Benchmade 176 SOCP Dagger

Specs
Blade material: 440C stainless steel
Blade length: 85 mm (82 mm according to manufacturer)
Overall length: 184 mm
Knife weight: 61 g (62 g according to manufacturer)
Total weight: 89 g (with sheath)
Price: 1 500 SEK (Sweden 2013)

Greg Thompson at Special Operations Combatives Program (SOCP) has designed this tactical knife together with the manufacturer Benchmade. The 176 SOCP Dagger is a slimmed skeletonized tool for tactical self defense. The concept of the SOCP Dagger is to have a quick drawn self defense blade that can help gain time to make the transition to a larger weapon like a hand gun. The dagger's finger loop (inner diameter 28 mm) enables your trigger finger to operate while still holding the dagger. The design makes the SOCP Dagger easy to carry within good reach in a discrete way minimizing the risk of someone else grabbing it.
In the Combo package a red trainer dagger (64 g) is included together with the sharp dagger, a injection molded sheath with a clip and a lanyard cord. The 70 mm long, 44 mm wide and 18 mm thick plastic sheath is offered in two colors; black or sand. The black coated knife is made of 440C stainless steel. The 85 mm long, 19 mm wide and 4,5 mm (5 mm according to manufacturer) thick blade is delivered with two sharp edges for effective penetrating abilities. The Swedish Benchmade distributor is EQUIPT, I can recommend a visit to their website. Also take a look at Greg Thompson demonstrating the 176 SOCP Dagger by clicking HERE.
It's very professional of Benchmade to offer a trainer version of the knife as it's very important to be drilled in the gear of choice in this serious category. It would have been nice if the Combo package also came with an extra sheath. That way you don't have to mess with your duty rig while in the gym. I think this is a really nice and efficient high quality tool for self defense in the line of duty. Stay safe out there.

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Schrade XTAC SQ586

I really like this segment of knives; low price, but still great design, mechanism and material. I call this segment Low Price High Quality (LPHQ). The Schrade Extreme Tactical, XTAC SQ586, falls into this segment, and does it well. This liner lock is robust yet slim. The low weight and the tip down carry pocket clip makes the XTAC nice to carry. I like the shape of the blade and the handle's gripability. The two sided thumb studs could have been given a smoother edges though; on this knife the studs scratches my thumbs. The studs are placed very close to the handle when folded. These two things can be an issue when in cold climate with stiff fingers.
The XTAC's Chinese blade is delivered with a razor sharp edge that holds up fine.

Length: 194 mm / 111 mm
Blade: 82 mm long, 24 mm wide, 2 mm thick drop point blade
Handle: 111 mm long and 12 mm thick, black plastic and blue aluminum with pocket clip
Weight: 82 g

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Leatherman Surge

The Surge is one of Leatherman's full size heavy duty models featuring two knife blades; one clip point plain edge and one serrated sheep foot blade. They can be opened with a one hand maneuver and locks with a liner function. I like the robust quality of the Surge. Some years ago I moved into a new empty flat; had no kithen stuff, tools or gear what so ever. So I went and got me this Leatherman Surge and with it I fixed everything from my bike, the table and the food on it. This 100% stainless steel tool contains over twenty different functions and comes with a nice nylon sheath. If you prefer a leather sheath; this is optional, and there is also a black oxide version of the Surge available.

Plain edge blade: 79 mm long, 2 mm thick stainless steel 420 HC Clip point blade
Serrated blade: 80 mm long, 2 mm thick stainless steel 420 HC sheep foot blade
Closed tool: 115 x 43 x 21 mm
Open pliers: 177 mm long
Weight: 334 g (tool), 373 g (tool and sheath)

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Gerber E-Z Out

Gerber made a good job with this one; great design and quality at reasonable price. I've been using this knife for over 10 years now and its a really nice allrounder. Lately this knife has been my choice of second knife while hunting; my non-game knife. I prefer carrying one drop point fixed blade taking care of the game (game knife) and one clip point folder managing the other knife activities during the hunt (non-game knife). The E-Z Out is perhaps not the most fancy looking knife but it's robust, reasonable light and easy to handle. I like the elegant shape of the blade and if you keep the edge sharp it really gets the job done nicely. Today the E-Z Out legacy lives on in the DPSF and the Rescue; two tactical modells with serrated edges.

