I’ve had a soft spot for daggers for as long as I can remember. One day, when I was in 7th grade, I tagged along with my mom when she was going shopping at the mall. I stopped in Cutlery World and saw a Gerber Mark I in their case. Black blade with a camouflage handle—I just had to have it. Another company that knows daggers is RMJ Tactical, and its Orlando Special reminds me of that early dagger that so captivated me.
The RMJ Tactical Orlando Special Dagger
They wouldn’t sell that Gerber Mark I to me due to my age, but I convinced my mom to buy it for me. I got in a little trouble when she found out I’d taken it to school the following Monday. I just wanted to show it to a couple of friends. Kids will be kids, right?
I had that knife for several years, until a buddy of mine lost it for me on a hike. While I eventually replaced it with another Gerber Mark I, that loss still stings a bit.
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I tell you all of that to tell you this. The Orlando Special dagger from RMJ Tactical is everything that the Gerber Mark I wanted to be, and then some.
About RMJ Tactical
Founded in 2009 by Ryan M. Johnson, RMJ Tactical quickly developed a reputation for high-quality tomahawks and knives. Johnson is a Master Blacksmith who started his blade journey around the age of 10 when he was fascinated by Japanese weapons.
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One of the hallmarks of RMJ Tactical is that their products are designed for use and abuse, not decoration. The materials used are chosen for durability and reliability. If RMJ Tactical makes it, then it’s made to last.
Orlando Special First Impressions
Drawing the dagger from the Kydex sheath, I was surprised at how light it was. It’s just shy of five ounces, so this isn’t quite featherweight. But it’s incredibly well-balanced. The handle is slim, about 0.5625-inch thick, and it stretches a bit over four inches. So, there’s plenty of real estate for a confident grip. I wear XL gloves, and the handle is quite comfortable.
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The G10 scales are deeply textured, and I was concerned that these could be annoying. But that worry was for naught, as I didn’t have any issues at all with it.
Both edges of the dagger were exceptionally sharp out of the box, and the point is like a needle. At 4.5 inches long, I feel like the blade has plenty of reach for whatever you plan to use it for. It’s Nitro V (which is no longer available), so edge retention shouldn’t be an issue. (Note: the Orlando Dagger is now only available from RMJ in MagnaCut.)
The blade features a Tungsten Gray Cerakote finish. This provides some additional corrosion resistance as well as adds a bit of a cool factor. Because y’know, being a boot dagger isn’t quite cool enough.
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Carrying the Orlando Special
We need to talk a bit about the sheath as well. All too often, knife brands treat the sheath as just a secondary add-on. It’s an afterthought, almost like a necessary evil. That’s absolutely not the case with the Orlando Special sheath. This one is purpose-built for form and function.
It features a 1.5-inch spring clip that will work on a belt or boot. This can be easily removed via four screws, leaving just a slim sheath that you could lash to your pack or just slip into a pocket. The clip itself can be repositioned for a variety of carry options.
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The knife is quite secure in the sheath, with nary a wiggle or wobble. That said, deploying the knife isn’t a struggle in the least. It slides out easily and clicks back into place just as effortlessly.
Orlando Special Performance
Digging into my box of testing media, I first pulled out a roll of nylon webbing that I’d picked up a while back for another project. Something to remember when you’re using a dagger is that both edges are sharp. If you’re accustomed to resting your thumb on the spine of your knife when you’re making cuts to cordage or similar materials, you’ll want to readjust your grip before you slice that thumb open.
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Just a word of warning. I didn’t commit that error, but I did come close. Muscle memory is a thing, and sometimes it works against us.
In any event, the Orlando Special worked great against the nylon webbing, as well as a hank of paracord. The latter included some push cuts as well as slices.
I then took a small cardboard box and filled it with packing material, and began going to town on it with stabs. As expected, the dagger sang through the box like it wasn’t even there. The needle-sharp point, as well as the dual sharp edges did their jobs well.
To test the point further, I took the knife out to the backyard and grabbed a 2×4 that’s been sitting outside all winter long. Stabbing the point into the cold wood, I pried up small chunks before carving into it further. It didn’t take much work to create a decent-sized hole in the board. And the tip was none the worse for wear.
Overall, I’m impressed with the Orlando Special. It handles beautifully.
Who Needs It?
Admittedly, a dagger is sort of a special-use knife. It’s designed to be a fighting blade, made for slashing and stabbing. As such, it really doesn’t have much day-to-day application in its purest form.
However, if you’re looking for an EDC blade that will handle routine chores between knife duels and look damn cool while doing it, the Orlando Special might be just the ticket.
RMJ Tactical Orlando Special Specs
| Overall Length | 8.88 inches |
| Blade Length | 4.5 inches |
| Steel | Nitro V or Magnacut |
| Weight | 4.6 ounces |
| MSRP | $295.00 |
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