A good Utility Belt Knife for a Warfighter Today?

Cold steel koban tanto. Because it weighs nothing.

Swiss army picnicker Because of its long locking blade and food opening attachments.

Gerber centerdrive. Due to its socket screwdriver being able to accept normal bits. And so if I have some hinky star shaped thing. I can just bring that specific bit along.
 
The best Utility Belt Knife for a modern “Warfighter” is a good multi tool. She/He needs a pocket wrench/screwdriver/punch/can opener far more than a fighting fixed blade.

If it ever comes down to “Blade or Die”, your modern Warfighter is screwed.

Next question.
 
I'd recommend a Blackjack Model 1-7. Randall style, without the Randall price, or wait. A2 carbon steel blade, holds a good edge, easy to cold blue if it's too shiny(or use a black Sharpie). And easier to replace if it grows legs and walks off while you're not looking....
 
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I'd second a Busse or Carothers Performance knife.

I had a cousin in the Marines do two tours in Afghanistan with a Busse Boss Jack. Stout knife. It came back in need of a sharpening and missing some coating. But other wise fine. He admitted to doing a lot of stupid non knife stuff with it over the course of his two deployments.
Small enough to wear on his kit in a David Brown custom kydex sheath.

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INFI in my uses, including submersion canoeing and swimming, including in chlorinated water, has been stainless.

CPM3v in my use has also seemed stainless (I carry two customs in this steel). But it will be less so than INFI. Carrothers Performance knives in CPM3v using their Delta beat treat is super tough, wirh better edge retention than INFI. I've found my customs in CPM3v to have better edge retention than my INFI, but the INFI is easier to sharpen!

I also carry and use AEBL in two customs. Strong stainless tough, and easy to sharpen.

Some one else mentioned Cold Steel's drop forged series....these would make a very cost effective combat knife. 52100 is a stronger steel than other simple carbon steels like 1095/01, Better edge retention too. Would be less costly if stolen or lost also.
 
Hackenslash said:
The best Utility Belt Knife for a modern “Warfighter” is a good multi tool. She/He needs a pocket wrench/screwdriver/punch/can opener far more than a fighting fixed blade.

If it ever comes down to “Blade or Die”, your modern Warfighter is screwed.

Next question.
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Knives are used for more purposes than fighting. A good medium/largish fixed blade, a good folder and a good multi tool are used and useful.
 
I would recommend a BlackJack Model 1-7 (or Randall model 1) as someone else mentioned. Its a great knife on the high end of the budget for fighting and utility. On the low end of the budget, a KaBar Mark 1 or Mark 2. I would go with the Mark 2, its a classic for a reason.

A good pocketknife is an alternative. Something like a Benchmade AFO2 or a Presidio 2.

The most useful knives I used when I was in the military (never deployed though) were multitools! A good swiss army knife (like the Victorinox US military knife or the Camper is what I would go with) or a Leatherman are going to see the most use.

A knife is a poor weapon and soldiers are not trained sufficiently to knife fight. It's important for utility though and I'm sure it is better than a security blanket at night in a foxhole. Definitely a necessity. My #1 pick is a Swiss Army Knife.
 
VorpelSword said:
Things can change quickly in today's world. Soon we may again be "surging" young men into harm's way somewhere in the wide world.

What would you recommend as a utility belt knife for a trooper in any combat role in our military today?

First assume that some rich uncle is buying with price not an issue.

Then assume that the warfighter is buying it himself from what he gets paid.

I am now seeing Randall knives at or near a grand or immediate delivery online. Chris Reeve knives are not much less.

Next consider the same two purchase parameters but for a pocket folder, then a multi-tool.
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Have you considered a Randall?

Danke42 said:
I'd probably lean to something from Randall but for sure get it blacked out so no sentries sees the gleam in moonlight as I stalk them.
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Yes!
 
Ten years service in army combat engineers, to include one tour in Vietnam with the 39th Combat Engineers. Most used knife was an issue M-I-L-818, also known as the Demo knife. Made by Camillus, basically an all steel scout knife. The Camillus M-I-K-818 was so valued, it could be traded on a leave in Saigon for a case of Cold "33" and some female company. A couple cartons of cigarettes would close the deal.

Runner up favorite knife was the camillus TL-29. The supply room had both, and the 'demo' knife was more popular. When we arrived in Vietnam, the issued a Camillus FUMK2, but they got shoved down in the duffle bags and left there. Too much stuff to carry for a large fixed blade on the web gear.
 
If I were headed into a war zone besides having a multi-tool with pliers and a SAK Farmer in my pocket. I would have a Carothers Performance Knife of some sort on my hip ... it might be an EDC2 or it might be DEK1 or UF2 depending on what I thought my true uses for a fixed-blade would be. But it would definitely be a CPK. They are lightweight to carry, tough as nails, and built to be used.
 
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Winkler spike. It’s big, not too big though.
Winkler Woodsman. This is probably more useable size for a soldier.
Benchmade Mini Adamas. This one cuts well and holds an edge.
Leatherman Rebar. Mandatory ( or something similar ).

These can all be purchased right now without wait.
 
Never in the military. But, I was a metro SWAT cop for 15 years. I carried a Jet Pilots Survival knife. Dyed the handle and sheath black. And, a SAK Tinker.

Cut stuff. Pry windows. Break windows. I think with that and the Tinker, I could make do.

KISS principle.
 
Albin said:
I would add the CS Drop Forged Survivalist or Bowie to that list.
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Heck yeah to the Survivalist. Always wanted one but my local vendor never stocked up unfortunately.

I like the Bowie for the awesomeness factor, but I don’t think we need something that big for utility purposes. The size might actually be unwieldy for cutting wires or opening boxes. Still, they’re handsome knives.
 
High end would be a medium sized CPK, not sure of the exact model, not too long or too large, a practical size say 4 to 5 inches. For other end either a Kabar craftsman wrench knife or a smaller Buck Night hawk or ESEE.

For a folder an ALOX SA for the tools or a Demo knife. Would not recommend an expensive folder but a durable one over expense as it may be lost or stolen. But to try and answer the OP question anything about 100.00 I consider expensive for a folder, so just off the top of my head a Manly Comrade in M390 or a 2 handed Peak in that steel if available. Or possibly a Buck 110 or 112 Slim Pro series in micarta. And the only experience I have with a multi tool is a Leatherman Wave, maybe something less heavy as I am sure there are other versions now.
 
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