TRAIN, CARRY, STAY ALERT, & STAY ALIVE WITH THESE TACTICAL
We’ve all thought about it when handling certain knives: “I might be able to use this to save my life.” While a knife isn’t the ideal weapon in all circumstances, with the proper training and mindset, a blade in the hands of a skilled user can be a formidable asset in helping you to stop an attack and to give you an opportunity to get out of harm’s way. What exactly constitutes a tactical knife is open to discussion.
Many tactical knives listed here could just as easily have been placed in other categories. What they all have in common is the ability to provide a measure of protection.
“…WITH THE PROPER TRAINING AND MINDSET, A BLADE IN THE HANDS OF A SKILLED USER CAN BE A FORMIDABLE ASSET…”
Have a look at the Tactical Buyer’s Guide 2022:
1. BOKER INTENTION II AUTO
Overall Length: 7.87 inches
Closed Length: 4.72 inches
Blade Length: 3.15 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch
Blade Material: D2
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Push button
Weight: 3.84 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Automatic opener
MSRP: $59.95
BokerUSA.com
2. OUTDOOR EDGE LE HAWK
Overall Length: 6.2 inches
Blade Length: 2.9 inches
Blade Material: 8Cr14 stainless
with Blackstone finish
Handle Material: Rubberized TPR
Sheath Material: Polypropylene
Weight: 3 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Wharncliffe blade
MSRP: $39.95
OutdoorEdge.com
3. CRKT PROVOKE COMPACT
Overall Length: 6.63 inches
Closed Length: 4.54 inches
Blade Length: 2.26 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch
Blade Material: D2
Handle Material: 6061 aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Lever lock
Weight: 4.4 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Folding karambit
MSRP: $150
CRKT.com
4. CRKT SHENANIGAN
Overall Length: 8.19 inches
Closed Length: 4.86 inches
Blade Length: 3.35 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch
Blade Material: 1.4116 stainless steel
Handle Material: GRN (glass-reinforced nylon)
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 3.6 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Assisted opener
MSRP: $79.99
CRKT.com
5. Case Kinzua
Overall Length: 8.15 inches
Closed Length: 4.75 inches
Blade Length: 3.4 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.149 inch
Blade Material: S35VN
Handle Material: Aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
Weight: 3.4 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Flipper opening
MSRP: $152.99
CaseKnives.com
6. AL MAR SERE 2020 3.6
Overall Length: 8.375 inches
Closed Length: 4.8 inches
Blade Length: 3.6 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch
Blade Material: D2
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 4.7 ounces
Origin: Imported
Other: Spring assisted opener
MSRP: $130
AlMarKnives.com
7. COLD STEEL AD-15 LITE
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Closed Length: 5 inches
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.149 inch
Blade Material: AUS-10A
Handle Material: Griv-Ex
Locking Mechanism: Scorpion lock
Weight: 6.2 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $159.99
ColdSteel.com
8. COLD STEEL CODE 4
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Closed Length: 5 inches
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.138 inch
Blade Material: CPM-S35VN
Handle Material: 6061 aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Tri-Ad lock
Weight: 4.3 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $149.99
ColdSteel.com
9. BEAR EDGE 61127
Overall Length: 8 inches
Closed Length: 4.5 inches
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Blade Material: 440 stainless
Handle Material: Aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Weight: 4.5 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Spring-assisted flipper opener; carbide glass breaker
MSRP: $54.99
BearAndSonCutlery.com
10. BEAR OPS BOLD ACTION 14 AUTO
Overall Length: 4.25 inches
Closed Length: 2.5 inches
Blade Length: 1.75 inches
Blade Material: 14c28n Sandvik
Handle Material: Aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Push button
