| Who hasn't read the account of the September | | | | officials view any knife as a crime-in-waiting, |
| 11th New York and Washington DC terrorist | | | | people hiking, swimming, boating, making |
| attack, where terrorists were thought to have | | | | temporary in-field repairs to gear all appreciate |
| used "box cutters" in order to get by airport | | | | ease-of-use. One hand operation for opening and |
| security and launch their mission. Instead, it turns | | | | closing allows quick-fix jobs to be completed |
| out that the likely weapon used emerged from | | | | safely. And, yes, self defense may require that |
| the new field of tactical knives. | | | | once-in-a-lifetime response need where you're |
| No longer relegated to camping and fishing | | | | being attacked and you can only use one hand to |
| expeditions, short and long blade serrated edged | | | | locate and then engage your tactical knife against |
| tactical knives are turning up in many urban | | | | some bad guy. |
| scenes "when a gun is not an appropriate means | | | | Tactical Pocket Knives - Weight And Length. |
| of self defense". | | | | Ergonomic handle plus blade typically measure 4 |
| Fear of mugging and assault from an already well | | | | inches or less while weighing in at around 6 ounces |
| armed populace, ordinary city dwellers from all | | | | or less. Blades are offered in steel, light weight |
| walks of life are turning in droves to the latest | | | | titanium, straight edge or serrated edge. There |
| high tech survival knife designs. Compact and | | | | are even plastic assisted opening knives that are |
| easily concealed, ergonomically shaped, offering a | | | | easy to conceal, yet offer cutting performance |
| simple one-hand flick to instantly reveal a | | | | equal to the job of cutting meat or even light |
| potentially lethal blade, the new breed of pocket | | | | wood. |
| knives deliver lethal potentials to whomever ends | | | | Brands And Prices. Most of the major brands |
| up on the wrong side of the handle. | | | | produce designs in the tactical pocket knife |
| When Does A Tactical Knife Become An | | | | segment, producing annual sales of over $1 billion. |
| Outlawed Weapon Like Switchblades? Like knife | | | | Entry knives in this segment can cost $20 |
| designs, supporting laws are complex and define | | | | whereas some brands are priced at $140 or |
| restrictions yet offer opportunities for designers | | | | more. Major manufacturers and their online or |
| to enter "loophole" areas. A ¾ ounce | | | | bricks-and-mortar distributors include Leatherman, |
| tactical knife requires the tiniest of "manual" | | | | Case, Cold Steel, Buck, Benchmade, Masters Of |
| movement in order to release its 1 ½ inch | | | | Defense and others. |
| perforated blade. A switchblade, even while | | | | Legal Issues - Virtually Unregulated. State and city |
| opening slower than the legal unregulated tactical | | | | laws remain uneven, so the expanding market for |
| knives, is narrowly defined in earlier 1950's law as | | | | tactical pocket knives will continue to be de facto |
| a weapon requiring a trigger-button design | | | | unregulated. Individual cities like Atlanta have a 2 |
| element. Push the button and the blade springs to | | | | inch blade legal limit, but that hasn't prevented |
| open positions, hence the name switchblade. | | | | "legally permitted" tactical knives to become the |
| Design And Use Origins - Tactical Pocket Knives. | | | | weapon-of-choices in well publicized homicide |
| No mistaking that the origins of 21st century | | | | investigations. |
| pocket tactical knives lies in the combat | | | | Until either broad based umbrella Federal laws |
| armaments design tradition. Key attributes? Light | | | | come into effect, tactical pocket knives will have |
| weight, ease of concealment, blade length with | | | | virtually open running room to design and sell all |
| optional serrated edge or perforated finish in | | | | sorts of knock-off miniaturized combat knives |
| order to convey maximum damage. | | | | parading as in-the-pocket tool and self defense |
| One Hand Operation. While law enforcement | | | | "aids". |