Tactical

[rainbow stalker]

It seems that in every knife magazine that I look at these days, every knife maker or company is boasting or labeling a large number of thier knives as TACTICAL.
I ask you, what makes a knife TACTICAL ??,I spent a lot of years in SOG in the Army, and I can't recall making sure that the knife I bought or was issued, and carried, was tactical. I do remember making sure that it was sharp. I do remember making sure that it fit properly in the sheath, and was fastened properly to my web gear so it didn't make any noise when I was moving. So, I am wondering, what makes a knife tactical? does all the lights in the house go red when you deploy it to cut up the cardboard box? Will I feel that I am at a elevated leval of consentration and mental alertness when I am using it to cut rope, pry apart ammo boxes, or prepare my dinner? or,

Will the price tag be higher.

Now, I know that I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, and most people will consider me over the hill and out of touch at 48 years old, so I am asking you to help me out on this one. Please chime in with your comments and definitions. This should be entertaining :D :D

[vampyrewolf]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tactical
Def #1: tactical
Short for Tactical Vomit, the precautionary measure of making oneself puke mid-way through a night of heavy drinking to ensure that you don't pass out early. Very useful for light-weights.
Normally, I'd be ****-faced by now, but I did a quick tactical before we left.
by Will_A Aug 16, 2005

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl ... n&ct=title
Def #1: of or pertaining to tactic or tactics; "a tactical error"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

[tap]

Generally speaking; Any knife that Rambo or Rainbow stalkers might carry in the performance of their dutys.

[rainbow stalker]

:eek: Now, I haven't claimed to be no super soldier, and I never seen no Rambo's in any of the units that I was assigned to. I was just another soldier trying to do my job, and now trying to share what I seen and learned here with you. :D :D

[TSchloz]

What makes a knife tactical?.............. I have no idea.

Will it be more expensive?.................. Yes


Tom

[Halfneck]

Tactical is just a catch phrase that the knife industry came up with to help sell knives.

I remember getting caught up in it during the early 90s. The knives that were deemed "Tactical" claimed to be overbuilt, and usually had black blades.

I remember taking a black bladed Al Mar Warrior on my 1st field exercise as a Medic. It promptly got stowed in the ruck while I used my CE Delica or Gerber multi-tool for all my cutting chores.

Later on I replaced the Delica with an Emerson CQC-7. While it is considered one of the prime examples of a Tactical folder, I found it made a great EDC cutting tool for my needs. Finally just started ignoring anything claiming Tactical and bought knives based on my needs.

[catamount]

I dunno, but I think a "tactical" knife requires a black (or camouflage) blade and scary appearance.

The ability to cut things is a nice feature, but not really essential.

[rainbow stalker]

I get the same feeling. I'm sure that a tactical knife is built three times as sturdy as other knives, has big teeth and a super digital camo finish and just screams I am going to kick butt.

But in the end it's just hype. like you can jump higher and run faster in Nike shoes, or tell time better wearing a Rolex as opposed to a timex, and will get there faster and better driving a Lexus as opposed to a Chevy. :D :D

[D-Roc]

It just goes along these days with all the other overused words in society. Pay attention to how many people misuse the word "actually". :rolleyes:

[KaliGman]

I briefly touched on this in one of the "rants" on my website. Here is an excerpt:

Now, many law enforcement officers carry a knife, usually a “tactical” folding knife or “tactical folder.” I have grown to loathe the word “tactical” due to its misuse and overuse, particularly in the desire to sell everything from apparel to cutlery. I am currently awaiting the appearance of a “tactical shaving cream,” and, in general, do not understand the mystique of the word. We don’t have a lot of strategic swords or martial machetes out there, so why do we have tactical knives? In any case, the “tactical” thing is perhaps the subject of another rant, and I digress. Most law enforcement officers will go through their careers cutting tape to lift fingerprints, opening boxes and letters, and doing any of the other myriad of chores that can be accomplished with a good, sharp knife. Few of these knives ever are used as weapons, and rightfully so. The good quality folders are carried because they are sturdy enough to stand up to hard “cop” use. One of my favorite lines, for years, has been that the average police officer or federal agent can break an anvil with a glass hammer. We really do often seem to be that hard on equipment. Another reason a good quality or “tactical” folder is carried is that, in the incredibly unlikely event that it needs to be used as a weapon, the blade, lock and knife in general has the strength to survive the stresses imparted to a blade in combat, and not break, leaving you weaponless, or have the lock fail and shut on your fingers, leaving you potentially fingerless. A good quality and sturdy tool that does not break in hard use will generally be a good last ditch defense weapon. Here is a hint, it does not have to be a VG-10 steel, laser sighted, tactical tanto with titanium handle scales, nitride blackened blade, sharpened swedge, armor piercing point, combination edge, with a pointed guard designed for trapping enemy blades which doubles as a grappling hook, and a skull-crusher pommel that incorporates a nifty bottle opener for cracking open a cold one after filleting a group of hyperactive criminal Kung Fu masters.

http://www.albokalisilat.org

[rainbow stalker]

Very well said :spyder:

[Mr Blonde]

I believe the late James Mattis came up with the term 'sport utility knives', to offer a much better and accurate term for many knives that were marketed as 'tactical knives'. I prefer that term to explain why some of my knives seem so much different from the average NKP's pocket knife.

