use of a knife as a self defense weapon, you're legitimately better off chucking the knife at the assailant and running as fast as you can while they're briefly distracted by dodging the sharp shiny thing you just threw at them. In this situation, the best knife is the heaviest one you can potentially give them a concussion with by throwing it at their head.

But, to actually answer the thread as intended, your best bet is going to be a fixed blade that you're not going to bugger up the grip on in a panic. So, that leaves you with two prime options:
- Push blades with a T-handle
- Karambits with a finger-ring

These also have the added bonus of being very difficult to knock out of your hand, and dagger push blades basically turn it into a bladed boxing match.

If you're talking folders, there are a multitude out there. I would generally recommend something that is fairly idiot-proof for the sake of not losing precious moments. I can't make any serious recommendations here because I lack the expertise and have a strong feeling that the best "tactical" folding knife is going to be whatever stabby knife you are trained with using and can deploy under pressure when your adrenaline spikes.
 
Tactical folders or tactical fixed blades?

There are too many excellent knives and brands to say any one is the best. Any answer will be purely opinion based. You're better off asking, what are some good brands.

Also tactical covers such a wide spectrum of uses and designs. A concealed defenive blade for an under cover cop? A large fighting knife for a mercenary pirate bountyhunter ninja? A knife so women won't get raped in the shower a la Spydie ARK?
 
No particular order, and these are just 5 that I happen to like, and can think of off the top of my head.

Are they the "best"? Nah. I wouldn't know tactical if it bit me on the aft end. But if I were deploying today, I'd look for these on the shelf.

Al Mar SERE 2000. Oozes Tactical. It's VG-10, so you can sharpen it on the bottom of your tactical black coffee cup at the FOB.

Benchmade Bedlam 8600BK. Bedlam because it means crazy, and crazy = tactical. 8600 because it's the auto, and auto = tactical. BK because it's black, which = tactical.

Ka Bar USMC. It's tactical. Tell my uncle it ain't... he's one of the Chosin Few... got chunks of guys like you in his stool.

Cold Steel Nightfall 3V Magnum Tanto XII. It's a black (black!) mini samurai sword with a foot long blade made of CPM-3V. It's impractical, but tactical.

Bad Monkey Folding Modified Tanto Black PE. Tanto? Check. Black blade? Roger. Wave opener? Holy crap, yes. Made in 'Murica? Weee Haahhh!

Get yourself one of these and we'll bask in your awesomeness. Get more than one, and Chuck Norris will check under his bed for you before he goes to sleep.
 
Personally, I like a Dawson Persian EDC with kydex in my right front pocket. The sheath makes a good impact weapon in the off hand, the knife is what it is. Light, strong, handy, unobtrusive. And a back-up to my .45 Commander.
 
If tactical means purely fighting and not Survival, the classics are:

1-Spyderco Civilian
2-Randall Model 14
3-Gerber Mark II (similar but longer, lighter and better, if re-profiled; Al Mar Shadow IV)
4-Cold Steel Tanto (similar but longer, lighter and better; Cold Steel Oyabun)

Can't think of a fifth one that is really classic, innovative, famous and "tactical" looking at the same time.

Combining fighting and "survival", the Robert Parrish Survivor certainly deserve mention.

If I had to choose just one for unpredictable "tactical" circumstances, I would choose none of the above, but instead simply the biggest heaviest knife that can possibly be carried, with the thinnest edge from the box: A Cerakoated Randall Smithsonian bowie with finger groove handle. And yes an 11" blade can be carried concealed...

Gaston
 
If talking just fighting then the Fairburn Sykes needs to be on the list IMO.

However, my view on the definition of the modern tactical knife is that it is essentially a knife which functions as a survival tool and/or last ditch weapon.

Purely in terms of folders, essentially I'd see it as a folder which can take the place of a fixed blade when performing the afforementioned role.

I'd rate the top 5 significant tactical folders in no particular order as:

1) Buck 110 - Got people thinking of using folders in place of fixed blades. Quite a popular choice in Vietnam;

2) Al Mar SERE - IMO the first 'tactical folder' in that it introduced the concept of a folder as a fixed blade;

3) Spyderco Worker - introduced one hand opening and the pocket clip.

