tactical knife back up to your gun

[spiroxlii]

I bought a Gerber "tactical folder" before my trip to norther Thailand last year. I was going to be in some pretty remote areas near the border with Burma/Myanmar.

Know what I used it for while I was there? I helped two American doctors who were providing free tactical medical care to some of the remote hill tribe villages by splitting pills for tactical childrens' prescriptions.

Since I returned to the USA, all manner of tactical zip ties and tactical packing tape have met their demise upon the edge of my folder's blade. I also used it once to trim some tactical underlayment when I was putting down a tactical laminate floor and my utility knife blade broke.

I really liked that knife, actually. It was easy and smooth to open with just one hand. I lost it at some point, and I do plan to replace it with a similar knife. In the mean time, I'm using a Swiss Army Knife for pretty much all my cutting needs. A real one by Victorinox, not a Chinese copy.

Now all of my cutting tasks have gone from tactical to neutral. I used it this morning to cut the neutral tape off some very frustrating but neutral Christmas presents.

 

[TimboKhan]

Seems to me that the major obstacle to being effective with a knife is summoning up the will to repeatedly stab someone in a timely manner.

I guess I would add to this that you need to realize that your likely to see lots and lots of your own blood as well, so it might take some time to get used to that idea. Then again, what do I know? I have zero practical knowledge of knife fighting with the possible exception that I have watched the movie "The Warriors" several times...

As far as tactical blades go, I can do without them. For 99.9% of my daily or expected knife chores, a good Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw, Buck, CRKT, Gerber will do just fine. I can find absolutely no justification to spend more than $100.00 on any knife, with the possible exception of a collectors item. Frankly, I think $100.00 can buy a heck of a good knife in todays market, so I don't think it's a limitation.

 

[spiroxlii]

I have to agree with TimboKhan on the pricing issue.

My Gerber had a strong lock, easy operation, and a blade that held an edge better than it needed to for anything I was going to use the knife for. It only cost me $20, and to be honest, it was probably more knife than I needed as a daily use/utility knife.

Then again, it's probably better to be slightly (not ridiculously) "overknifed" than it is to be "underknifed" to any extent, whether the application is "tactical" or "practical."

 

[Green Lantern]

DO keep in mind that, even with a CCW, carrying a fixed-blade knife and/or an "automatic" knife may be illegal where you live (like in NC)...

What exactly does a "tactical 5.11" knife do that my folding Swiss Army won't do?

I don't recall from seeing them in a catalog, but I'm guessing lock the blade. After a few "close shaves" (LITERALLY), I figured that a blade that locks is safer to use for most cutting tasks than one that don't. 'Course, you can get that in any other 'non tactical' linerlocks or lockbacks as well...

Yes a pistol should be backed up with a blade, but I think you can do much better than a 5.11.

Hmmmm...I ALWAYS have a knife on me, even when I don't carry - but it's a TOOL, not a WEAPON.

(As I told a co-worker that asked me about it one day, as I was using it to open a box, as I do multiple times each day. I 'splained to her that one needs a LOT of training to make a knife a practical weapon, and I just don't have it. And I refuse to carry the "issue" box openers, as a razor blade in a metal sleeve strikes me as too dangerous - to the USER - to keep in my pockets! )

Since a knife is viewed as a lethal weapon, if you're gonna back up one lethal weapon (gun) with another one, why not just carry ANOTHER gun?

IMO, a gun is best backed up with at LEAST a less-lethal alternative like OC. That way, if you catch yourself in a "situation" that does NOT require deadly force, and you CAN'T easily retreat, you at least have an option besides empty hands.

My EDC knife is a CRKT M-16 with a partially serrated blade. If I HAD to (particularly when unable to CCW), I would use it as a weapon, but I have no delusions that I am a "knife fighter."

 

[Pax Jordana]

The OP's question was, does anyone LIKE them?

So I say, sure. But it's my personal philosophy that anything, or anyone, is OK in my book until they give me reason to suspect or dislike them.


And for $115 I could have two or three kershaws












(Or two cold steel knives, which we all know are much more tactical)

 

[Chipperman]

Experienced knife wielders are extremely dangerous folks. That condition doesn't correlate well with being formally trained to "knife fight."

A lot of the knife fighters who give demos about giving five cuts in less than a second ignore the fact that they would also be getting cut up in a real fight. In real life, both fighters often come away looking like jigsaw puzzles.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

(Or two cold steel knives, which we all know are much more tactical)

Especially if you can get Lynn Thompson to follow you around and make a mean face.

 

[Browning]

This one's the knife that I just got yesterday as a present and it's the one I'll carry from now on.


Al Mar Sere

http://www.almarknives.com/catalog_2005.shtm#SERE2000
The ad above is incorrect and that isn't the real price though, for the most part they're about $125 to $145 (instead of an MSRP of $229 according to Al Mar's sales ad that I listed). If they were that much, I probably wouldn't have ended up with one.

