Tactical knives from Uppercut Tactical offer versatility, durability and utility for use in a variety of situations. The right knife is chosen by carefully considering the blade size and type, maintenance methods, safe handling techniques and customization.

Blade Steel

The blade steel is the most important part of any knife. There are four main considerations that have to be balanced: edge retention, ease of sharpening, toughness and corrosion resistance. No knife material can excel in each of these four areas.

Carbon steel is the most common material used to make knives. It’s easy to sharpen, durable and corrosion resistant. Carbon steel is less durable than some other knife metals, and it can be more brittle depending upon the alloy.

To increase toughness, some manufacturers add elements such as nickel, chromium, or manganese to steel. These improve the hardness of the steel, but can sometimes make the knife a bit brittle or difficult to sharpen. To counteract this, some knife manufacturers will add an additive called Tungsten to soften the steel and reduce its brittleness.

Another consideration is the blade’s rust resistance. Some of the most common tactical knife metals have excellent corrosion resistant, such 5160 and D2. Both are known for having an exceptional hardness that helps to produce a blade with a longer life and a sharper edge. They do, however, have a low chromium level, which can cause them to rust if they are not properly maintained.

One of the best newer knife steels is CPM-M4, which uses modern powder metallurgy to combine exceptional wear-resistance with high hardness, edge retention and toughness. It is a great option for tactical knives. It’s easy to sharpen, and it can handle heavy use. However, it does corrode quickly, so it requires regular oiling to prevent oxidation.

A non-powder alternative is 14C28N. This uses nitrogen to align molecular structures of the grains within the steel, thereby increasing hardness without the usual penalty associated with increased corrosion. It’s offered on a few midprice tactical knives and is considered an excellent value. To have extra shopping money to help grow your collection, you might want to look into playing some fun and interactive sports betting games via UFABET.

Heat Treatment

The heat treatment is crucial for the strength of a knife. A well-done heating treatment can increase the steel’s tensile strengths by up to 40 percent while also making it more durable and resistant to wear. This is done by a process known as annealing and tempering.

Tool Steels – primarily hard alloys used for cutting tools, such as knives and Chisels. They are tougher and more durable than stainless steels, but their corrosion resistance is lower. Popular tool steels include Crucible CPM, Crucible D2, and O1.

Stainless Steels – steels with added chromium to resist corrosion but not as much as carbon steels. They have better rust resistance than carbon steels but not as good as tool steels. They are very common in EDC knives today and include the 400, 420, and some Sandvik and Crucible SxxV grades.

High-Carbon Steels are tough, take a good cutting edge and can be hard to sharpen. They are also prone to corrosion but can be coated to delay this. These types of steels are often found in survival and machetes because they are designed to see rough use.

The new super steels are extremely tough and amazingly durable but they are also very expensive and require special equipment to be heat treated properly. Examples are ZDP-189 produced by Hitachi, and M390 manufactured by Bohler-Uddeholm. These steels both have massive amounts of carbon but they also contain a lot of chromium which leads to ridiculous levels of hardness. They are very hard to work, but they retain a sharp edge and can be sharpened with some practice. They are more susceptible to corrosion than other stainless-steels because the carbon ‘pairs’ with the chrome to form carbides, leaving less chromium ‘free’ to fight corrosion.

CPM-20CV is a version of Bohler’s M390 by Crucible. It is a powder metal steel of the third generation and is similar to S30V with the exception that it contains more vanadium than molybdenum. This increases the steel’s hardness, but not as much ZDP-189. It is easier than S30V to sharpen, but not as much as ZDP 189.

Grip

No matter what type of knife you use, a good handle is essential. The grip must be flexible enough to allow you hold the blade in various positions, and also perform as a cutting and thrusting tool. It must also be durable enough to withstand repeated usage. A good grip must feel comfortable in the hand, be easy to operate, and offer some degree of protection for your fingernails when you need to dig in.

Tactical knives come with a wide range of handle materials. Rubber handles are common, as they are lightweight and can be gripped tightly. They are not as durable as some other handle materials, but they are versatile and easy to clean.

Other handle materials tend to be more specialized, and are used on more expensive tactical knife models. Micarta is a good example. It is a thick material made of fabric layers impregnated in phenolic resin. It is durable, scratch resistant and textured for a secure grip. It is also lightweight, and has some flex. This makes it an excellent choice for tactical knifes that need to be held over long periods of times.

A combination of metal and polymer is another popular handle material. This combination is found on folding knifes that have a locking system. This safety feature lets you deploy and retract the knife without having to worry about it snapping off your fingers. The mechanism typically consists of a circular collar around the base of the blade that you twist to lock it in place. This design is easy to use and ambidextrous. It can wear out with time, causing the blade to wiggle.

A grip’s ability to support the hand in various positions is a final consideration. Tactical knives can be held in a variety of grips depending on the intended use. The hammer grip, for example, is the preferred grip of many close-combat enthusiasts. In this grip, you hold the knife in your hand like you are making a hand fist. You will see the blade sticking out from the thumb. This grip allows for strong thrusting but doesn’t facilitate the inward slashing that is required for penetrating cuts.

Ergonomics

Many tactical knives have handles made of composite materials such as micarta or G-10. These knives are durable and tough, but still very grippy, especially when they’re wet. They also don’t generally absorb much moisture, making them ideal for combat use where the knife might be subject to repeated soakings. Ka-Bar Becker BK-18, and the OKC Rat III are two examples of tactical knives that have such handles.

Most people choose a handle material based on their personal preferences. The best way to decide is to try out various knives in a store and see what feels right. It is important to consider the purpose of the knife. For example, a knife designed for self-defense might need a more aggressive gripping form that is less likely slip under stress.

Likewise, a tactical knife used for camping or hunting may need to have more of a rounded, curved shape that fits the hand better when using the blade for cutting. In any event, it’s vital to avoid any ‘hot spots’ on the knife’s handle which might cause hand fatigue after prolonged use. These hot spots might be caused by finger grooves, protrusions or sharp corners of the handle.

The locking mechanism of a tactical knife is another important factor in its ergonomics. There are many different designs available, and new ones are being developed every day. A steel bar is attached to the back of the blade and moves against a spring that’s built into the handle as you open and shut the blade. When the blade is closed, the square cutout of the lock bar slides into the matching cutout in the blade to lock it in place.