Extreme Survival Situations - What Makes a Combat Knife Good?

Extreme Survival Situations - What Makes a Combat Knife Good?

A combat knife is basically a combat knife designed specifically for close combat and primarily designed for hand-to-face or combat fighting. The blade is generally fixed with a thumb stud and the blade is made of a sturdy steel or a carbon fiber material, which will resist rusting and is easily sharpened. The blade is typically held open at the widest point with the aid of a thumb hole, so that it can be used as a good knife for close work. Combat knives are generally made from a single piece of metal such as stainless steel, though there are some models that are constructed from different materials including carbon fiber, aluminum, carbon nano tube (canoid) or titanium.

With regards to the current situation, a major change in knife capability has been experienced when it comes to the US Army. Prior to this, there have been no standard specifications when it comes to combat knife capability. For instance, a knife could have the blade attached to the handle with a foldable flap, which essentially rendered the knife completely incapable of being used for anything other than cutting. In effect, a combat knife was basically a useless piece of equipment.

This has all changed recently with the modernization of US Army doctrine. Just like their standard army knives, combat knives are now required to meet certain specifications. For one, the blade is no longer necessarily fixed open; rather, it can be "delayed opening" which allows it to be opened more slowly than the traditional opening method. This allows a much greater level of versatility as to what you can use the knife for. Delayed opening knives make it possible to defend yourself by opening it at the most opportune moment. Simply put, using a combat knife makes defending one's life easier, especially if you don't have a lot of time to draw your weapon.

Another important detail with regards to combat knives is their blade type. In essence, there are three basic blade types: European, Chinese and Western. The most common type of combat knife in the United States is the Western style, as its name implies being made from a Western wood handle. While this is the most common, other styles can be found such as the Chinese knife and the German knife. Obviously the more popular European knife blade type is the European knife, as it is generally made from a carbon steel blade with a handle made from either leather or plastic.

Additionally, there are also two specific design features that have been integrated into combat knives that have proven useful in extreme survival situations. One is a hinge located on the handle of the knife that allows quick opening times but also allows the knife to lock in place when closed. The second design feature is a thumb stud, which is used specifically to maximize safety and to increase the user's overall stability when handling the knife. In fact, many knives have been reinforced with what is referred to as "bumpers," which are centers in the heel of the blade that provide an additional attachment point should the user experience an accidental slip.

Beyond these two unique design features, the overall function and utility of the combat knife make it a highly desirable piece of equipment. Typically it is used to quickly and efficiently deal with a wide range of tasks and will be essential for surviving in any number of survival situations. With this in mind, regardless of the style of knife a user chooses, choosing a combat knife that is specifically designed to meet the needs of the user is always a good idea.

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