Tactical knife (also known as a fighting knife or a combat knife like British Army Knife) refers to a type of knife that was originally meant for use in the military and in combat but has since morphed into other uses.
The tactical knife is built in a way that makes it ideal for cutting branches and leaves, clearing paths and even opening ammunition crates. The knife also comes handy when setting up military tents and is one of the main reasons that saw its rapid rise among civilians such as campers who recognized its importance in setting up camping tents.
But even as useful as the tactical knife in these non combat roles, it is important to understand that tactical knives were traditionally built as weapons for use in close combat, something that was quite common in the wars of times past before the onset of missiles, bombs and guns. The knife would be used to subdue an enemy combatant.
The ancient Gurkhan army of the 13th Century AD used the Kukri tactical knife. The knife had a wide and curved blade and somewhat resembled the modern day machete and was purpose built for war. With the passage of time, the types of tactical knives one can choose from have greatly increased and both the military and civilians have a wide range of knives to choose from. That said, the military unit from each country will usually settle for knives from one manufacturer sometimes made to special order.
The US Marine Corp for example uses the KA-BAR tactical knife. Actually, the Marine Corp has used KA-BAR knives since the Second World War. The Chilean armed forces use the Corvo knife. Another tactical knife that is popular with military units and civilians alike is the British Fairbairn-Sykes, British Army Knife. Though this double edged blade knife can be used as a general purpose knife, it usually serves as an assault weapon and is thus often classified as a dagger.
When it comes to civilian use, probably no other group of persons has found greater use for the tactical knife than camping enthusiasts. But the tactical knife is also used by farmers and other persons whose work environment is primarily in the outdoors. Tactical knives are often sharper than ordinary knives and how one handles the knife is important to ensure the safety of both the person carrying the knife as well as the people around him or her. Many knives come with a safety sheath and can also be clipped to the belt bucked under the pants around the waist area.
Other than the different types of brands, tactical knives come with different functionality which can be used to categorize them. For instance, some tactical knives come with a fixed blade while others use a folding blade. Whether to go for a fixed blade knife or a folding one depends on what you intend to use the knife for. If you need a knife for camping and for use in the outdoors, it is more convenient to have a folding tactical knife since it is easier and safer to carry around. On the other hand, is your goal is hunting or activities that will require a great deal of cutting, then the fixed blade tactical knife may be the better option.
Another way of categorizing tactical knives is by use of the blade. Some tactical knives have plain blades while others are fitted with a serrated blade. The plain blade tactical knife is mostly used for general purpose cutting since it produces a cleaner final cut. Serrated blades are more apt for cutting rough surfaces such as tree branches and where the cut does not have to be a clean one.
British Army Militaria listed on britisharmyknife.up-rooted.com and were sold on eBay:
British WW2 Tom Beasley Stalingrad fame Fairbairn Sykes Commando Knife dagger, RARE British WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES William Rodgers Sheffield Ebony Handle Knife, Large Early 19th C British Dirk Dagger Knife no Sword, British English England WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES 2 Model Lion Stamped Fighting Knife, RARE British English England WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES Fighting Knife Wood Handle, RARE British Canada WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES Knife Wood, US OR BRITISH WW1 HUGE FIGHTING BOWIE KNIFE DAGGER 1917, EARLY AMERICAN BRITISH NAVAL DIRK 1800 MOTHER PEARL HANDLE DAGGER KNIFE BLADE US, British English WW2 1941 Island of Roses FAIRBAIRN SYKES 2 Model Nickel Knife, British English England WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES Wood Handle Fighting Knife w Sheath, RARE British WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES William Rodgers Sheffield Fighting Knife, British English England WW2 WILKINSON FAIRBAIRN SYKES Fighting Knife, British marine commando officer Honor Knife dagger army, British English WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES Fighting Knife Wood, British English England WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES 2 Model Fighting Knife w Sheath, NICE British English WW2 JNOWILL SONS Commando Fighting Knife RARE, Indian India English British WW2 1944 Kukri Fighting Knife Sheath, British English Indian India WW1 1943 Pioneer Calcutta KUKRI Fighting Knife, RARE WW1 or earlier KING BEST STEEL US or British English Boot Fighting Knife, BRITISH 19TH CENTURY VICTORIAN STAGHORN BOWIE KNIFE, RARE British English WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES Commando Fighting Knife Wooden Handle, WW2 BRITISH SOE KNIFE TYRE SLASHER ORIGINAL, US WW2 Custom Hand Made THEATER British FAIRBAIRN SYKES 2 Model Fighting Knife, US or British English WW2 Custom Hand Made THEATER Stiletto Fighting Knife, ORIGINAL BRITISH ARMY CWW1 GURKHA MILITARY KUKRI KNIFE, BRITISH C1860’S SILVER CUTLERY HANDLED BOWIE KNIFE, British English England WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES 2 Model Sword Handle Fighting Knife, British English England WW2 SOUTHERN RICHARDSON Sheffield Fighting Knife, RARE British WW1 BILLHOOK Fighting Knife Machete, British WW2 I CUT MY WAY Sheffield WILLIAM RODGERS Military Fighting Knife, 19c England British G Gelston large hunting knife, British English WW2 Fighting Knife Sheath, British Fairbairn Sykes Commando Knife 3rd pattern, British English Sheffield WW2 Stiletto Fighting Knife, British English or French WW2 Fighting Knife Machete w Sheath, BRITISH ENGLISH ENGLAND WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES FIGHTING KNIFE, British English England WWII WW2 FAIRBAIRN SYKES 4 Model Fighting Knife, British English WW2 Kukri Khukuri Fighting Knife Sword, US British English WW2 Custom Fighting Knife Dagger, RARE US British WW2 SLOANS Military Fighting Knife, Sheffield England English British WWII WW2 1943 Fighting Knife, England British WW2 large Stiletto knife Sheffield, ORIGINAL BRITISH C1850’S BONE HANDLED KNIFE, ORIGINAL BRITISH C1840’S STAG HANDLED KNIFE, AUTHENTIC GURKHA KUKRI KNIFE MACHETE NEPALESE BRITISH INDIAN WAR RIFLES SWORD, British English WW2 SOUTHERN RICHARDSON Fighting Knife, Indian India WW2 British English Marked KUKRI Fighting Knife, ORIGINAL WW1 OR WW2 KUKRI BRITISH GURKHA KNIFE W LEATHER HOLSTER INDIA LION HEAD, Mid 19th C British or US Knife Dagger Scabbard, British OSS SOE clasp escape knife with tire spike blade, WWII British Fairbairn Sykes F S Commando Knife 3rd Pattern 1 Marked England, British English WW2 Fighting Knife, English British WW2 THOMAS TURNER Sheffield Military Folding Pocket Knife, Antique WW I period British Nepal India Gurkha Bolo Knife Sheath, British Lee Metford MKII B A Bayonet Cal 303 Rifle Knife Sanderson Shefield OCT, British Colonel Baldock Spear Knife Circa 1880, OLD BRITISH MILITARY WW2 POCKET KNIFE WS B SHEFFIELD, British MK 1 No 7 Swivel Fighting Knife Bayonet for Enfield or Stent Rifle, BRITISH KNIFE BAYONET FOR L1A1 L1A3 FN RIFLEc1959, BRITISH KNIFE BAYONET FOR L1A1 L1A3 FN RIFLEc1960GUARDS USE, COLD WAR PERIOD BAYONET LIA3 9600257 BRITISH KNIFE, Vintage Used British FAL Army Military Belt Bayonet Knife with Sheath WW2 Knife, British India WWII 1943 Pioneer Calcutta KUKRI Fighting Knife, D1109 VINTAGE BRITISH RAF DINGHY KNIFE WW2 1950S, British English England WWII WW2 Military Folding Pocket Knife, BRITISH ENGLISH WW2 ARMY FOLDING POCKET KNIFE TOOLS, WWII British Army Fairbairn Sykes Fight Knife Dagger Stiletto w Sheath, SHEFFIELD STEEL BRITISH ARMY RAF NATO COMBAT KNIFE FIBRE HANDLE, BRITISH ARMY COMBAT KNIFE NATO MARKINGS LEATHER SHEATH WOODEN HANDLE, BRITISH ARMY MoD NATO STOCK No STAMPED COMBAT KNIFE, WW2 BRITISH MILITARY NAVY POCKET KNIFE 1942, Sheffield England English British WW2 Army Folding Pocket Knife, BRITISH ENGLISH ENGLAND WW2 1940 RODGERS SHEFFIELD ARMY FOLDING POCKET KNIFE, BRITISH ENGLISH ENGLAND WW2 1942 RODGERS SHEFFIELD ARMY FOLDING POCKET KNIFE, BRITISH ENGLISH SHEFFIELD WW2 1943 RICHARDS ARMY MILITARY FOLDING POCKET KNIFE, British English England 1944 WW2 WILSON Military Folding Pocket Knife, WWII Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife British Dagger Book, WWII US or British Fighting Knife Airborne Dagger Southern Richardson A, D1230 BRITISH KOREAN WAR PERIOD SOLDIERS 3 BLADE CLASP KNIFE 1950, CANADIAN CANADA BRITISH WW2 WWII SHEATH FOR FIGHTING KNIFE MACHETE, British India WWII Bayonet KUKRI Fighting Knife NICE, WWII British Sailors Pocket Knife Marked 1942 Sheffeild England, British WWII Jungle Knife Scabbard, FAIRBAIRN SYKES BRITISH COMMANDO WW2 FIGHTING KNIFE, British Army Gurkha Fighting Knife India Nepal c WWII with Sheath, British Army Vietnam Era dated 1968 Stainless Steel Pocket Knife, English British WW1 Navy Spike Folding Pocket Knife, WW2 WWII BRITISH INDIAN ARMY ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES KUKRI KNIFE 2 SIDE KNIVES OLD, Antique British English England 19 Century Navy Small Folding Saw Axe Knife, Genuine 3pc British Army Knife,
