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Fighting Knives Reviewed
Fighting Knives Reviewed
E-Mail: [email protected]
I hope that you have all enjoyed the heavy duty folding knife segment of Sniper
Cutlery. All of the knives reviewed are quality practical knives; built to high
standards by reputable companies. Each had unique characteristics to address specific
market needs. What you, the reader, should take away from those reviews is not
which knife is best but rather knowledge of what makes a good tactical folding knife
because those characteristics are indispensable in any product choice that you make.
When you’re out there getting ready to buy your first or tenth tactical folding knife
your decision must be based on the following criteria: first, any knife that you get
must have a handle of sufficient length, girth and surface texture to allow for a secure
grip. Remember, that if you have to use it in a defensive role, you will have blood on
it and without a good griping surface you will not be able to control the knife.
Second, the blade axis point and lock up must be secure; any play, up or down and side-to-side is a potential
problem waiting to strike. Imagine, for example, using a reverse grip to chip through a wall or a door and
having the blade collapse, in this scenario, you can kiss your thumb goodbye. Third, the blade must be stout
enough for hard use. There is no substitute for adequate blade thickness, thin blades weigh less but will not
survive hard tactical use. Finally, the blade profile needs to match the intended use. Hollow ground blades will
sharpened to a razor’s edge but they will break under stress; making them more suited for EDC as opposed to
heavy tactical use, where there is moderate to heavy chopping, probing and chipping. Flat ground blades are
adept to chopping, prying, batoning or fighting. Most of your quality fighting or survival knives are flat
ground.
Before moving on to fighting knives, I want to leave you with a couple of thoughts. Whether you are in law
enforcement or military, a tactical folding knife is an important tool for you to have. I cannot overemphasize
this point. If you find yourself in a CQB/CQC situation and you
experience a primary weapon failure or loose control of your
primary weapon, transitioning to a sidearm my not be possible;
the tactical folding knife maybe the only thing that stands
between you and a body bag. Keep it sharp, keep it oiled and do
not use it to open mail, hammer nails or cut lunchmeats. You can
get a Swiss Army knife for that.
My final point goes to the great myth that you can use your
tactical folder to go against a fighting knife. If you are up against
an opponent with a purpose built fighting knife, like a Navy MK
3, shown to the left, for example, your first thought should be to
create space. Get as far away as fast as you can. If you cannot
retreat, your second thought should be to get inside your
opponents defensive perimeter as quickly as possible. If you need
to get into the guy’s trousers to do so, just do it. From that
position, use your tactical folder to defeat your target, basing your
attack on thrusting and not slashing.
“A stroke with the edges, though made with ever so much force, seldom kills… On the contrary, a stab,
though it penetrates but two inches, is generally fatal.”
As you can see knife fighting strategies and techniques are thousands of years old - nothing new here just
common sense, good tactics and guts.
So what makes a good fighting knife? There are as many opinions as there are fish in the sea and I wish there
were less myth and more fact. However, even though you get a dozen different opinions you can still walk away
with a sense of what is a common element. I draw from one individual, who has been a custom blade designer
for years, Allen Elishewitz1
To find out where Allen’s head is at, I reached out to him and he was gracious enough to share his thoughts:
“IappreciatethisopportunitybuttakewhatIsaywithagrainofsaltbecausejustlikeasking10
knifemakershowtodosomethingandyou’llget10answers;martialartsarethesameway.
Inmyopinion,whatmakesagreatfightingknifeiseverythingontheknife.Notjustthebladeor
thehandlehastobetakenunderconsideration.Aknifeisatooljustlikeahammer.Improperly
designedorselectingthewrongoneforyourstyleortechniquewillnotproducethemostefficient
results.
Bladelengthforafixedblade:6.5”.Thisisagoodsizeforbothicepickandhammergrip.
Anythinglongerthanthisyouwilltendtogetintoproblemsintheicepickgrip.ForfoldersIlike
thebladelengthtobe3.75”to4.5”.Thisisallaboutconcealability.
