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Post by demonking on Mar 25, 2016 22:04:59 GMT
i want to get a specifically fighting knife and i was wondering what make a fighting knife different in design. what do look for in a combat knife? if anyone could recomend specific models that are good that would be helpful. i want a fixed blade on the larger side (7" blade or more) if that helps. thanks
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Mar 25, 2016 22:51:12 GMT
There's only one really universal rule for fighting knives: must not be too short. A lot of people recommend 6"-7" as ideal, while others say 8"-9", and others favour 11"-15". The type of fighting knife should match the type of knife fighting you plan for. Some features of fighting knives:
- Double-edged
- Good for stabbing/thrusting
- Thick blade for strength in stabbing/thrusting
- Thin blade for easier penetration of thick clothing
- Long enough to have speed for devastating cuts
- Heavy enough to have weight for devastating cuts
- Light weight for speed
- Small guard to keep hand from sliding onto blade during stabbing
- Large guard for blocking
- Knucklebow for blocking and punching
- Long blade for parrying
- Very long blade to outreach smaller fighting knives
- Short blade for easier use while wrestling
- Short blade for easy carry (and possibly concealment)
- No (or very low profile) guard to avoid snagging on clothing
- Light weight for easy carry
- Small guard for easy carry
- Single-edged blade to allow better dual-use as a tool
Not all of these are compatible. But you can think about various famous fighting knives (FS, Ka-Bar, bowie, kukri, various trench knives and daggers) and see which of these features apply to which knives. So the first step is to think about what kind of fighting knife. Some of my favourite fighting knives: |
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Post by randomnobody on Mar 25, 2016 22:56:45 GMT
You're going to get some wildly different answers here. Should be fun, though.  As for myself, I prefer light and fast. Don't typically go for guards, but if it's small enough I'll manage. I prefer slashing over stabbing, so I don't worry much about points and a double-edge is not necessary, but I have been known to enjoy a good "bayonet point" before. Thinking of the knives I have, I would probably think my 15" sirupate kukri too heavy at somewhere over 2 pounds, but the 10" "army issue" model I have is maybe a little light? I have a Gen2 Norman dagger and a Windlass "Viking Dirk" as well that would sit on my upper-end of double-edge "dagger" type weapons. I'm inclined toward my Valiant Co. Bosnian, but I dunno; that one's a little too fancy. My bit J.J. Martinez navaja, the 9-inch folder, is a contender. Anyway, more to the original question, what differentiates a "fighting knife" from "a knife" varies by person to person. Some folk would take a Fairbairn-Sykes over a bowie, some would prefer a kukri, some will argue a double-edge is essential whereas others would argue their weakness. Which knife works best depends on your style/approach. Of course, the ultimate reality is that knife fighting is a brutal, ugly thing that nobody really ever "wins" and one should aspire to avoid it rather than become proficient at it... ...but if we're just talking about a cool-looking knife to keep around for the fun of it, then heck, any knife will work.  Edit: Timo beat me to it, with a much better post. I'm too lazy to dig up actual examples and make bullet lists, so go with what he said.  |
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Post by demonking on Mar 25, 2016 23:05:04 GMT
There's only one really universal rule for fighting knives: must not be too short. A lot of people recommend 6"-7" as ideal, while others say 8"-9", and others favour 11"-15". The type of fighting knife should match the type of knife fighting you plan for. Some features of fighting knives:
- Double-edged
- Good for stabbing/thrusting
- Thick blade for strength in stabbing/thrusting
- Thin blade for easier penetration of thick clothing
- Long enough to have speed for devastating cuts
- Heavy enough to have weight for devastating cuts
- Light weight for speed
- Small guard to keep hand from sliding onto blade during stabbing
- Large guard for blocking
- Knucklebow for blocking and punching
- Long blade for parrying
- Very long blade to outreach smaller fighting knives
- Short blade for easier use while wrestling
- Short blade for easy carry (and possibly concealment)
- No (or very low profile) guard to avoid snagging on clothing
- Light weight for easy carry
- Small guard for easy carry
- Single-edged blade to allow better dual-use as a tool
