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| Tactical knives have evolved over the past generation from existing largely in the domain of military or law enforcement entities, to being found in all walks of civilian life. The development of the folding tactical knife has occurred in dramatic advances over the past 25 years and has been one of the most active branches of cutlery science. This "knife landscape" has changed to the point that the widespread carrying of folding fighting knives, once unknown in civilian life, is now an everyday occurrence and continuing to increase. |
| Once relegated strictly to fixed blade knives, the military knife, now known in a broader sense as a tactical knife, has undergone advances in materials, design and craftsmanship. However the most profound change to come to this genre of knives is the advances in lock development. With the introduction of the liner lock in 1980, initially known as the "Walker Lock" after knife maker Michael Walker, folding knives for the first time were approaching the strength of their fixed blade counterparts. Until the liner lock became widely available, the locking knife typically depended on the backlock system for rigidity, which was not fully reliable under heavy duress. |
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With the advent of the liner lock many companies determined they too could advance the field with their own notion of what a good lock should be and this set off a wave of interesting, if not always successful, lock design improvements. Today we enjoy the fruits of this "lock renaissance" with a large selection of strong and effective blade locks that permit folding knives to approach the strength of a fixed blade knife in the open position. While no lock will ever match the strength of a fixed blade simply due to the physics involved, the strength that has been attained through creative lock development was sufficient to raise the folding knife to a higher plane and to carry a greater load in the military and self-defense arena. |
| None of this is to say that folding knives did not have any place at all in military or tactical use prior to this time. The Swiss Army Knife is an excellent example of a slip joint knife with decades of faithful military service. However the enhanced rigidity afforded by improved locks did indeed raise the reputation of folders and opened doors that had previously been closed. |
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Now that folders had a new lease on life they were free to evolve beyond the simple whittler or multi-tool and become serious contenders in the survival and military ranks. This was the real birth of the tactical knife and the public seemed eager to acquire these kinds of knives for personal use. With the environment ripe, knife companies gladly provided many new designs and patterns for tactical knife buyers. |
The advantages of carrying a tactical knife versus a traditional pocket knife are many. For example, the tactical knife is often made of superior steels, as previously stated the locking system is better, the tactical knife can withstand harder use, tactical knives often are equipped with carry systems such as a pocket clip or can accept a lanyard and the tactical knife can function better in a self-defense situation. Whatsmore, while offering all these advantages the tactical knife can accomplish virtually everything for which the traditional pocket knife has been used. The areas where the traditional pocket knife pulls ahead are in the weight category and size (although even here many tactical knives are on par). However the main advantage pocket knives have over tactical knives is the public perception created when an aggressive looking knife is drawn from a pocket and opened for use. Many people do not wish to cause worried concern to onlookers who may be wondering what the intentions are of the man with the mean looking knife. A small or cute looking knife with a blade 2 inches or less will not typically draw stares and this means a lot to many people.
On TacticalKnivesReview.com we will be looking at a variety of tactical knives on the market and reviewing them for you. The knives and their individual attributes will be discussed and explained so you may then make a more informed decision about a purchase. |
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