A Blade for Iraq

I would definitely recommend getting him a Zero Tolerance 0200. It is an awesome knife for the price. I wished I had one during my tour in Iraq. A multitool like a Leatherman is also a great idea as long as he isnt getting one issued by his unit. What branch is he in and what job does he do?
 
My buddies brother went 4 years ago. He was NH NG mountain inf. My buddy wanted to give him something good. I sent away for a couple of Spyderco Fred Perrin Bowies. He gave one to his brother, who I have known for years. His brother loved that knife, and carried it every day. All the guys in his unit liked that knife. He shot many enemy combatants. He ruined an enemy ambush, and ruined the enemies day, and lives. All the while carring a Randall Model 1 and the Spyderco Perrin Bowie. He said if he ran out of bullets, they would get some of his blades. He would never surrender to those people. Good knives make people happy.
 
Make sure you get at least a 7 inch blade. You'll need that to go underneath the ribcage to pierce the heart.

A Marbles Ideal comes to mind...
 
I will chime in with one more item. If you are a knife nut, and he is not (or is limited in his exposure to this community), then get him something that you know will hold up. Just because a person is in the military does not mean that they have been educated in the pro's and con's of bladed tools, ie they may know squat about knives or firearms for that matter. Young soldiers often fall prey to hyped up items that really are not worth the hype. Items like cold steel tantos and SOG seal knives really have no place on the battlefield. Get him something that screams utility in a robust steel.
 
Army guy here, most troops are given a multitool (gerber) although i prefer my leatherman. A good fixed blade is always helpful, may i suggest a RAT RC-4. they have a molle compatible sheath system that you can attach pretty much anywhere.
also, a strong folder could be helpful, ie BM, spyderco, ZT, Strider....
 
I was in the Gulf War and I had a Pilots Survival knife but I would have loved a Leatherman or Multitool of that kind. The Wave is the one I would have liked. Thats from a Soldiers point of view.
 
iBlade said:
Sorry but are you telling me that a guy can carry a submachine gun rifle and no one blinks but he carries a knife on his hip and people raise their eyebrows>>
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It apparently isn't unknown, and I think the only photo I've ever seen of a Soldier carrying a particularly large knife was one with Prince Harry armed with a kukri he had been presented with by the Gurkha's, which in those circumstances wouldn't be confiscated.

Generally it shouldn't be an issue I should think, but given the mixed responses...
I wouldn't get anything over 7" inches long, and avoid anything with SF connotations for marketing, it can cause a little amusement.
 
iBlade said:
Sorry but are you telling me that a guy can carry a submachine gun rifle and no one blinks but he carries a knife on his hip and people raise their eyebrows>>

crazy!
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Strange isn't it? but there is no mention of wearing of knives on your belt in AR 670-1( Army unif regs.) so it is up to your leadership what they will turn a blind eye to. Our 1st Sgt. wouldn 't allow us to wear fixed blades on our belt, but the Apache guys one hangar down wore them. As for myself and most others a folder was carried everyday, a bunch of us even had autos. And a rifle with one mag was mandatory no matter where you went.
 
Just some advice keep the blade under 7" or he will have to send it back registered mail as customs won't let them go back with your gear. Autos are a definite maybe. We had them but it takes a letter from the commander to bring them back home. So if the unit doesn't issue them , he might not be able to get letter, and end up having to devise some other method to get it home.
 
citizensoldierNY said:
Strange isn't it? but there is no mention of wearing of knives on your belt in AR 670-1( Army unif regs.) so it is up to your leadership what they will turn a blind eye to. Our 1st Sgt. wouldn 't allow us to wear fixed blades on our belt, but the Apache guys one hangar down wore them. As for myself and most others a folder was carried everyday, a bunch of us even had autos. And a rifle with one mag was mandatory no matter where you went.
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I'm assuming your 1st Sgt. didn't see a need for fixed blade for your operations and would weigh you down or maybe he didn't want to scare the locals?

I'm the opposite. I'm not too into guns, although i may take up a basic course to "fight my fear" so to speak, but i grew up around knives, especially having a knifenut of an uncle who was a butcher and chief of galley in the Navy.
 
WOW.. this is really over the top nice of you! I say give him either the military or the 710 DEPENDING on which one you'll miss less. If you're actually gonna go out and BUY a knife for the guy... A Rat RC3 or RC4 would be perfect! ...I'd give him the 710!
 
Every...every guy I know who has been to Iraq has carried a good sized fixed blade. A good friend was a tank guy and he carried one and said it didn't get much use. A ground pounder said he worked his to death.
 
I would contact Bryan Breeden and see what he can do in your price range. He is Sicily02 on the forum
 
Get him a Terzuola :)

If looking for something useful, go for a Leatherman Wave, I have one and they are excellent. If looking for something tactical, I'd go for an Emerson or maybe a SOG.
 
Just a question? Why do pilots like light knives and hand guns? Does it make a difference pulling high Gs or are they fitted not to apply force to the body in flight?

I would go for a leatherman or an SAK before thinking of a fixed blade. I have a few great SOGs but have had to make up my own sheaths for the Tsunami and the Pentagon.
 
Just a couple of quick and relatively inexpensive items that will serve him well:

1. Buck Sirus (USA). Functional knife that can sustain that type of environment. Not too expensive.
2.Multi-color (white/red) small LED flashlight that can be clipped on a belt buckle or deuce gear.

This two items will get lots of use there. Please pass along our thanks for his service.
 
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