Luke Kunco 10.19.21

Many people consider combat or tactical knives to be relics of the past. Maybe something is more suitable for use as a tool than a weapon. Regardless of the fact that the emergence of modern guns and side weapons may be real, this knife can still be used as a convenient defense tool, as well as a practical tool when needed. Although the tactical folder may be more suitable for daily carrying, a full-size combat knife or tactical knife can also be conveniently used in the field and used for various outdoor tasks, and if used properly, it is also very lethal for defensive purposes. The following is my opinion on 2021 A selection of some of the best combat and tactical knives currently available, hopefully this will give you a good gauge of the type of blades you might want to pick up and carry with you.

Editor's note: Regarding a fighting knife, the two most important things to consider are training and a good, safe hold.  

Gerber StrongArm is a knife that I have collected for a long time. Although the weight of the Gerber name is different from Ka-Bar or Microtech etc., Gerber manufactures a series of durable and affordable knives, and StrongArm is one of the best knives. StrongArm has a complete tang design and a comfortable overmolded handle. It is a powerful and sturdy combat knife. It can also perform various cutting and slicing tasks in the deer camp home. The closest thing to StrongArm may be LMF II, which is also made by Gerber and is my current tool of choice for outdoor activities.

Glock does a great job in many ways-mainly pistols, but for this Austrian-born gun manufacturer, it is no stranger to making blade tools (they make one of the best electronic tools on the planet) . The Glock field knife is one of the other lesser-known tools made by Glock, and it still carries Glock's legendary reputation. The Glock field knife uses a full handle 11.4 inch HRC55 phosphate-treated blade, with a saw blade on the spine, which is both a weapon and a tool.

Ka-Bar may be the first thing you think of when you read the "combat knife" known for developing combat-proven knives. Ka-Bar has a 1281 D2 fighting/multi-purpose knife that can be used for its deadly combat purpose. There is a 7-inch D2 steel blade that terminates at the tip of the classic pinch point and has a blade angle of 20 degrees. D2 steel is very dense and easy to sharpen, so it is easy to keep this blade in a good shape whether at home or in the field.

Seal Pup Elite is made of AUS-8 steel with a short blade, 4.75 inches. It is a convenient small fixed blade knife. I think it hardly enters the combat/tactical knife category. If you haven't noticed its name, Seal Pup Elite is a miniature version of SOG Seal Pup. The small blade lives up to its big brother's name and even has some freedom in design. Seal Pup Elite has strong AUS-8 blade steel, which is used by many modern tool manufacturers because of its durability and hardness. Seal Pup Elite comes with its own ballistic nylon sheath and weighs only 5.4 ounces.

The last entry is different from the topic we are discussing here. Although the other knives on this list can obviously be used for camp life and other types of handicrafts that do not involve killing, the FOX 479 folding Karambit is almost exclusively designed for lethality. Karambit knives are not very easy to use, they are mainly used for defensive purposes. However, Fox 479 is equipped with a Bohler N690 blade, G10 (or carbon fiber) handle, and is only 3 inches long. The blade also has a quick deployment hinge that can be deployed quickly and easily in defensive situations.

Editor's note: As a long-term user of karambit, I can prove their great utility in farm work (as mini sickles). The blade geometry also allows extremely precise use of the blade tip.

Combat and tactical knives must first be durable. They never fail when needed, so the design is usually quite robust in nature. There are two main factors, the most important is the steel grade. Once you overcome this, there is another factor of blade thickness, but let's just focus on steel.

Many times when you see a real high-end combat knife, the accompanying price tag is due to the steel used to make the blade. Various tool steels are premium steels used for the highest quality knives. These precision steels can hold the edges under severe use. If your life depends on your knife, it's best to stick to it. When looking at the Rockwell hardness scale, the type of tool steel most often falls in the range of 55-57, which is considered the best point. This means that steel is very durable but can be used. They will maintain the advantage, but also allow you to re-sharpened when needed. Steel types that exceed this range in the Rockwell hardness range are more difficult to sharpen, but on the other hand, they do hold the edges for longer.

Stainless steel is very popular, especially for mid-range knives. It is just carbon steel with chromium added to resist corrosion. These types of blades will not rust, but the steel will generally become softer, resulting in lower edge retention than non-stainless steel blades.

Carbon steel is considered very tough, with excellent durability and the ability to sharpen and re-sharpened. They may not be as hard as tool steel, nor have the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, but the biggest advantage is cost.

Generally yes, it is completely legal to carry combat knives with you in most states. In most cases, "combat knives" will be referred to simply as hunting knives because they have many of the same appearances, but the best practice is to understand your local laws and regulations regarding carrying knives and other bladed weapons. Generally speaking,

Most combat knives need to be at least 3 inches or longer (3 inches is considered the minimum lethal length) but also less than 12 inches. Although the shorter knives on this list (such as Karambit) are suitable for close combat, they do have shortcomings in terms of reach and leverage. Longer knives such as Glock field knives may encounter concealment and maneuverability issues, but generally speaking, it can provide you with more leverage for cutting and stab wounds. I tend to like combat knives that are about 3-6 inches in length and have a complete shank structure.

I am not a certified metallurgist, but I can tell you what is the most popular blade steel on the market for combat knives. Both AUS-8 and 154CM are stainless steel, which are very popular blade steels with excellent edge retention capabilities. Another popular steel is 1095-HC carbon steel, which also has excellent edge retention, but is also easy to sharpen. AUS-8 is popular mainly because it is very rust-resistant and can maintain very sharp edges-the biggest disadvantage of AUS-8 is that the blades made of AUS-8 are relatively thick and therefore difficult to sharpen.

Luke is currently a full-time writer for TheFirearmBlog.com, OvertDefense.com, AllOutdoor.com, and of course OutdoorHub.com. Luke is a competitive shooter, firearms lover, reloader, outdoor enthusiast, and is generally interested in anything related to outdoor activities. Luke is also a private certified pilot and is currently studying for his commercial pilot license, hoping to become a professional pilot. Some of Luke's other interests include anything related to aviation, aerospace and military technology, and the work of the American Conservation Society. Instagram: @ballisticaviation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BallisticAviation thefirearmblog.com/blog/author/luke-c/overtdefense.com/author/luke-c/alloutdoor.com/author/lukec/

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