Are Tactical Knives and Fighting/Combat Knives the same thing?
No. The modern Tactical Knife is designed for a broader range of uses than just as a bayonet or fighting knife. A good example is the ASEK (Aircrew Survival Egress Knife) systems that have recently appeared on the scene. These knives may be used for emergency egress from a downed aircraft using the hook knife type multi-tools and carbide glass breakers included with them. The same knife can then be used for Survival-Escape-Resistance- Evasion (S.E.R.E.) tasks. This system is also very useful for Search & Rescue personnel to assist in vehicle extrications and other complex rescue tasks. The A.S.E.K. system is the very definition of a tactical knife. Of the A.S.E.K. Knives currently on the market – only the Ontario Knife Company version is actually issued to the U.S. Military. Sheath attachment systems are multicarry and often M.O.L.L.E., S.T.R.I.K.E., A.I.T.E.S., and A.L.I.C.E. compatible. Tactical knife systems are designed for maximum versatility. When you think Tactical, think multi-
