This post may generate a proverbial crap storm. If so, hold on to your umbrellas.
"Tactical" is not a philosophy or purpose of use. It is not a desirable design feature in a knife. What is "tactical?" It is the outdated, unrealistic concept of using a knife in a "self-defense" situation against another human being. This is an unrealistic concept given the proliferation of firearms, severe legal consequences of using a knife in self-defense, and rarity of situations where use a knife in self defense is even plausible. Let's be honest here: how many of you have ever, in any way, used a knife in a self-defense situation? Ten-percent of forum goers, perhaps? How many people in the general population, which consists overwhelmingly of civilian EDC and outdoorsman users, have ever used a knife in a tactical application? It is especially painful to watch knife reviewers critique/reject outstanding knives for the purpose that it is not sufficiently "tactical," especially when tactical uses are all but mythical.
Granted, there is a small, close-knit community of ACTIVE military and LEO that might, conceivably need a knife for "tactical purposes." But "tactical" applications of knives among members of the military is an extreme rarity; instead, knives are more akin to tools and sharpened pry-bars. This begs an obvious question: if "tactical" applications are incredibly rare, why do tactical design features dominate the modern folding knife industry? Why are design trends being pushed in a direction that perceive of knives not as EDC cutting tools, but as "black on black tactical hard use folder of ultimate doom?" If anything, "tactical" represents a placebo effect and source of ownership pride for many knife users, who value military aesthetics and life styles. Carrying a tactical knife, perhaps, is a way to feel connected to those aesthetics and the basic human instinct of "I'm armed, look out, bwahahahaa."
"Tactical" is a concept that has infected almost all modern production folders to one degree or another, with exceptions few and far between. Symptoms of "tactical" knife design disease are excessive jimping, excessively rough grip, unnecessarily thick blade stocks, impractical opening features, blade coatings on stainless steels, and a number of other features that defy any logical explanation. Further symptoms include militaristic marketing and branding, excessive LEO/military discounts, and what has become an arms race to produce the biggest and baddest 'hard use' folder. It has resulted in an increase in fatter, thicker, "hard use" knifes that weigh more, slice less easily, and strive to achieve the "tactical weapon" aesthetic.
I own and love dozen of knives that embrace the tactical aesthetic to one degree or another, but the features that make it "tactical" are usually the weakest aspect of the knife. For instance, the 810 Contego handles outdoor and EDC use like a boss (breaking down huge boxes, batoning wood, etc.) but suffers from awkward amounts of jimping. My large voyager slices like a dream, but has scales that obliterate slacks and light denim.
I'm not saying that tactical design features do not serve a purpose. Instead, I'm arguing that such features are over represented and driven by an artificial, philosophy/purpose of use. This philosophy, as I've tried to capture, is influencing modern folding knife design in unfortunate ways by promoting design features that do not meet the needs of the overwhelming majority of knife users. The Sebenza 25 is a shining example (wider blade stock, heavier, and more jimping than Sebenza 21).
At the end of the day, what should be done? Is tactical a long-lasting but passing fad? Will people ever grow out of the tactical aesthetic? If not, will it continue to influence and negatively impact knife designs?
Questions, questions. Coffee.