Before the AL Mar Sere I usually carried a CRKT M16-13Z spear point folding knife with a 1/3 serrated blade that I bought at a gun show for a little over $20 (the dealer also threw in a can of $5 pepper spray along with it, not bad huh?). I like it and it's worked real well for me, but the damn clip keeps coming loose no matter how much I tighten it down and it's slipped out of my front pocket twice, so I had to switch it to a rear pocket so that it wouldn't keep hitting the ground when I went to sit down.

Most of what I use a knife for is cutting boxes, twine, rope, tape, cloth, plastic packaging, oxygen tubing, seat belts, backboard straps, a little whittling here and there etc etc. If it came down to it I could use the knife as a weapon if I didn't have anything else, but I'm more likely to be cutting rope or trying to get into a cardboard box than I am to try and pull a Jim Bowie imitation of hacking his way through a bunch of attackers at the Alamo as they come at me with fixed bayonets.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

get some loc-tite, dude.


Those al-mar knives are really classy, though.

I've always wanted one but never gotten around to it.

 

[mercop]

IMHO the Al MAR SERE 2000 is the closest you can get to a custom in the way of a production knife. I carry mine every day.

As far as trained knife fighters, they are like gun fighters. I have responded to a few shootings and stabbings. What did they all have in common? None of the attackers had any knife or gun training. But they did not let that stop them. What did else did they have in common? The were committed, did not hesitate, were aggressive and got very close to the person they shot or stabbed. Edged weapons were steak knives and box cutters, guns we usually 22 or 9MM.

 

[Browning]

DAVIDSDIVAD : get some loc-tite, dude.

Well I tried that (on the CRKT), but it still worked it's way out.

Next time I'm just gonna get some super glue and get the correct Allen wrench from somewhere (I've been using a very small screwdriver as I don't have wrench that small and the shop at work doesn't have one either) and just glue the damn thing and then tighten it down real quick before the glue sets.

Those al-mar knives are really classy, though.

I've always wanted one but never gotten around to it.

Yeah, it's pretty nice.

When you go to open the knife it feels like it's on ball bearings (it's that smooth) and when it locks in place it doesn't move at all, not even the slightest play in it at all.

I've been wanting one for a long time and now it's mine, whoaahahaha!

 

[JShirley]

Green Lantern, I found a lot to agree with in your post.

Hmmmm...I ALWAYS have a knife on me, even when I don't carry - but it's a TOOL, not a WEAPON.

(As I told a co-worker that asked me about it one day, as I was using it to open a box, as I do multiple times each day. I 'splained to her that one needs a LOT of training to make a knife a practical weapon, and I just don't have it.

I think knives can be effective offensive weapons in certain situations, but are not well suited for defense (with perhaps being surprised and taken to the ground being the exception). I do have lots of training, and attack effectively with a blade- but I'd much prefer to defend with something else. Since I can't really see being the aggressor in practically any circumstance, that means I carry other things for defense.

John

 

[che_70b]

All of my knives are things like CRKT, or Buck. All of easy one handed opening design becouse that is easyer to open in a pinch, like holding weed eater cord in one hand and not wanting to put it down to open the knife .

I have had "knife fighting" training and while it is fun exersize it very unrealaistic. You don't really need training to knife fight. You need to realize that if someone is walking toward you with a knife you should draw a gun a shoot them. You need to realise if someone decides they want to stab you without you knowing about it till they do it is very easy to do. That person is more likely to decide to act like he is giving up and leaving then stab you when you are not looking.

A knife really shines for your defense when some has you pinned to a wall or has taken you to the ground. A knife is much harder to take away that pistol at contact ranges and nothing says quit trying to kill me in those situations like the repeated pumping motions of a knife into whatever parts of their you can reach.

 

[JShirley]

Yeah, if anyone ever decides using a knife is the best defensive choice they have left, the knife shouldn't be visible until after it's in use.

The training I've had always emphasized that going knife on knife is foolish (and almost never happens anyway), and when we actually practiced it, the training was done to remind us what a losing proposition it was.

John

 

[Hank Dodge]

I currently carry a Benchmade McHenry-Williams folder. I like the partially serrated blade and general profile it has. It's light, strong, and very well made. It cost about $150 where I bought it. I don't mind spending the money on quality equipment.

I guess that knife falls into the "Tacticool" classification, but mine gets used for everything from opening boxes to slicing tomatoes. I need a knife that can be opened easily with one hand and lock the blade firmly in place. This knife opens like it's blade is on ball bearings and locks like a vault door.

Did I mention that it holds an edge really good too!!



