why do you own combat knives?

One day I was walking down the street when BAM!!! Ninjas and mean looking midgets everywhere. I didn't have a combat grade knife and died because of it that day. I'll never die again thanks to my tactical force multiplier/whittler.

My real answer is that I like them. But I'll take it a step further and tell you why. I grew up thinking that knives were mainly for fighting. By the time I educated myself on the uses of knives and what quality knives looked like, I still favored knives that were tactical looking. The more time I spend looking at knives, the more my preferences shift toward utility, but I'll probably always like something like my Hinderer XM-18 over a similarly priced slip joint. Partly because I can stab with my XM-18, giving it one more use that the slip joint cannot do increasing its utility for me. And partly because I grew up in that generation where tactical knives are "cool". I'm sure if I grew up before the tactical knife era, I'd appreciate slippies much more. Let me be clear though I can definitely appreciate a nice slippie
 
Probably was thier appearance, then the history and aura (sp?) as I grew older. Stories that only about 5% (or less) of the military style knives we collect would actually have a story to tell. My guess bayos have more to tell. Some are pretty good woods knives....others , well......just kinda look cool.
 
I have a couple of "combat knives",mostly because I liked the way they look & they still were able to be used as a cutting tool.I would never buy a knife specifically designed for fighting & fighting alone.For instance,I had my eye on the Boker Escrima Fighter for the longest time,But I said to myself would other practical applications could this knife be used for?I could find none,except I like the way it looked.
My taste in knives have drastically changed since I joined this forum.I'm buying knives now designed for a specific purpose(whether work related & outdoors stuff),craftsmanship,aesthetically pleasing to the eye,balance,knife handle ratio...well you get the point.Plus there's always that coolness factor,we all succumb to now & again.
When you think about it,just about any knife(except maybe an ulu)can be used as a combat/SD knife in the right hands.

I can't emphasis enough about the right hands/training.I mean you could have your average Joe(with no training) using a $400+ knife in a fight or SD situation vs a semi-experienced fighter using a $3.00 gas station knife.Guess who would come out on top?
It's not the knife,but the hands that are using it.
 
I like to be prepared. You never know when an election will start mobile riots (race?) like the ones in LA after the Rodney King ordeal. there could be natural disasters like earthquakes, floods etc that may bring out roving bands of looters through the neighborhoods. There may be a terrorist attack in the city i work in and near, i may have to go on foot for miles, through panicing mobs in the streets with criminal elements in the crowd.

A gun is a great tool to have in the hand, but they can jam, and run out of ammo. that is when the combat knife comes into play. it kills quietly, doesnt jam, doesnt run out of ammo, and if it looks feirce enough, can have a good intimidation factor.

The Knife was one of Man-kinds first weapons, and i feel that deep inside every one is the ancestral knowledge of fighting with a knife.

thats my 2 cents worth. --------- Eric
 
Just about any knife can be a combat knife...when used in combat. I like dual purpose knives.

Beside, I need them for protection from the Garden Gnomes :eek:
 
borrowed time said:
I like to be prepared. You never know when an election will start mobile riots (race?) like the ones in LA after the Rodney King ordeal. there could be natural disasters like earthquakes, floods etc that may bring out roving bands of looters through the neighborhoods. There may be a terrorist attack in the city i work in and near, i may have to go on foot for miles, through panicing mobs in the streets with criminal elements in the crowd.

A gun is a great tool to have in the hand, but they can jam, and run out of ammo. that is when the combat knife comes into play. it kills quietly, doesn't jam, doesn't run out of ammo, and if it looks fierce enough, can have a good intimidation factor.

The Knife was one of Man-kinds first weapons, and i feel that deep inside every one is the ancestral knowledge of fighting with a knife.

thats my 2 cents worth. --------- Eric
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I agree with most of your post except for the gun part.Revolvers rarely/if ever jam & with speed loaders,they can be just as effective,if not better than a semi-auto pistol.
As far as riots/terrorists are concerned.I'd have a couple a large caliber revolvers(.357-44mag) with speed loaders,as well as a 5"-7" well made blade,an extendable baton(both as last ditch weapons) & the most powerful pepper spray(Fox Labs 5.0) on my person.I'd give the wife a .38 & some pepper spray,just in case we got separated,which would probably never happen,but you can never be too sure.
To hell with the law in an emergency situation!I got a family to protect!

edited to add-I don't think long guns would be a good idea in such a situation,because you would most likely be targeted by the police before the criminals.As well as lighweight concealed carry benefits.
 
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Unfortunately these days, most knives that are new and interesting to me are marketed as "combat" or "tactical" knives, regradless of whether or not they'd really excel in that environment, in order to compete with the hype that is today's knife market. In order to own one (or more) of those knives, one must accept the name that comes along with it. I own several fixed and folding "combat knives," however, I've never used any of them in that capacity, and hope to never have to. I don't own any knives that I don't use, so all of my knives, regardless of their name, style, or ad copy, are actually utility knives as far as I'm concerned.

Regards,
3G
 
Krieger said:
I don't mean to hijack this thread but they actually aren't very hard to obtain at all. All you have to do is pass the non-restricted (PAL) and restricted (RPAL) safety courses, apply for a PAL/RPAL from the CFC, wait for them to send you your PAL/RPAL (one card with both designations, takes a couple months to clear you), and go shopping. The only restriction is really having to fire a handgun and other restricted firearms at a certified range. I know several people who walked into a store with their RPALs, picked out a handgun each, asked the store owner to call the CFC to obtain authorizations to transport, and they walked out of the store with their handguns. Buying the actual handgun took 4 hours. It varies by the gun store but once you have your RPAL, buying a handgun is almost as easy as buying a pair of jeans. If you want more information about the whole process, check out this website:

http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/
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Don't forget to pay with payPAL when you do....(I'm sorry...lame joke)
 
I bought my first Ka-bar for the historical value.then I just started diversifying my collection.If I like it I own it.
 
For some generations now, numerous people have knowingly or unknowingly owned and used the generic kbar "combat knife".
I have owned a few.
I do like the utilitarian feel of it.
Appreciate that it actually cost little and just how much it feels like a real down to earth knife I could use on any occasion.
Like any knife it's...
To help in general utalitarian chores or "to put things right" should ever the need arise.
 
Maybe I'm the only one, but I'll stick my neck out on this one. If nothing else, perhaps it will entertain somebody.

When I watch TV/Movies, I often sit there flicking a knife open and closed (I recent thread has shown I'm definitely not the only person that does this).

Now if I'm watching something badass like The Shield, The Unit, 24, etc. Playing with my Rainbow Leek just doesn't feel right. I want a badass tactical knife like I might have if I was on the show with them.

Other than that, they have no use to me, I almost never carry them. Thus, I only own a couple for this purpose.
 
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