TRAIN, CARRY, STAY ALERT, & STAY ALIVE WITH THESE TACTICAL 

We’ve all thought about it when handling certain knives: “I might be able to use this to save my life.”  While a knife isn’t the ideal weapon in all circumstances, with the proper training and mindset, a blade in the hands of a skilled user can be a formidable asset in helping you to stop an attack and to give you an opportunity to get out of harm’s way. What exactly constitutes a tactical knife is open to discussion.

Many tactical knives listed here could just as easily have been placed in other categories. What they all have in common is the ability to provide a measure of protection.

“…WITH THE PROPER TRAINING AND MINDSET, A BLADE IN THE HANDS OF A SKILLED USER CAN BE A FORMIDABLE ASSET…”

Have a look at the Tactical Buyer’s Guide 2022:

1. BOKER INTENTION II AUTO

Overall Length: 7.87 inches

Closed Length: 4.72 inches

Blade Length: 3.15 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch

Blade Material: D2

Handle Material: G10

Locking Mechanism: Push button

Weight: 3.84 ounces

Origin: USA

Other: Automatic opener

MSRP: $59.95

BokerUSA.com

2. OUTDOOR EDGE LE HAWK

Overall Length: 6.2 inches

Blade Length: 2.9 inches

Blade Material: 8Cr14 stainless
with Blackstone finish

Handle Material: Rubberized TPR

Sheath Material: Polypropylene

Weight: 3 ounces

Origin: China

Other: Wharncliffe blade

MSRP: $39.95

OutdoorEdge.com 

3. CRKT PROVOKE COMPACT

Overall Length: 6.63 inches

Closed Length: 4.54 inches

Blade Length: 2.26 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch

Blade Material: D2

Handle Material: 6061 aluminum

Locking Mechanism: Lever lock

Weight: 4.4 ounces

Origin: China

Other: Folding karambit

MSRP: $150

CRKT.com 

4. CRKT SHENANIGAN

Overall Length: 8.19 inches

Closed Length: 4.86 inches

Blade Length: 3.35 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch

Blade Material: 1.4116 stainless steel

Handle Material: GRN (glass-reinforced nylon)

Locking Mechanism: Liner lock

Weight: 3.6 ounces

Origin: China

Other: Assisted opener

MSRP: $79.99

CRKT.com 

5. Case Kinzua

Overall Length: 8.15 inches

Closed Length: 4.75 inches

Blade Length: 3.4 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.149 inch

Blade Material: S35VN

Handle Material: Aluminum

Locking Mechanism: Frame lock

Weight: 3.4 ounces

Origin: USA

Other: Flipper opening

MSRP: $152.99

CaseKnives.com

6. AL MAR SERE 2020 3.6 

Overall Length: 8.375 inches

Closed Length: 4.8 inches

Blade Length: 3.6 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch

Blade Material: D2

Handle Material: G10

Locking Mechanism: Liner lock

Weight: 4.7 ounces

Origin: Imported

Other: Spring assisted opener

MSRP: $130

AlMarKnives.com

 

