Re: What does \'tactical\' light mean?
There probably isn't an industrial standard for what is "tactical." I some ways, it is like calling speakers "digital ready." There's really no such thing as a digital speaker, they are all analog devices, but "digital ready" sounded cool to some consumers in the early days of digital audio. Both terms are more than likely overused and hyperbolous, and are often used without much real meaning.
(Don't get me wrong here guys... this is only a generalized rant, for a relaxing Sunday morning. I really get into language stuff - especially when there is an unfolding of new meanings for old words - feel free to ignore this or enjoy it. It's strictly "my humble opinion," and I don't represent it as fact. Rest assured that the flashlight you paid extra for, because it was "tactical," was probably worth what you paid for it, and you probably knew deep down that it was just a really good flashlight. One you can depend on, and one that might just save your life someday.)
"Tactical" in this case should probably mean that it is something used in "tactics" as opposed to "strategy." Strategy is planned action towards a goal, planned in such a way that it takes into consideration many possible situations. Tactics are generally responsive actions taken according to the arising situation of the moment, regardless of what was planned. Tactics are the "means to an end," almost literally from the Greek roots of the word. Tactics are utilized in the achievement of strategic goals and objectives - I don't mean to suggest they are two totally separate things.
I think this term, "tactical," as it is commonly used today, like so many words we take for granted, is a term that has filtered down through daily usage (or misusage) of technical (or pseudo-technical) terms, and it has taken on new meaning in the process. This new meaning is still under negotiation, as we speak it and either accept its use or reject it.
Take for example, "industrial strength." It is a term that entered our daily vocabulary through marketing jargon. At one time there might have been a truly "industrial" product not intended for consumer use, but someone marketed it to consumers as "industrial strength." Then, other marketers jumped on the band wagon and started calling their "better" consumer products "industrial strength," implying that these products are better than those usually available to the household consumer. The original "authentic" use of the term also implied that the "industrial strength" products might also be less fool proof, and more dangerous to use, and this has led to some pretty humorous applications of the term.
As lighter, more sophisticated, and more mobile nukes developed, someone in the military (or some technical or media analyst) at some point probably first used the term "tactical nuclear weapons" to distinguish a lighter, more easily deployed nuke from larger ones. The idea was that it could be transported to its point of use to be used on short notice in a tactical way, as opposed to being used in long term strategy, which might have meant that it was strictly a "deterrent." This also implied (to some,) unintentionally, that a strategic nuke under the control of a strategic planner was less likely to be used, and that a tactical weapon under the control of someone in the field might be used as the result of a snap decision, with less planning, and possibly in a wreckless way. The term even became a kind of rallying point for short while among anti-nuke folks.
Eventually, the term "tactical" came to have several connotations in common usage. One is that anything "tactical" is ready for quick deployment. Another is that it has destructive potential. This carries the finer nuance that a "tactical" weapon may have slightly less destructive potential than a "strategic" one, but that it can be used with a greater element of surprise. Concealability is therefore probably also a factor in "tactical."
"Tactical" also suggests something that can help to protect its user in a dangerous situation, especially an unexpected one, because of its greater flexibility, quicker deployment, and (hopefully) unquestionable reliability.
While I have probably not covered all the bases, I think I have given some reasons why, for most of us, when we speak of a "tactical" knife or flashlight, we mean one that is dependable in a pinch, that is ready for a quick, reactive deployment, that can deliver a swift and effective result, and that can be used to surprise an enemy and turn a bad situation around to our favor. The term also suggests that the light or knife is of a military quality, which makes it akin to "industrial," but perhaps even a grade better, since the military is a highly specialized industry in which most matters are life-or-death.
For some of us, the term "tactical" merely allows us to be boys, and to "play cops" or "play soldier." Some of you guys out there are actually LEOs, firemen, or military men, and you may be using these "tactical" flashlights in real life and death situations. God Bless You. The rest of us may use these in professional situations - "missions," if that makes us more self-important. (There's another interesting term - "mission critical." We'll save it for antoher rant sometime.)
Some of us just love to handle and use high quality tools. "And, there's nothing wrong with that."
Maybe the best understanding we can have for "tactical" is that we are getting something high quality, something that delivers the most "bang" for its size, and something we can depend on. Otherwise, there is no standard that makes a light or knife "tactical."
