A good Utility Belt Knife for a Warfighter Today?

A multitool would be most useful and easiest to retain. If going for a fixed blade, the CS GI Tanto is durable, inexpensive to replace if lost/stolen, and if carried in the factory sheath, the user will get all manner of practice sharpening it.
 
Tafkaag said:
and if carried in the factory sheath, the user will get all manner of practice sharpening it.
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If you are referring to the issue of the the Secure Ex sheath rubbing on the blade and dulling it, CS fixed that issue years ago.
 
shane45-1911 said:
If you are referring to the issue of the the Secure Ex sheath rubbing on the blade and dulling it, CS fixed that issue years ago.
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This is 100% incorrect. They fixed nothing. It is entirely the luck of the draw whether your sheath will destroy the edge or not, and this is even when trying to keep the edge away from the sheath when drawing or resheathing the blade. When considering buying a Cold Steel fixed blade for use, you have to price in a replacement sheath before pulling the trigger. That's just how it is, and I own plenty of the things to base this on.

The other consideration now is that GSM no longer seems to offer any customer service, and if the reports are true no one at the company knows anything about knives at all. Including their spokesman. Nor can anyone say for sure what corners are being cut to save some money -- this is the company that decided removing the (advertised) $.05 left handed pocket clip with their folders was a good idea.

But anyway, no, the sheath issue is definitely NOT fixed.
 
Chris_Texas said:
But anyway, no, the sheath issue is definitely NOT fixed.
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Uhhhh, yes it is. CS actually put out a press release a few years ago, stating that the issue is resolved.

I had 4 sheaths replaced by CS, with no issues afterwards. If you are still seeing the issue, it is because it is old stock. From Cold Steel:

"Just so everyone is aware, this issue was resolved a while ago. You may be receiving old stock. Lynn re-designed the sheaths after all of the (helpful) complaints and removed material from the inside-belly so that it doesn't contact the edge. It is definitely still possible to dull the edge if you're drawing the knife against the part that it can still contact, but the sheath argument keeps being brought up every few months. We have not had any real number of folks bring it to our attention in the last year or two as being problematic, but once in a while someone who gets a knife that's 2-3 years old with the old sheath and it ignites the fire again here. Yes, they were bad originally, the market let us know that and we fixed it. We replaced sheaths on tons of knives to remedy it. We can't guarantee what else is still out there, which may explain the fact that it is not a frequently discussed issue anymore. We'd be happy to get you a new one once we have them in stock again. We haven't had them in stock for almost a year so whatever you've received is likely a problematic sheath model. Give us the benefit of the doubt or at minimum the opportunity to make it right."

Of course, the "opportunity to make it right" may have expired with GSM at the helm now.
 
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shane45-1911 said:
Uhhhh, yes it is. CS actually put out a press release a few years ago, stating that the issue is resolved.

I had 4 sheaths replaced by CS, with no issues afterwards. If you are still seeing the issue, it is because it is old stock. From Cold Steel:

"Just so everyone is aware, this issue was resolved a while ago. You may be receiving old stock. Lynn re-designed the sheaths after all of the (helpful) complaints and removed material from the inside-belly so that it doesn't contact the edge. It is definitely still possible to dull the edge if you're drawing the knife against the part that it can still contact, but the sheath argument keeps being brought up every few months. We have not had any real number of folks bring it to our attention in the last year or two as being problematic, but once in a while someone who gets a knife that's 2-3 years old with the old sheath and it ignites the fire again here. Yes, they were bad originally, the market let us know that and we fixed it. We replaced sheaths on tons of knives to remedy it. We can't guarantee what else is still out there, which may explain the fact that it is not a frequently discussed issue anymore. We'd be happy to get you a new one once we have them in stock again. We haven't had them in stock for almost a year so whatever you've received is likely a problematic sheath model. Give us the benefit of the doubt or at minimum the opportunity to make it right."

