What makes a knife NOT a Tactical?

David Bloch

David Bloch

Joined
Feb 22, 1999
Messages
465
The topic is pretty self explanitory. Use your imagination and common sense.

Looking forward to your replies and keep it sharp!
 
A Native Canadian (well, actually he expired before Canada existed as a nation) recently thawed out of a glacier in northern B.C. where he apparently fell into a crevasse some 500 years ago. Among the gear they found (throwing sticks, staff, etc.) was a handy nontactical flint knife, with a short handle. Well, maybe it was tactical, except it didn't do him much good at the time. Don't know if he was into rapelling.
 
If "Made in Taiwan" is stamped somewhere on the blade. No matter what the looks.

jeff
 
I think the term Tactical has been used most on knives which you would use for Self Defence or Tactical offense. So any knife which would not fit the above too would fill the non-tactical.

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Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
www.wowinc.com

 
That sounds a little prejududice Stray. Can I ask you why? Please elaborate. Do you own or appreciate any knives made outside the US? Or are you a made in USA only man.

PS: Let's not let this get too off topic but I think a reply is in order

[This message has been edited by David Bloch (edited 20 October 1999).]
 
a knife which you could show to your mother without having to self-inject novocain to deaden the pain from the slap.

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Who ever said silent flatulence was a victimless crime?

[This message has been edited by generallobster (edited 20 October 1999).]
 
Anything made by Tekna Co. Also, ANY knife made in Pakistan.

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Attila
 
Slip joints.

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"A man has got to know his limitations." - Harry Calahan

John 14:6

 
You betcha David. I thought my Colt M-16 knuckle-biter had it stamped somewhere on it but I am mistaken. Neither does it have a place of origin on it so I'll assume it's made elsewhere. I am judging by my first purchases of autos that were "renditions" and made in Taiwan. I have 3 from bladeauction. Ripoffs and shabby everyone. I now know better since I discovered this place but the taint is still there. And while I generally like buying USA I did buy a Japan made CRKT B&S KISS because I liked it's style. Neat knife.

If you know of any quality knives out of Taiwan please let me know. I know they produce some excellent motherboards and other electronics but as far as knives and auto parts go...

I will stick to USA made myself. For the most part they are well made. And it's easy to follow up on if it's not.

And c'mon, you know "Made in Taiwan" has special meaning.

jeff
 
Very slippery terms, tactical and non-tactical.

The Camillus US Army pocket knife is a tactical knife, since it's issued to troops to use in the field. Slip joint with a blade, can opener, screwdriver, & awl.

Does a brightly polished blade make it non-tactical? Or lightweight construction? Here's what's issued to the Swedish Army - US retail a bit over $10:
swedisharmy.jpg

It's not intended for mortal combat, but as a field utility knife, to get you through a few nights in the woods.

Good steel? Many a traditional fighting knife or sword of many a formidable warrior people is rather primitive steel or even iron, with no edge holding worth mentioning. It's bearer is happy if he can get in one or three good blows to win the fight.

Maybe "tactical" is whatever you would want to take with you if you had to go to a war zone, and non-tactical is whatever knife you wouldn't want. Eye of the beholder, hand of the user.

And whoever says a tactical knife can't come from Taiwan hasn't seen the newer products from Columbia River and Outdoor Edge. There are good factories there that make products without microchips in them. There are also some pretty sloppy factories, but I've heard of such things in the USA too.

And watch out for Pakistan if any of the companies there ever decide to compete in the US market at the $50 level instead of the $5 level. How much would it cost them to hire a couple of ABS master smiths to teach their staff how to make a really good fixed blade from 5160 steel without a lot of high tech equipment?



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Any knife that cannot be opened with one hand.

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Johnny
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To Stray:

Thanks for the prompt and sincere reply. I'll be the first to admit there is quite a bit of junk coming from Taiwan and your experience is proof of this.

As far as quality Taiwan made keep your eye on CRKT knives, especially their new Kit Carson M-16. Also I'm quite proud of our new Magna and Impulse which I believe exhibit some of the best quality available in Taiwan made cutlery. (End of self promotional plug and off topic rant. Back to the subject)

Any knife which was designed for the most part to spread butter is not "Tactical".
 
You're right, I don't know a lot about knives but my Columbia River knife has "Japan" stamped on the blade.

Yes, our factories have made some shabby products. Look at the cars from the 70's and 80's until we took a clue from the orient.

But our country makes the best knives in the world as far as I'm concerned. Of course this is only an uneducated opinion.

And "tactical" knife is just another word for "combat" knife. Tactics mean maneuvering forces in combat. I like "combat knife" myself. Makes no pretensions and eliminates the guesswork.

jeff
 
In any knife: the grip must resist a forward hand slide on a hard-target stab. The blade material must be able to handle the thrust too, that leaves out fillet knives, etc.

Folders must lock and lock well.

Those are the basics.

Now, if you're into a cutting/slashing gameplan you can even skimp on these. As I said in the "Folders you'd bet your life on" thread, I *have* skimped on them in the form of the AlMar QSV...it's not the strongest lock BUT it's greasy-fast. We can debate the wisdom of that particular piece but...I like it, except that the Sifu now makes it obsolete.

There are no absolutes.

Jim
 
"Tactical" for me means self-defense. Having defined that way, I agree with Jim's observation. A knife is NOT tactical when it is NOT designed to stop or minimize forward slide onto the blade in a stabbing technique, the lack of a reliable lock in a folder, a sub 3" blade length, and the lack of quick deployment capability whether unfolding or withdrawal from a sheath.

sing

AKTI #A000356
 
If it takes to hands to deploy, it might not be a tactical knife.

If it is only comfortable in one gripping position, it might not be a tactical knife.

If the grip is slippery when wet, it might not be a tactical knife.

If the handle will rot in certain climates, it might not be a tactical knife.

If the sheath will rot in certain climates, it might not be a tactical knife.

If its an unlockable folder, it might not be a tactical knife.

If its lock can fail, it might not be a tactical knife.

If it is engraved, it might not be a tactical knife.

If it is scrimshawed, it might not be a tactical knife.

If you bought it at Wal-mart, it might not be a tactical knife.

If you go to your family reunion to pick up chicks, Oops I got that one confused.


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Lynn GriffithMy website
GriffithKN@aol.com


 
Lynn Griffith lists, among the things that might make a knife non-tactical, handles or sheaths made of natural materials that can rot under some conditions. That might make a ye olde Ka-Bar, or a Randall, a non-tactical knife, which would be a surprise to those troops who have used them and still use them and swear by them and don't swear at them.

Though there might be better choices for extended duty in a salt marsh, carbon steel and leather and natural handle materials will perform very nicely in arctic, temperate, or desert climates, or in any city. And leather is quieter than kydex, all else being equal.

I will agree that decoration that would make one reluctant to give the knife rough use makes it non-tactical. And a high polish is not desirable in situations where to be seen is to be shot.


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
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