Fixed Blade Versus Tactical Description

[Sean O'Hare]

Okay I've been grappling with this for some time and am wondering what other peoples opinions are on this.

When does a knife stop being a fixed blade and enter into the category of tactical?

I've got a 12" knife which I've always put in the category of fixed balde hunting but I'm wondering if it might also fit the description of a tactical knife.

Don't know if I should post the pic of my knife again as it is already posted in the maker sales forum (Prospector - Hunter).

Thanks,
Sean

[Ray Rogers]

A fixed blade knife does not stop being a fixed blade knife to become a tactical knife - some tactical knives are fixed blade knives. Other tactical knives may be folders.

A knife enters into the realm of the tactical knife when the maker specifies that is what he made the knife for or when a user decides to use a knife for a tactical purpose. In other words, any knife can be a tactical knife.

True, most knives that carry that moniker have certain characteristics like non-glare finishes, handles designed for a very secure grip, and a blade designed to withstand heavy abuse. But, I bet a Navy Seal armed with a 3" mirror polished paring knife with a bright red handle could still take out a sentry with it if that's all he had to work with at the time. In that case the paring knife is being used tactically even if it isn't a very good tactical knife.

So, IMO. a tactical knife is tactical when you say it is although that's no guarantee that it will be a good tactical knife ....

[Jason Cutter]

I myself have pained over the thought, not of whether a knife is a "tactical" or not, but whether to call it / label it "tactical."

As Ray has already mentioned, there is significant crossover in purpose of build. However, many "tactical" knives may imply their purpose through certain features such as false edges +/- sharpened, double edged, large double guards. Some of these might be specialised to enhance stabbing manouevres etc. Even if you are using it to personally take down feral pigs (an Australian outback past-time using knives called "Pig-stickers"), the implication is still the same.

Another way to look at tactical designs is that for many military folk, warfare / tactical use almost never involves hand-to-hand combat, knife fighting. They need something to cut rope, pry crates, cut up dinner, hammer stakes, repair boots and tarps etc. Some knowledgable makers will either include, or purpose build features into the "tactical" knife that help make life a bit easier on the front line.

Some "tactical" knives are specifically designed to suit specific martial arts techniques, grips, stances, cutting methods.
However, many features that go into modern "tactical" knives are gimmicky or perhaps don't work as well as they appear to. My favourite example is the sawback on large knives. Someone said that if it looks tactical, it is tactical. In another way, if you think it is tactical, it is tactical. So if someone pulled out a mountain man skinning knife and said that it was their favourite tactical knife, so be it.

However, given the heavy crossover, a knife good for one thing is often also able to do other jobs quite well. You'd hope, anyway. What one chooses to call it is up to you.

Geez, whatever happened to quick posts. Jason.