Not all of these are compatible. But you can think about various famous fighting knives (FS, Ka-Bar, bowie, kukri, various trench knives and daggers) and see which of these features apply to which knives. So the first step is to think about what kind of fighting knife. Some of my favourite fighting knives: wow thanks for the information. really appreciated |
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Post by demonskull on Mar 26, 2016 0:48:27 GMT
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Post by DigsFossils-n-Knives on Mar 26, 2016 2:44:16 GMT
...Which knife works best depends on your style/approach. Of course, the ultimate reality is that knife fighting is a brutal, ugly thing that nobody really ever "wins" and one should aspire to avoid it rather than become proficient at it... ...but if we're just talking about a cool-looking knife to keep around for the fun of it, then heck, any knife will work. :-X ... Well said. End of discussion. |
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Post by elsweddo on May 13, 2016 0:10:21 GMT
 My current favorits, pretty far apart, but both well tought out. |
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Post by randomnobody on May 13, 2016 17:40:21 GMT
Sweet Jesus, that big one's sexy. What is it?
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pgandy
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Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on May 13, 2016 19:10:44 GMT
I don’t know what it’s called but unlike many so called bowies out there that one is worthy of the name. I like.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2016 19:22:04 GMT
Well, it depends on your fighting style as well. Army style Urban Training? Go for a Bowie or a D-Day Knuckle Guard.
for a Civilian? I recommend ANY single edged, guarded knife.
Then, there are specialized knifes that require some training to use(not that the above do not, but these require more): Krambit, Combat Daggers, Butterfly Swords.
On a Super cool, freestyle compatible(that is enough to harass a potential attacker), I recommend Balisongs.
For a general All rounder, go for Camping or Survival knives.
Other than this: DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET WHATEVER YOU WANT!
KnifeCentre is a good place to get them.
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Post by elsweddo on May 16, 2016 18:12:00 GMT
Sweet Jesus, that big one's sexy. What is it? Its a Charlie Edmondson fighting bowie, 11 inch blade bout 16 oz radically distal taperd, a nice unit.' |
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Post by randomnobody on May 16, 2016 20:14:30 GMT
Charlie Edmondson, eh? C'mere, Google...
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Post by elsweddo on May 16, 2016 21:32:42 GMT
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Post by wazikan on May 16, 2016 21:45:02 GMT
there is no "one knife" it really depends on the fighting style. I guess the one thing that will be the same across the board is a 7 inch blade. mainly because you can stab through your side and still enter the heart. but that's for stabbing/slicing blades.
karambits are fighting knives and they have shorter blades. but are designed for a different style.
me personally. I carry fighting knives that fold, but more importantly a blade that is utility oriented.
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Post by elsweddo on May 16, 2016 21:49:54 GMT
there is no "one knife" it really depends on the fighting style. I guess the one thing that will be the same across the board is a 7 inch blade. mainly because you can stab through your side and still enter the heart. but that's for stabbing/slicing blades. karambits are fighting knives and they have shorter blades. but are designed for a different style. me personally. I carry fighting knives that fold, but more importantly a blade that is utility oriented. I carry a swiss army knife most of the time, but when it comes to big blades i dont even try to convince my self there is a practical side to em anymore, pure toys for me. |
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Ifrit
Member
More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Jun 23, 2016 7:53:51 GMT
I carry a karambit. A little "mall-ninja" of me to do, but I enjoy how I can keep it in my pocket with no trouble. One of the most stealthy blade designs I've ever seen, yet it looks very capable of inflicting super painful cuts and stabs, not to mention all you would need to know is basic boxing to be able to use the knife.
It also makes an excellent herb gathering tool and toy to spin around when I'm bored. I love my karambit.