Bladeshape:EverythingIcangetwiththepointlocationveryclosetocentersoTantoandhigh
sweptPersiansarenotmyfavorites.Examplesofpointlocatedinthecenterwouldbeadrop
point,aspearpoint.Also,Wharncliff2andmodifiedWharncliffaremyfavoritesbutvery
misunderstoodbythegeneralpublic.Thesebladeslookveryunusualbecausetheydonothavea
bellyand90%oftheuserscannotrelatetothisshapebladesoitisautomaticallydiscounted.Iam
abigbelieverindoubleedgeifyouhaveachoice.Idonotlikeguards;Ifeelitisawkward,
cumbersome.WhatIhavedoneisreplacetheguardwithfingergrooves,flaresinthehandleand
parrotbeaksinthebackofthehandle,palmswells,anythingsothehandhasmorecontrolover
theblade.
Ipreferhandlesthathaveaslightcurvedownward;notonlydotheyfeelbetterinthehand,but
whilegripingitandpointingtheknifethetipisoutstraighter.Idonotlikeanoverlylonghandle
becauseitmightgetintheway.Idopreferhavingaskullcrusherifpossible.Dependingonthe
knifeshape,sizeetc...AlsohowIamgoingtouseitwilldictateifthebalancepointisinthe
handleorintheblade.Ifitisbladeheavy,youhaveadvantagesinchoppingwithmoreweight
forward.Withtheweightinthehandle,thebladeisactuallyalotfasterinyourhandbutitis
more“barkthanbite”.Whatisreallydifficultistogetitbalancedrightinfrontofthehandle
whereitismoreneutralandallaround…”
1
You can read about Allen Elishewitz here.
2
This is an example of the Wharncliffe blade. Note the straight edge with a sweeping
spine from the handle to the tip. There are variations in the Wharncliffe circles but the sweep and straight
belly-less edge are characteristic of this profile.
Allen’sholisticapproachindescribinggoodfightingknivesisasynthesisofdiscretecomponents
thatIwouldliketodiscuss.
First, fighting knives are almost universally fixed blade designs. A folding knife has a single point of failure,
which is the axis point and locking mechanism. A fixed blade does not have that issue; additionally, a fixed
blade does not need to be deployed, it is always there and ready.
Second, fighting knives need to strike a balance between reach and maneuverability. Designers will strive to stay
in the five to seven inch range with most practical designs coming in at six inches or so. Knives – folding or
fixed – shorter than five inches lack the reach to be good fighting knives.
Allen also prefers the blade tip to be as close to the center of the blade as possible, clip points, drop point and
spear points achieve this goal. In the absence of these point design, I like the Tanto point because of its
wounding capabilities and the fact that it gives you a cutting surface at the tip.
Just about every military combat knife to see action is equipped with a handguard. The logic is that a
handguard prevents your hand from sliding over the blade during hard use, but it also helps to protect your
hand from a slice delivered by an opponent. In fact, a handguard may also be configured with attachments that
are used to entangle your opponent’s knife. However, l agree with Allen when he says that guards get in the
way. I would rather have well designed finger grooves with an aggressively textured gripping surface. I also like a
grip design with palm swells because they contribute greatly to comfort and control. The key here is to select a
grip design that sits comfortably in your hand. Make this assessment by trying a saber grip, palm supported
grip, reverse grip and an ice pick grip. Any strain in your hand should disqualify the grip design.
Before leaving the grip, recall that Allen likes a grip that curves downward. A great example of that is the
Benchmade 150BKSN Marc Lee Glory Knife3. Eddie Killian designed this knife and it stands as a great
example of a truly excellent fighting knife design.
When Allen refers to a skull crusher, he is referring to the pummel. Again, I too like a good seized pummel;
they come in very handy for breaking glass or a source of less lethal force.