Of course, the "opportunity to make it right" may have expired with GSM at the helm now.
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And yet my brand new 3V Master Hunter, which wasn't even available at that time they made this statement, suffers from the issue. And if you drop by the CS subforum here you will see that my experience is all too common. Hell, in my experience it is at best 50/50 with their fixed blades, and the old are no more or less likely to suffer from this than the new. Even their statement is absurd on the face of it. If they order a hundred copies of a knife they ordering perhaps a hundred-five sheaths so they have a few spares. Doing otherwise would be silly for a number of reasons. Yes, someone MIGHT get an "old stock" sheath with their new knife, but the odds of that happening seem vanishingly tiny.

Doubt me? Go to the Cold Steel forum and ask whether or not the issue has been fixed.
 
shane45-1911 said:
If you are referring to the issue of the the Secure Ex sheath rubbing on the blade and dulling it, CS fixed that issue years ago.
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I am, and no, they damn well haven't. I have a 2-3 year old Tokyo Spike that dulls every time it's drawn.

Don't care about press releases, especially those from GSM; as the saying goes: actions, not words. CS under Thompson did exactly squat about the issue, and GSM is doing even less.
 
shane45-1911 said:
Again, they replaced 4 of my sheaths and I have had no issues since. Apparently there are still issues. Sorry to hear about that.
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Glad they did right by you. They wouldn't have needed to if they'd just made the sheaths correctly in the first place. LT should have asked ESEE what their Izula sheaths were made from and used the same product instead of glass-filled nylon. With GSM's thumbs and skulls firmly planted in their rectums, it's entirely too late. At the rate GSM is going, pre-buyout CS knives are apt to become collector's items soon as they flood the market with overpriced garbage.
 
Tafkaag said:
Glad they did right by you. They wouldn't have needed to if they'd just made the sheaths correctly in the first place. LT should have asked ESEE what their Izula sheaths were made from and used the same product instead of glass-filled nylon. With GSM's thumbs and skulls firmly planted in their rectums, it's entirely too late. At the rate GSM is going, pre-buyout CS knives are apt to become collector's items soon as they flood the market with overpriced garbage.
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Sounds like you need some Carothers Performance Knives. I've never owned a Cold Steel knife. And since I found CPK, I never will.
 
Interesting topic. Think I'll chime in.

Fixed blade.
Tops Hazen Legion or a SOG Pillar.
Budget options would be Cold Steel Drop Forged Boot Knife or Hunter.
Becker BK18 would be good too.

Folder.
Cold Steel SR1 or Recon1
Spyderco Delica, Endura, Police, Para 2, SALT. Warncliff blade please.

Multi tool.
I was issued a Gerber in 2003. Three deployments later it is still going strong. On my belt at I write this. YMMV. I'd say hand the soldier your credit card and let them decide which one they like best.

I would also add in a small fixed blade, ESEE Izula2, Becker BK14, Cold Steel Spike. Something easily carried when you are not wearing your battle gear.

Another addition would be some sharpening equipment and a little instruction on how to use it.

As far as a demo knife or TL-29. Sorry my old vets but those are becoming collectors items. An SAK is a better bet these days.

Now for the rich uncle high end stuff. Just get your rich uncle to fork over the credit card for what ever gear you decide on. High end and fancy knives are really just not necessary. All that stuff is really cool but a Ka-bar cuts parachord and opens MREs just like a Randall. I deployed once with a Randell model 14. Yup, it got stolen. Wouldn't do it again. And if you choose something shiny. Rattle can paint will take care of that. Flat color. OD green, black, tan whatever fits the environment you are going to. Easily removed once you come home. Randell will even re-finish your knife after a deployment.

My $.02.
 
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Victorinox ranger grip 78?

for learherman maybe a LM mut

If straight folder cold steel sr1, recon 1 or ad10
 
luethge said:
View attachment 1764375

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.
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This is a pretty good recommendation imo.
 
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