Knife Grip Tactics
| This page details grip and handling of knives, with
particular emphasis on tactical, combat, and defensive knives to help the knife
professional understand combat and tactical knife features detailed on this
website. The pictures will help to illustrate the styles of hold or gripping a
knife that are typical for this type of knife. I've included a hand sizing
technique that is useful on large quillon knives to fit the individual hand to
the knife. This is by NO MEANS a source of instruction, direction, or advice in tactical knife combat or defense use. Knife combat techniques are taught by professionals, and knives should always be used with extreme care. Unlike a firearm, a knife can never be unloaded or made safe. Knives are cutting tools, and sometimes weapons in the hands of professionals like combat soldiers, federal officers, police, and SWAT teams. For professional instruction and advice, please link here for details, at the BladeCombat.com professional web site. |
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| Knives may be gripped in several ways, but two main distinctive styles have evolved in the tactical knife arena. They are very different, and each have distinct advantages and disadvantages. On the military, tactical combat knives pages available through my tactical knife portal here, you will see the knives photographed with details mentioning the grip styles. |
also called hammer and saksak
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Traditional grip (hammer) style with thumb wrapped |
Traditional grip style (saber) with thumb braced on bolster/guard |
| When the thumb is placed on the side of the knife, usually at the bolster, it is called a modified saber grip | |
| The traditional grip style's main advantage is reach. The
knife blade is held away from the body, and with an extended arm can deliver
slashing cuts at the greatest distance. Because it is "traditional," it feels
the most comfortable to most people. It is the way most knife and other tool
handles are oriented, and lends itself best to cutting and sawing chores in
front of the knife owner. Because of the location, the knife and its work are
easy to see. Notice that the knife is always at an up point angle, because of
the natural orientation of the wrist.
The disadvantages are that the knife is far away from the body, therefore the hand is vulnerable and easily trapped or injured by an opponent or enemy. The wrist must usually be canted (tilted) forward for the blade to remain straight. This can be unnatural and hard on the joints at the wrist, preventing the knife user from locking his wrists such as in a punch. Opponents behind and beside may be hard to reach with the blade. Locking the wrist in a punching position directs the knife point toward the user, not the opponent, particularly since the elbow folds inward, bringing the knife point directly into the knife user's head and chest area. "Saksak" - Visayan dialect of the Philippines meaning "to stab" |
The Tactical or Defensive Grip Style
Also called icepick, reverse, and pakal
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Tactical grip downward thrust (Reverse grip) |
Tactical grip back thrust (Revese grip) |
| Because the cutting edge is away from the elbow, this is called a reverse tactical grip. If the edge is facing inward, it's called an icepick grip or pakal grip. Because the thumb is laid atop the rear bolster, this is sometimes called "capping" | |
| The tactical grip style (also called the defensive grip)
has several advantages. The thumb is usually laid across a properly designed
rear ramp at the butt, pommel, (or distal end) of the handle. Because of the great
strength of the thumb in a rigid fist position, great force can be applied to
the knife in a point-first thrust. Due to the natural position of the wrist, it
is easy and comfortable to lock the wrist in a rigid condition, strengthening
the entire joint and grip. The knife can be locked between the quillions at the
fingers. The knife may be easily used in a guarded position, protecting the
owner from outside attack. Since the knife is closer to the body, a greater
degree of control can occur. Opponents behind and beside are easily reached, and
great force can be applied in a thrust. Sideways punching movements at the front
deliver powerful slashes. The knife is almost always pointed away from the user,
for less likelihood of user's injury. The disadvantages are that the knife has less reach, and the position of the blade does not allow a clear view and greater control. Upward thrusting or slashing is greatly inhibited and nearly impossible to do. "Pakal"- Visayan dialect of the Philippines meaning "to rip" |
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For a true custom knife, there are certain handles that must be individually fitted to the knife user's hand. Not all hands are the same, and the hand needs to fit comfortably in the knife handle for optimum use. I use a simple hand fitting technique to measure the knife user's hand, and translate that size to the custom knife made for him. My own hand is rather large, I wear a size 13 wedding ring, so my own hand is not the norm for most men. Knife handles that need sizing are typically combat or tactical knives when deep front and rear quillions are used, and the fingers must rest between them. |
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| Here's how to
measure your own hand for a custom fit: click on thumbnail photos |
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Lay a straight ruler across the inside of your hand, aligning the edge with the inside of the second knuckles of your fingers. |
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Measure between the knuckles |
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With the fingers clenching the ruler, you can see that this measure (my hand) is 3 7/8" or 3.875" or 9.8 cm. |
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I size the actual opening between the quillons of the knife down about 1/8" for a good snug fit between the quillons. So the actual opening on this knife is 3 3/4" |
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You can see here that with the fist clenched, there is little or no play between the quillions, for a good lock between the hand and the knife. |
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Here's a knife that is custom made for a man who has smaller or more slender hands. You can see that it's too tight for my knuckles to fit between the quillions. |
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Since I can't slide my hand fully into the handle, my palm will not rest on the handle spine, which is no good for applying pressure, especially in tactical or combat knives. |
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| Be sure to think about gloves! If
you wear gloves, you'll need to measure the hand sizing with the
gloves on. It's probably best to go with a little oversized
measurement than an undersized one.
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Remember, each grip style and position has its limitations and advantages. The pictures and information on this page is meant to illustrate these gripping and holding styles to better understand what I'm referring tool in the combat knife pages on this site here: |
| All Military, Police, Tactical, Combat, Rescue and Specialty Knives |
| Commemorative Military, Combat, and Tactical Knives |
| USAF Pararescue and SERE Knives |
| My most popular PJ Rescue and Combat Knife |
| For Sale: Tactical Knives immediately available |
| Khukris: My tactical Khukris |
| Knife Patterns |
| Order your custom tactical knife here |
| Locking Military Grade Combat Sheaths |
| Care of Custom Military Knives |
| Knife Anatomy, Components, and Parts |