7. COLD STEEL AD-15 LITE

Overall Length: 8.5 inches

Closed Length: 5 inches

Blade Length: 3.5 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.149 inch

Blade Material: AUS-10A

Handle Material: Griv-Ex

Locking Mechanism: Scorpion lock

Weight: 6.2 ounces

Origin: Taiwan

MSRP: $159.99

ColdSteel.com

8. COLD STEEL CODE 4

Overall Length: 8.5 inches

Closed Length: 5 inches

Blade Length: 3.5 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.138 inch

Blade Material: CPM-S35VN

Handle Material: 6061 aluminum

Locking Mechanism: Tri-Ad lock

Weight: 4.3 ounces

Origin: Taiwan

MSRP: $149.99

ColdSteel.com

9. BEAR EDGE 61127 

Overall Length: 8 inches

Closed Length: 4.5 inches

Blade Length: 3.5 inches

Blade Material: 440 stainless

Handle Material: Aluminum

Locking Mechanism: Liner lock

Weight: 4.5 ounces

Origin: USA

Other: Spring-assisted flipper opener; carbide glass breaker

MSRP: $54.99

BearAndSonCutlery.com

10. BEAR OPS BOLD ACTION 14 AUTO 

Overall Length: 4.25 inches

Closed Length: 2.5 inches

Blade Length: 1.75 inches

Blade Material: 14c28n Sandvik

Handle Material: Aluminum

Locking Mechanism: Push button

Weight: 1.3 ounces

Origin: USA

Other: California legal automatic

MSRP: $119.99

BearAndSonCutlery.com

11 Bear and Son Cutlery

BEAR & SON A08 AUTO 

Overall Length: 6.625 inches

Closed Length: 3.875 inches

Blade Length: 2.75 inches

Blade Material: 440 stainless

Handle Material: G10, India stag (shown), or rosewood

Locking Mechanism: Back lock, EDM Precision lock

Weight: 2.9 ounces

Origin: USA

Other: Automatic opener

MSRP: Starting at $158.75

BearAndSonCutlery.com

12 Benchmade

BENCHMADE Mini Adamas

Overall Length: 7.62 inches

Closed Length: 4.37 inches

Blade Length: 3.25 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.14 inch

Blade Material: CPM CruWear

Handle Material: G10

Locking Mechanism: Axis lock

Weight: 4.6 ounces

Origin: USA

MSRP: $250

Benchmade.com

13 SOG (STUDIES & OBSERVATIONS GROUP) KNIVES

SOG VISION XR LTE

Overall Length: 8.01 inches

Closed Length: 4.65 inches

Blade Length: 3.36 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.12 inch

Blade Material: CTS-XHP

Handle Material: G10

Locking Mechanism: Liner

Weight: 4.4 ounces

Origin: Taiwan

Other: Flipper and thumb studs

MSRP: $179.95

SOGKnives.com

14 SOG (STUDIES & OBSERVATIONS GROUP) KNIVES

SOG PENTAGON XR LTE

Overall Length: 8.38 inches

Closed Length: 4.77 inches

Blade Length: 3.6 inches

Blade Material: Cryo CTS-XHP

Handle Material: G10

Locking Mechanism: XR

Weight: 3.2 ounces

Origin: Taiwan

MAP*: $209.95

SOGKnives.com

*MAP: Minimum advertised price

15 Benchmade

BENCHMADE AUTO FACT

Overall Length: 8.74 inches

Closed Length: 4.8 inches

Blade Length: 3.95 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch

Blade Material: CPM-S90V

Handle Material: Carbon fiber and 6061 aluminum

Locking Mechanism: Auto Axis lock

Weight: 3.11 ounces

Origin: USA

Other: Automatic

MSRP: $400

Benchmade.com

16 Benchmade

BENCHMADE Claymore

Overall Length: 8.6 inches

Closed Length: 5 inches

Blade Length: 3.6 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.114 inch

Blade Material: D2

Handle Material: Grivory

Locking Mechanism: Axis

Weight: 3.5 ounces

Origin: USA

MSRP: $230

Benchmade.com

17 KERSHAW KNIVES

KERSHAW STRATA XL 

Overall Length: 12 inches

Closed Length: 6.6 inches

Blade Length: 5.4 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.130 inch

Blade Material: D2

Handle Material: G10

Locking Mechanism: Frame lock

Weight: 5.8 ounces

Origin: China

Other: Flipper opener

MSRP: $129.99

Kershaw.KAIUSA.com

18. SPYDERCO POLICE 4 

Overall Length: 9.97 inches

Closed Length: 5.64 inches

Blade Length: 4.38 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.118 inch

Blade Material: K390

Handle Material: FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon)

Locking Mechanism: Back lock

Weight: 4.2 ounces

Origin: Japan

Other: Four-position pocket clip

MSRP: $235

Spyderco.com

 

19. LIONSTEEL BILLY WAUGH DEMO RYP HARSEY

Overall Length: 9.13 inches

Closed Length: 5.25 inches

Blade Length: 3.78 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.16 inch

Blade Material: M390

Handle Material: 3D titanium

Locking Mechanism: Frame lock

Weight: 6.72 ounces

Origin: Italy

Other: RYP Design/Bill Harsey collaboration

MSRP: $468.95

BlueRidgeKnives.com

20. SOG RECONDO FX

Overall Length: 9.6 inches

Blade Length: 4.6 inches

Blade Material: Cryo 440C

Handle Material: GRN/TPU

Sheath Material: GRN (glass-reinforced nylon)

Weight: 5.3 ounces

Origin: USA

MAP*: $129.95

SOGKnives.com

*MAP: Minimum advertised price

21. BENCHMADE Adamas Fixed

Overall Length: 9.17 inches

Blade Length: 4.2 inches

Blade Thickness: 0.17 inch

Blade Material: CPM CruWear

Handle Material: Bare metal or cord wrapped

Sheath Material: PIM

Weight: 5.66 ounces

Origin: USA

MSRP: $250

Benchmade.com

Editor’s Note:

A version of this article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2022 print issue of Knives Illustrated.