I'll show you what is tactical and why.
Ok, aside from the karabiners and rescue figure of eight descender in the above picture, sure they can have both recreational and tactical roles, that should be obvious, for example from canyoning to rescue operations etc. Now is THAT particular knife "Tactical" or rather a "Tactical tool"?
Let's see!
Since a knife isn't of any practical use without the capacity for it to be transported; we will start by discussing (with self explanatory pictures) the scabbard.
So in order to be designated "tactical" this scabbard MUST feature some practical aspects which go beyond a regular scabbard and in fact it does!
How about the knife? Surely it's just a knife?
Let's see eh?
Is there any (Tactical) advantage of this knife over a similar sized knife?
Well let's start with that it is strong, as in it can take a 68Kg load (my current body weight) across the horizontal axis. ie 667N force.
Ok so we have now ascertained the knife in question is strong, so? Lot's of knives are strong, although I would certainly not advocate standing on your knife to test it as there is always a chance of a serious injury! "Don't do as i do, do as I say" LOL!
However, no doubt one could at least place 68 kg across the spine (if one could do that with their hands- most people couldn't), the blade might in a pinch be able to be used as a lever. Well, this is a military style knife and the intended market is NOT for the civilian as most civilians have no use of such a knife, come on, it's no good for hunting, way too heavy for hiking and it's use for the soldier is obvious in my mind but what about potential civilian usage? Yes, it can be used to good effect for food preparation (I've done it many times dealing with large bony headed estuary catfish, chopped apart palm tree hearts (in lieu of carrying a machete)
- WHOA! you ask: "Hey why didn't you carry a machete -or even a fish knife?" Well, because I knew where we would be going and whilst it's jungle, it's simply not dense enough to carry a machete- and a fish knife can't chop anything-right?
One must know something about their environment you plan to travel in, makes sense right?
Let's talk about sharpening a knife
Knives come in a myriad of shapes and it is those shape/s that to a major degree influence how: easy or not so easy and or the skill level required to sharpen them. Let's face it, a tanto styled knife, especially a western styles tanto, with little to no belly curvature will be a whole lot easier to sharpen than that of a knife sporting various recurved sections etc etc. "Easier" usually equates to "faster" and as a person on the go (eg a soldier) this will probably be of some benefit. Does that make it tactical, possibly? More likely "practical". If you are not "on the go" then blade shape and sharpening ease has little relevance as one in effect "has all the time in the world" to complete such a task.
Surface coatings
Well this is definitely a tactical requirement unless you want to get everyone killed by flashing about a shiny object revealing your location. Shiny reflective objects are rare in nature (water excepted), as I 'm talking about "just stuff" in the bush/ forest; so anything that shines could mean human presence.
Yesterday, for instance, as I was, let's just say, "buzzed by a (probably IR capable) drone- you can hear them coming as they sound like a cut down helicopter and the pitch from the rotors is much lower than that of regular small drones, and thus was a dead giveaway to the type drone. One could only try and avoid detection by locating inside of a forest asap and making sure no objects were reflective and that one stood under a slightly leaning tree as to shield my IR signal. It seemed to work obviously as I'm here typing away LOL. Black and dull matt black is best.
But seriously, me thinks this was a "cop drone" on a either a S and R (I doubt this), or testing (more than likely), or there were bad guys (not me) lurking in the forest which I thought I was alone in (t's possible too- don't ask me why I believe this) - Yes the trouble I go to making videos, sometimes takes me to some somewhat dodgy regions around the globe, I have no idea why I bother to make my reviews as real as possible, far easier to to film in my garage LOL.
Anyway, It doesn't really matter, they the controllers of the drone) gave up and left the area after about 15 minutes and multiple passes. Ok I get distracted, yes black matt Mil Spec (doesn't have to be but I guess if you want government contracts) then it must be Military specification, coatings are going to make your knife "tactical".
So surface coatings have no practical use for the civilian unless he or she for some reasons (best to not to ask), want to be able to "disappear" it might help???
So in summary I believe it is the carry system which really makes this knife a tactical knife rather than the knife per se.
As the carry options make transport options greater and thus one more flexible I believe.
If you really want to see a tactical knife then please read my articles on the following knives:
Both of the above knives can easily cut hardened barbed wire and or wire of equivalent thickness both come with rigid scabbards housing a diamond plate sharpener. Both have a serrated section. Both are very strongly constructed but not overly heavy.
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