A good Utility Belt Knife for a Warfighter Today?

Primary advice - something with a substantial guard - the guards on the following are the bare minimum, but these handles are very light weight and comfortable so that makes up for the minimal guard. Anyway, I’d bring one of these, depending on where I expected to be and what I’d be doing:
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Scrap Yard AD6 (this example with a regrind by David Mary David Mary ); Swamp Rat Taliwhacker (Gen 2); Scrap Yard Scrapper 6
 
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Grey Tab:

Sure, I have a psychological problem. And now you have made a knife discussion personal. Seems you too can't "let it go" For some reason, you seem to have taken this personally. I do apologize if that is the case, as nothing I have written on this is meant to be directed at a specific person. I haven't even singled out the individual at Randall Made who, directly over the phone, told me they had no interest in the glint issue at all.

In other posts on this event in Knife Buying, I have indicated that I was open to any number of options from an in-house solution from Randall Made to something outsourced by them with a trusted third-party shop, or any suggestion on what I could try to get done myself. If that was not clear, I do emphasize it now. I was looking for a factory-sanctioned modification I could document. I never made it a warranty issue or expected it to be a free service.

So, in the end it looks like both of us need many sessions of deep therapy on this issue swo that we can "let it go". I mean you no ill. Yet, Randall Made still doesn't offer an optional, no-glint finish, or a combat qualified sheath.
 
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VorpelSword said:
Sure, I have a psychological problem. And now you have made a knife discussion personal. Seems you too can't "let it go" For some reason, you seem to have taken this personally. I do apologize if that is the case, as nothing I have written on this is meant to be directed at a specific person. I haven't even singled out the individual at Randall Made who, directly over the phone, told me they wouldn't do anything at all, not even suggest a solution that would not damage or degrade the knife in some way.

In other posts on this event in Knife Buying, I have indicated that I was open to any number of options from an in-house solution from Randall Made to something outsourced by them with a trusted third party, and on to any suggestion on what I could try to get done myself. If that was not clear, I do emphasize it now. I was looking for a factory-sanctioned modification I could document. I never made it a warranty issue or expected it to be a free service.

So, in the end it looks like both of us need many sessions of deep therapy on this issue. I mean you no ill. Yet, Randall Made still doesn't offer an optional, no-glint finish, or a combat qualified sheath.
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Nope! Just you bud! 😁

But seriously, Look at the Spartan Difensa. Here is an extensive review done by a member here: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...-difensa-and-the-phrike-very-pic-hvy.1187294/

Here's a fantastic combo I had. Throw in a MT and I think this would make a fantastic take to war setup:

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I sold the Difensa I had because I never, ever used it and I wanted the funds for something else, it does take up a chunk of change. I had better knives that are better at being knives but I also have much cheaper knives that could be used in the same role as the Difensa if needed (IE, a sentry sticker).

Difensa and the CPKs that are just better knives, not stabby though:

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Psst....and it is coated so no reflectivity, except the very edge. Why does no one think of the edge reflecting light, alerting the sentry you are about to dispatch? Maybe hit it with the spray paint. Or does that reduce throat slicing ability? Oh the dilemma!
 
I’d recommend a nice multi tool and a quality but inexpensive fixed blade. Cold Steel’s SRK or something along those lines. Soldiers aren’t always knife savvy. Plan for abuse. On the multi tool, I like the Wave and MUT tools. The MUT is a little large but it’s geared towards weapon maintenance and that will be handy for sure 👍

On a side note to the gentleman with the shiny Randall. If the blade is stainless, take it to an auto shop with a bead blaster and have them blast the blade. If it’s an O-1 blade, degrease the blade and cold blue it. Glint B gone!!!!
 
I find this an interesting topic considering how things are in the world. I have often wondered what I would use or take with me if I had to. As a combat fixed blade I would choose my winkler belt knife crusher. It gives me a good solid blade with lots of uses and glass breaking ability. Or for a cheaper fixed blade I would go with an Esee4. For a folding knife I would probably take a spyderco paramilitary 2. It gives good utility and slicing Capability, and is easy to take care of. And a multitool I would probably have a victorinox Farmer. All of these are in current production.
 

