In baseball he’s called a utility player. A guy you can fearlessly stick anywhere on the diamond in any situation. Put him in right field because he’s comfortable shagging fly balls or move him to first base because he’s just as adept at fielding hard hit grounders. His usefulness is his versatility.

The knife world has an equivalent of baseball’s utility player and it’s known as the tactical knife.

When asked what defines a tactical knife, we like to go with Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Famer® and Spyderco president Sal Glesser’s definition: “A tactical knife is a knife you have to make do with for whatever you need it at the time, whether that means to cut a person out of a wrecked car or defend yourself from an attack.”

Although in theory ANY knife could be classified as a tactical knife, this article will focus on the newest factory fixed blade tactical knives.

Semper Fi
The people at TOPS Knives have always prided themselves on providing military personnel and people of law enforcement with quality knives capable of completing even the most dangerous of tasks. In particular, the company has always maintained a special relationship with the Marine Corps and that special bond is once again evident on the new TOPS Marine Heat.

By combining design input from Larry Keen, one of the founding members of TOPS and a former Operational Recon Marine, with an impressive list of criteria compiled by active Marine Corps members in Fallujah, Iraq, the company conceived the Marine Heat.

Among the FIBUA (Fighting in Built Up Urban Areas) criteria deemed necessary was a readily deployable 6-inch blade and a thick full-tang with a strong handle and three-screw blade fitting. The Marine Heat also features a heavy-duty non-reflective blade coating as well as the company’s new MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) point – a full-point perfectly suited for digging. A “humpback” on the spine of the blade was included to provide integral strength and to the give the blade the ability to penetrate further if required.

“We have found that TOPS has become the personal carry choice for many military units and we are certainly pleased,” says TOPS president Mike Fuller. “We were proud to include a bit of Marine Corps red in the handle of the Marine Heat and we realized the need to make it affordable so the enlisted field marine could afford it. We also lasered the Marine Corps emblem right onto the blade,” Fuller says.

Each Marine Heat is hand ground and done in 1095 high carbon alloy and includes a thick kydex sheath with rotating steel clip as well as a pocket-size Lansky touch-up sharpener for field use.

In The Eye of the Beholder
Odds are, if someone called you stubby and stout you’d probably take great offense. However, it’s a description that Pat Crawford likes just fine when discussing the Triumph No-nonsense Emergency Compact Knife (N.E.C.K.) he designed for Columbia River Knife and Tool.

“The response I’ve had from customers is that they like the stubby, short, stout feel of the knife,” Crawford explains. “It has enough handle to get a good grip and just enough blade to do some very serious work.”

The 6.50-inch Triumph is available in satin finish or in non-reflective black EDP coating; the latter completed with an olive drab cord-wrapped handle.

Both knives are beneficial in the their own unique way and Crawford believes the situation should dictate when to use which.

“There are always pros and cons to different features,” Crawford says. “That’s one of the reasons we make so many models and variations. I like the feel of the cord-wrapped handle because it is easy on the hand when used for heavy work or for long periods of time. The knife without the cord handle has a very low profile under a shirt when worn as a neck knife. On a belt I prefer the cord-wrapped handle and I like the plain flat steel when worn as a neck knife.”

The Triumph N.E.C.K. can be carried using either a kydex belt-clip sheath or the MercHarness – a paracord harness with adjustable rubber keepers designed by George Matheis.

No matter what model you prefer, odds are you’ll find the Triumph N.E.C.K. – the companion piece to CRKT’s Crawford tactical Triumph Folder – the perfect stout and stubby companion.

“I wanted a small fixed blade knife that could easily be concealed on a belt, under a shirt or coat, and also on a chain worn around the neck,” Crawford says. “The knife can be worn in many different positions on a belt or in a waistband.”

Taking Back the Night
Rarely do sequels live up to their originals. Just look at Caddyshack II. Or clear Pepsi. The reason that sequels often bomb is because people are impatient - to quick to re-produce. However, every once in a while you get someone willing to put in the time it takes to make a marked improvement. Michael Janich of Blackhawk Knives hopes that all the work that went into the company’s new Nightedge will make for a great take two.

“The Nightedge is actually based on the original MOD Nightwing,” Janich says. “The Nightwing was offered with three different blade profiles – a traditional clip point, a sharpened back edge and a serrated back edge. The feedback we received from operators in the field, as well as the results of our own extensive cutting tests, showed a clear preference for the serrated back edge and reinforced point. That’s why we chose that profile for the Nightedge.”

It is that design – a serrated spine and reinforced point – that is intended to provide a superior combination of point strength and cutting capability.

“Unlike traditional false edges which force the blade to taper to the point, the Nightedge’s point retains its full thickness just behind the tip,” Janich explains. “This gives the point extreme strength and penetrating power.”

Conceived by custom knifemaker Allen Elishewitz, one of the most noticeable features of the Nightedge is its dropped handle.

“Allen took painstaking care to ensure that the contours, palm swells and handle angle of the Nightwing and Nightedge provide outstanding control and exceptional ergonomics for the broadest range of end users,” Janich says. “The dropped handle allows the wrist to maintain a more natural angle during use and eliminates the need to “cam” the hand forward to orient the point and edge. When the Nightedge is displayed at trade shows, it invariably receives lots of positive comments on its ergonomics. To most people it just feels great in the hand.”

So, as you can see, every once in a while sequels do succeed.

One in a Million
The last thing most knife companies would compare one of their knives to is a female assassin. Then again, Jared West is not most people and Mantis Knives is not most knife companies.

When quizzed about his favorite features on the company’s new MK-F, West was quick to point out what he liked best.

“I like its looks,” West says. “It’s like a female assassin: sexy and dangerous. In fact, that’s what its unofficial name should be: The MK-F “Mrs. Smith.”

Known for their trend-setting designs, it’s that kind of attitude that has made Mantis one of the most unique knife companies around.

The MK-F features G-10 on both sides of the handle and is done in 19C37 Sandvik steel. Just like Mantis’ designs, their use of Sandvik steel is something that also continues to evolve.

“We are still speaking in depth with John Foster at Sandvik,” West says. “They have a variety of stainless compositions and at this time the 19C37 seems to be the very best they have to offer. We have shown over the past two years that we are a player in the “knife game” and Sandvik recognizes that potential.”

Noticeable on the karambit is the knife’s hook blade – a blade that is noticeably smaller when compared to other karambits.

“The blade-to-handle ratio is certainly different than most,” West says. “But Mantis prides itself on not being constrained by industry norms. We think this is among the most unique looking knives we’ve ever dreamt up.”

If the feedback received from Mantis supporters is any indication than West is certainly right.

“For this and all future knives we started an elite organization call The Mantis Militia,” West says. “This is comprised of all of our customers and all knife enthusiasts who want to take their knife hobby to the next level by becoming involved in the design process. We took into account what our militia had said about the MK-1, MK-2 and their offspring, the MK-3, and integrated that into the MK-F.”