When did "tactical" become a selling point?

I think I started noticing the "tactical" buzz in the late-80's when Glocks were making their appearance here in the States. By 1992, 250,000 Glocks had been sold in the US, and it was on! Also around that same time (early 90's), I started seeing much more marketing of, and ever increasing interest in, one-hand opening "tactical" knives.
 
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To my taste the tactical obsession had an unfortunate effect on many knife designs.
 
I think too many knives get the tactical label undeserved these days.

It seems like if it utilizes modern technology/materials some guys want to call it "tactical".
 
Tactical doesn't mean squat!!!

Guys like "Mick Strider" that never served honorably or never served at all or claim to have been Navy Seals, Army Special Forces, and the like and peole that claim they've been awarded the Medal of Honor, Sirlver Star and the like or people that claim LEO status when the closest thing they have in common with Law Enforcement is the receipt of a traffic ticket like the term "TACTICAL". It make them feel all swelled up, important, and tough.

Tactical -- much ado about nothing.

Oh, Tactical is a popular term with those that run shooting and self-defense schools whether the schools they run are worth squat or not. The word "Tactical" brings in the wannabes.
 
when we began to buy the knives.

You read it hear first I am starting a new category of knives. This will be the industrial knife. Tool steel, micarta handles, reclaimed copper pins, and a machine finish. :p
 
Facebacon said:
bacon_tactical.jpg
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Holy god, that stuff's REAL! I thought it was a photochop until I got curious and looked it up.
 
Planterz said:
Holy god, that stuff's REAL! I thought it was a photochop until I got curious and looked it up.
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I guess hot girls like to date a tactical guy who carries tactical knives, who shots tactical guns, who eats tactical bacon, and have tactical dogs.:D
 
Didn't TAD Gear once sell a tactical icecream maker?
 
Whenever we are in wartime all the kids that didn't have the guts to enlist want to get a tag that makes them feel semi-tough. When I was a kid, everything was paramilitary, then special forces approved, then tactical and now mil-spec. When applied to a knife it makes absolutely no sense except as a descriptor to mean a certain type of knife like a Nessmuk or a Bowie. When I first saw Strider's table at a big gun show in the late 90's he kept saying things like "high speed, low drag" and "combat ready"....all I thought was what a tool, marketing man, it makes the US economy run.
 
Damn, now I'm starting to get worried about all this tactical toilet paper I just bought ....


Hmmmmm... I just realised that my keyboard is black, I guess it must be tactical.


.
 
Zombie Zeke said:
Whenever we are in wartime all the kids that didn't have the guts to enlist want to get a tag that makes them feel semi-tough. When I was a kid, everything was paramilitary, then special forces approved, then tactical and now mil-spec.
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Says the guy with a pewter skull on the bolster of what looks to be a Cold Steel Rajah 1 in the pic near his sig line. :D
 
dawsonbob said:
Well, yeah, bacon. I'm not sure it's tactical, but there's no such thing as bad bacon, no matter how misleading the label on the can is.:D
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You're wrong there. My older brother was hungry once, and wanted some beef jerky. He must have been 9 or so. He pulled a can we had in our house of these things called "Beggin' Strips" that said they were beef jerky but with a picture of a dog on them. He told me to try some, and I said no way, I don't think that's for us. He took a bite. The look on the face was priceless. He spat it out. Dog beef jerky. So, I've seen dog bacon as well, and I'm going to hazard that its the same with dog bacon.

Zero
 
Zero_Time said:
You're wrong there. My older brother was hungry once, and wanted some beef jerky. He must have been 9 or so. He pulled a can we had in our house of these things called "Beggin' Strips" that said they were beef jerky but with a picture of a dog on them. He told me to try some, and I said no way, I don't think that's for us. He took a bite. The look on the face was priceless. He spat it out. Dog beef jerky. So, I've seen dog bacon as well, and I'm going to hazard that its the same with dog bacon.

Zero
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Doggie treats, no matter how they're labeled, are not the same as bacon meant for human consumption. "Beggin' Strips" are not bacon, even if they're supposedly bacon flavored.:D

I stand by my original statement: there's no such thing as bad bacon (though, admittedly, some is better than others).;)
 
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