In like, a 1 on 1 knife duel (unlikely to happen this way), I would prefer something stabby, yet versatile. Can't go wrong with a 8-12" Bowie. I wouldn't object to a tanto either
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Post by MOK on Jun 23, 2016 9:28:52 GMT
It'll vary, but my current favorite is the Kizlyar KO-2.  8-inch blade, needle pointed and razor sharp. It can cut a water-filled soda bottle quite literally to ribbons before you even start to notice any leaking, and in a thrust against bottles or cardboard or leather-covered meat there's virtually no resistance to be felt until the ricasso. It's actually scary - a far more sobering thing to hold than any of my swords. Comes with a really good sheath you can wear any which way, too. Very much like a grown-up Fairbairn-Sykes, all in all, it's a pure weapon with a singularly murderous purpose, not a survival tool that also happens to work for fighting (that'd be the DV-2, which I also have and like and Rambo would approve of  ). |
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Ifrit
Member
More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Jun 24, 2016 6:45:46 GMT
It'll vary, but my current favorite is the Kizlyar KO-2. 8-inch blade, needle pointed and razor sharp. It can cut a water-filled soda bottle quite literally to ribbons before you even start to notice any leaking, and in a thrust against bottles or cardboard or leather-covered meat there's virtually no resistance to be felt until the ricasso. It's actually scary - a far more sobering thing to hold than any of my swords. Comes with a really good sheath you can wear any which way, too. Very much like a grown-up Fairbairn-Sykes, all in all, it's a pure weapon with a singularly murderous purpose, not a survival tool that also happens to work for fighting (that'd be the DV-2, which I also have and like and Rambo would approve of ). I am jealous. That knife is a beauty |
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Post by pellius on Jul 14, 2016 18:14:46 GMT
Over the years, whenever I studied a knife fighting style, I would ask Sifu/Shi Fu/Sensei for recommendations of knife for the style taught.
For me personally, I have not practiced any style in which one would attempt to block an adversary's blade with one's own blade. For that, I would want a sword. As for knife fighting, I imagine the encounter to find its way to punching/trapping/grappling range, where (for me) speed, adaptability and leverage would be critical (over, say, power or reach). If the blade is too long, it might be hard to use trapping and grappling techniques, and might offer a lot of leverage for the adversary against your grip hand, and be harder to employ fluidly at really close quarters (if that's where you want to be when fighting).
There are knife fighting styles that try to maintain a little more distance (around punching range) to facilitate fast slashing, draw cutting and stabbing techniques. They look tremendously impressive, but I've never studied them.
For me, I would probably lean toward a 6-8" single edge blade with no guard, or at most a very small one. I would want to be able to carry it regularly, and conceal it if possible. I would want a fixed blade, and, of course, sharp enough to cut through most clothing. For me, stabbing would be secondary to cutting. I would also want it to be inexpensive enough to be expendable. fwiw
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Post by bluetrain on Jul 26, 2016 13:24:55 GMT
Your last comment speaks to the practical person. I can't imagine paying what some knives cost. But I also can't imagine being in a knife fight. My father said there's not going to be any bayonet fighting as long as there's any ammunition. Much of what you read about knives is intended to sell more knives. That's okay, though, because I'm always looking at yet another knife, even when I don't plan to be in a knife fight. Of course, a lot of things happen to me that I don't plan for.
To me, the ultimate fighting knife designed by and for people who really went out with the idea of killing people with it, is--or was--the Fairbairn Sykes knife. It had shortcomings, though. It was a little weak in the point, supposedly, but otherwise just what you wanted. Apparently Fairbairn did not envision actually fighting another person also armed with a knife. But that was his scenario. Yours might be different and in fact, people do get in knife fights.
All of that not withstanding, I think those Kizlyar knives about look just about perfect. And yes, the knife has to be sharp. Really sharp.
I don't go in for big knives, though. My son was given a big, big knife when he left his unit after they returned from Iraq several years ago. It would do for an ax but if that's what you need, you should carry an ax to begin with.
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