Utility Vs Tactical

Mick Strider wrote this a while back.

There is a lot of talk these days about "tactical knives." If you look through the forums,
you will no doubt notice it. When I look through these posts, I can't help but notice that
the word "tactical" has been bastardized quite a bit. Now it basically means BLACK.... I
guess... In one post I think it was summed up rather nicely:

"Is it vouge now to have the thick tactical look or do these knife really have an
advantage? "

With the exception of correcting the misspelling of "tactical" this is a direct quote. I have
no idea who authored this quote, it isn't important. It's the idea I'm after. The thought
that this person, and others, think this way. I can't decide to laugh or vomit.

"Is it VOUGE to have the thick tactical LOOK...?"

As you read this, a great number of young men are out there, ready to trade death for
your protection. Be it their own or another's. That is what tactical means. MADE FOR
WAR.

We are not in the business of a "vouge tactical look". We are in the business of making
tools for those who need them. Warriors who's life depends on their tools. Let me go
ahead and re-phrase that for you. If we build a knife that fails, someone may die. That is
the way we run our business. The fact that people other than warriors buy our knives is
awesome. We love making knives. We do our best to make every customer happy. Be
they a Force Recon Marine or a computer geek. But the geek, (no offence, just a
stereotype) will not generally die if his blade fails. Therefor we build knives for hard -ass
use.

For those of you who prefer to lift your nose to this approach, sorry, its your loss. Look a
little deeper sometime. Take a little time to expand your horizons. Try to understand that
which you cannot fathom. What is it that you dislike about "crowbars?" The thickness?
The loss of ergonomics? Did you know that every Strider Knife is available in any
thickness? In either hollow or full bevel grind. Did you know that we do actually offer
ergonomic handles? Why then , you ask, are they not all ergonomic? I'll tell you...

Ergonomics have only a very small place in my heart. Let me quantify that. Ergonomics on
tactical (Oops) WAR knives, have no place. Here's why: During high stress, fine motor
skill is destroyed. I see all these "knife fighters" looking for blades that feel so great in
your hand, you would think it was their cock. Now...lets insert stress... go run a mile at a
six minute pace, let me punch you in the face a few times, and finally, Ill kick you in the
balls. At this point, the last thing you want is your dick in your hand. You want a chunk
of blade that is locked in. Period. Weather its land warfare and your about to have your
ass handed to you because you need the ammo in that air drop, or CQB and (bummer)
you've made the transition to knife...or...your ass is in a jam on the subway...it doesn't
matter. Comfort is not a thought. Rock solid grip is everything. Who gives a **** about
a hot spot on your hand. My 1911 isn't ergonomic either. It's a big chunk of death. That's
why it work so well.
Knives are tools. Usually design specific. If you want something that a maker doesn't
have, either talk to them about it, they will usually help you out, or move on. There are a
great number of makers out there. Most of which make great knives. Some, like
ourselves, usually stick to what they do best.
Some will make whatever you desire. Look for a style that is pleasing to you and go for it.
But when you speak of that which you do not know, you lose site of who you are. And
the respect of those around you.

For those who serve


Mick Strider
 
I'll just toss in what I happen to think.

I like Mick's slant on things there. I also happen to think that a Tactical situation involves combat, or something akin to it. Duress, stress, extreme conditions that will make ANYTHING in the situation fail, be it the equipment or the man in the situation.

Now, applying that to the knife in question, I like what has been said about the kind of knife that must stand up to such situations. Tough, versatile, and built to handle any task under great extremes. Be it prying open a can, digging a hole, hacking ones way through limbs of trees or humans.... it had better be able to handle it and beg for more of the same. And keeping this in mind, I firmly believe that no folding knife will be able to fill this niche, given my take on tactical, anyways. I think we've stumbled onto a whole new oxymoron here..... "Tactical Folder".

Now, as to everyone else's definitions? Hey, it's like Sport Utility Vehicle. Kinda depends on the sport, or the utility in question I guess. Advertisers?? I imagine there are some out there who toss the word Tactical on there so as to attract the wallets of fired-up, testosterone charged wannabe badasses out there. Gotta be a big ol chunk of the knife buying demographic made up of these types. Ya can't be bangin' out huge numbers of Tactical knives because you just KNOW they are all being used in Tactical situations. You must be pumping them out because you know that the market is big on them now. Hell, I dunno... and I don't care.

But I do know this. My definition of tactical being what it is, I have no need for a tactical knife. Whether or not the knife I choose carries the moniker of "Tactical" doesn't bother me a bit. Take the Talmage Tactical Kitchen Knife (TTKK) by Trace Rinaldi. I think it has a great utilitarian design, whatever you call it. Tactical? Not in my book, but maybe in somebody else's. If I buy it because of the utilitarian design, and somebody else buys it because it is a "Tactical", well you've just sold 2 knives instead of one, and I guess that worked out as a Win/Win/Win situation. Nothing wrong with that.
 
If "tactical" means "made for war", then we are talking about something far broader than knifefighting or other CQC. The average soldier's knife is certainly used for non-fighting tasks much more often than for direct combat. That being the case, I might need a "tactical knife" in the wilderness because many of my wilderness activities closely mimic the uses to which a knife is put by a soldier <i>except for</i> killing other humans. As such, my knife must have many of the same characteristics for me that it should have for the soldier, and this might even include rapidity and convenience of deployment.
 
I also have noticed that if I would equip myself going to war or going outdoors - the knife would be the same.

"Tactical" certainly should mean much more than simply "fighting" or "killing". The most "killing" knives are statistically kitchen ones and they hold up quite well in this role.
Unluckily...
 
On the topic of "ergonomics", If the knife doesn't fit in the hand in a VARIETY of positions, it's usefulness is very lmited. A straight handle design is far more versatile than a curved, "ergonomic" one.

Paul
 
I think Mr. Work's point about the versatility of a straight handle also supports the arguement for a separate, metal guard. It seems that the prime reason for the curves and finger grooves on many modern knives is the absence of a separate guard on many models. Bring back the guards, and you don't need those "ergonomic" handles.
 
My 1911 isn't ergonomic either. It's a big chunk of death. That's
why it work so well.

WOW, a story about a 1911 working!!! Will wonders never cease. Maybe you guys should go with a 9mm. I mean, If you want stopping power, thatis...:barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf:

I have to say, I second the strider guys opinion on tatical knives.

As for the reason for black blades on Knives for defense/offence, Yes the black coating is so that they are hard to see when the bad guy is looking at your face and does not see the black blade CQC-7 folder you just slipped out of your pocket and have pressed up against the side of your leg somewhat obscured in the folds of your coat.

I routinely have to walk to my car with a knife palmed. Sometimes open. I can not do that with a satin or hard chrome finish. The opened knife witha black blade disapears into the folds of my coat to the point people 10 feet away never see it.

Maybe you disreguard that aspect of your knives, but I demand a black coating on knives when I can get it.
 
Memnoch,
I hope you aren't paying much for that parking space! It doesn't sound like an ideal spot.
 
I want to thank everyone who responded to this post... it was enlightening to say the least.
I had no idea the can of "Tactical" worms I'd ripped the lid off of!
Sounds like some pent up "Tactical" issues which run deeper than this post intended to go...
Well boy's, put down your "Tactical" knives and let's go have a drink...

thanks again,;)
 
It seems that the prime reason for the curves and finger grooves on many modern knives is the absence of a separate guard on many models. Bring back the guards, and you don't need those "ergonomic" handles.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I like "ergonomics" on knives with good guards too.
 
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