Combat knife: black coating or not

E

Edirt

Joined
Mar 13, 2013
Messages
3
Hey everyone.. I'm new here
Just wondering what people's opinions are.. Does a combat knife really have to have a coated blade? I have no combat experience... However I do quite a bit of training with my cousin up at our family compound in northern mn... Should the $$$$ hit the fan we have all the supplies and weapons and skills we need to survive.. I know the scenario is far fetched but I enjoy discussing it! Lol
Anyway I'm looking At adding the bark river bravo 1.5 as my dedicated combat scenario knife and putting it with my gear stash for just such a time.. However I'm just a chairborne ranger who loves knifes and guns and having no real combat experience.. I wonder.. Will the non coated blade and shiny pins on the bravo really "give away my position?" My first thought is no but like I said I'm no expert.. Any thought?
 
Speaking as a non expert. I would also say a black coating isnt going to make it or brake it. As long as you dont have a mirrored finish on a blade in a SHTF scenario i thing anything will be just fine.
 
Speaking from the experience I have as Brigade Recon for 3ID and 1/4 Cav, you can't have anything shinny and anything that makes noise. Take that and look at your gear, is it shinny???? Does it make noise??? If so, fix it. That's my advice.
 
The main point is to not be reflective, to not draw attention or make a shiny target to shoot at. A mirror finish reflected like a signal mirror is not ideal. But you don't need to have a black coating, most other colors should be fine or you could go with a bead blasted or stone wash finish on the blade. Example: Ritter griptilian.
 
While I have not served in the military, I believe that with my decades of experience as a Law Enforcement Officer working in one of America's largest and most dangerous shopping malls, I could provide valuable insight and advice (based on real-world experience from fighting in what has been referred to as the "Tombstone of the Modern Midwest,") to both the OP and any others who may be interested.
But you didn't say please, so too bad.
 
What the hell, this is life and death! Whaddya think, this is Whine and Cheese? I spend a lot of time in malls, so I need the benefit of your experience! Tombstone my ass!

Edited to add: OP (original poster), you will get less crap for this sort of thing if you post it in Prac Tac.

(( gently gently :: family friendly ))
 
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numbersman said:
What the hell, this is life and death! Whaddya think, this is Whine and Cheese? I spend a lot of time in malls, so I need the benefit of your experience! Tombstone my ass!

Edited to add: OP (original poster), you will get less crap for this sort of thing if you post it in Prac Tac.

(( gently gently :: family friendly ))
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LoL!!!!
 
The infamous black coating debate ! LOL :D It is what it is. You either like it or you dont. I personally am glad that i like it. Saves me from having to strip all my blades, most of which are coated in black. It also helps stop rust to some degree. Yes they can & do wear &/or wear off in some cases. Some people think the knife looks like crap then. I think it gives it character. I have had NO issues with rust in my lifetime of 49 yrs. If rust does concern you, look up & do some research on Fluid Film. It is simply magic in a can. No, REALLY, that stuff just plain works. 99% of my blades are Carbon steel, never had a rust issue. I store them in my basement in 3 big rubber maid containers.
 
DuraCoat_Paint___4c52f133cdecb.jpg
 
Dan57 said:
While I have not served in the military, I believe that with my decades of experience as a Law Enforcement Officer working in one of America's largest and most dangerous shopping malls, I could provide valuable insight and advice (based on real-world experience from fighting in what has been referred to as the "Tombstone of the Modern Midwest,") to both the OP and any others who may be interested.
But you didn't say please, so too bad.
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Lol? :foot:
 
TwinStick said:
The infamous black coating debate ! LOL :D It is what it is. You either like it or you dont. I personally am glad that i like it. Saves me from having to strip all my blades, most of which are coated in black. It also helps stop rust to some degree. Yes they can & do wear &/or wear off in some cases. Some people think the knife looks like crap then. I think it gives it character. I have had NO issues with rust in my lifetime of 49 yrs. If rust does concern you, look up & do some research on Fluid Film. It is simply magic in a can. No, REALLY, that stuff just plain works. 99% of my blades are Carbon steel, never had a rust issue. I store them in my basement in 3 big rubber maid containers.
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Which one would be most effective at hiding me from the Minnesota State Guard?
 
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if your knife is out in a combat situation you have already lost. if it is in it's sheath, then it doesn't matter if it has a coating or not.

lol at all these so called tactical situations involving knives.

either way, never coating, always bare blade. strip that thang.

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Dan57 said:
While I have not served in the military, I believe that with my decades of experience as a Law Enforcement Officer working in one of America's largest and most dangerous shopping malls, I could provide valuable insight and advice (based on real-world experience from fighting in what has been referred to as the "Tombstone of the Modern Midwest,") to both the OP and any others who may be interested.
But you didn't say please, so too bad.
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That is a freaking keeper post. Good job. I salute you.:thumbup:
 
I own quite a few knives that have actually been in "theator" overseas. Most blades are so worn/sharpened that they don't do much reflection. It also seems that many of the soldiers that use them in combat paint the cases and sometimes the blades to match the surroundings (very quick crude jobs), black duct tape seems to be used often also, looks out he window...practicality of reality sets in....so no matter what you choose it's nothing a little paint and tape can't fix
 
Dan57 said:
While I have not served in the military, I believe that with my decades of experience as a Law Enforcement Officer working in one of America's largest and most dangerous shopping malls, I could provide valuable insight and advice (based on real-world experience from fighting in what has been referred to as the "Tombstone of the Modern Midwest,") to both the OP and any others who may be interested.
But you didn't say please, so too bad.
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I've missed you Gecko45.
 
It probably won't give you away but when in a life and death situation it's best to mitigate all the what if's as best you can. I wouldn't bet my life on "probably won't."
 
Snake! Come in, Snake!

This is the Colonel Campbell. You need to equip your black blade coating. If you try infiltrating the enemy base with a shiny blade, the sentries will notice you and sound the alarm. Press the "action button" to access your inventory. From there, press the "X" button to equip your black blade coating. Remember Snake, this is a sneaking mission. You cannot be detected.

Also, Snake, you should radio the "Prac Tac" frequency for future related questions. That frequency can be found at bladeforums>Prac Tac.

Good luck, Snake.
 
Edirt said:
Hey everyone.. I'm new here
Just wondering what people's opinions are.. Does a combat knife really have to have a coated blade? I have no combat experience... However I do quite a bit of training with my cousin up at our family compound in northern mn...
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Welcome.

The answer is definitively "depends."

Yes, a coating does increase drag on a blade, reducing its cutting efficiency. But, if that small increase in drag is problem for you during combat...maybe it's time to hit the gym.

As far as "light discipline" goes, yes, the reflections off an uncoated blade could give your position away to the gophers or walleyes or Canadians or North Dakotans or whatever might choose to invade northern Minnesota.

That said, the Bravo is an excellent choice for your combat/survival scenario because it has NATO alphabet in its name. Makes it "tactical." In fact, the NATO alphabet reference negates any deleterious effect its uncoated blade may have.

In conclusion....buy whatever makes you happy. (But I'd get a Fallkniven F1.)
 
Buy the best shinny knife you can, make it glow in the bush krypton coated puke green if you like.

If the SHTF happens whip out a can of KRY-K01602 KRYLON ULTRA-FLAT BLACK and you are good to go.
 
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