Hank

 

[.44walkersabot]

Well, different strokes for different folks.
I'll tell you how a knife really shine's with me and I'm not being sarcastic.
A good sharp knife (butcher knife such as Old Hickory, or a good fixed blade hunting knife) really shines when I'm trying to clean a fish, skin a squirrel or dress out a deer or wild hog or buffalo or antelope or whatever. Or maybe to cut a piece of line or stout string. Or peel a potato or cut up an onion or tomato or whatever.
If some bad guy or gal jump's you and you feel threatened. pull your gun or at least put your hand on it and make sure they can see it and know you have it, whether you actually pull it or not. If they're not armed that alone will probably scare them off. If they are moving toward you in a threatening manner with any type of lethal weapon in their hand (such as knife, gun, screwdriver, ballbat, scissors or whatever) give them one chance to drop it and leave if you have time. If you don't have time to tell them or if they hesitate about dropping the weapon, go ahead and shoot the hell out of them without wasting another word.
A good knife is a fine tool and it can be used to hurt people, but to the best of my ability I have absolutely no intention of letting myself get in the sort of situation as to where I would have to get in a 'knife fight' with anyone. I'll shoot the hell out of him. Or maybe I'll pick up whatever I can get my hands on and knock his damn brains out. I'll give him one swing, jab, or whatever with that knife and then whatever I'm swinging (cinder block, tree limb, fence post, iron bar, etc.) is going to connect with him on some part of his body, and where ever it connects it will leave a broken bone and maybe worse.
That's how I feel...Okay...

 

[Rexster]

Mercop, my karambit opens fine with one hand. I will reach for a snubby or fixed-blade first, if I can get to them, but the original post asked about 5.11 blades, so I addressed that issue.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

That's a beautiful knife there, Boats, and surely quite functional (and I've got a few Bucks), but the quality of both Buck and Gerber have declined severely over the last 15 years or so. Gerber is now in the toilet, while Buck is just a few notches above in their materials. Imperial/Schrade went that way too in their last few years before their demise. Gerber seems to be selling a LOT of their junk, due to aggressive marketing. Good for them. Buck too - same reason. Old bucks, old gerbers==good. New stuff, I stay away. I stick with premiums like Benchmade, or workin-man's-but-pretty-good blades like Kershaw, Spyderco, and CRKT.

See this thread for what I carry:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=327751

 

[btucker1947]

Knife Backup

I taught Martial Arts for over 40 years. My carry knife is not a folding knife. It's a 5.5" blade hunting knife. When you fight with a knife it is a very personal weapon. If the other person has one, I''ll pull mine. Outcome is unknown. Remember, it takes training for any weapon.
I got my knife training from a WWII Infantry Soldier who was bayoneted through the arm, and pinned to a door. The only weapon he could use was his boot knife and he fought 2 German Soldiers and won. One of his other fights took place in a foxhole at night. He was well trained with a knife by an Indian. Training is always a key factor. Don't be fooled or mis-lead yourself; over confidence and being poorly trained will get you killed.
If I have my sidearm I shoot. I Prefer my 1911 or my 380 backup, in a knife fight. I'm too old for that stuff now, that's why I have Mr. Colt as my best friend who is always there and can dish out more Pain, meannest, and damage than my X wife ever thought of..

 

[JShirley]

If some bad guy or gal jump's you and you feel threatened. pull your gun or at least put your hand on it and make sure they can see it and know you have it, whether you actually pull it or not. If they're not armed that alone will probably scare them off. If they are moving toward you in a threatening manner with any type of lethal weapon in their hand (such as knife, gun, screwdriver, ballbat, scissors or whatever) give them one chance to drop it and leave if you have time. If you don't have time to tell them or if they hesitate about dropping the weapon, go ahead and shoot the hell out of them without wasting another word.

Well, I believe the jury is mixed on citizens using verbal command. If the threat is moving rapidly towards you at typical ranges, present your firearm and fire until you are no longer threatened.

There are some complicated issues involved with using (potentially) lethal force. Typically, the other person has to have the ability and desire to badly hurt you. Depending on your state of residence, the defender may have a "duty to retreat" if at all possible. There are other potentials, such as disparity of force (using a lethal weapon may not be considered legal if facing a potential adversary of similar size, but would be if facing multiple adversaries intent on harming you).

In any case, bluff should NOT be used. Advertising that you are carrying without definite need is a BAD strategy. It gives the threat additional time to move against you. Yeah, it may work against less committed threats, but you have just lessened your ability to deal with a truly dangerous threat, and also potentially escalated the situation.

John

 

[Boats]

Well the Buck 419 is a custom shop quality piece. I don't buy low end anything.

My usual EDC is a Spyderco Endura 4 in ZDP-189 or VG-10, depending on the weather. (VG-10 is better on corrosion resistance).

Back to Buck. My newest one, the 419, is a brass framed, stablized rosewood scaled, beauty of a liner lock with an excellently done S30V blade. It is made in Post Falls Idaho, and no corners have been cut.

My other is a custom 110 folding hunter with silver nickel bolsters, koa scales, and a BG-42 blade. Nothing cheap about that one either.

Buck is way better than Gerber, Cold Steel and a whole host of other knife companies in that if you spend your way up their product line, you definitely get great quality, higher end materials, and a better value for your dollars than most others will provide.

 

[Limeyfellow]

Lets see.

Right now I carry a Gerber multitool as my go to tool. Used to open boxes, cut small stuff, pliers are used to tighten stuff on my telescope, home and car repair and just about everything else.

If I need a larger blade I have a Bear balisong that I use. Quick to deploy and has some strength behind it.

If I need something larger for chopping, generally slicing and heavy work I pull out my khurkri. That thing will go through just about anything.