Thread: Combat Knives?

Solid,,,,

Thanks. I have used very little air hardening steel in my time, but 3V and AEB-L are on my short list of ones to use in the future.

Combat knives are a bit of a dodgy subject in the UK, just carrying one can land you some jail time

"Statutory Limitations & Maximum Penalty: Summary Maximum 6 months and/or £5,000 fine, on Indictment 4 years, or fine or both. 2+3: Summary Maximum 6 months and/or £5,000 fine, on Indictment 4 years, or fine or both. If committed before 12th February 2007, 2 years maximum on Indictment"

However, i would love a bit play about with a Karambit style knife.

From my earlier experience, SELLING something as a "combat knife" or "fighter" is where you get in trouble. Guys call them things like "field knives"

Originally Posted by stev

Combat knives are a bit of a dodgy subject in the UK, just carrying one can land you some jail time

"Statutory Limitations & Maximum Penalty: Summary Maximum 6 months and/or £5,000 fine, on Indictment 4 years, or fine or both. 2+3: Summary Maximum 6 months and/or £5,000 fine, on Indictment 4 years, or fine or both. If committed before 12th February 2007, 2 years maximum on Indictment"

However, i would love a bit play about with a Karambit style knife.

Practical Plus Tanto, one of the original combat knives. I have a couple tanto's and have considered having a modern leather belt sheath made for one to see how they work in a camping environment. I doubt I will see a combat environment again...at least hope I don't.

Ek knives were very popular among USMC chopper crews and grunts in the early 70's. The grunts, especially, preferring the false edge version; with the wooden grip (and lead rivets) removed and then wrapped in cord. Almost always paracord, sometimes a jute-like fiber.

I have heard that later manufacture ones (post 1980?) have a thicker blade. Ka-Bar seems to have recently acquired Ek, so maybe the quality is close to the old standards. Expect to pay a premium if you can find an older one with the lead rivets.

Here's a link to some background info.

EDIT: It seems that Ek used to offer the option of Swedish Sandvik steel. Mora anyone?

The ones offered in the 90's were nothing to write home about.

Originally Posted by Sticky

Ek knives were very popular among USMC chopper crews and grunts in the early 70's. The grunts, especially, preferring the false edge version; with the wooden grip (and lead rivets) removed and then wrapped in cord. Almost always paracord, sometimes a jute-like fiber.

I have heard that later manufacture ones (post 1980?) have a thicker blade. Ka-Bar seems to have recently acquired Ek, so maybe the quality is close to the old standards. Expect to pay a premium if you can find an older one with the lead rivets.

Here's a link to some background info.

EDIT: It seems that Ek used to offer the option of Swedish Sandvik steel. Mora anyone?

Don't know if the thread is still viewed, but I'm new to the forum and this is a sweet spot subject for me!
Knives used for self defense are not magical tools that will save your bacon from a life threatening encounter. If you don't train to use it, or any type of self defense training, it won't make up the difference.
Knowing your capabilities determines your knife shopping. If you have a boxing skill, you can ease into training with a karambit and be successful with the reverse grip by throwing "punches".
Cold Steel knives are far and away the best value in tactical blades, with a great deal of diversity. Anytime you see these exotic steels in a tac knife, you should only consider it for collect-ability, because once you get passed an AUS8 steel and above $200 you're seriously over paying for what you need.
For the OP, I'd recommend a Cold Steel GI Tanto. It's a 7 inch blade, comes in a Kydex sheath, retails for about $25 and is damn near indestructible. Look here: https://youtu.be/6qV0zaN83zM .....this guy tortures bush/tactical knives to see if the manufacturer's claims hold water. NOTE: took him over 8 episodes to actually destroy the thing! Also, they've upgraded the sheath over what is shown and went to scales over wrap.

I actually just got a new knife yesterday, not necessarily a combat knife, however the sheer heft of the thing would make it a pretty good cosh or baton heheh. Bought for use as a heavy camp knife as everything else for this past time is small and great for finer work but needed something heavy. The price was right so i grabbed a Schrade SCHF36.


my apologies for the pyjamas

That's a beauty! Should make light work out of batoning and bushcraft.
People sleep on brands like Schrade, but they make some stellar knives; the Schrade Sharp Finger is an awesome smaller fixed blade tactical and/or EDC & would be a great accompaniment to that bush knife above. You can get one of those for $15-20 shipped free