Tactical folder definition?

[Grathr]

Im struggeling a bit with the definition of a "tactical folder".  The definition seems vague.
Many knives are called tactical, but what makes them so? 
The closest to a definition I have found, is that it has "military" features, and can be used as a fighting knife. But that argument has the same  issue as "survival" knives: any knife can be a military knife (Moras, BAKs, SAKs, utility knives etc. are beeing used by the army, but they are not considered "tactical"), and in a fight, a steak knife can be your "fighting" knife.
Is it up to the makers or the buyers to define if a knife is tactical or not?

Is a Spyderco Tenacious a tactical folder? Or a Vic Sentinel or a HK Ally?

My aim is not to start an argument, but to hear what you guys think. Maybe you all have figured this out, and Im the only one who does not get it?

[dks]

any black coated knife...   

[shark_za]

Its about the fight.
If your steak knife is hidden and can be brought into play in a hurry its could be called a tactical steak knife.
Black adds stealth and surprise to a fighting knife.

[THE_LONGBOW]

Any  knife with a Tanto point.   
I see on a sellers website a "hunting knife" that is coated black and is listed in the tactical section also.

[Grathr]

any black coated knife...   

That would make it very easy to define 

[Grathr]

Its about the fight.
If your steak knife is hidden and can be brought into play in a hurry its could be called a tactical steak knife.
Black adds stealth and surprise to a fighting knife.

So its the way you use it that makes it tactical or not? 
That makes sense, but does not make it easier to classify a knife

[Grathr]

Any  knife with a Tanto point.   
I see on a sellers website a "hunting knife" that is coated black and is listed in the tactical section also.

It wasnt labeled a EDC and Survival knife as well? I have seen a lot of tactical, survival, hunting, EDC knives on Ebay

[pfrsantos]

http://bearingarms.com/10-things-that-make-a-tactical-knife/

Might help... or just add to the confusion.

 

IMHO, OHO, locking blade, ergonomic grip, easy to carry/conceal/deploy, task-specific, strong.

[Grathr]

http://bearingarms.com/10-things-that-make-a-tactical-knife/

Might help... or just add to the confusion.

 

IMHO, OHO, locking blade, ergonomic grip, easy to carry/conceal/deploy, task-specific, strong.

Thanks! That was very informative, yet not very specific.
According to that link a tactical knife is a knife that you carry as a tactical knife. And its tactical, if you carry it as a tool that might be used to save your own or someone elses life at some point. (Did I understand him right?)

Your definition is clearer

[SAK Guy]

I know one when I see it..... 

[Grathr]

I know one when I see it..... 

You should set up a website classifying all known knives into tactical and not tactical knives. That would make it so much easier for the rest of us

[pfrsantos]

http://bearingarms.com/10-things-that-make-a-tactical-knife/

Might help... or just add to the confusion.

 

IMHO, OHO, locking blade, ergonomic grip, easy to carry/conceal/deploy, task-specific, strong.

Thanks! That was very informative, yet not very specific.
According to that link a tactical knife is a knife that you carry as a tactical knife. And its tactical, if you carry it as a tool that might be used to save your own or someone elses life at some point. (Did I understand him right?)

Your definition is clearer

It makes something like a Vic Rescue Tool w/OHO a tactical knife. I have no problem in considering it so. Just needs a pocket clip...

[David]

Explained in one word: marketing      On a more serious note, define tactical and go from there

[powernoodle]

In the United States, the phrase "assault weapon" (i.e., assault rifle) is defined by statute based on its scary looking features such as a pistol grip, detachable magazine and adjustable stock.

None of these features directly relate to the gun's lethality.  Rather, to some people these features look scary, so they seek to limit the sale and possession of them.

The same can be applied to a "tactical" folder.  It is simply any knife that someone thinks is scary looking.  Nevermind that a benign-looking large kitchen knife is vastly more lethal than any 4" "tactical" folding knife. 

So, in my view, its all about looks and not substance.

[Grathr]

http://bearingarms.com/10-things-that-make-a-tactical-knife/

Might help... or just add to the confusion.

 

IMHO, OHO, locking blade, ergonomic grip, easy to carry/conceal/deploy, task-specific, strong.

Thanks! That was very informative, yet not very specific.
According to that link a tactical knife is a knife that you carry as a tactical knife. And its tactical, if you carry it as a tool that might be used to save your own or someone elses life at some point. (Did I understand him right?)

Your definition is clearer

It makes something like a Vic Rescue Tool w/OHO a tactical knife. I have no problem in considering it so. Just needs a pocket clip...

That makes sense. I can live with that definition.

So as long as it has been designed with purpose and fit your needs, has a OH locking blade, comfortable grip, can be easily carried and deployed, strong and with a pocket clip.
A Spyderco Salt can then easily be classified as tactical, if you are in wet conditions. Its made from H1 steel to avoid corrotion, its designed to be used in wet environments, its OH and locks. It has a pocket clip, its comfortable in the hand, and its easy to carry, use and deploy. Not the strongest though.

[Grathr]

Explained in one word: marketing      On a more serious note, define tactical and go from there

If only tactical was easy to define...

[Grathr]

In the United States, the phrase "assault weapon" (i.e., assault rifle) is defined by statute based on its scary looking features such as a pistol grip, detachable magazine and adjustable stock.

None of these features directly relate to the gun's lethality.  Rather, to some people these features look scary, so they seek to limit the sale and possession of them.

