How to Choose a Tactical Knife

Christmas 2022 Gift Guide for a Tactical Knife for Preppers and Survivalists

Christmas is right around the corner, and you’re still struggling to find that perfect gift for your family members. Let’s face it, Christmas can be a little overwhelming for some. You have multiple members of the family to shop for, and you’re not sure what they want. To help inform your search, we bring you this list of Tactical Knife Christmas Gifts: Ranges from men, women, teens, etc. If your loved one has expressed interest in Tactical Knives or Preparedness, we recommend one of these ideas as a great surprise. 

You’ve got a few options when it comes to shopping for Tactical Knife gifts. You can either go with something they’ll love or something practical. But if you want to get them what they want, you should consider getting them a Tactical Knife this year!. A Tactical Knife is a gift that will be used by any man who loves adventure. The best thing about getting someone a Tactical Knife as a Christmas gift is that you can use it when you go on adventures, too.

While men come in many different shapes and sizes (so do knives), this one’s sure to make them happy because it’s perfect for preppers and survivalists! Depending on the person, your loved ones will thank you all year round for this amazing Christmas present with the right size blade. You’ll be setting yourself up with an epic story of how thoughtful you were in case they don’t like it (just kidding).

There are so many different types of knives on the market today that it’s hard to know which one will be best suited for your loved ones’ needs. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on How To Choose A Tactical Knife – so you can make sure everyone gets what they need this holiday season! 

Read this guide now and start browsing through this selection of tactical knives before time runs out!

Just like how MacGyver never left home without his Swiss Army knife and duct tape, any serious prepper knows that a tactical knife is a must-have and should be carried around during dangerous times. Choosing one, however, is a bit of a chore because of the sheer variety of knife models on the market.

It’s important to note that when buying a tactical knife, functionality is more important than aesthetics. Just because a knife looks cool doesn’t necessarily mean it will hold up during a survival scenario.

You’ll need to know what you’ll be using your knife for, what purpose. You’ll often see survivalists saying that you can open a can of beans or other canned foods with a survival knife.

But why would you do that?

You could use a can opener or a Swiss Army knife which has a variety of tools. It’s easier to use, better suited for the job, and your knife will not have an increased chance of getting blunt. Exercise common sense here. 

Let’s see when a tactical knife will come in handy.

• Why do you need a tactical knife?

A tactical knife can be used to cut paracord when you’re securing your tent to the ground. Or it can be used to carve small branches and scrape off flint when starting a fire.

Your tactical knife can be used to break glass, too. However, it’s better to use a tactical flashlight when you need to smash through a car window or any window pane. You always want to avoid making the knife blunt, which will mean the hassle of using a multi-tool sharpener to sharpen it.

Generally, tactical knives can be used to cut and slice meat, carve wood, and do camping and hunting. If you have bigger tasks such as clearing brush, chopping the limbs from the meat (after hunting), etc., you should use a machete instead. Tactical knives are for smaller jobs.

Tactical knives can also be used for self-defense if you don’t have a firearm. 

People often wonder, “Do I need a tactical knife? Can’t I use the kitchen knife I have at home?”

The answer is no. You can’t. Really.

Most kitchen knives are great for cutting vegetables and meat when cooking but are unsuitable for outdoor survival tasks. Even using them for self-defense is dangerous because the blades will break and so on. These knives are just not tough enough to handle the demands during a survival situation.

• Understanding the options available

You’ll have several options available when buying a tactical knife. Some knives have a fixed blade, while others have a folding blade. 

Some knives have a switch that flicks out the blade, while others require you to pull out the blade (assisted open) before it locks into place. Neither is recommended, and the latter is an unnecessary hassle.

It’s always better to get a fixed blade. While a folding blade knife is more compact, portable, and looks cooler, it’s not as sturdy as a fixed blade knife. You don’t want to deal with levers and locking mechanisms when using a knife for survival. Please keep it simple and get a fixed blade knife.

