The folding knife also known as a pocket knife appears to be a simple tool, while in reality, it is a complex and multi-faceted arrangement. Over the past years, these intricate knives’ sales have significantly increased. It very rare to find a producer who does not offer a line of these knives. However, there are certain factors that make a folding knife into a tactical knife and they need to be kept in mind before making a purchase.
A Tactical knife has a Blade Lock
One crucial feature all the tactical knives must have is a blade lock to clasp the blade in place and prevent it from folding back. The lock operates with the help of a lever or button. This is highly important because the knife is meant for carrying out harsh tasks where the blade needs to be propelled in different directions using the hand to tightly grip the handle. However, a knife suddenly collapsing back onto the fingers during a task is a major failure in design. The most popularly used lock type is a liner lock. A metal liner surrounds the blade of the knife when folded. When the blade is opened, the liners acting like a leaf spring jumps into the room in the middle of the handle, holding the blade in the open state, until the user releases the liner back into place to allow the blade to fold back. Even though the liner lock is cost-effective, it does lack in strength.Some tactical knives only use a diaphanous frame lock, which performs the same functions. However, high-quality knives have a more sophisticated locking design such as Benchmade Spring Assist Axis Lock. This lock uses a spring loaded button which passes through the frame and fits into an indentation at the back of the blade. This locks the blade into place with considerable strength. While the design of the lock is based on personal preference, the quality of the parts used in the locking system differentiates between the contenders and the pretenders.
A Tactical knife is Partially Serrated
Serrations are often integrated into the blades of a tactical knife. These sharp edges can saw through materials that are hard to cut. Serrations make a knife more versatile- this is done by serrating half the blade for performing rough tasks that can damage or dull the blade. This saves the rest of the section of the blade for other milder tasks. The only weakness in serrations is that they can become dull quickly rapidly and require special tools to sharpen them. The blade without serrations is intended to do delicate slicing work, while, the blades with complete serrations can be used for coarse work where delicacy is not required. A partially serrated blade can carry on tasks ranging from ‘fine’ to ‘rough’.
Blade Shapes of a Tactical knife Must be Efficient
A wide variety of blade shapes are available in a tactical knife, including a tanto, a drop point, a bowie and a clip point amongst others. The shape of the blades aims to be used as adept self-defense weapons. Hence, an efficient blade that can resist rust, sustain their edge after being used and be easily sharpened prove more competent. The quality of steel i.e. its sheer strength and hardness can help prevent permanent deformation due to stress on the blade.A tactical knife is lightweight and can be easily carried in a pocket without a scabbard. A high-quality blade shape, a lock, and non-slip grip maximizes efficiency and proves beneficial for the users. A tactical knife is a superior fighting knife than a plain pocket knife, it is much easier to carry than a fantasy knife and practical for all the mundane daily life chores. To know more about the most suitable tactical folder for you, give a read to ‘finding the perfect pocket knife’