Weight: 1.3 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: California legal automatic
MSRP: $119.99
BearAndSonCutlery.com
11 Bear and Son Cutlery
BEAR & SON A08 AUTO
Overall Length: 6.625 inches
Closed Length: 3.875 inches
Blade Length: 2.75 inches
Blade Material: 440 stainless
Handle Material: G10, India stag (shown), or rosewood
Locking Mechanism: Back lock, EDM Precision lock
Weight: 2.9 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Automatic opener
MSRP: Starting at $158.75
BearAndSonCutlery.com
12 Benchmade
BENCHMADE Mini Adamas
Overall Length: 7.62 inches
Closed Length: 4.37 inches
Blade Length: 3.25 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.14 inch
Blade Material: CPM CruWear
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Axis lock
Weight: 4.6 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $250
Benchmade.com
13 SOG (STUDIES & OBSERVATIONS GROUP) KNIVES
SOG VISION XR LTE
Overall Length: 8.01 inches
Closed Length: 4.65 inches
Blade Length: 3.36 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch
Blade Material: CTS-XHP
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Liner
Weight: 4.4 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
Other: Flipper and thumb studs
MSRP: $179.95
SOGKnives.com
14 SOG (STUDIES & OBSERVATIONS GROUP) KNIVES
SOG PENTAGON XR LTE
Overall Length: 8.38 inches
Closed Length: 4.77 inches
Blade Length: 3.6 inches
Blade Material: Cryo CTS-XHP
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: XR
Weight: 3.2 ounces
Origin: Taiwan
MAP*: $209.95
SOGKnives.com
*MAP: Minimum advertised price
15 Benchmade
BENCHMADE AUTO FACT
Overall Length: 8.74 inches
Closed Length: 4.8 inches
Blade Length: 3.95 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch
Blade Material: CPM-S90V
Handle Material: Carbon fiber and 6061 aluminum
Locking Mechanism: Auto Axis lock
Weight: 3.11 ounces
Origin: USA
Other: Automatic
MSRP: $400
Benchmade.com
16 Benchmade
BENCHMADE Claymore
Overall Length: 8.6 inches
Closed Length: 5 inches
Blade Length: 3.6 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.114 inch
Blade Material: D2
Handle Material: Grivory
Locking Mechanism: Axis
Weight: 3.5 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $230
Benchmade.com
17 KERSHAW KNIVES
KERSHAW STRATA XL
Overall Length: 12 inches
Closed Length: 6.6 inches
Blade Length: 5.4 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.130 inch
Blade Material: D2
Handle Material: G10
Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
Weight: 5.8 ounces
Origin: China
Other: Flipper opener
MSRP: $129.99
Kershaw.KAIUSA.com
18. SPYDERCO POLICE 4
Overall Length: 9.97 inches
Closed Length: 5.64 inches
Blade Length: 4.38 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.118 inch
Blade Material: K390
Handle Material: FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon)
Locking Mechanism: Back lock
Weight: 4.2 ounces
Origin: Japan
Other: Four-position pocket clip
MSRP: $235
Spyderco.com
19. LIONSTEEL BILLY WAUGH DEMO RYP HARSEY
Overall Length: 9.13 inches
Closed Length: 5.25 inches
Blade Length: 3.78 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.16 inch
Blade Material: M390
Handle Material: 3D titanium
Locking Mechanism: Frame lock
Weight: 6.72 ounces
Origin: Italy
Other: RYP Design/Bill Harsey collaboration
MSRP: $468.95
BlueRidgeKnives.com
20. SOG RECONDO FX
Overall Length: 9.6 inches
Blade Length: 4.6 inches
Blade Material: Cryo 440C
Handle Material: GRN/TPU
Sheath Material: GRN (glass-reinforced nylon)
Weight: 5.3 ounces
Origin: USA
MAP*: $129.95
SOGKnives.com
*MAP: Minimum advertised price
21. BENCHMADE Adamas Fixed
Overall Length: 9.17 inches
Blade Length: 4.2 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.17 inch
Blade Material: CPM CruWear
Handle Material: Bare metal or cord wrapped
Sheath Material: PIM
Weight: 5.66 ounces
Origin: USA
MSRP: $250
Benchmade.com
A version of this article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2022 print issue of Knives Illustrated.
The post Tactical Knives: Essential Tools for Self-Defense and Survival appeared first on Knives Illustrated.
Read the full article here