Total length: 200 mm / 115 mm
Blade length: 89 mm
Blade width: 25 mm
Blade thickness: 2,5 mm
Weight: 75 g
Blade: ATS-34 clip point blade with a straight plain edge and a hole for thumb opening
Handle: Glass-filled polycarbonate nylon with rubber inserts and a steel tip down pocket clip

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Böker Counterfeit Folder

This is a counterfeit and I'm guessing it's made somewhere in Asia. Böker is a well known high quality knife brand that of course is tempting for a pirate to copy. On Bökers counterfeit page you can see more copies. But if I try to overlook the moral aspect of pirate copying this knife is relatively good. It's pretty well balanced and fits good in my hand and slips nicely down my pocket, using the tip down pocket clip while hiking. The knife is not beautiful but it works so far. Will be interesting to see how long it will last. I encourage you to try avoiding counterfeits both for the moral aspects as well as the big risk of being disappointed in the products performance.

Length: 196 mm / 117 mm
Weight: 127 g
Blade: 80 mm long black stainless steel clip point blade with one thumbutton on each side
Handle: Camouflaged aluminum handle plates with a black pocket clip for tip down carry

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Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops

When you need a fixed blade knife but for some reason have to choose a folder; this is a good pick. This is a very robust liner lock folder from Smith & Wesson. I've carried this knife in the jungle and it lives up to its catchy name. The rough handle of the Extreme Ops gives a nice grip even when wet. I also really like the tight folding mechanism. But the fact that I can't find any information on this specific model makes me suspect this could be a counterfeit. If you recognise this model and have some information for me; please let me know.
Counterfeit or not; this knife has done it's job well so far.

Total length: 226 mm
Weight: 190 g
Blade: Drop point blade with thumb buttons on both sides
Blade material: Brushed stainless steel
Blade length: 97 mm
Blade width: 30 mm
Blade thickness: 3 mm
Edge: Straight plain
Handle: Finger grooved and jagged with tip down clip carry
Handle material: Composite material and metal
Handle length: 130 mm
Link: Smith & Wesson

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Bayonet m/96

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An old Swedish bayonet used on bolt-action rifles m/1896 and m/1938 manufactured in Sweden (Carl Gustafs stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag) and Germany (Waffenfabrik Mauser Oberndorf a/n). This bayonet can also be used on the automatic rifle Ag m/42.
A lethal weapon back in the days and today a beautiful ornament. Or why not sharpen up your m/96 bayonet and use it when out hunting wild bore.

Knife length: 330 mm
Knife weight: 280 g
Blade: Dagger point
Blade material: Stainless steel
Tang: Short
Blade length: 207 mm
Blade width: 24 mm
Blade thickness: 5 mm
Edge: Straight plain
Handle: Hollow cylindrical with guard and mounting ring
Handle material: Steel
Handle length: 123 mm
Sheath: One button lock and one metal spring lock
Sheath material: Steel and leather
Sheath length: 425 mm
Sheath weight: 208 g
Total length (knife in sheath): 425 mm
Total weight (knife and sheath): 488 g

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Spyderco C41 Native Stainless Steel

A rigid folder with the powerful look of getting the job done. The knife is quite heavy but the tip up carry clip makes the knife carryble. The carry clip can be mounted on either side of the handle pending if you are right or left handed. I like the Spyderco C41 Native's clean rough design. This model is now a days discontinued.

Knife length: 177 mm
Knife weight: 128 g
Blade: Dagger point blade with hole for one-hand opening
Blade material: AUS-10 Stainless steel

Blade length: 77 mm
Blade width: 27 mm
Blade thickness: 3 mm
Edge: Straight, 50% plain, 50% serrated
Handle: Finger grooved
Handle material: Stainless steel
Handle length: 100 mm
Carry system: Pocket clip

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