Wouter

[gac]

I've gotten somewhat used to the overuse of the word "tactical". What is starting to annoy me is the overuse of the word "operator". Especially in gun circles. I suppose the word is not misused, by definition, since a shooter is operating a piece of machinery. But, writers use the word "operator" to impute that the shooter is a commando or something.

I know I could be a great commando is some circumstances (riding inside a plane, riding in a car or truck, taking a nap) but owning a $2,000 1911 or taking a 5-day pistol class doesn't mean much.

[kbuzbee]

I get the cynicism but a more real world definition may be 'it was the designer's intent that the knife serve well for self defense purposes'.

Now I understand, the reality of that lies with the skills of the person more than the design of the tool but there's only so much a designer can control.

Saying a knife is designed for SD or tactical use doesn't preclude it's usefulness for everyday tasks. I would rate the P'kal as one of Spyderco's more tactical offerings but it works GREAT as an every day cutter.

Just my .02.

Ken

[kimjune01]

black blade, black handle, usually americanized tanto, over 4 inches of blade, is advertised to be able to pierce a car door

[224477]

Hmm, DarkOps knives come to my mind by tactical.... Alien looking, predator-like POS stuff..

Fred Perrin said, there are no tactical knives, only tactical minds :)

[Marion David Poff]

Yeah, this word has seen too much use, on top of it's amorphous definition...

But, on the flip side, most makers and manufacturers that use this term, are pointing at something, they are trying to signal or indicate that their knife is up the the challenge of hard use. In fact, one of the most famous 'tactical' knives makers, uses that phrase, hard use.

I blame the magazine "Tactical Knives", because they are so good at what they do, writing about the cutlery we like so well, that many have come to associate the work 'Tactical' with a certain type of hard use quality.

The same way that a 'buck' knife has come to mean an outdoor knife.

I think that the definition of 'tactical' is more in contrast or denial of other styles, saying 'tactical' is not for collectors, a 'tactical' knife is not a gentleman's knife.

Of course, some advertisers have use the word in ridiculous ways.

But, despite our distaste for the word, it works, it sells knives.

I think Sal said that the fixed blade that they most often get requests for is a 'tactical' fixed blade, like cops or soldiers would carry.

What 'tactical' means to each person is slightly different, but a great number of buyers are looking for that knife.

[feeny]

My kitchen knives are tactical - in that I have one I use as a chopper... it has a perfect edge and handle on it for fine herb work - so I reach for that one when attacked by parsley.

Then I have a custom made japanese blade, a gift from a friend on a recent trip - plain edge medium slicer - the onion seems to part before it even reaches the skin - I would never consider herbing with this one, and I doubt the onion would be so cooperative with my chopper.

Then there is my tomato knife. Sometimes I like my slices measured in the microns. A nice little french SE number which apparently has its teeth specifically cut for tomatoing - is my tactical choice for this particular profile :D

If I put my mind to defining SD tactical, then I want its tactical capabilities to do everything possible to avoid confrontation, and then be as effectively accessible, gentle and non-lethal as possible should any further SD tactical use occur.

Honestly, a mini maglite hits the mark perfectly on this where I come from.. except its not as deterring as a manix whipped out with a loud crack of a snap and wicked gleam (which Im sure would send most people running!) ... so maybe a surefire defender cranked on high in the eyes and then across the shins...

Anyway, that's what sits in my head for 'tactical' when applied to SD.

[mercop]

No object is capable of being tactical. Anything you use to increase your combat/survival effectiveness makes it by default tactical. We used to stay your can take any POS, paint it black, put velcro on it and every cop will buy two. The only thing that has changed is that now with the war on terror, Coyote is the new black and everyone, not just cops will buy two.

Like anything else it just comes down to marketing. Lots of companies talk about how this team or that team carries product X. Just because one guy carries it does not make it an issued or even favored item.

[Lord vader]

You will find that the definition has been blurred in common usage to include almost any combat knife including bayonets. Tactical is a great buzzword nowadays, and it seem like everything including underware is suddenley tactical.