Which is the best tactical folder?

I would say fighting as a dominant but not exclusive option would be the meaning of "tactical", yes.

For instance, full-width wood sawbacks spines are an impediment to fighting, by preventing easy withdrawal, so they are definitely not tactical.

If a knife has a long clip point, with no serrations, and then a huge step at the clip base to stop the blade before is gets into the spine's wood-intended serrations, then that could be considered as a "Tactical/Survival" compromise. Reversing the wood-intended sawback to cut on the push would also be a "Tactical/Survival" compromise, since it solves the retrieval hang-up problem.

A knife with "slicing serrations" on the spine, like the AL Mar SF-10, which don't hang up, that would also be "Tactical/Survival".

Another distinction in my book is acute point profile: Acute points rob mass at the tip, which reduces wood chopping ability, but acute points are tactical. Most Busse designs are definitely not tactical (including the Team Gemini) owing their broad points, but the Busse "Argonne Assault" is...

For folders the main issues would be one-hand opening and acute points. A Buck 110 with a thumb stud added is probably "tactical"... Many thick-pointed folders have tactical pretensions, especially many with Tanto shapes, but they would be of very low effectiveness for fighting, so the acute point should be a part of "tactical" as opposed to some of the folding pry-bars out there...

I would consider sharp upswept points with concave curved clips as less obviously "tactical", because the shape is more "traditional" and implies a skinning purpose. Straight clip profiles are more "tactical". On the other hand, sharp curved beak-shaped tips are tactical, but are more "Civilian" oriented than LE or Military.

Gaston
 
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Mick_1KRR said:
No, i don't think cold steel = tacticool at all. I think cold steel are purpose built to not fail on you and just give you piece of mind - that can carry over to those "taticool" situations.

Hey i'm not against the frame lock, that's why i carry a sebenza and i love it for EDC cutting. But i'll say this, if there was a wild boar in front of me about to attack (silly scenario but you get it) and there was a table next to me with a spear point Cold Steel Recon 1 and my Sebenza 21....I think it's pretty obvious which knife a sensible person would pick up if their life depended on it, the spring tension in a frame lock while perfectly adequate for hard cutting and EDC tasks, mighit not hold up as well if the blade where to have positive and negative forces applied in an awkward situation in certain conditions. Anyways, i don't want to get into a debate, i really am not a fan of this topic because it can make you seem like you're being very closed minded, it's just opinion based on the engineering of the lock designs. Cheers
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The subject matter has changed from whatever "tactical" means in relation to a knife, to self-defense, and how it relates to a knife.....

I would feel perfectly comfortable defending myself from a wild animal attack with a frame lock, but now we're off topic.

I still don't have a definition for "tactical knife" ?
 
Definitions aside these are the ones I carry when feel that I need a little something extra. Threw in a 940 for size comparison. In all honesty they are last ditch only after I've emptied 2 mags. Because of your choices I'm guessing you want something that could double as a utility blade. The Talwar would work decently for that.
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The tactical knife is a knife with one or more military features designed for use in extreme situations, which may or may not include a design capability as a fighting or combat weapon.
 
JR88FAN said:
Alright...so a "knife as a weapon" thing again.

That's easy, it's in everyone's kitchen...

Ground super thin, very pointy, no moving parts that may fail or just not work.
Handles are very ergonomic, and they seem to work great considering the vast majority of knife related assualts/murders include those cheap knives we all cut food with.

Tactical knife = Kitchen Knife.

I get it....
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I've read enough of these threads to know that when they say "tactical" they mean weapon for self defense. As I stated in my post, I think they are not great when it comes to self defense. My point was that the Code 4 is not the best in any heavy situation just given the aluminum handles. I never buy a knife based on the "tacticalness" of it. If I were put in some crazy situation where a knife was my only option, I would completely trust any of the knives I own liner lock, frame lock, compression lock, et. Who knows maybe the OP means something completely different in their view of tactical but I doubt it.
 
