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what is tactical blade?
- Thread starter picard
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I kind of always hated that word "tactical". To me you can kind of make any folder knife that has a pocket clip and a one hand opening stud or hole a viable candidate for being labeled as a Tactical knife but not all. Some may disagree, because the term tactical is often thought of right along with self defense, police, or military use and covert type operations.
So, that would include, in my mind anyway, a subdued color or non reflective finish, maybe black or camo with a black or non reflective blade, and pocket clip along with the thumb stud or opening hole. It may or may not have serrattions or a tanto blade.
Of course all this is just my opinion of what I would call a tactical folder. As for tactical fixed blades all the same minus the stud and clip of course but perhaps a quick release sheath with multi carry options and/or sharpening or survival accessories.
So, that would include, in my mind anyway, a subdued color or non reflective finish, maybe black or camo with a black or non reflective blade, and pocket clip along with the thumb stud or opening hole. It may or may not have serrattions or a tanto blade.
Of course all this is just my opinion of what I would call a tactical folder. As for tactical fixed blades all the same minus the stud and clip of course but perhaps a quick release sheath with multi carry options and/or sharpening or survival accessories.
averageguy
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I think this is largely a marketing term.
For me it means a fairly stout fixed blade with a pointy tip. Many knives could fall into this category.
For me it means a fairly stout fixed blade with a pointy tip. Many knives could fall into this category.
Walking Man
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Tactical means that you have a COOL!!! WICKED!!! BAD!!! knife that means just by owning it you are a super-soldier (in your own mind) See Dark-Ops for more info.
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Tacs are some of my favorite knives. If you think about the word, it means that your ready and prepared for anything, IMO survival knives are really the ultimate tacs, barring that, they should be very strong, however, they often don't cut as well, because they are thicker so you use them as prybar if you're ever in that tactical situation.
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Tacs are some of my favorite knives. If you think about the word, it means that your ready and prepared for anything, IMO survival knives are really the ultimate tacs, barring that, they should be very strong, however, they often don't cut as well, because they are thicker so you use them as prybar if you're ever in that tactical situation.
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Yeah, it's sort of a buzz word right now.
To me, there are three kinds of knives. Utility knives, tactical knives and showpieces. Utility knives open boxes. They don't need to open super quickly, they don't need nonreflective coatings, they don't need a guard. They just need to hold an edge and be tough enough to take my abuse.
A tactical knife should be easily and quickly deployed, preferably nonreflective (as if I care), be easy to close one handed...it would preferably feature a guard (I actually like these on folders just because it's a last ditch defense against the lock failing). They might feature a blade shape a little more defense natured...spearpoint/tanto esque.
That said, it's a fuzzy definition at best. Ultimately, YOU decide what is a tactical knife. What knife will be best for your work, what one will be best for your work with the secondary capability of self defense.
To me, there are three kinds of knives. Utility knives, tactical knives and showpieces. Utility knives open boxes. They don't need to open super quickly, they don't need nonreflective coatings, they don't need a guard. They just need to hold an edge and be tough enough to take my abuse.
A tactical knife should be easily and quickly deployed, preferably nonreflective (as if I care), be easy to close one handed...it would preferably feature a guard (I actually like these on folders just because it's a last ditch defense against the lock failing). They might feature a blade shape a little more defense natured...spearpoint/tanto esque.
That said, it's a fuzzy definition at best. Ultimately, YOU decide what is a tactical knife. What knife will be best for your work, what one will be best for your work with the secondary capability of self defense.
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'Tactical' to me means that a knife is suited to accomplish one purpose more effectively than another (which in most cases is combat/self defense/survival). I have a couple 'tactical' folders and they work great for mundane tasks and EDC chores. It's nice to know that in the infinitesimal chance of needing to use a knife to defend your life, it's designed to help rather than hurt you. I don't think it makes you a 'mall ninja' to buy a tactical knife but it's better to find a knife that you'll use everyday and become intimate with. The more you use the knife, the wiser purchase it becomes and you'll be able to index, draw, and handle the knife with confidence in a SD situation. My EDCs usually are more 'tactical' than strictly utilitarian because what I ask of my knife for daily tasks is well handled by them and what I hope I never have to use my knife for is designed for it. Choose a knife that you can handle to try the ergonomics, with a quality steel, and with a safe lock. If you like the knife and it suits your purposes, then forget about all the stupid labels. In a last ditch self defense situation, a butter knife is better than no knife.
p.s. I'm very tired and don't know if what I said makes any sense at all.
Main Entry: tac·ti·cal
Pronunciation: 'tak-ti-k&l
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to combat tactics : as a (1) : of or occurring at the battlefront <tactical defense> <tactical first strike> (2) : using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront <tactical missiles> b of an air force : of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces
2 a : of or relating to tactics : as (1) : of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose (2) : made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view b : adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose
p.s. I'm very tired and don't know if what I said makes any sense at all.