On the subject of balance, I like a fighting knife to be balanced slightly forward of the handle, so that the knife
blade has some heft. As Allen indicated, this type of balance is very well suited for chopping. In my opinion,
this places the center of percussion very close to the knife tip and works well with Tanto, drop point and spear
point designs, with one exception, and that is daggers. Daggers should be balanced towards the handle so that
the tip is agile. For example, the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife has its point of balance about an inch south of
the handguard.
With this discussion behind us, the Sniper Cutlery series moves on to fighting knives. In the reviews that follow
this introduction, I will be looking at designs from a number of leading companies in the United States and
Europe. As always, our focus will be on real world application and our assessments will be based on those
characteristics that designers like Allen Elishewitz see as essential ingredients.
3
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=150
E-Mail: [email protected]
The Ontario Knife Company, OKC, has been which makes it a bit more difficult to
in business since 1889 when it was founded sharpen. I would have preferred a full flat
in Naples, New York. They are currently grind; however, that would have meant
located in Franklinville, New York where giving up some rigidity to achieve it. The
they manufacture most of their products. MK3 sports an aggressive clip point with a
Over the years, OKC has been the leading sharp edge that aids in thrust cuts. It also
supplier to the U.S Military, producing places the knife tip right at the center of the
bayonets, machetes, survival knives and blade. Because the knife serves as a fighter
specialized Air Crew Survival systems. and survival knife,
Today, the company manufactures a the spine has
comprehensive line of products that includes aggressive
RATK, SPEC PLUS®, ASEK™ & XM™ serrations that can
Folders, and a variety of specialized tools be readily used for
and edge weapons. In addition to sawing, or other
manufacturing its own products, OKC tasks that may
manufactures a number of private label arise. The blade is .161 inches thick, which
blades and knives. makes the MK3 stout enough for prying,
probing and digging. Balance is toward the
I chose to start the fighting knife series with handle just aft of the guard. This makes the
the MK3 USN because it stands as the blade tip fast, which
benchmark by which fighting knives should gives the knife a
be judged. dagger-like feel.
The MK3 Navy has a 61/2 inch blade made Those of you that
of 440A stainless steel that is finished in a read my
black oxide for corrosion resistance. The
blade is flat ground from about mid-spine, 1
The actual caliper reading was .157 inches.
Review
The SOG Daggert 2 sports an AUS 8 stainless
steel blade that is 6.6 inches long and 1 inches
wide. SOG ships the Daggert 2 with both edges
sharp- thank goodness- so it’s appropriate to
suggest caution when handling the knife. I can’t
tell you how frustrating it is to evaluate a dagger
with only one edge on it. Thank you SOG. The
blade is partially serrated and functions well for
The granddaddy of CQB weapons is the dagger. cutting rope and minor sawing tasks; however, in
It has been around since before Christ, and worn all honesty, I would have preferred no serrations
by everyone from foot soldiers to noblemen. as they are unnecessary and detract from the
Daggers are easily concealable, highly dagger’s intended functionality. Undoubtedly,
maneuverable and deadly. To the ancients, the SOG wants the Daggert 2 to straddle the fighting
dagger was the weapon of choice whenever the and survival knife space.
situation called for an assassination1. It kept that
standing throughout history and it was a standard
weapon for OSS operatives during WWII. Today
daggers are used by a number of military and
police units around the world.
Manufacturer’s Specifications
Blade Length 6.6” Overall Length 11.85”
Weight 8.5 oz Edge Straight/Partial
Serrations
Steel AUS8 Handle Kraton
Finish TiNi Price $175 USD
E-mail: [email protected]
Earlier, in the Sniper Cutlery series, I introduced Columbia River
Knife & Tool of Tualatin, Oregon; however, for those who are new
subscribers or not familiar with CRKT, I will present just a quick
snap shot of the company.
