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rami_m

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I emailed a knife maker today asking about kitchen knives but he responded that he prefers fighters over kitchen and utility knives which got me wondering what do people use them for? They can't all be martial artists and it sounds expensive to put it on a shelf somewhere.
 
I imagine that's why many get made, they don't have to work, just to look good.
 
The boss of ESEE (disclaimer I own ESEE-6 for the occasional trip outside of civilization) on how knives are designed and sold.

In all honesty, the knife industry is about 99 percent ********. We sell knives every day to people who will never use them. Knife buying is more of a want than a need.

I grew up on a farm carrying a three-bladed "Old timer" pocketknife. It did everything I needed and got used daily. All these new weird shapes and designs that keep coming out are made just to have something new and "tacticool." Most companies refuse to speak the truth and just say, "the reason we designed this is because some mall ninja would think it's cool and spend money on it."

http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/how-survival-knives-are-designed-and-manufactured-1577108102

It is even worse with combat knives. A smith cannot get away with crappy kitchen knife because it will be used.
 
Still - should I ever need a machete or similar heavy duty knife I would probably get one from Burt Foster. He seems to know what he is doing (he also does knives for active army personal). I have seen he also ventured to kitchen knives on occasion, though I do not know how well those knife work in kitchen.

But indeed - most bowies and even more 'tactical' knives are just used to be tested on few sticks and then discussed to death on knife fora. There are many many more outdoor/tactical knife makers than kitchen knife makers for the reason already mentioned - the kitchen knives actually have to perform.
 
The best thing about fighters for a custom maker is that they will probably never be used for much. No one will ever get around to complaining about actual performance in the field and the fact they cut very poorly.
 
All Right, some of you guys are acting like knife bigots.
It is easy to look at the flea market knives from Pakistan that are cheap wall hangers, and then lump all the fighters into that category.
But there is a niche of knife makers who make knives that would put most of the customs you have seen to shame.
and....fighters do get carried and used, just not in the kitchen.
 
....fighters do get carried and used, just not in the kitchen.

Where and by whom? In Australia we can't even carry them so was wondering what's the rest of the world experience?
 
Mark you are right - there are really professional tactical knives makers. But the matter of fact is that while there are many more makers that make (whether usable or not) tactical knives than kitchen knives, there are many more kitchen knives that actually see regular use, than there are fighter knives (that is a good thing!).

(am I the only one who finds that sentence above awful to read?)
 
As above, if you got caught with a "fighter" on your person here in the UK you may be hit with a custodial sentence.
 
calling them "fighters" is the stupid part. i have a few knives i rotate on hunting trips. i couldnt fight my way out of a paper bag without copious supply of blood clotters and bandages.

fun thread by the way.

but there are some fantastic custom knives out there. i bought my brother a decent "tactical" knife because he is on a SWAT team. he uses the knife to cut thru screen doors..and he tried to pry a stuck smoke bomb thing out of the chamber and snapped off the tip..then he lost it. haha..now he carries a regular folding knife and it does the exact same thing.

i love what the ESEE guys says. i want the ESEE 4 to gut deer and stuff with. nice tool.
 
Australia and the UK are pretty strict with their knife laws. New York as well.
I wear a knife on my belt when going to the grocery store. Technically a fighter but the blade is only about 6 inches.
Helps to deter some of the more aggressive pan handlers. But then we don't have any local police here.
It is kind of like carrying a gun. Something you hope you will never need to use.
I will try to take some photos in the near future.
 
It is not about being a bigot - I am sure a lot of the knives that are made are really well made. And that the (para)military guys and girls that use them can provide valuable feedback and exact requests.

What I am talking is something like that -I really cannot imagine a situation in which this knife will perform better any classical design. If someone that is specialist in CQC I will be glad to hear the opinions.

27TLTH_m.jpg


http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/27TLTH/RECON_1_TANTO_POINT_50_50_EDGE.aspx
 
Australia and the UK are pretty strict with their knife laws. New York as well.
I wear a knife on my belt when going to the grocery store. Technically a fighter but the blade is only about 6 inches.
Helps to deter some of the more aggressive pan handlers. But then we don't have any local police here.
It is kind of like carrying a gun. Something you hope you will never need to use.
I will try to take some photos in the near future.

