The black finish which is a baked-on black powder coat, or also known as Black Teflon, prevents the blade from reflecting light and from rusting. The tanto-style point which is a Japanese design tip is thin enough to puncture but thick enough to take serious beating. It has a somewhat chisel-like point that is thick towards the point which makes it very strong. If you have seen Japanese long and short swords then you know what a tanto point is.

The Recon 1 Cold Steel is a tanto knife that has a “hand guard” and G-10 laminate scale handle which almost feels like sand paper in order to provide the best possible grip to protect your fingers from slipping on the handle.

This tactical knife, which is purposely made for combat also has other uses which come in handy for outdoor activities. You don’t need to bring your kitchen knife if you’re out for a picnic. Cold Steel knives are also useful for craftworks, as they cut wood and may even break rock as the edge is seemingly impossible to chip. It is very sharp and yet also easy to sharpen. The blade is made out of imported Japanese AUS 8A stainless steel that has been vacuum heat treated and sub-zero quenched.

Apart from being a terrific tool, a Cold Steel Tanto knife is also suitable for personal protection and is a preferred model by the SWAT teams and special military units. (Check with you local authorities to ensure it is legal for you to possess before buying!) If you are a collector, this is one item you may consider adding to your knife collection.

Most cold steel knives are pricier compared to this one. You get the same features and the same benefits half the price. The Cold Steel Recon 1 Tanto knife is an excellent addition to your survival and protection kits. With a combo blade which has a serrated base it is as sharp as any knife can be, it cuts deep, it’s stainless, has a G10 grip and it is sturdy. In view of this, it is no surprise that the Recon 1 is a tactical knife bestseller.

Cold Steel Recon 1 Tanto Specifications
• AUS 8A stainless steel
• Black Teflon Finish
• Combo blade with Tanto Point
• G-10 laminate scale handle
• Blade measurement 4-Inches
• Overall Length 9 3/8-Inches
• Weight 5.3 ounces

After going through tons of books and guides on how to make a tactical folding knife and folding blade technology, the single book that stands out from the rest is Bob Terzuola’s The Tactical Folding Knife. This book is a hefty package of 158 illustrated pages with excellent images, both photographic and illustrations. The image material is of the finished products and of the construction process step by step.

Building a quality tactical folder is much more complex than what one might think. To build folding blades even more so. At the very extreme, tactical folding knives set the standard for custom design.

Mr Terzuola is considered the father of the tactical folding knife. He is a master knifemaker and in this book he unveils everything from the definition of what makes a tactical folding knife to the final touches such as polishing of the finished blade.

The Tactical Folding Knife: A Study of the Anatomy and Construction of the Liner-Locked Folder is a trove of information and a fascinating insight into Bob Terzuola’s custom and commercial designs. A good example is the ATCF Advance Technology Combat Folder which has remained more or less unchanged since the original version of 1986. Why? Because it is complete perfection and has proved itself in the field countless times.

It also contains a time saving guide for the custom knife maker. The anatomy of a tactical linelock for example details the workings of the pivot point, spacer, stop pin and more.

The diagrams of the mechanism and the assembly are very detailed and simple to comprehend. Diagram 60 for instance details the optimum angle of a folder locking face in exact degrees. Another example from the book are the many photographs that show actual use of tools to build the separate components or a tactical folding knife, such as milling the edges of the spring and at what degrees you should do this. All of this can be done with tools you might already have in your garage. Bob goes into minute detail and leaves nothing out.

The lock and release mechanism of a quality folder is perhaps the most crucial part of any design. There are many different constructions for assisted opening blades. This book contains a comprehensive study of the geometry and inner workings of the locking system of a pocket knife.

Handle design is another factor that raises the quality feel and endearment of a good folder. Bob has through the years designed countless tactical folding knives with handles spanning from complex modern metals to the very finest varnished woods.

If you have any interest in pursuing your own production of custom knives, or just want a thorough insight into the masterpieces of Bob Terzuola, The Tactical Folding Knife
is the book for you.

A tactic is often dependent upon swift and precise execution and the tactical tool designed to facilitate the implementation of the plan will usually be of high quality and specialization. The Navy Seals are an example of a military commando force that in themselves, are a tool. They in turn have chosen to use certain tools and even developed some of their own.

A knife can be just as important a tool as a tank. It all depends upon the tactic and the situation. Because it folds into a small size, the Navy Seals and many other commando groups prefer to use a collapsible knife. As you might guess, a tactical folding knife is a collapsible blade that has been specifically designed to suit commandos and that is manufactured to military specification standards.

A tactical folding knife is also very easy to unfold the blade either by a thumb stud or a recession in the blade that gives your finger traction. Where a traditional pocket knife may require two hands to open, a tactical folding knife can be opened one-handed. The one-handed operation and small collapsed size make them ideal tools for commandos.