CRKT is one of the largest manufacturers of knives and tools in the
United States, offering a diversified line of over 50 knives and tools
for commercial, military and law enforcement markets around the
world. They manufacture folding knives, fixed blade knives, rescue
tools and a variety of other accessories. They produce blades from
well-known designers like Elishewitz, Carson and several others. In
short, they are a highly respected enterprise that has built a reputation on customer
service and excellent products.
In this issue, I will review a rendition, from Columbia River Knife & Tool, of a fixed-
blade fighting knife, the CRKT M60 SOTFB1 16NKD.
Review
The M60 is a stout tool with an overall length
of 11 inches, which features a 6-inch AUS82
stainless steel knife blade and a massive
Tanto point.
Digressing for a moment, I love Tanto points
on combat knives for several reasons; in
particular, because they provide two cutting
1
Special Operations Tactical Fixed Blade
2
Rockwell Hardness of 56-58
3
Latin expression used, frequently, in economics meaning all things being equal.
4
For additional information and to view the company’s products visit http://www.crkt.com
Since I can remember, there has always religion were profoundly influenced by
been a considerable amount of the Chinese and Korean cultures. The
discussion about knife-points. They same holds true for their weapons.
usually revolve around what point The Tanto blade has its origins in Japan
design makes a better knife. The Tanto and it was first manifested in the
point has always been controversial Chokuto swords. Archeologists generally
because knife aficionados tend to agree that the design was imported
pigeon-hole the Tanto blade as a from China. The more significant
combat knife. I don’t disagree with that characteristics of the Chokuto was the
in its entirety but as I discussed in my straight blade and the squared off tip.
introductory article to fighting knives, Later in Japanese history, the samurai
one characteristic does not, alone, make made significant changes to the
the knife. An excellent knife brings to Chokuto sword giving it a longer more
the table a variety of attributes that curved edge that swept to a point thus
work in concert to create an creating what we know to be the katana
outstanding tool: blade material, length, sword.
thickness, grind, balance and the handle
must all interact seamlessly. What I
strive to do in my “Fighting Knife” series
is expose you to designs that I consider
to be excellent tools; with the
understanding that we are talking about
a knife that will, at some point in time,
become a backup weapon in a tactical Figure 1 - Japanese Chokuto1
situation. Cold Steel’s Recon Tanto falls
squarely into that class of tool. As Figure 1 illustrates, the Chokuto edge
From an anthropological perspective, is straight, lacking the curvature that is
the Japanese did not originate as its characteristic of the katana blade, and
own unique culture. Rather, Japanese the tip squares up.
culture is a summation of Chinese,
Korean, Russian and Polynesian origins. The katana swords, to this date, retain a
Some of the most beautiful women in puncturing and slashing ability that is
the world come from Northern Japan. unsurpassed; whereas, the Chokuto’s
Their skins are milk white and they are
handsome tall women. This is due to the 1
This picture is of a Chokuto built by Joe
Russian influence. Customs, dress and Walters of Moonlit Forge. Details are available
at the following web site:
strength was a devastating chopping Most tactical knives in use by military
facility. Although technically the Tanto personnel today end up being used for
point in use today has its origins in the probing, prying and cutting. Any of
Chokuto design, most sword people will these tasks, including poking through an
go along with tracing its origins to the exterior wall, are no challenge to this
Japanese katana. Tanto. I had some difficulty in my
testing because I did not have two rigid
Review surfaces to work with; when I tried to
pry two surfaces apart, the weaker
surfaces gave way. This is one
behemoth of a knife. Punching through
sheetrock, two and three sheets thick is
Cold Steel’s Recon Tanto, Model a snap, as is a variety of other tasks,
Number, 13RTK is a hefty 9 oz. tactical including light chopping.
knife. Its combat abilities are equally
The blade is constructed from AUS8 respectable. The razor sharp 7 inch
steel, which offers excellent edge blade is flat ground and has excellent
durability and corrosion resistance. The reach. Using this knife in a defensive
massive 7 inch blade is 3/16th of an inch role, in tight quarters, presents no
thick, which gives the Recon Tanto very problems at all. The Recon Tanto is
respectable tool strength. I cannot ideally suited for snap cuts, thrusts and
image, anyone, able to snap this blade slashes. The slight curvature of the
during any real-world use. blade makes the knife a very effective
cutting tool as well.