Main Entry: tac·ti·cal
Pronunciation: 'tak-ti-k&l
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to combat tactics : as a (1) : of or occurring at the battlefront <tactical defense> <tactical first strike> (2) : using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront <tactical missiles> b of an air force : of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces
2 a : of or relating to tactics : as (1) : of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose (2) : made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view b : adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose
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A tac knife is one:
"Ya 'shank' a 'B*tch' with!"
I just realized that if "tac" is short for "tactical" then "tacky" is "tacticalish".
"Ya 'shank' a 'B*tch' with!"
I just realized that if "tac" is short for "tactical" then "tacky" is "tacticalish".
Sal Glesser
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This is just my opinion so no flames please.
A tactical situation (as opposed to a strategic situation) is one where a fast response is necessary. Some examples might be;
Maybe clothing is caught in a piece of machinery and must be quickly cut before some or more damage may occur to the person caught.
A cowboy is trapped to a horse by a rope that must be cut immediately.
An aggressive animal or person is putting someone into a potentially dangerous situation and a knife could be used to stop of deter that situation.
A line (rope) puts a sailboat, fishing boat or person on those boats in a compromising situation and must be immediately cut to save the person or boat.
The speed of potential response with knives was greatly enhanced by the addition of clips (for easy and quick access), rapid openers, (one hand or spring locaded) and very aggressive cutting edges (better steels and serrated edges).
Black coatings are not necessary to be tactical except perhaps in military combat situations (or sneaking up on ninja in the dark
)
Cammo coatings are more popular with hunters than soldiers. The soldiers that I've worked with prefer not to have cammo as it makes it more difficult to find their knife if dropped. The flash of a knife blade exposing one to the enemy might be imprtant to a sniper but generally is more hollywood.
Tactical appearing knives may or may not be really capable of performing tactical jobs. (as defined above) and are primarily created to sell based on appearance, to collectors (as mentioned by Walking man).
A Tactical Knife needs to be safe (not slip from your hand, not close on your fingers), quickly put into functioning operation, and be capable of performing that operation, IMO.
sal
A tactical situation (as opposed to a strategic situation) is one where a fast response is necessary. Some examples might be;
Maybe clothing is caught in a piece of machinery and must be quickly cut before some or more damage may occur to the person caught.
A cowboy is trapped to a horse by a rope that must be cut immediately.
An aggressive animal or person is putting someone into a potentially dangerous situation and a knife could be used to stop of deter that situation.
A line (rope) puts a sailboat, fishing boat or person on those boats in a compromising situation and must be immediately cut to save the person or boat.
The speed of potential response with knives was greatly enhanced by the addition of clips (for easy and quick access), rapid openers, (one hand or spring locaded) and very aggressive cutting edges (better steels and serrated edges).
Black coatings are not necessary to be tactical except perhaps in military combat situations (or sneaking up on ninja in the dark
)Cammo coatings are more popular with hunters than soldiers. The soldiers that I've worked with prefer not to have cammo as it makes it more difficult to find their knife if dropped. The flash of a knife blade exposing one to the enemy might be imprtant to a sniper but generally is more hollywood.
Tactical appearing knives may or may not be really capable of performing tactical jobs. (as defined above) and are primarily created to sell based on appearance, to collectors (as mentioned by Walking man).
A Tactical Knife needs to be safe (not slip from your hand, not close on your fingers), quickly put into functioning operation, and be capable of performing that operation, IMO.
sal
Gollnick
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Dictionary.com defines tactic as "an expedient for achieving a goal."
A tactic is a specific means or a method which is specifically intended to accomplish some goal. Exactly what that means or method will look like depends on the goal. In this respect, just about any knife can be "tactical."
If my goal is to spread butter on my bread, then the humblist and dullest butter knife becomes "tactical."
A tactic is a specific means or a method which is specifically intended to accomplish some goal. Exactly what that means or method will look like depends on the goal. In this respect, just about any knife can be "tactical."
If my goal is to spread butter on my bread, then the humblist and dullest butter knife becomes "tactical."
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A tactical knife is any knife, someone who is performing some type of tactical mission uses. It doesn't matter what it is. It can be anything from a Strider to a kitchen knife. The term in the industry is played out and depleted. Any company these days can make a black or green knife and call it tactical. Most of the mall ninjas will go running out to buy it. LOL I have a few, but I use them as they are intended. Hell, I just rebuilt my ruck sack at work for a two week training mission, and they issued me a friggin' Gerber Gator. That is an inexpensive knife that is nothing special, but for this mission it will now become a "Tactical Knife". Of course I will have a Microtech Auto clipped in my pocket, but I bought that one. Just find what you like and if you use it to fend off the opressors, it will be tactical.. 
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My "tactical" knives while in the Army were a Benchmade Emerson CQC-7, various Spyderco's and a SOG Multi-Tool. My only requiements were that it could cut, be able to re-sharpen it on a small stone, fairly rust-resistant, and hold up well while out in the back 40 for extended periods of time.