The same can be applied to a "tactical" folder.  It is simply any knife that someone thinks is scary looking.  Nevermind that a benign-looking large kitchen knife is vastly more lethal than any 4" "tactical" folding knife. 

So, in my view, its all about looks and not substance.

That also makes sense. And is at the same time very different from pfrsantos definition...

[eamo]

In the United States, the phrase "assault weapon" (i.e., assault rifle) is defined by statute based on its scary looking features such as a pistol grip, detachable magazine and adjustable stock.

None of these features directly relate to the gun's lethality.  Rather, to some people these features look scary, so they seek to limit the sale and possession of them.

The same can be applied to a "tactical" folder.  It is simply any knife that someone thinks is scary looking.  Nevermind that a benign-looking large kitchen knife is vastly more lethal than any 4" "tactical" folding knife. 

So, in my view, its all about looks and not substance.

i think that's a pretty good description - but then it also depends on how easy someone is offended/scared, theres loads of stories here in various threads how people get scared by a Vic or a wave or whatever . . . . interesting question though Grathr. 

[Kampfer]

NT

[firiki]

Full Definition of tactical (from Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary)

    1:  of or relating to combat tactics: as a (1) : of or occurring at the battlefront <a tactical defense> <a tactical first strike> (2) : using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront <tactical missiles>b of an air force :  of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces

    2    a : of or relating to tactics: as (1) : of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose (2) : made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view b : adroit in planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose

[Kampfer]

NT

[Aloha]

Pretty much good marketing to the average buyer IMO.  To the "tactical" person I'm sure any knife he/she deemed fit for tactical operations is then classified as a "tactical folder".

On a side note, have you seen the Filipino Escrima "tactical sticks"?  Now joking aside I'm of the mind set that the role of the "tool/weapon" makes it tactical rather than the "design".  I'm sure a tactical operator is skilled enough to use most things tactically.   

[Gerhard Gerber]

If I pick up a rock in anger, it's a tactical rock 

[Sparky415]

Tactical = Any black knife that you can carry at the mall 

[Kampfer]

Here is what I believe:
Tactical folder is a marketing term, which suggesting such knife is designed for tactical personal (police, soldier) to use as
a) A Weapon
b) An utility tool
c) Both

A weaponized knife is a knife designed to be a weapon first, a tool second, if at all.
It must incorporated features such as pointy, strong tip for stabbing, large blade for good reach, fast deployment (OHO, Wave, Auto etc), strong lock up and construction, good gird and traction. And sometime with features like double edge, hawkbill blade. You may argue the effectiveness of such weapon but that in not in the scope of this discussion. 

Some examples:
An Emerson folder is a weaponized tactical folder, with a some utility value.
A Victorinox Solider is an utility tactical folder, can not be use as a weapon.
A spike bayonet is a tactical weapon, with no utility value at all. (exception: Mosin Nagant's spike bayonet exactly has a screw driver tip for soldiers to work on the rifle.)
A SAK carry by a soldier is not a tactical folder because it was not designed and marketed as such, even though it is being use in tactical role.

[Grathr]

I think we will have to pull a scrodinger on this one.

A knife in a box can be both tactical, and not tactical at the same time.
Only when the box is opened and the knife is carried, can it be determined if it is tactical or not

[Grathr]

Here is what I believe:
Tactical folder is a marketing term, which suggesting such knife is designed for tactical personal (police, soldier) to use as
a) A Weapon
b) An utility tool
c) Both

A weaponized knife is a knife designed to be a weapon first, a tool second, if at all.
It must incorporated features such as pointy, strong tip for stabbing, large blade for good reach, fast deployment (OHO, Wave, Auto etc), strong lock up and construction, good gird and traction. And sometime with features like double edge, hawkbill blade. You may argue the effectiveness of such weapon but that in not in the scope of this discussion. 

Some examples:
An Emerson folder is a weaponized tactical folder, with a some utility value.
A Victorinox Solider is an utility tactical folder, can not be use as a weapon.
A spike bayonet is a tactical weapon, with no utility value at all. (exception: Mosin Nagant's spike bayonet exactly has a screw driver tip for soldiers to work on the rifle.)
A SAK carry by a soldier is not a tactical folder because it was not designed and marketed as such, even though it is being use in tactical role.

This is a pretty precise definition that can work.

[shark_za]

Tactics relate to fighting not utility. A knife designed to give a tactical advantage in a fight. First it must be capable of being used as a weapon; then Perhaps concealed, quickly deployed, kept ready for quick access. But only on a fight context; a SAK may be a military knife but it's not tactical. You don't use tactics to open your can of beans while waiting for battle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kampfer]

Tactics relate to fighting not utility. A knife designed to give a tactical advantage in a fight. First it must be capable of being used as a weapon; then Perhaps concealed, quickly deployed, kept ready for quick access. But only on a fight context; a SAK may be a military knife but it's not tactical. You don't use tactics to open your can of beans while waiting for battle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe not for eating beans, what about cutting rope to free hostages, or cutting down branches for field camouflage?

Many tactical items are not exactly weapons, like tactical light, tactical gloves, tactical boots. They are designed and marketed to tactical personal or Mall  .
Battering ram is a tactical tool, not a weapon ; so a tactical knife doesn't has to be a fighting knife.

[Kampfer]

If I pick up a rock in anger, it's a tactical rock 

Only if you are trying to sell it to a bystander.