According to a WW2 veteran being discussed in another knife forum, a 6 inch knife is more than enough to stab and kill someone from any angle. Longer or shorter than 6 inches is not good. 6 inches is the optimum length for a combat knife, according to his experience in killing sentries.

So, you seem to have the perfect combat knife already.:knife:
 
Lizard,
That is not a fighter. That would be considered a tactical folder.
A folder like you showed is a special use tactical knife.
Maybe instead of saying bigot I should have said ignorant. Not meant in a derogatory way but uneducated in a certain subject.

A fighter these days is not meant so much to be a tool, as it is a weapon.
Originally the bowie knife (a fighter) needed to be a multi use knife to be used to cut wood, butcher game and also be used as a weapon.

Australia does have some good knife makers who specialize in fighters.
Will Morrison from Melbourne is a good example.
This is one of his most recent knives, a bowie with a 10 inch blade.
096.JPG
 
That looks nice. And I am likely to get one at some point. But afraid only as a display piece. These are too good to use as just that. So trying to work out what I might use them for.
 
This guy makes fighters sometimes.
mka24.jpg

It's an old photo but some of the old timers here might recognize him.
 
I've actually owned a knife from the recon series many years ago. Drop tip rather than tanto. Very usuable knife to beat the piss out of and not care about really.. used it for everything(considering I got it at 16-17)


It is not about being a bigot - I am sure a lot of the knives that are made are really well made. And that the (para)military guys and girls that use them can provide valuable feedback and exact requests.

What I am talking is something like that -I really cannot imagine a situation in which this knife will perform better any classical design. If someone that is specialist in CQC I will be glad to hear the opinions.

27TLTH_m.jpg


http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/27TLTH/RECON_1_TANTO_POINT_50_50_EDGE.aspx
 
Where and by whom?

A lot of guys where I am. Mostly Ka-bar types, some more high end stuff, nothing that can't be considered expendable. They are job specific tools for these people.
I have a few; never anticipate using them though. Really just because I like the maker and they're kinda hard to come by.
 
I carry a Spyderco Super Blue, patina & very sharp. Mostly used for slicing open letters & cutting boxes. It does get used for other things as well. I would consider a 3" locked Spyderco a weapon.

Use a M-390 for yardwork, it has a tough edge but not as refined as my Super blue. I have put that knife through all kinds of abuse that & my Cold Steel Bowie.
 
I have taken a few knife fighting classes with Steve Tarani, who some say is at the top of the class. They included classes with the folding carry knife and the karambit -- a wicked tool from Indonesia, equally dangerous to the untrained user. My folder is always carried and never used as a utility tool. If I need it, which I hope I never do, I want it very sharp.

The folder designed by Tarani and Strider is no longer available:


The karambit:


Keith
 
I bought a machete I know I would never use in case of a zombie apocalypse. Or any disaster that where I may need a weapon on hand in the future.

Also I enjoyed the B-movie Machete.
 
I guess a question could be asked, who actually gets decent or practical field and work use out of their $500+ survival/fighter knife beyond the handy letter opener?
 
When I think of of "fighters" I think of blades engraved with dragons and damsels, faux rubies and emeralds on the handles, and a goofy hand guard, all designed and marketed to pimply faced young lads. I don't know why anyone would want one but recognize that some people do.

I don't often carry a knife (except when hunting/fishing) but usually have a couple near at hand. Utility is more important to me than aesthetics.

For any self defense needs I've yet to see a knife that will trump a Glock.
 
When I think of of "fighters" I think of blades engraved with dragons and damsels, faux rubies and emeralds on the handles, and a goofy hand guard, all designed and marketed to pimply faced young lads. I don't know why anyone would want one but recognize that some people do.

I don't often carry a knife (except when hunting/fishing) but usually have a couple near at hand. Utility is more important to me than aesthetics.

For any self defense needs I've yet to see a knife that will trump a Glock.

We had an emergency room surgeon in a number of pistol classes who had an interesting comment on that subject. He said in the ER, about 15% of gunshot victims died, and about 15% of knife wound victims survived. It certainly increased the distance at which I figured a knife carrying bad guy could get before time to open fire.
 
See I am getting worried here. Not sure if this is something I can get behind. I do boxing twice a week, but not sure if I want to enact violence upon others.
 
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