Before judging what the best tactical knife is, it is important to know what a tactical knife is foremost.
A tactical knife is a knife designed for military or marital purposes to be used in extreme conditions. However, it is important to understand that it is not intended for use as a weapon, rather as a utility tool. Although the one used for former use i.e. a fighting knife and a tactical knife are frequently employed interchangeably. They include legacies like the German Mercator Black Cat and World War 2 Gravity knives to some Buck knives. Some are solely intended for military personnel such as flight crews or parachute troopers and some are civilian grade.
KA-BAR
The KA-BAR BECKER United States Marine Corps is my favourite tactical knife which traces its history back to 1939 – 1945 where it found it’s regular use in the World War 2. The blade of the knife is made with 1095 van CRO steel giving it expert rust resistance.
The blade is both durable and sharp. It features a gold plated brass guard and a pummel. The rugged and strong, 100% leathery sheath not only protects you but also keeps the blade sharp and secure in a classy fashion.
The blade is further epoxy coated for protection and is approximately 7 inches in length. The blade is fixed and slightly slanted at about 20 degrees. The sheath is imported from Mexico. The knife weighs an overall 11.2 ounces.
The total length of the knife is 11.87 inches and hence it can be regarded as one of the relatively larger tactical knives. It is a straight edge and is designed from a cotton jersey mix as a handle for better grip. Because of the razor-sharp blade, the USMC can also be used as a grappling reach fighting knife.
- It is 100% leather.
- The Blade is razor sharp.
- It is straight edge.
- It is durable.
- May be used in combat.
Smith & Wesson
The Smith and Wesson BodyGuard 2TS is another interesting tactical folding knife. Whether you are a first responder, survivalist, knife collector or just caught up in a tough a situation, the Smith and Wesson BodyGuard is just as durable as the Smith and Wesson firearms. The 10-inch total folding knife having a 4.4-inch blade which can be used as a pocket carry.
The blade is beautifully designed with a 7Cr17MoV mixture on pure aluminium. The handle is made of a Trac – Tec design with blood grooves. It even has Ambi dexterous thumb knobs and crafted serrations. It also has multiple uses ranging from seat belts cuttings, rope cutter, glass breaking and many other purposes.
The blade is also coated with black oxide high carbon stainless steel. Although the knife is foldable, yet it has a fine liner lock to hold the blade in its place so that it doesn’t slip once it is open. The bodyguard 2TS even has a lanyard hole for better grip.
The knife weighs moderately about 9.6 ounces. It does not come with a lifetime warranty and hence has a limited duration of use. It is a size one knife, unisex adult. It is also not so sharp, although of USA origin but is Chinese made.
- It is a folding knife.
- It is portable.
- It has a fine liner lock.
- It has serrations.
- It has a limited lifespan.
MTECH USA XTREME
TheM TECH USA XTREME MX8054 is a fixed tactical knife. The manufacturer of MX8054 the M TECH XTREME produces both fixed and folding blade knives. The blade is usually made of hard material such as the 440A or 440C hardcore stainless steel.
It has a hefty tanto design with multiple back serrations along its spine. The blood grooves make it even more irresistible. The blade is about 5-1/2 inches long and 5-1/2 millimetres thick.
The blackG10 handle gives the perfect grip even in the wettest conditions. The lanyard hole makes it much easy to carry around even with a chain wrapped up around your neck. The additional paracords allow increased attachment to the sheath.
The knives have an overall length of about 11 inches which are secured in a black 100% nylon sheath. The knife is being manufactured in China since 2017. This 2.2-pound urban masked field-tested knife is perfect in combat as well. The users give it a 4.9 in sturdiness.
- Works well in wet conditions.
- It is lightweight.
- It has a Lanyard hole.
- It is portable.
- The sheath has poor stitching.
Benchmade
The Benchmade contego 810 is a folding tactical knife of about 5.30 inch closed and 9.28-inch open blade length. It is an original Warren Osborne design. The knife has a reverse tanto blade with serrated edges. It has coated finish to protect it against wear and tear.
The blade is about 3.98 inches and is made from the Benchmade’s hardest CPM M4 stainless steel to prevent against corrosion and allow the strength of the knife. The aggressive handle texture is cherried with a carbide glass breaker pommel and a tip-up deep down pocket carry.
It is not spring-assisted and has a manual opening which can be done by only one hand. Its G10 handle is fit for all weather and is impervious to moisture. The contego 810 knife weighs only Abbott 8.8 pounds. The folding handle has an ambidextrous axis lock.