4) Terzuola ATCF - brought together the knifemaking innovations of the 80s (liner lock, one hand opening, clip, modern materials and steel) into the blueprint for the modern tactical folder.

5) Emerson Benchmade CQC7 - sparked the popularity of the tactical folder in the production knife world.
 
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I have been to Brazil several times. Last year I was there for 3 1/2 months and IMO the best knife to have is one that draws fast (i.e. a Emerson hook) for surprise. In most cases a knife that draws fast out of pocket you will get the first strike as nobody expects that to come out so fast . The way to win a fight is to strike fast and hard- kinda like a gun..You don't draw a gun on someone unless you are going to shoot. Same with a knife. So the Emerson hook concept is a must for places like Brazil where anybody will rob you and put a gun to your family members head. In that scenario, in a place like Brazil, I would opt for the Emerson hook before any flipper or other tactical knife.


Yes these knives were with me in Brazil also. And yes I know they are not Emersons. Just thought I would post a few pics of knives in Brazil:

DSCN8759.JPG

DSCN8578.JPG
 
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There are just far too many good knives out there.
But if it's something for defensive applications,
And a a little more;
A simple knife like the newer version of the steel spike works well.
It's light weight, narrow and not a bulky package.
The handle with its unique scales, thumb ramp and lower guard
is quite adequately spaced for manipulating with most grip styles.
It's also priced affordably enough to be easily replaced.
But best of all, it is structurally safe as it has no moving parts!
I would think it meets the criteria for most simple light applications.
Namely, slashing, slicing and piercing.
For these reasons it makes my list of amongst the top tactical sleepers.
I have full confidence in this shank.
And if there were no other knives to be had
I would happily buy five.
Since they do come in 4 different blade variants.
 
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As last ditch defense knives I love my Fred Perrin Le Griffe and La Shark. They are such great little back up knives. The finger ring makes them surprisingly effective for SD apparently. The Silent Soldier neck knives also fall into this catagory, except it doubles better at utility roles. These knives are what the lapel and thumb daggers of WWII wish they could have been.

I also have the Benchmade SOCP Dagger which I love but have to get reground. It came with a nonexistant edge.
 
"knives the work well for combatively dangerous situations,"
I was issued a Gerber multi tool prior to Desert Shield I paired that with a SAK Pioneer for the one/two tactical punch. I survived Desert Shield/Storm with that combo.
I think the word "tactical" is over used.
 
colubrid said:
I have been to Brazil several times. Last year I was there for 3 1/2 months and IMO the best knife to have is one that draws fast (i.e. a Emerson hook) for surprise. In most cases a knife that draws fast out of pocket you will get the first strike as nobody expects that to come out so fast . The way to win a fight is to strike fast and hard- kinda like a gun..You don't draw a gun on someone unless you are going to shoot. Same with a knife. So the Emerson hook concept is a must for places like Brazil where anybody will rob you and put a gun to your family members head. In that scenario, in a place like Brazil, I would opt for the Emerson hook before any flipper or other tactical knife.


Yes these knives were with me in Brazil also. And yes I know they are not Emersons. Just thought I would post a few pics of knives in Brazil:
Click to expand...

Sure, that's a great point, but what about in Brazil?

I think the problem here is getting a definition of "tactical" so we are all on the same page. Unfortunately

"The meaning is: "knives the work well for combatively dangerous situations," so it can include survival purposes."

isn't terribly clear.

Are you looking for a SD knife? A general purpose knife that could be used for SD? Some sort of "sentry killer"? Something with lots of extraneous pointy bits and plenty of stencilling on the blade? Maybe a skull on it?

Without that, I am going to go with L longbow and the "serrated steak knife." It has probably damaged more people that any knife in "combat" has in the last 100 years.

And, a close second, this Dark Ops

2QXnhQE.jpg


Now that's tactical!
 