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ya know, theres one thing that you all miss or ignore in these threads. Your fellow GI's may not be the Stirling characters you think they are. In the military, theres very little lower than a barracks thief. But they do exist. Notoften, but things, especially nice things tend to disappear in an environment where people are rotating in and out.

Then, if you get injured, all you have on will disappear. They hit you with the morphene, you're in la-la and, and chances are if you have a nice Randall or other high item like a nice watch, you'll never see it again. You get airlifted to an field hospital to be stabilized, then airlifted to a real hospital, and lots of people are handling you all the way. Mostly good folks, but saints can be tempted.

My own experience was, when I got injured, the medic hit with the magic. pain juice, I ended up waking up in recovery, and most of my stuff was gone. My Seiko watch, my Buck knife, and some other things. Never saw them again. By the time they handed me a medical discharge, I ha drawn new stuff from supply an the PX.

Don't take anything into a combat theater that you can't replace at the PX fast and cheap. This isn't the Roman legions, you won't need near as much cutlery as you think, but a multitool will be used damm near everyday. In general, you won't be engaging the barbaric hordes hand to hand. Save weight and carry more ammo.
 
jackknife said:
ya know, theres one thing that you all miss or ignore in these threads. Your fellow GI's may not be the Stirling characters you think they are. In the military, theres very little lower than a barracks thief. But they do exist. Notoften, but things, especially nice things tend to disappear in an environment where people are rotating in and out.

Then, if you get injured, all you have on will disappear. They hit you with the morphene, you're in la-la and, and chances are if you have a nice Randall or other high item like a nice watch, you'll never see it again. You get airlifted to an field hospital to be stabilized, then airlifted to a real hospital, and lots of people are handling you all the way. Mostly good folks, but saints can be tempted.

My own experience was, when I got injured, the medic hit with the magic. pain juice, I ended up waking up in recovery, and most of my stuff was gone. My Seiko watch, my Buck knife, and some other things. Never saw them again. By the time they handed me a medical discharge, I ha drawn new stuff from supply an the PX.

Don't take anything into a combat theater that you can't replace at the PX fast and cheap. This isn't the Roman legions, you won't need near as much cutlery as you think, but a multitool will be used damm near everyday. In general, you won't be engaging the barbaric hordes hand to hand. Save weight and carry more ammo.
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I remember being hauled off the the battle field to a field hospital. Naturally, they stripped me of my rifle, webgear, a half dozen frags and a very expensive custom bowie knife. I told the male nurse in no uncertain terms what would happen if all that gear wasn't returned to me when I recovered. I think he believed someone covered in cami paint and blood with all his pockets full of empty magazines because I got it all back. :)
 
I imagine that a belt knife would get in the way of things for a modern warfighter. Things like ammo, med bag, radio, etc take up too much real estate around the waist, not to mention plates.
 
cmfkdragoon said:
I imagine that a belt knife would get in the way of things for a modern warfighter. Things like ammo, med bag, radio, etc take up too much real estate around the waist, not to mention plates.
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Not really so, though there has been a shift to shorter fixed blades, from 7" to 5", and you increasingly see the knife attached to the plate carrier or web gear.

I think an affordable solid belt knife choice in the 7" range would be something like the SOG SEAL Team, KaBar, Cold Steel Recon Tanto or Recon Scout (though the newer 3V version will be expensive).
An affordable 5" knife brings in loads of choice, the SOG SEAL Pup and Cold Steel SRK would surely be up there in the choices.

More expensive 'money no object' could be anything - Busse, CPK, CRK - some tough and well made knives.

Folders - I would suggest Cold Steel Recon 1 - spearpoint or tanto, they are just tough and dependable knives.

Multi tools of choice would be something in the Leatherman range - I would recommend one without a load of additional driver bits which will just end up getting lost or left out anyway (unless they are working in the garages, where they would have the proper tools) - so the blackened Rebar and Wave+ would be my suggestions.
 
craytab said:
Why does no one think of the edge reflecting light, alerting the sentry you are about to dispatch? Maybe hit it with the spray paint. Or does that reduce throat slicing ability? Oh the dilemma!
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I’m pretty sure the Marines only allow up to 600 grit max on sharpening stones for just that reason - say no to mirror polished edges! 😜 😂
 
I won’t buy a knife unless i can absolutely be certain it can and will be utilized in a post apocalyptic scenario.
 
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