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"If my goal is to spread butter on my bread, then the humblist and dullest butter knife becomes "tactical.""
bahaha, i spewed coffee out of my nose when i read that.
i can just imagine a line of 'tactical butter knives'. they would have a black finish, kydex sheaths, and holes drilled along the handle for lightening.
to me, tactical means a knife that was designed mainly for fighting purposes, that focuses on function as opposed to aesthetics. a sturdy blade, usually a non-reflective finish, ease of deployment, ease of concealment, great handgrip that will accommodate a variety of fighting grips as well prevent the knife from slipping out of your hand, or your hand slipping onto the blade during hard thrusts. usually a minimalistic design as well - ornamentation, beautification, exotic scales have no place on a tactical folder. your opponent isnt going to give a rats a$$ if your scales are made of hand carved mammoth ivory, nor will it perform any better than zytel (quite the contrary). a black matte finish doesnt just serve to lower reflection but also to aid concealment: if your pant leg rides up a few inches and the bottom inch of a matte black sheath/scale/etc peeks out itll be a lot less noticeable than if it were polished nickel
theres more to a 'tactical knife' than just painting the blade black, but thats all a lot of manufacturers (and apparently buyers) seem to think these days.
bahaha, i spewed coffee out of my nose when i read that.
i can just imagine a line of 'tactical butter knives'. they would have a black finish, kydex sheaths, and holes drilled along the handle for lightening.
to me, tactical means a knife that was designed mainly for fighting purposes, that focuses on function as opposed to aesthetics. a sturdy blade, usually a non-reflective finish, ease of deployment, ease of concealment, great handgrip that will accommodate a variety of fighting grips as well prevent the knife from slipping out of your hand, or your hand slipping onto the blade during hard thrusts. usually a minimalistic design as well - ornamentation, beautification, exotic scales have no place on a tactical folder. your opponent isnt going to give a rats a$$ if your scales are made of hand carved mammoth ivory, nor will it perform any better than zytel (quite the contrary). a black matte finish doesnt just serve to lower reflection but also to aid concealment: if your pant leg rides up a few inches and the bottom inch of a matte black sheath/scale/etc peeks out itll be a lot less noticeable than if it were polished nickel
theres more to a 'tactical knife' than just painting the blade black, but thats all a lot of manufacturers (and apparently buyers) seem to think these days.
"Tactical" knives are knives with features designed for combat or military use, whether real or imaginary. Some common features among "tactical" knives: blades suitable for piercing, non-reflective or camoflaged, high-tech materials (aka "plastic"), aggressive designs. Additionally the advertisements and marketing focus on miltary/combat functions and often contain the words, "covert," "tactical," and similar. To see some stereotypical "tactical" knives, check out the DarkOps (aka "Dork Oops") website and read a few of their ads.
On the other hand, a "hunting" knife has a blade suited for cleaning wild game. Many have drop-point blades or similar. Many have natural handle materials to emphasize the outdoor environment and the heritage of hunting and fishing.
Interestingly the distiction between "hunting" and "tactical" knives is not black-and-white. Many tactical knives would make good hunting knives, and vice versa. Many modern hunting knives include "tactical" features such as non-reflective finishes and plastic handles.
Best Wishes,
Bob
On the other hand, a "hunting" knife has a blade suited for cleaning wild game. Many have drop-point blades or similar. Many have natural handle materials to emphasize the outdoor environment and the heritage of hunting and fishing.
Interestingly the distiction between "hunting" and "tactical" knives is not black-and-white. Many tactical knives would make good hunting knives, and vice versa. Many modern hunting knives include "tactical" features such as non-reflective finishes and plastic handles.
Best Wishes,
Bob
Tactical means adaptable. So a butter knife woudn't be tactical- you can't use it well for something outside its intended purpose. But under that definition most modern style folders and fixed blades are tactical, so it pretty much becomes a meaningless word, except for the guys in marketing.
I've said this before, but the military doesnt exist in some other dimension...the idea of a knife designed for military use just doesnt make sense. A combat knife might narrow the choices down a bit. But a knife is used for much more than killing in combat. And if it comes down to having to use your knife, you're probably in a hole you wont be able to get out of. Tactical to me has no meaning. I carry a spyderco delica and a bm42 along with a leatherman fuse and a Wenger Esquire with me at all times. At work, I only use the leatherman. Actually, I'm certain I could get rid of the other knives, they will never have any use. Black blades, quick opening, doesnt mean anything. A civilian has just as much need for a quick opening knife as a member of Delta Force does. Imo, a tactical knife would have a sight gague and fire bullets.
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Gollnick said:
Sal Glesser said:
I look at all of these statements as saying basically the same thing, and I agree. I think a "tactical" situation as we apply the term, is one where anything unexpected happens, and you need a tool to face the challenges of that situation, whatever that situation may be. Unexpected, unintended use that you have no control over. Because of that, I think a "tactical" knife is one that can handle, not necessarily excel at, but serve as a field expedient solution for, anything remotely within the realm of that tool's possible uses.Danzz said:
So I'm voting sharpened prybar, no folders need apply.