Tactical Knives - Putting You on the Ready

Tactical knives automatically make many people think of the military applications and with good reason. Tactical knives are used heavily by the military for specialized functions. And that is really the definition of a tactical knife. A knife that is build to be used for a very specialized function. Hunting knives, combat knives, diving knives etc, fall into this category. One aspect of tactical knives that must be mentioned is that they can easily be illegal. Many people think that only guns fall into the concealed weapons area of the law, but this is untrue. Anything that is carried in a concealed location and is meant to be used as a weapon is illegal. This can lead to some grey areas especially for tactical knives. Many of which are meant to be used as weapons. So who uses tactical weapons and what for?

The military supplies a few different tactical knifes as standard issue for many troops. Many infantry troops are issued combat knives, while air support is issued with a survival knife. Military tactical knives are commonly fixed blade knives but many are also foldable. So, in the military tactical knives can be used for anything from combat to the army medic preforming battlefield medicine. Special operations may also employ tactical knives on a much higher level than other branches of the military because of the need for surprise and stealth. Knives are quite and effective, as well as easily transportable and reliable. Knives don’t jamb or need need to be refilled.

Police commonly use tactical knives for different operations. Very similar to military operations. Police run into a variety of different situations many of which a good knife can help out a lot with. Not used as much for self defense as in the military tactical knives are still an important part of a police officers tools.

Another frequent user of tactical knives would be paramedics. Paramedics are often the first on the scene of an accident and may be required to cut seat belts or clothes to free people from wreckage or preform lifesaving activities. Reliability and speed are highly important in the job of a paramedic and an easily accessible tactical knife can be a very valuable tool in the hands of a trained paramedic. The professionals must often think fast and improvise in order to save lives.

Hunters outside of the military are possibly one of the largest groups users of any and all tactical equipment. It is not uncommon to see hunters bristling with weapons and tools that will allow them to deal with any wilderness situation that they may find themselves in. Many hunters have not forgotten that being prepared is the name of them game and in many cases have taken this to the extreme. These guys use tactical knives for skinning, gutting, butchering, hunting, eating, setting up camp, clearing, trails, cooking, etc. A good set of tactical knives can easily be a hunters best friend outside of his rifle.

Divers also commonly go into the deep with a reliable tactical knife. This time designed for quick use underwater. Diving knives are specialized in that they are normally stainless steel, and are equipped with a specialized sheath that will not degrade and work well underwater. Diving knives also must have a handle that is grip-able underwater. Divers may need a tactical knife for protection or to cut them selves out of a fishing net. What is important is that it is easy to reach and reliable. You can’t count on much when you are in the alien environment of the ocean so being able to count on a knife is important.

So as you can see tactical knives are very important and are highly specialized. There is an entire subset of combat or concealed tactical knives that I am not even discussing because they are illegal or simply too dangerous.