Tanto blade... (It will easily pierce through thick clothings and jackets during winter season)

In order of pick

1) Fixed blade
2) Auto
3) Manual
 
If I am hiking, my definition of a practical (for the circumstances) tactical knife is a large sturdy fixed blade. When I am where firing a .357 magnum could cause multiple casualties and lawsuits, deployment of mace could result in financial business losses, and unobtrusive carry of a knife could possibly be useful in surprising a potential miscreant, I go with a lightweight (for the size of the blade) back pocket folder such as a ZT 0452 CF. It has multiple compromises as a "tactical" knife but has a 4 inch blade, can be deployed quickly and without too much fanfare and hopefully I never have to use it. I do keep a sturdy cane close by and we post signs that state there are four employees with concealed carry permits - 3 trained by the US Army and 1 by the Marines.
 
Hey Peter!!!!! I'm sure that sign will change the mind of a miscreant looking to be mischievous!!!
😬😬😬😬
Joe
 
peterbright said:
If I am hiking, my definition of a practical (for the circumstances) tactical knife is a large sturdy fixed blade. When I am where firing a .357 magnum could cause multiple casualties and lawsuits, deployment of mace could result in financial business losses, and unobtrusive carry of a knife could possibly be useful in surprising a potential miscreant, I go with a lightweight (for the size of the blade) back pocket folder such as a ZT 0452 CF. It has multiple compromises as a "tactical" knife but has a 4 inch blade, can be deployed quickly and without too much fanfare and hopefully I never have to use it. I do keep a sturdy cane close by and we post signs that state there are four employees with concealed carry permits - 3 trained by the US Army and 1 by the Marines.
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Peter , I love that you mentioned " a sturdy cane " , because that's my primary SD in town and a longer walking / hiking staff in the woods . Much underrated items with many legal and tactical advantages . You can escalate from a stick to a gun .
but once a gun is involved the options are few and grim , even if you "win " .
 
As others have mentioned the Code 4 has slick handles. That is going to compromise grip if a knife was ever used as a defensive tool with blood on users hands or knife (slippery) and a slippery handle means a cut hand. The Code 4 or any Cold Steel has one of the strongest if not the strongest locks on the market, strong locks prevent amputated fingers, which can happen if a weaker lock fails.
For me blade steel is the least of my concerns in a tactical carry knife. If I was out in the swamp and needed a survival knife and that knife to hold an edge then steel would be a concern.
If I was looking at one tactical folder, I would look at the Cold Steel offerings but one with better scales/handles than the Code 4
 
Wheres op? Theres been some valid points about "tactical" folders but this thread is pointless if the OP doesnt participate.
 
For an American the Buck 110 might be the best tactical folder. It's inexpensive, sturdy and is capable of handling whatever you want to throw at it. It's been carries by more LEOs, soldiers & bikers than any other pocket knife. It's got a heavy pommel should you be in a fight. Not all black or evil looking, but has stood the test of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtkkLzADuIo
 
Gravy said:
Wheres op? Theres been some valid points about "tactical" folders but this thread is pointless if the OP doesnt participate.
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That's the pattern. He's moved on an opened a new thread vaguely about something else.
 
Why I ask is that I don't see Tactical as equating immediately to fighting with the knife. I see it as tool/aid to an job. You can purchase tactical sledgehammers for example (generally black and in an intermediate size, a quality one will have an insulated handles etc) that are an MOE aid and not for smiting foes Thor like. I personally read "Tactical Knife" the same way, it is a tool or aid to a task (if we are calling it tactical that task being LEO/Military "like"). Things such as an MOE aid, cutting rigging lines, webbing, laces, prying, aiding in clearing significant stoppages on weapons, as well as the general tasks a knife may be called upon to do. Fighting with a knife would most probably be a VERY last recourse in most "tactical situations" I would have thought.
 
betover said:
For an American the Buck 110 might be the best tactical folder. It's inexpensive, sturdy and is capable of handling whatever you want to throw at it. It's been carries by more LEOs, soldiers & bikers than any other pocket knife. It's got a heavy pommel should you be in a fight. Not all black or evil looking, but has stood the test of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtkkLzADuIo
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and by the time you get it open, the enemy has stabbed you 50 times. :D
 
Gravy said:
Wheres op? Theres been some valid points about "tactical" folders but this thread is pointless if the OP doesnt participate.
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The OP may be pointless per se , but anybody in the world with an unrestricted internet connection can read and hopefully benefit from the ensuing exchange !
 
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