A Blade for Iraq

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Derek24

Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
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I have a family visiting us this weekend and the hubby is being deployed to Iraq next week (haven't met him yet).

I was thinking of giving him a blade that might be useful for him (and to show my appreciation), but i'm wondering if soldiers can bring their own??

I don't have much in the way of tactical...only a cold steel recon tanto, spyderco military/paramillie, BM 710D2, Mod 10 Derespina K-bit, and Sere 2000.
 
yes soldiers can bring their own knife.

don't give him an auto. chances are likely he will have a difficult time bringing it back into country (customs) when he comes home.

no real point for a fixed blade, either. something small, lightweight, and simple. spyderco comes to mind.
 
Soldiers, Sailors and Marines are able to carry their own knives. In todays military, as far as my experience has taken me, knives are rarely issued. Just be sure to get something that will be large enough to be functional but not large enough to get in the way. Something in the range of 4-6 in should be all the knife he needs.
 
I'm sure he would appreciate a Leatherman type tool....and he would get no hassles for bringing it.
 
Derek24 said:
I have a family visiting us this weekend and the hubby is being deployed to Iraq next week (haven't met him yet).

I was thinking of giving him a blade that might be useful for him (and to show my appreciation), but i'm wondering if soldiers can bring their own??

I don't have much in the way of tactical...only a cold steel recon tanto, spyderco military/paramillie, BM 710D2, Mod 10 Derespina K-bit, and Sere 2000.
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Depending on his job, and his knife likes, Id say you cant really go wrong giving him any type blade, but yes a leatherman type blade would be best proably IMO
 
What are you planning on spending? What does he do? Is he a computer programmer, a ground pounder or a pilot?

Those questions would help determine an answer. A Leatherman or folding Spyderco would work for any of those positions though.
 
A strong multi-tool & sheath.

A decent quality, folding knife w/ strong lock. And partially serrated, w/ lanyard hole and/or sheath.

Keep in mind, some units issue knives, multi-tool and/or bayonets. And 9 times out of ten he'll have the oppurtunity to purchase his own tool at various times and places.

But he'll appericate the sentiment for sure!
 
A Leatherman tool like the Fuse or Wave is the absolutely minimum for this and that.
Then if you need a fixed I would recommend something in the 4" blade range.

I myself used a Leatherman PST and a Fallkniven F1 when stationed in Bosnia back in -01. I rarely used the fixed though.

A good multitool and a good flashlight is a nice gift. Leatherman Fuse and a Fenix P3DQ5 or a Petzl E+lite (nice for lighting up in tents, when taking a pee, when reading a book in the truck etc.)
 
multitool may be redundant. we were issued gerber 600's in RFI before we left. not all posts issue the same RFI, but gerbers are a common issued item i've seen with a lot of soldiers.
 
I would get him a tool like fe a leatherman or SAK/victorinox. Next to that a not to expensive but solid knife;

I would go for a Spyderco Endura or Boker CLB M-type either PE or CE.
If bladelength is limited (when he comes back from the tour dealing with customs) you could opt for a Spyderco Native or Delica.
 
I don't know his rank, not sure if army or marines, but a general utility folding spyderco should be fine regardless of his job there. I'll get a better idea once we get to talking. Who knows, he may be more of knifenut than me.
 
Army Guard here. Not only did they issue 1 gerber, but 2 at Mob site and one before we left our state = 3 multi-tools . No knives issued unless you were flight crew though. So I would definitely say a knife , folder would be the way to go as depending on what he does he might not be able to carry a fixed blade without raising eyebrows.
 
Sorry but are you telling me that a guy can carry a submachine gun rifle and no one blinks but he carries a knife
he might not be able to carry a fixed blade without raising eyebrows
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on his hip and people raise their eyebrows>>

crazy!
 
I gave my neighbor's son (shipping out to Afghanistan in a week) a Buck Nighthawk (short) with a kydex sheath. I thought his folks were going to cry. Tanner was very appreciative. My Gramps always said that no young man should ever go off to war without a stout knife.

And, from the pics I get emailed to me from friends and children of friends "over there"... no ones's gonna raise an eyebrow over a fixed blade attached to a soldier's webgear. My 2 cents...
 
Alright guys I've got friends in the Marines and the Army on the ground over in the sandox. Now I've* got one who is an Airborne Cavalry Scout a knife cause they didnt issue him one (yeah a paratrooper without a knife wtf?)
I asked him what to get him he said No SAKs(he equated them to feces), a fixed blade within 12 inches overall, be reliable and take whatever you can throw at it and come back and ask for some more. I ended up showing him a Glock field knife, which was getting some buzz in the SF community and in the reg military circles and the GI tanto from coldsteel (which there is a nice destruction vid of, at that time no glock one yet) I showed him both and he preferred the tanto blade so I got him that and hes been only reporting good things on it.

A leatherman tool a very good idea and a great substitute for a SAK

just my .02 cents
 
No multitools. They vary widely and is an individual choice. You can't go wrong getting him a big, strong folder like a Spyderco Military.
 
I might suggest one of the many high powered Surefire lights and the like, I have given those with the swiss army knives and they get rave reviews and comments from the other service men.

Cerberus
 
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