This tactical knife comes with the lifelong Benchmade warranty, if the knife needs to be sharpened, Benchmade will take care of it with the forever sharp policy. It can be used as a token of appreciation or as a gift for a knife collector because of its impressive eye-catching design and the Benchmade logo.
- It works in moisture.
- It has serrations.
- It has a forever lifespan.
- It has a glass breaker.
- It is heavy.
Tool Logic SLP2 SLPro
The tool logic SLP2 knife is one of the best designed tactical knives that maximize function in a minimal space of its own. The tool logic started it’s legacy in 1994 and thus later the SLP2 was created as a folding tactical knife.
It has a steel Zytel frame and even has a liner lock to ensure that the folding knifes blade does not slip from its place in a tight grip. The SLP2 has a smooth single-handed operation and so is very handy in quick emergencies in which the other hand is usually preoccupied. It has a 3-inch razor-sharp blade and is partially serrated.
The blade material is none other than the 420 J2 stainless steel. The tactical knives are popular fur their multipurpose abilities, the SLP2 has a detachable brilliant flashlight. It even had an MG alloy fire starter and a very cool loud signal whistle to alarm your other fellow campers of the situation that you’re caught up in.
It comes with a pocket bent clip, a lanyard hole for better grip. The fire starter can start a fire of 1000 strikes and about 2500 degrees even in wet conditions. It comes with a three-year warranty and is almost 4.3 oz.
- It has good blade material.
- It has a fire starter.
- The Blade is sharp.
- It has a lanyard hole.
- It has a 3-year warranty.
Columbia River Knife & Tool
The Columbia River Knife and Tool CRKT RIVER stage 2 knife is a compact RDC folding the tactical knife. This pocket knife has a user rating 5 for both sturdiness and being ergonomic. This heavy-duty pocket carry has a 3.47-inch blade with a jet black serrated tanto design.
It is a flipper open knife thus can be handled with much ease. The folding blade has a frame lock. Towards the spine of the blade, is the aluminium handle for the position and a pocket clipR2104K. It has four basic other siblings coming from the same manufacturer.
The seismic has a 3.969-inch blade weighing 6.3 oz. and having considerable variations from the pillar large black with a D2 steel blade of skit 2.669 mm weighing only 3.8 oz. The lightest of these is the woods chosen weighing only one pound. The last one is the M16.
It either has a Matt or a stone bead finish. However, this 6.6 oz. Robert Carter design only has a limited lifetime warranty of three years only. It has an imperial measurement system with an 8Cr13MoV blade material used in the perfectly crafted serrations. It is highly user-friendly.
- It is highly sturdy.
- It is ergonomic.
- Lightweight.
- It has good blade material.
- It has a hard lock.
Gerber Contrast
The Gerber contrast AO is a spring assisted opening knife originally designed in Portland, New Orleans, USA. This was in the year 1939. With over 70 years of craftsmanship now, the knife had a 2.0 assisted opening mechanism. The Contrast AO has a fine edge.
The knife has found throughout the global relevance and reaches over. It has a drop point blade with mixed material used in the formation. With the G10 handle, the knife provides a better grip and also allows one-handed operation.
The 3-inch blade is perfectly designed for the matter. The Blade has an overall length of 7.13 inches. The closed length of the blade is 4.25 inches. It has a removable pocket clip blade was originally designed in the USA but is now made in China.
Most buyers used for personal usage. It has in AC DC power source however some users complain that the spring is hard to launch There are several other complaints of a bad locking design on the other hand for other uses the term plans lock system works just fine it has a right-handed opening and does not work well for left-handed people.
- It is lightweight.
- It has a pocket clip.
- It has an emergency whistle.
- It has poor quality blade material.
Gerber Applegate
The GerberApplegate covert knife has a serrated back. It may be more aptly defined as a lasting symbol of delicacy and sense of purpose. It is a double Titanium Spear shaped knife. The 154 cm blade has a Titanium nitride coating which prevents it from rust and corrosion it also provides weather resistance and the waterproof feature makes it equally reliable even in wet conditions.
With its 8.7 inches overall length it has uncommon strength and balance. The Applegate covert knife weighs 4.2 pounds and has an AC DC power source. Batteries are not included in the package and are not required however the Applegate covert knife has a limited lifespan and unlimited sharpness age.
The Blade is originally made of stainless steel the knife is not well apt for tactical purposes since it is not multi-purpose and does not have many features like other tactical knives simple tactical knife features like firestarter and temperature provider are even not included.
The knife cannot be flick open without the help of the thumb stud. Like other Gerber contrast knives, it was found in Portland New Orleans USA in 1939. The knife is not spring-assisted however it opens faster than those with a spring.
- It has easy access.
- It has a fire starter.
- It is lightweight.
- It is forever sharp.
- It is not spring assisted.
Cold Steel Recon
The Cold Steel recon one is a brilliant tactical knife. Like other simple tactical knives, it is also usually in black. It has a plain tanto edge. The most exclusive feature the cold Steel offers is that you get to choose a blade size of your preference the blades maybe to 2 3 4 or 5 and a half inches in length.
It is a popular nice with military personnel rescue crews paratroopers and other people who are often caught up in emergencies. It has a thin razor-sharp blade which is a cold Steel classic. The Blade is about 3.5 millimetres thick and 4 inches long.
The 5 inches long G10 handle makes the knife have a more perfect fitting grip on your hand. It weighs only 5.9 pounds. This Unisex size 1 knife made by cold Steel is made of 100% pure materials the cold Steel warranties hundred per cent of the product however the warranty does not include normal wear and tear misuse of the product and disassembly.
Resharpening of the blade due to continuous use is also not included the cold Steel demands more maintenance then one could think of lending.
- It has moderate weight.
- It has good blade material.
- It gives a smooth cut.
- It has a limited warranty.
Gerber Decree
This knife is an American made tactical knife with a folding blade. Some might say that the Gerber knives promise more than they can deliver however it is also stated that the decree is a hundred and 1% complete package.
This tactical folder has a thumb stud and a finger flipper to ensure optimum time eased deployment of the knife. The Blade has a black coating to prevent from rust and corrosion it also minimizes the glare. Apart from the coating, the knife has parcel serrations to enable power cutting and tempered cuts.
Towards the end of the handle is a steel glass breaker to be used in rescue situations. The knife has a glass-filled nylon handle which enables a perfect grip. Having said that the knife is used for hard labour it is also a simple pocket carry. The blade is made of S 30 V stainless steel.
It has an overall length of 8.7 inches the knife has a limited warranty which does not even include the shortening of the blade. It weighs moderately weighing 4.8 pounds. The knife has a diamond textured rubber over a mould which provides an excellent grip.
- It has a good grip.
- The Blade is corrosion-free.
- It has a glass breaker.
- It is sturdy.
- It requires more maintenance.
Buyer’s Guide for Best Tactical Knife
Some people buy tactical nice for their personal use however some have a well-determined purpose behind their purchase. Usually, tactical knives are bought to be gifted as a token of appreciation for a military anniversary gift-giving on retirement and other such purposes. They, however, can be used in parachuting security purposes sailor knots hiking skiing and other Adventures out in the wild which require portable gears with multiple purposes.
Dynamics
Tactical knives ought to be e portable and so they need to be small in size usually they have an overall open length of about 11 to 12 inches at most. Depending upon the user’s choice The Blade may be as short as 2 inches for as long as 5 inches. The size of the handle of a smart knife user is usually determined by the anatomy of his palm. Some knives are too small to be used in larger hands and thus their use is hindered.
Maintenance
When a person who often goes out in the wild purchases a knife he often considered as the time it would consume for its maintenance some nice require a lot of maintenance in the form of oiling or sharpening. The sheath of the knife, it is in leather, it may be washed with cold water and then blew off with the hairdryer. For the blade, some people use gun oil Where others olive oil for oiling it, what matters is the lubrication of the blade. The highly lubricated blade allows a smoother cut. To increase the grip, people use beeswax to allow a study grip on the handle.
Sharpening of the Blade
Usually, it is advised to buy a knife with a resharpening for life, aura life sharp warranty like the Ka-Bar. Figuring out a sharpened knife in the first place saves a lot of trouble down the road in sharpening it yourself every time. Some people carry pocket sharpeners for their blade in case of emergencies.
Warranty and Quality
The repeated emphasis on warranty and quality is sometimes not enough and one must try his level best in finding a knife that would last a lifetime or at least last what it is worth. Some knife crafters offer a lifetime warranty because of their complete trust on their craftsmanship however some give a limited lifetime warranty referring to the poor quality of the material used in the manufacture of the knife.
Blade Edge
Every knife has an edge retention capacity for its blade it is advisable to look into a knife with the longest edge retention which is probably accustomed to come up with epoxy coating. Apart from sharpening the knife properly or having it’s sharpened by the manufacturer, it is important to know that the blade will always give us mood but due to its edge retention capacity.
Sturdiness
The ability of the knife to be in the state of being vigorous and robust is called sturdiness. Usually, sellers rate the sturdiness level of the knives to ensure the type of strength and capacity that they have, knowing this feature allows the user of the knife to decide whether to use the knife for things like battening for pressure cutting etc.
Cost-Effectiveness
Not just buying nice as a buyer generally considering cost-effectiveness is a huge factor to know whether your product would be worth every penny is crucial. As much as economical shopping is important, it is also mandatory when buying a product for everyday use to ensure that no compromise is made on the quality due to the price of the product.
Legal Prospects
Tactical knives are not designed for one to one confrontation, still considering the legal prospects and knowing whether your state or country allows the use of the specific gear for your age group is recommended. It is the sole duty of the buyer and not the seller to make sure all the laws of his region about possessing a tactical knife are obeyed and none of them is violated at the cost of an adventure.
All in one Package
A tactical knife must be an all in one package. It must have multiple features to ensure maximum efficiency. Some of the features included in everyday tactical nice include a flashlight which is often administrated by an AC or DC supply, an emergency whistle, a glass breaking hammer, a fire starter and other such necessities while going in the wild just trying to stay safe or achieve multiple goals with a knife.
Handle Grip
Having a firm grip on the handle of your tactical knife is one of the primary goals of keeping a tactical knife, this may be achieved with a G10 handle or by just simply applying beeswax on the handle to ensure maximum friction between the hand and handle. This not only forms the group but also reduces the chance of the knife slipping away.
Blade Type
A tactical knife may have any kind of blade. That having said, it may be a fixed blade or a folding blade depending upon the most frequent purpose of utilization of the tactical knife. It is also an unsaid rule to make sure that your folding knife has a good Axis or a plunge lock to ensure that it does not slip and once close it remains closed and does not nick the holder.
Blade Material
Considering the material of the blade is as equally important as deciding which knife to buy. The blade must be made of stainless steel or a VanCro mixture to ensure minimal rust or corrosion deposition on the blade it must be so non-reflective that it does not produce glare while usage.
Sheath Protection
After buying a perfect knife it is also important to keep it safe in a secure sheath. Usually, a polyester and nylon mix sheath would do the trick but if you love your tactical knife, it is advisable to put it in a much safer secure portable and classic leather covering. It not only protects the tactical knife but also protects you by making sure that the blade does not cut through the polyester and does not harm you in any way.
Important FAQs
By definition, a tactical knife is not designed for combat. Thus, it is is a relatively safer gear. But outside the books, many people use tactical knives as weapons to harm people in robberies and other crimes. It also depends upon one’s age and the purpose of using the tactical knife to determine its level of safety for a specific individual. It is important to know that the misuse of gears can always be harmful in one way or the other.
Whether you need a license for keeping a tactical knife is entirely dependent upon the area of usage of the knife. In the United States, having a license even for a tactical knife can sometimes be equally important as for a spear however in certain areas around the globe at tactical knife does not require a licensing and everybody can use it.
As mentioned earlier, the place where the tactical knife is being used is of high importance in this regard. In some States, adulthood is a necessary prerequisite for the possession of a tactical knife however in some States even children have access to tactical knives. However, it is advisable for parental guidance in such conditions and it is a lot better if the knife is bought after being 12 years of age.
A fighting knife is designed for one to one combat between two people within grappling range however tactical knives were not designed as weapons rather as tactical tools to be used in emergencies or some extreme cases for self-defence. Facts remain unchanged even today that tactical knives are still not considered as weapons but as tools.
Some of the World’s finest tactical knives are produced by Emerson Rangemaster Sheepdog. Other manufacturers of tactical knives include Boker Plus, Cold Steel recon one, Cold Steel safe maker 1, Boker + strike automatic, Wildcat combat, Hogue Sig. These tactical knives have found their importance in both everyday life and in hunting, camping and outdoor survival.
Conclusion
Now that you’re experienced and able to judge the best tactical knives are which one are you going to be the best. Here is the complete information of the 10 top tactical knives.Now you can buy tough and durable, quick to deploy, and grippy Tactical knives. Hope so you like our reviews.
