How to Choose a Tactical Knife…
When choosing a tactical knife, it’s important to consider the most common use cases it will face. Nearly any blade can serve in a self-defense situation, so focus on the activities you intend to perform regularly. With so many options to choose from, starting here will lead to the best design and materials from which to choose the perfect knife.
Knife Types
Everyday Carry (EDC) Knives
Everyday carry knives are lightweight, ergonomic and easy to take anywhere. They are typically foldable to save space and come equipped with pocket clips to make carrying simple.
Survival Knives
If you spend a lot of time outdoors or want to be prepared for any situation, survival knives are a great choice. Normally made with a fixed blade for maximum strength, survival knives often come with serrations designed to chop through wood and other fibrous material.
Duty Knives
A serrated knife is a good option for police officers and military personnel as they tend to stay sharper for longer. A good duty knife will hold an edge, resist corrosion and deploy quickly.
Hunting Knives
A hunting knife largely depends on the game being hunted. Small animals may require a smaller, sharper blade while larger game will require a tough edge.
Utility Knives
A general use utility knife can do a little bit of everything. It needs to be able to cut well and withstand frequent, extended use. Look for a knife with a corrosion-resistant blade that holds an edge well.
Blade Styles
Uses, edge types and fixed/folding blades are very general considerations to make when choosing your knife. Blade styles, on the other hand, are specifically constructed for select cutting tasks. The style of blade you choose should be based on what you plan on using your knife for.
Drop Point Blades
As its name implies, the spine of a drop point knife blade literally drops in to meet the edge at a point. A drop point blade is designed for great balance and comfortable use. Their construction makes it easy to extend your finger along the spine of the blade to apply more pressure for accurate cutting and slicing.
Clip Point Blades
A clip point blade looks like a standard blade with the top portion clipped off. Clipping the blade offers better puncturing capabilities due to the reduced surface area at the point and more control when cutting. The clipped side of the blade can even be sharpened into a second edge.
Straight Back Blades
On a straight back knife blade, the spine of the blade does not curve. This rigidity offers more surface area on the edge. As a result, this kind of blade has good slicing capabilities, decent puncturing capabilities and great balance in its overall construction.
Spear Point Blades
On a spear point knife blade, the spine and the edge both come to a point at a similar angle to resemble a spear. This kind of blade is unmatched in its piercing ability. The spear point makes for an intimidating and effective self-defense tool in case of emergency.
Tanto Blades
The edge of a Tanto blade angles off to meet the spine at a point. The result is one large edge and a kind of mini edge where the blade angles away. Tanto blades are a preferred style among military and law enforcement. The angular tip is tough and pierces well.
Wharncliffe Blades
A wharncliffe blade consists of a totally flat cutting edge and a spine that drops gradually to meet the blade tip; they’re essentially reversed straight back blades. This blade type is best for precision cutting. The flat edge allows for long, smooth cuts across level surfaces.
Blade Material
While blade style is a good indicator of what a knife is built for, a more telling characteristic is the blade material itself. Like other knife qualities, you should choose the material of a blade based on what the blade will be used for. These are some common attributes of a knife blade that are most directly affected by material.
- Blade strength: A blade’s ability to resist breaking or fracturing
- Edge retention: A blade’s ability to stay sharp without the need for frequent sharpening
- Corrosion resistance: A blade’s ability to avoid deteriorating due to humidity, moisture, salt or other chemical processes.
- Ease of sharpening: A blade’s ability to be sharpened without much difficulty
Most blades are made of steel because of its rigidity, malleability and ability to resist corrosion. Steel is an iron and carbon alloy with high tensile strength and relatively low cost. Blade manufacturers will often add elements to steel such as vanadium for extra strength or additional carbon for corrosion resistance. Here are some common types of steel found in knife blades and their practical applications.
High Carbon Steel Knives
All steel is made up of iron and carbon, but some steel is made with higher levels of carbon than others. This high carbon steel is harder and stronger than typical steel. The added carbon tends to make the steel more brittle though and, as a result, a high carbon steel blade may be prone to chipping or shattering. The most common high carbon steel, 1095, makes for an excellent blade material.
High Vanadium Steel Knives
High vanadium steel is tough against both the elements and impacts. Its rigid construction resists corrosion and rust very well. It also holds an edge and requires minimal sharpening, but when it does become dull, sharpening can be difficult.
Stainless Steel Knives
Stainless steel is one of the most commonly used metals in commercial products. Its 11% chromium construction means it resists corrosion very well and its minimum 1.2% carbon content makes it exceptionally durable. There are dozens of alloys that fall under the stainless steel umbrella, but some find their way into knife blades more than others.
CPM-S30V Stainless Steel
Featuring a metal mix that results in a very refined grain, CPM-S30V is a sharp, tough stainless steel. It resists corrosion just as well as any other type of stainless steel and is relatively easy to sharpen, making it a great choice for a knife blade.
420HC Stainless Steel
The “HC” in “420 HC” stands for “high carbon.” It is generally considered the best in the 400 series of stainless steel alloys. Like other high carbon blades, it is tough and resistant to abrasion, albeit a bit brittle.
8CR13 Stainless Steel
8CR13 steel offers a similar level of performance to high-end steels like CPM-154 and LC200N at a more economical price. Though it is neither as corrosion-resistant nor as hard as premium steels, its level of performance is still great considering its relative cheapness.
D2 Tool Steel Knives
Tool steels are, as their name implies, normally found in screwdrivers, wrenches, hammers, etc. Like tools, knife blades made from tool steel are very hard and very durable. D2 is the most common tool steel used in knife making. It holds an edge well over a very long period of time but can be quite difficult to sharpen. Tool steel knife blades are long-lasting and very dependable.
Some other important aspect to consider when choosing a tactical knife are…
• Fixed Blade vs Folding Blade
• Handle Material
• Deployment Methods
- Locking Mechanisms
Conclusion
Tactical knives are very diverse tools. Between blade types, blade lengths, blade materials, handle materials, locking mechanisms and a myriad of other features, finding the right knife can be an overwhelming process. The best thing to do, though, is consider what you’re going to use your knife for and find the features to match. Once you narrow it down, it won’t be nearly as difficult. Use the abundance of knives out there to your advantage. It may take some effort to sift through, but the long list of useful features means your perfect tactical knife is just a little research away.
Need a Knife…? Check Out Our Selection!!!
