What is a "Fighter"?

R

ricky_arthur

Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Messages
217
I see knives being called "fighters" that could easily be catagorized as something else, Like a bowie.

I'm curious, What to YOU makes a knife a tactical or Fighter style knife?


Post a pic (or description) of what is the quintessential "Fighter" style knife to you.

Cause, well, I want to make one... And when It's finished I'd like people to say "ooh nice fighter" LOL

Thanks

Ricky
 
This is my only knife i own i would consider a "fighter".. maybe.. though i have never fought with it.

dsc0269cm.jpg
 
in my mind the fighter knife is a fixed blade with about 5" or more blade, at least single guard, double quillon is better subhilt too. but the main point is that it must have a thin blade with a thin edge and a thin tip. clip point, spear point, double edge or even wharncliffe as long as it as a guard, a very thin slicing edge on thin stock and is 5" or over i consider it a fighting knife.

that the reason why i'll never consider any busse kin a fighting knife unless they one day do a 5"+ with the edge geometry of a boney AD.
 
pwet said:
that the reason why i'll never consider any busse kin a fighting knife unless they one day do a 5"+ with the edge geometry of a boney AD.
Click to expand...

The Busse Team Gemini or the Battle Mistress or any number of the 'kin knives are based on classic blade designs. Whether it's thin or not doesn't matter as much as its ability to cut and in my experience, while they may not slice as thin as a kitchen knife, the Bussekin blades can more than hold their own when it comes to cutting.
 

Attachments

  • argonne_black_canvas_lg.jpg
    argonne_black_canvas_lg.jpg
    95.1 KB · Views: 27
Last edited:
When I think fighter, I think Fairbairn. A thin, double edged knife made for cutting on and sticking in people.
 
Torm said:
The Busse Team Gemini or the Battle Mistress or any number of the 'kin knives are based on classic blade designs. Whether it's thin or not doesn't matter as much as its ability to cut and in my experience, while they may not slice as thin as a kitchen knife, the Bussekin blades can more than hold their own when it comes to cutting.
Click to expand...

on a side note, the most important difference between a busse and a fighting bowie of the same size will not be its ability to slice as thin as a kitchen knife but the speed, balance and ease of controling the knife. but your right a fbm will kill a man even with its spine. dont confuse large and impressive with efficient, its often very different. those are outdoor/survival/zombies blades, no fighters.
 
pwet said:
on a side note, the most important difference between a busse and a fighting bowie of the same size will not be its ability to slice as thin as a kitchen knife but the speed, balance and ease of controling the knife. but your right a fbm will kill a man even with its spine. dont confuse large and impressive with efficient, its often very different. those are outdoor/survival/zombies blades, no fighters.
Click to expand...

You may want to familiarize yourself a little more with the wider Bussekin product line before making such a sweeping generalization. There are many of them that weigh a reasonable amount and are extremely easy to control. In fact, I have yet to hold a Busse that isn't well balanced for its design's intended use. The Kabar has been a defacto fighting or combat knife for decades and is very similar design to a number of Busse designs. There are also quite a few soldiers who post here who have carried their knives in active duty.

Edit: One of the blades up for grabs on their site now is the Argonne Assault. The AA is most definitely a fighting knife, just take a look:

argonne_black_canvas_lg.jpg

Note: This image isn't mine, it's from the company website.
 
Last edited:
When I see the word "Fighter" I think of a karambit at first.
But really to me a "fighter" is any knife that I can use in a fight.
 
When I hear "fighter" I think pointy, aggressive, longer blade, secure grip, possibly double-edged and usually with some kind of guard.
 
The term "fighter" conjures up an image for me of a fixed blade with a secure grip, a stabby tip, a guard of some sort, and at least a 5" blade. It needs to be not too heavy, but sturdy enough for violent combat. The sub hilt design just screams "fighter" whenever I see one, as do knives with cutlass guards.
 
I'd say any knife could be used to fight as long as the person using it knows how to do so properly, some knives such as those with weak or no locks, would not be ideal of course. Fixed blades and strong solid locking folders. Usually want some reach as well, anything with an under 3'' blade is also going to not be as ideal, but not useless for sure.
 
Torm said:
You may want to familiarize yourself a little more with the wider Bussekin product line before making such a sweeping generalization. There are many of them that weigh a reasonable amount and are extremely easy to control. In fact, I have yet to hold a Busse that isn't well balanced for its design's intended use. The Kabar has been a defacto fighting or combat knife for decades and is very similar design to a number of Busse designs. There are also quite a few soldiers who post here who have carried their knives in active duty.

Edit: One of the blades up for grabs on their site now is the Argonne Assault. The AA is most definitely a fighting knife, just take a look:

View attachment 327855

Note: This image isn't mine, it's from the company website.
Click to expand...

i am very familiarised with their knives and i appreciate them. thats not my point, i just mean that ''for me'' a knife build with the intention to fight should be optimised for this. fighting with a knife should not be chopping femurs, there is as much point building a fighter from .220 stock as building a formula one with IPNs ... unnecessary weight when the thing should be as light and nimble as possible as your life or a severe injury can happen if you are a fraçtion of second slower than the other guy.

otoh i've never handled an argone assault, or team gemini, they can be very well suited ... dont know.

oohhh and re reading i think i understand our divergences of POV, dont confuse fighter and combat knife such as the kabar, its not the same thing at all, a fighter is for killing, a combat knife is for doing everything a soldier needs to do on deployment plus fighting if need be. not the same needs at all. in this regard busses and kin make wonderfull combat knives.
 
Last edited:
Is he still in business? I remember his very opinionated no bs columns in Soldier of Fortune magazine. Whao, I am having an 80's flashback!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top