A good Utility Belt Knife for a Warfighter Today?

There are so many good choices being recommended, but I guess one more won't hurt 😁

How about a Tops 'Wild Pig Hunter' knife.

Their blade length is 7.5", which is only .5" longer than Kabar's fighting/utility knife's blade.
The full tang and most of the blade is in the .25" thickness range. Handle scales are of micarta.
Blade uses a differential heat treatment, the edge being harder than the spine, giving what seems to be a beast of a knife, a likely advantage in resisting breakage.
It is basically an American made rendition of the Russian made 'Phoenix' combat knife, (which is made by Kizlyar of Dagestan, Russia).
The blade design is pretty unique, but seemingly focused on rigidity and robust durability.

Here is a picture I borrowed off an online vendor...

TPWPH07_Header.jpg

And here is the Kizlyar Phoenix Combat...

485_phoenix-1-combat-br-02_(1).jpg

Their design offers a tip that is not fragile.
 
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craytab said:
Have you considered a Randall?


Yes!
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My Op is more of a poll than a direct request for recommendations.

A Randall? Yes. When our son (now 42 and out) was on track to be a USMC platoon leader and likely to be deployed to a combat zone following 9/11, I did give him a Randall. I have previously, written about these times on these forums. For various reasons, I also gave him a "modern" Ka-Bar and a Chris Reeve "Green Beret"., along with too many other knives to mention again in this post.

But see: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/anxiwty-how-i-spent-a-grand.1426095/

He eventually deployed to Iraq in 2004 leading a Light Armored Reconnaissance unit. What he took: Both the Randall #16-1 and the Chris Reeves Green Beret knives went to Anbar province, Ramadi, Hit and Fallujah. At different times, both were carried EDC while outside the wire, often for two weeks at at time.

Significantly, when he deployed again, he left the Randall at home and took only the CRK/GB as his fixed blade belt knife, along with a CRKT M-21 folder and a black Leatherman Wave.
 
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I'd go for a Fallkniven A-1 or S1. For the folder a ZT 640 or a Benchmade with an axis lock.
Multi tools not really my thing! I keep tools in my work truck n mine too!
 
jackknife said:
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.
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I had a demo knife back in my USMC days. Sadly, it's AWOL. Damn good pocket knife it was.
 
kvaughn said:
It was the German-Czech border/ Iron Curtain with Soviet combat troops on the other side at the time I was there.
Very different now.
Where did you do your military service?
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It was pretty hush hush secret squirrel stuff. I have a photo though. I think it got turned into a movie but I've never seen it.

image
 
I like my Scrap Yard and Swamp Rats with the res-c handles in the 4-5" size range...they are lighter than other knives but plenty robust. I'm very impressed with my Carothers UK although it's bigger than I usually carry. Nothing wrong with a smaller "get off me knife"...for me a Joe Watson Magni, Dynamis Winkler Razorback or a couple pikal style knives I own. And of course folders and leathermans are a whole other thing..
 
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ok, moor the higher end, what about the AG Russell Sandbox series? Especially liked the dagger.
 
VorpelSword said:
My Op is more of a poll than a direct request for recommendations.

A Randall? Yes. When our son (now 42 and out) was on track to be a USMC platoon leader and likely to be deployed to a combat zone following 9/11, I did give him a Randall. I have previously, written about these times on these forums. For various reasons, I also gave him a "modern" Ka-Bar and a Chris Reeve "Green Beret"., along with too many other knives to mention again in this post.

But see: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/anxiwty-how-i-spent-a-grand.1426095/

He eventually deployed to Iraq in 2004 leading a Light Armored Reconnaissance unit. What he took: Both the Randall #16-1 and the Chris Reeves Green Beret knives went to Anbar province, Ramadi, Hit and Fallujah. At different times, both were carried EDC while outside the wire, often for two weeks at at time.

Significantly, when he deployed again, he left the Randall at home and took only the CRK/GB as his fixed blade belt knife, along with a CRKT M-21 folder and a black Leatherman Wave.
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Oh, I remember. Thanks for linking the original thread but let's also link the 2022 reboot where you again trash Randall for selling you a knife exactly as described: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/blade-blasphemy-are-randall-knives-users.1831123/

Seems you're still not over it...

I think the Randall would make a fine knife for a warefighter. Me personally, I'd take the Spartan Difensa.
 
craytab said:
Oh, I remember. Thanks for linking the original thread but let's also link the 2022 reboot where you again trash Randall for selling you a knife exactly as described: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/blade-blasphemy-are-randall-knives-users.1831123/

Seems you're still not over it...

I think the Randall would make a fine knife for a warefighter. Me personally, I'd take the Spartan Difensa.
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I think you have missed my point or perhaps I didn't make it well.

First off, the knife did arrive exactly as spec'ed and as expected. Between the year I committed to buy it (1998 I think) and its delivery (on time) in 2004, things had changed.; the events of 9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror. Everyone was pitching in in one way or another.

When he ran into some training cadre BS at Twenty-Nine Palms about high polish and glint, I tried to get that fixed. I was shocked that Randall Made had no interest in helping us out. I was not looking for a freebie or some warranty angle, just an acceptable fix. Any suggestion would have been a help.

I recognize that Randall knives are as good today as they were in 1945. Plenty of combat veterans swear by them and have told me so. I respect that.

Our son brought both that Randall #16-1 and a CRK Green Beret to Iraq. Both were carried EDC in the field for extended periods. It is significant to me that in subsequent deployments, he left the Randall at home and took only the CRK . . .his choice based on his experience. . . .and I respect that too.

I may have overstated my unhappiness with the knife, but my main complaint was and still is with the Randall Made operation itself in terms of customer service and lack of interest in even suggesting an effective work-=around.

Anyay, why do I have to "get over " it? Maybe if Randall Made makes a change. Till then I'll share my experience with anyone.
 
VorpelSword said:
I think you have missed my point or perhaps I didn't make it well.

First off, the knife did arrive exactly as spec'ed and as expected. Between the year I committed to buy it (1998 I think) and its delivery (on time) in 2004, things had changed.; the events of 9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror. Everyone was pitching in in one way or another.

When he ran into some training cadre BS at Twenty-Nine Palms about high polish and glint, I tried to get that fixed. I was shocked that Randall Made had no interest in helping us out. I was not looking for a freebie or some warranty angle, just an acceptable fix. Any suggestion would have been a help.

I recognize that Randall knives are as good today as they were in 1945. Plenty of combat veterans swear by them and have told me so. I respect that.

Our son brought both that Randall #16-1 and a CRK Green Beret to Iraq. Both were carried EDC in the field for extended periods. It is significant to me that in subsequent deployments, he left the Randall at home and took only the CRK . . .his choice based on his experience. . . .and I respect that too.

I may have overstated my unhappiness with the knife, but my main complaint was and still is with the Randall Made operation itself in terms of customer service and lack of interest in even suggesting an effective work-=around.

Anyay, why do I have to "get over " it? Maybe if Randall Made makes a change. Till then I'll share my experience with anyone.
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Interesting you are now adding the "they should have suggested something" angle to your unreasonable complaint. Awell, just keep being bung stung if you like but it will still hurt until you accept your responsibility in the disappointment. And unfortunately for you, since you keep hanging on to this, and have gone out of your way to repeatedly and unfairly criticize a pillar in the knife community, it will be difficult for folks to not think of this silly situation whenever we see a question from you. Hard not to think "is this about Randall again?" when a thread like this shows up.
 
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