There are two terms in the knife world that are sometimes used interchangeably: survival knives and tactical knives. For new people and the uninitiated they may seem interchangeable and some knives may fit the criterion for both, but there are distinct differences between a survival knife and a tactical knife that may not be so visible on the surface.
Main Differences of Survival and Tactical Knives
Not all knives are created equal. There are enough differences between a typical tactical knife and what is considered to be a sound survival knife, and we will look at these individually.
About Survival Knives
A survival knife is a knife designed to help someone live off the land or survive in the wilderness if needed. Some people often confuse the knives used in various action movies in the 1980s such as First Blood or Commando. While they might fit the definition, those types of knives were designed to make a statement on film and were overbuilt so they could stand out. Sawtooth spines and hollow handles for storing useless gear aren’t always what you need to look for in a survival knife in most cases.
True survival knives initially came into being as a result of military planning. Starting in World War I, as aviation became more prevalent in combat, there was a need for downed pilots to be able to have a tool that could perform multiple tasks. Due to weight restrictions in an aircraft and the possibility of having to make their way to safety if shot down behind enemy lines, the knife had to be a versatile tool that would perform a variety of tasks. If a pilot had to eject, he wouldn’t necessarily have a backpack full of tools or gear. He would be limited to what could be carried on his flight suit, so a utility tool that could perform a number of functions was prized above all else.
This concept found its way to members of Special Operation Forces as they would have the need for a tool that could perform similar tasks such as skinning game, batoning firewood, making shelters, and true bushcraft chores.
The overwhelming majority of survival knives in recent years are fixed blade knives, often with full tang construction for extra strength. The earliest survival knives used tough carbon steel blades. Carbon steel is still a favorite for many knife manufacturers for these types of blades, but stainless steels have evolved considerably over the past 50 years and some of the newer steels easily outperform traditional carbon steels and add the benefit of corrosion resistance.
Early survival knives were little more than hunting knives or repurposed military utility blades. Many modern survival knives will have what is known as a Scandi grind on the blade. This is short for Scandinavian and refers to a double convex grind with a zero profile edge similar to a chisel and like a chisel they were developed for wood working in the Scandinavian countries. As making firewood and fashioning shelter are major survival tasks off the grid, this grind makes more sense than a heavy hollow-handled knife with a serrated spine.
Additionally, features that are important are a comfortable handle with a sweet spot that does not raise hot spots or cause your hand to blister or fatigue while working with it. Likewise a lanyard hole for attaching a paracord lanyard to secure the knife to your wrist while working is a great feature to have.
About Tactical Knives
The term “tactical knife” was coined by knifemaker Robert Terzuola back in the early 1980s. He was referring to a knife made of a quality stainless steel with a sharp blade and a heavy duty handle material such as Micarta, G10 fiberglass or carbon fiber. The blade could be coated in a black finish or bead blasted and not polished like most knives were. For a folding knife, a pocket clip was ideal and an opening mechanism like a thumb stud or disc to deploy the knife quickly.
Perhaps the earliest tactical folding knives that fit these specifications were those offered by Spyderco as they were the first knives to utilize pocket clips and their patented hole in the blade to open the knife quickly. Additionally, they offered serrated or partially serrated edges.
A key quality of a tactical knife would be its use as a self defense tool. This was personified in the CQC (close quarter combat) series of knives made by custom knifemaker, Ernest Emerson. Emerson’s first tactical folding knife in this series was the CQC6 that was spec'd out by members of the US Navy’s elite SEAL Team 6 in the late 1980s. Other knife makers followed this mindset and the tactical folding knife makes up a huge portion of the cutlery industry as a result.
The term seems to be misused often and many times what would be considered a non-tactical pocket knife are marketed as tactical knives because the blade might be black coated. Whatever knife you choose as a tactical knife should be suitable for the tasks you need it to perform, even if that task is simply opening up cardboard boxes.
When Should You Use Each Type of Knife?
Knives are tools and should be used as such. You would probably not want to use your tactical folding pocket knife to baton wood (unless it was absolutely the only thing available) and you might not want to bust out a Gerber Strongarm to filet a fish you just caught in a river. You want to use the right tool for the task at hand.
The environment where you find yourself matters here, too. If you’re mostly in an urban environment, there’s little you can’t accomplish with a folding tactical pocket knife. If you find yourself in a tropical area off the grid, something like a machete or brush ax might be more of a priority and locales like Alaska or the northern states in the US might mean you’ll need something capable for making firewood or otherwise help with starting a fire.
While your EDC (every day carry) knife might be on your person at all times, most survival knives are typically stored in a vehicle, lashed to a pack or otherwise reserved for an expedition into the wilderness for camping, hiking or hunting. Some people may think a bushcraft or dedicated survival knife might be too excessive for a day hike or other casual outdoor activity, but if plans go awry and you end up hurt or stranded in the wilderness a good survival blade might make the difference until you make it home.
Choosing the right type of knife is important, too. There may be legal restrictions depending on the city or state regarding blade length or whether or not the knife is an automatic or has a double edged blade.
Blade styles are usually dictated by the task at hand. The clip point blade is very popular and traditional for either purpose, yet there is a lot to be said for tanto grinds, clip point blades or even Wharncliffe blades. In the end any buying decision comes down to personal preference.
Although, either type of blade can be used for fighting or self-defense, your primary use does not necessarily need to be a combat knife. A good sharp edge that is easily maintainable should always be the top priority as well as a quality locking mechanism if you are looking for a folding knife.
There is a bit of crossover with regard to certain models of each type, the main differences or knowledge points are:
- A fixed-blade makes for a better survival knife, whereas a folding knife is often best for tactical everyday carry.
- Tactical fixed blades designed for everyday carry are often too small for true survival oriented tasks.
- Serrated blades are often a matter of personal preference, but always remember that a serrated blade will cut even when it is dull and is a good option if you do not have regular access to a sharpener.
- A comfortable handle is important for each type but especially important for a survival knife.
- Size matters in either case as a knife that is too heavy or bulky might get left behind. Likewise, something too expensive might live in a safe as opposed to getting carried or actually used.
Always remember: The best survival knife or tactical knife is the one you have with you when you need it and the only thing more useless or dangerous than an unloaded gun is a dull blade.
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