After being opened the blade is locked into position and these types of knives are therefore often refereed to as lock-backs or liner-locks. There are many types of materials that may be used but a quality knife will have a mil-spec blade, durable blade hinge and a liner, or handle, that is lightweight and durable. While they were originally designed as a hand combat and self-defense weapon, the knives with blades that fold back into the handle of today are very useful and versatile tools for use in all outdoor activities.

Next time you decide to purchase a blade, consider a tactical folding knife such as Buck Knives Mayo Titanium Tactical knife since it has inherited many of the features built into it from military specifications.

Legendary designer Bob Lum’s legacy continues with this rock-steady Ti Monolock. Large but comfortable, rugged yet subtly elegant, this new folder is a worth addition to the 2009 Benchmade lineup. The Benchmade Lum Design LFTi Knife has sand blasted titanium handles with a tip down pocket clip and a lanyard hole. The LFti features a monolock function (frame lock). The tanto styled CPM-M4 tool steel blade is BK1 black coated for durability and protection against corrosion.

Bob Lum has over 30 years of knife designing expertise and a artistic drive in his craftsmanship of knives.

Benchmade LFTi Specifications
Dual Titanium Handles
Flawless Titanium Monolock Function
Premium Grade Blade Steel
Blade Length: 4.00 in.
Blade Thickness: 0.150 in.
Overall Length: 9.00 in.
Closed Length: 5.00 in.

Knives that have a assisted opening mechanism are easier to open than a simple folding knife. The knives will have a ridge, thumb stud or a hole that gives your thumb traction. By pushing outwards, the blade begins to unfold. When it has reached a certain point, the spring in the assisted opening knife extends the blade fully. There is also a lock which you must unlock to fold the knife again.

Most brands carry these types of knives. Buck has several, such as the Buck 295 Tempest which has a 3 1/4″ stainless steel blade with thumb stud for initiating the extension. Most brands have similar products.

The pocket knife was once seen as almost a toy, something boys carried or you had with you just to clean out the pipe. That may have been true in the last millennium because the current offerings those of the assisted opening type are high-tech, very durable and there is a huge assortment of blade types to choose from.

The assisted opening also makes it easy to operate one-handed, something that the folding knives of yesterday were not since they required both hands to open it safely.

What do you need assisted opening folding knives for? Once you get one, you will notice that it really is a tool and that it is useful for more than you first thought. Cutting, opening things, prying, scratching (as when cleaning off mud or soot).

Obviously, if you do a lot of camping, hunting or fishing a assisted opening knife is indispensable, an absolute must-have item.

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URL.biz – Hunting

Tactical outdoor serrated blade

Most military and rescue personell do carry a tactical knife, either foldable or of the swtichblade type. Why this type is preferred over a fixed type because of portability and small size. The durability of a quality collapsible blade versus a fixed one is just as good. The cheap ones are not good and generally last just a couple of months before mechanism failure.

Most people who want a folding knife for outdoor will use choose a assisted folding knife, or tactical folding knife but not a switchblade due to legal constraints. The main use is for cutting and in general when you need a metal tool for prying, opening, and vital for cutting wood splinters to set fire.

A fully automatic switchblade is also of less use if the spring were to become broken. A assisted opening knife which will still open and lock even without spring is therefore a more secure option from a survivabilty view.

SOG Specialty Knife SGFSA-98 Flash II

SOG Flash II Specialty Knife.

A tactical folding knife may be unlawful in your state or country. You must check with local authorities before purchasing a assisted blade or switchblade. If the blade extends over four inches through an automatic function it may be illegal where you live. In most states you must also be 21 to buy it.

The early hominids struck stones against each other to sharpen the edges that could become very sharp if the right stone materials were used. Flintstone was commonly used to make sharp objects but other types of stone and obsidian were also used in areas were flint was not available. The sharpened stones were used as spearheads, arrowheads, primitive axes and knives. These made a huge impact on hunting and as construction tools.

Stone objects last for a very long time and there are huge amounts of prehistoric artifacts such as stone knives that prove their use during the stone-age. In some areas the ability to make knives started early, in other parts of the world, the art of making a knife came very late, probably as a result of trade. This might have been because of lack of local stone suited for sharpening.

When humans developed the ability to forge metals, the knife came to resemble the knives as we know them today and quickly became the number one survival tool and household item. Although knives are mainly used as tools, they also come into use in combat situations between humans and animals or in human war and each are designed for their specific purpose. A sword for example is essentially a elongated knife for better reach in combat. This was probably the first tactical knife design. The basic idea is the same as a knife though: a sharpened blade set in a handle.

Modern knives are made from a wide range of materials and the more exclusive custom knives sport extreme performance, weight ratios and exotic blade materials. Knives have also developed from fixed blades into switchblades, stilettos and folding pocket knives.

If you ask me what development has played the biggest part in human development is, my answer is the knife.