The Recon Tanto is balanced slightly
forward of the hilt and that gives the
blade a bit more heft, which comes in
very handy for snap cuts and chopping.
A snap cut with this Tanto will easily
take and appendage. The extra blade
heft does not make for a nimble point,
so if carving a “Z” on an opponent’s
forehead is what floats your boat, you
may want to look elsewhere.
Cold Steel uses a black epoxy powder
coat that contributes to corrosion
resistance; however, it brakes easily
under hard use. I would have preferred
an oxide finish or a parkerized surface.
As it ships from Cold Steel, the blade has
a semi-gloss look, and I definitely think
it can be improved on; I offer my
comment as a suggestion to the folks at
Cold Steel.
Whether punching through a wall or
executing a snap cut, having a good
handle is critically important. Here too,
Cold Steel has done an excellent job.
Tactical knives are subjected to hard
use; therefore, providing an effective
way to control the knife is essential and
requires some thinking.
Providing a hand guard, as part of the
handle design, is essential for hard use
applications. However, it has to be done
with a degree of finesse so that you
don’t end up with a hand guard that
gets in the way or is easily entangled as
you draw the knife.
The Recon Tanto incorporates a lower
hand guard that is quite effective in a
saber grip, reverse grip or ice pic. For the gripping surface, Cold Steel
The handle is very comfortable and chose to use Kraton®, which is a
substantial; at a length of 4-3/4 inches, polymer commonly used to replace
it allows a good solid grip, even for rubber and it is frequently used on tool
individuals with large hands. Although grips and other applications. Kraton is
the design does not incorporate palm durable and stable at temperatures that
swells, it fills the hand quite comfortably are well over 100°C.
and does an excellent job of insulating With or without gloves, I always felt that
the hand from shock, resulting in less I had a comfortable and secure grip,
arm and hand fatigue. even in wet conditions.
As a final point, Cold Steel provides a
lined lanyard attachment point that
accommodates 550 paracord.
The Recon Tanto ships with a Secure-
Ex® Kydex sheath, which is designed to
be carried on the belt. The knife is
secured at two points, the handle and
the hand guard. At the handle, there is a
snap that attaches to the belt loop and
at the hand guard by the molded
sheath. Overall, this sheath does an
excellent job of securing the knife, and
there is an abundance of eyes and slots
along the periphery of the sheath to
deliver considerable flexibility in how
the knife is carried.
Manufacturer’s
Specifications
Blade: 7"
Handle: 4-3/4"
Overall: 11-3/4"
Thick: 3/16"
Weight: 9oz.
Finish: black epoxy powder coat finish
MSRP: $119.99
Conclusions
Cold Steel’s designers clearly knew what
they were doing. The RECON Tanto
draws from some of the best sword
technology in man’s history. Its Katana
lineage is evident in the sweeping edge.
Its Tanto point provides superior
puncture power. Its substantial blade
thickness provides remarkable tool
strength. The AUS8 construction
guarantees that the edges will remain
unbroken and sharp; lastly, a handle
construction that provides a durable,
comfortable and secure gripping
surface.
What you end up with is one heck of a
combat knife, where the sum of its parts
is greater than the individual
constituents.
To fully appreciate Cold Steel’s Recon
Tanto hold one in your hand and feel
how it becomes an extension of your
arm. Then you’ll know, first hand, what
seamlessness means.
Sniper Cutlery Fighting Knives – Extrema Ratio 39-09
By: Sal Palma
E-mail: [email protected]
Operativo
attractive.
The knife is secured by a broach that is
molded into the PVC sheath locking the
knife in place at the hand guard. The