Another fantasy tacticool thread.
The people I know who work in combatively dangerous situations might use a SAK, a Leatherman/multitool, some kind of folder. Occasionally they might use a specialised tool such as a machete or golok. Some might carry an issue bayonet but most don't if given the chance to carry a handgun.
Law Enforcement then probably something with a belt cutter and glass breaker.

Go anywhere exotic then use whatever the locals are as they have probably got it right.

Anything else you should ask "what martial art system incorporates bladed weapons and what style are they incorporating". But then martial arts are a lifestyle thing rather than anything else. Get really good at one and it might just help out in a sticky situation in the fact it might give you a better mindset.
 
Wolfeye said:
I know there's probably a thread on here about this, but what do you guys think the best "tactical" knives are? The meaning is: "knives the work well for combatively dangerous situations," so it can include survival purposes.

For an extra #6, that one can be a big knife, but the others should all be something a person can carry around in a pocket, purse, or under a jacket. I have my own ideas, but I'm basically trying to find out about gear that I don't know about.
Click to expand...

Focusing on knives that fit the scenario you describe--ordinary/civilian life usage and carry--I think it's worth raising a couple of related questions in addition to "which knife."

  1. Does it make sense for civilian EDC carry--where most people are going to carry a single blade--to carry a dedicated combat type of a blade? Or does it make sense to carry a general-use blade that can also be used for defensive purposes?
    • What I do: carry a general-use blade that has adequate features that enable it to serve for defensive use. Why? Because 99.9999999% of my usage with my EDC blade is for common knife tasks, so I want a knife optimized for that. But I admit there's a possibility of having to use it for defensive use if, say, my primary defensive tool (my CCW) fails, or if I'm in a non-permissive CCW environment and the blade is the only thing I can carry.
  2. Have you thought through the role of your blade in the context of your entire self-defense preparation? What role does the blade play?
    • What I do: my CCW is my primary means of self-defense, and I think for most people--assuming you have the CCW option and most in the US do--this is your best means of self-defense. Thus your blade is secondary, I think of my blade as "last ditch self-defense" if everything else fails, I'd resort to a blade but honestly, if it gets to that point I'm in serious trouble. Preferences are: (1) Use your brain and avoid violent conflict altogether, (2) When (1) is not possible, resort to your CCW, and (3) If CCW fails or you don't have one, blade is the last stand option. Given this reality, for me, I'm not going to carry any kind of large fixed blade or folder specially designed for combat use. I'm going to carry a well designed general-purpose blade, that would also have some stabbing/slashing capability and a good handle that can be gripped in several different grips.
  3. Have you gotten training for defensive use of a knife?
    • I have not, but I think anyone who plans to use a knife as PRIMARY self-defense mechanism, is absolutely obligated to get at least some basic defensive training. Same thing applies to CCW's, where I have gotten training because that's my primary. Even though for me, the blade is secondary and last-ditch defense, I'd still like to get at least one class in basic self-defense techniques with a knife. I'm also on the lookout for a good book on defensive knife use, written by a reputable professional--for example someone who trains police and military--and not by some mall ninja. :-)
With all that as background, I'd recommend my approach :-) and that means carrying a CCW wherever possible, and carrying a well designed general-purpose folder for secondary/backup defensive use. I'm by no means expert on anything about knife combatives or design, but it seems obvious that you want some kind of tip capable of piercing when necessary, enough length to penetrate clothing and do some damage, sufficient blade thickness and strength that it won't break under the stress of combat usage (this rules out thin-bladed slicers), and a great handle giving you a strong grip and several different grip options.

A few popular folders I have that meet these attributes:
  1. Cold Steel Recon 1. 4" blade with thick blade stock, great handle with good traction that allows several different grips, very strong locking mechanism, and an adequate tip. This would be my #1 preferred folder in my collection for combative use.
  2. Spyderco Chinook. 3.75" blade with thick blade stock, great "bracketed" handle style that allows forward and reverse grips, great blade design for combat usage, with an excellent tip for piercing, and a deep curve for reverse slashing motions.
  3. Spyderco PM 2. 3.5" blade with thick blade stock, great tip for piercing, great handle, though not quite as good as the Recon for combative use, and strong locking mechanism (also not as strong as the Recon).
 
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