The other option is whether you should get a serrated blade knife or a plain edge knife. Both have their pros and cons. Serrated blade knives are great for cutting through rope, canvas, meat, etc. However, the material tends to get frayed because of the nature of the blade.

Serrated blades are ridiculously difficult to sharpen. So, if your knife is blunt, you’ll need to bring it to a professional to sharpen it.

Plain edge knives will do most of the tasks that serrated blade knives do. They may not be as effective for some tasks, but they’re the better option for the most part.

It’s also much easier to sharpen a plain edge knife. That alone makes a straight edge a better choice, though it doesn’t look as cool as a serrated blade.

• Tactical knives for self-defense

There are generally two kinds of tactical knives if you’re talking about self-defense. 

One is the curved blade knife known as a karambit. It’s used to slash and can be used for stabbing if thrust upwards. Generally, these are folding, locking blade knives that can be whipped out in seconds.

Karambits have a shorter reach because of the curved blade. Furthermore, they’re not a good tactical knife because it’ll be difficult to use them for tasks such as cutting meat or whittling wood. 

This curved knife is made for combat. This is not a ‘straightforward’ weapon to use. It’s best to sign up for martial arts classes such as Kali or Silat to learn how to use a karambit proficiently.

The other type of knife is the conventional straight blade (fixed) tactical knife that we’ve talked about since the article’s start. You get all the utility for survival tasks and can use it for self-defense too. Once again, it’s best to get trained when it comes to knife fighting and defense.

• What to look for when buying a tactical knife

Always buy a tactical knife that’s made out of high carbon steel. This will mean that the blade is strong and can be sharpened easily. Try and get a knife with a thicker blade.

The weight of the knife matters too. Some people may prefer lighter knives, while others will prefer a slightly heavier knife. Get one that you’ll feel comfortable using.

Always get a full tang tactical knife. The blade will extend into the handle (which is riveted to the blade). So it’s one piece and not attached. If this sounds confusing, don’t worry about it. Just look for a full tang. 

This is why we don’t recommend folding knives. Anytime there is a joint, lever, switch, etc., that’s a weak link on a knife, no matter how popular it is in the marketplace.

The knife’s handle needs to be ergonomic, which is a big word that means the knife has to feel comfortable when you hold it. Most of the bestselling tactical knives are ergonomic, with a non-slip grip and finger grooves that will naturally be easy and comfortable to grip. 

Read the reviews before buying a knife to see if customers who bought it are mostly satisfied.

Make sure your tactical knife comes with a sheath to protect the blade from the elements, and you are protected from the blade. Accidents can happen, so it’s best to have a sheath.

The length of the blade is an issue too. You MUST be aware of the laws in your country/state. Some laws will allow you to carry a concealed knife if the blade is 3 inches or less. In other places, carrying a knife could be illegal.

Even if you’re using a knife in self-defense, you could get charged and even end up in prison. So, be very knowledgeable about the laws in your state and know what you’ll be using your knife for and if you’ll be carrying it around.

• What are your preferences?

The recommendations and pointers above are suggestions – but you’ll need to decide for yourself what you want. 

If you’re looking for a tactical knife that’s compact, then a folding knife might be better for you. It’ll still get the job done.

Or maybe you’re trained in knife fighting and only need a knife for self-defense. In this case, the karambit will be the better choice.

Ultimately, a tactical knife is a tool to help you in a survival scenario. So, it’s best to get one that will serve your needs well.

Machetes VS Hatchets is a question that comes up often enough to warrant an answer, but it’s not one you can find easily on the internet. You probably know someone who has used a hatchet or machete for survival purposes. But which of these tools would you prefer if your life depended on it? And why? We are going to help you decide by reviewing the pros and cons of both machetes and hatchets as well as give our opinion about which tool is better suited for survival situations. Let’s get started! Go to https://detailsrighthere.com/machetes-vs-hatchets/