Many folks aren’t aware of Mil-Tac Knives & Tools, but they’ve been around for about six years now. Mil-Tac is owned and operated by Craig Sword, and I’ve known Sword since before he started Mil-Tac, when he was with another knife company. I’m happy to report, that I had a hand in helping Craig get Mil-Tac up and running. That’s not to say, I helped him physically start his company. Instead, Craig and I spent many, many hours on the phone discussing the idea of him starting-up a new knife company, and which direction it should go. I appreciate Sword’s faith in me with my ideas and input. He thought I’d have some sage advice after writing about guns and knives for a lot of years.
As a bit of a disclaimer, SurvivalBlog readers should know that I designed the CE-1, CE-2 and “Code Zero” 1911 grips for Mil-Tac. The CE-1 and CE-2 fixed blade fighting knives were actually a collaboration between myself, custom knife maker Ray Ennis and Craig Sword. I have no financial interest in Mil-Tac, nor do I receive any royalties from the products I brought to Mil-Tac. I was just helping a friend get a new business venture off the ground.
I’ve watched Craig Sword slowly add new products to the Mil-Tac line-up over the years, and it hasn’t been an easy task. As with any new business venture, there is a lot of money involved in starting this type of business, not to mention the machinery and raw materials. Craig has really done an outstanding job growing his company, and quite honestly, I’m surprised he has grown Mil-Tac as fast as he has, and has expanded is product line-up to what it is today. Great job, Craig! He has worked hard to get to where he’s at today, and he’s very proud of his customer service. He attends to this himself, as well as running the day-to-day operations of Mil-Tac, plus designing knives himself, attending trade shows, and actually making many of his products. He has his hands full all the time.
I recently received two new tactical folders from Mil-Tac for test and evaluation. These are called the M3 models, and they are tactical in every sense of the world – they aren’t designed for whittling wood or anything like that – they are designed for tough, self-defense work, period! The M3 comes in several different versions, to include Tanto style blades, as well as drop-point blades. They also come with standard G-10 handle scales or the new 3-D handle scales. The M3s are being produced for Mil-Tac by Fox Knives over in Italy, and they did a spectacular jo.
What we have with the M3 is a 3.9″ Tanto blade (the blade style I requested) made out of N690Co stainless steel. I don’t have the run down on this particular steel material, but I’ve had several other Mil-Tac folders made out of this same stainless steel, and it’s some tough stuff, yet fairly easy to re-sharpen. The blade is also coated with a black Teflon-type coating for additional protection against rust, and for a non-reflective finish. There is a dual thumb stud on the blade for quick deployment, and thumb serrations on the top of the blade, should you desire to choke-up on the blade. The handle material, as already mentioned is super-tough black G-10 laminate. I elected for the 3-D handle style. It is thicker and hand filling, to be sure. I really like a knife handle I can get a grip on and really hold onto. There are vertical as well as horizontal serrations on the handle scales.
There is a pocket/clothing clip, which allows you to move it around the handle for right or left hand use, as well as blade up or blade down carry. Nice! The design is a semi-open type handle, which allows most dirt and dust to fall out, instead of building-up inside the handle. There is a lanyard hole in the butt of the handle, and it’s actually big enough to allow the use of 550 parachute cord as a lanyard. A manual lock allows you to lock the blade open, once deployed, making this a virtual fixed blade knife. The standard method of locking the blade open is with the liner-lock, which is very strong and stout – and the manual locking lever is there for added safety.
Craig Sword sent me two samples of the M3, one with a plain edge, and the other with a partially serrated edge. A lot of people don’t like serrated blades, but I think they really come in handy if you ever have to cut wet rope, poly rope, open boxes or tear through tough material like heavy clothing. Both samples arrived shaving-sharp, too. The clothing/pocket clip is large and it’s not going to easily bend out of shape, like so many do on lesser knives, when they don’t heat-treat the clips. Many companies don’t bother to heat-treat their clips at all, and when you catch ’em on something, they bend out-of-shape and you can’t get ’em bent back to their original shape, either.
The butt of the handle is flat, and can be used as a blunt striking weapon, when lethal force isn’t needed. The pivot screw on the blade is larger than is seen on many knives – making it stronger, as well as allowing a much smoother opening and closing of the blade. The top of the handle is slightly curved upwards, and has friction grooves, allowing for a secure thumb placement when using the fencing style of grip in knife fighting. The bottom of the handle has a nice finger groove and it also has some friction grooves for a secure purchase on the knife. A large, single spacer keeps the handle together and it has some “bumps” on it, again, allowing for a better purchase on the handle.
The M3 samples both opened smoothly – like butter, and locked firmly in place. There wasn’t any need to use the manual locking levers, but I used ’em just the same as they were easy to apply with the thumb while holding the knives in a fencing grip. I used the knives for some everyday chores around the house – even though their intended purpose is that of a fighting folder. Cutting open boxes from FedEx or UPS were easy, as well as cutting up some meat for meals. I “stabbed” both knives into a large pot roast, and they easily penetrated all the way to the handle and then some – I like the penetration power of the Tanto style blade.
I really like the 3-D handle scales – they fill my hand. If you don’t like a thicker-feeling folder, then go with the standard handle scales, which are thinner, but still made out of G-10 laminate. The overall appearance of the M3 samples, with their black blades and black G-10 handle scales are very business-like, and you know you have tactical folders in your hand, and not an ordinary pocket knife.
I can usually find something to “fault” or change on many knives and guns – it’s my nature to look to improve or change something to my own personal taste. However, there is nothing I’d change on the M3 samples I received. My only problem will be deciding which sample I want to keep – I can’t afford to purchase both of them.
As always, I try to save the best for last, and that’s price. On any of the M3 models, standard or 3-D handle scales, full retail price is $169 and I believe you are getting a great tactical folder for the money. You could spend more, but you won’t get more with many other folders. Truthfully, these knives should be retailing for about a hundred dollars more – so lay claim to one before Craig Sword realizes he’s selling these knives for less than he should.
Also, when you visit the Mil-Tac web site, check out the CE-1 and CE-2 fixed blade fighting knives that I helped design. And, for some of the best 1911 custom grips on the planet, check out my “Code Zero” grips – everyone who has tested ’em loves ’em, and I’ve had several well-known gun writers tell me that they are the best feeling 1911 grips they’ve ever used. They allow a very secure grip on your 1911, but they aren’t rough on the hands. Craig Sword also has several other styles of 1911 grips he is producing as well, and be sure to check them out as well.
Craig Sword is one of the good guys, and he deserves your business. He goes out of his way to make sure his customers are 100% satisfied with their purchases. Sword is also prior service with the US Army, and he does a lot to support our troops out of his own pocket. If you’re in the market for a new tactical folding knife, fixed blade knife or custom grips for your 1911 handgun, then be sure to check out Mil-tac.com and give them your business if you can. Please mention that your saw this article in SurvivalBlog. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio