A guidline to Military Gifts.

R

Rezdawg

Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
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nHello Everyone, from time to time I see on here a thread asking for suggestions on what knife to get someone whos in the Military. Well I'm going to try and make a catchall guide. Thank you for your time. BTW I am an Active Duty Marine. This thread will not list suggestions simply a guide to what most will have to expect from their knife.

Infantry, most people say that infantry needs a good Fixed blade however I know that if your in the Marine Corps you get issued an OKC-36 bayonet that we are trained with starting in bootcamp. However the majority of usage hopefully will be slicing open MRES, fixing gear, maybe cutting the odd cord. I strongly suggest a folder with a 50/50 serration and a pocket clip. However if you do get a fixed blade make sure its MOLLE compatable it sucks carrying a knife on your belt/boot for long hours at a time with other gear pushing down on it.


Admin, I hate to admit but I'm admin the majority of usage my knife gets is food prep however I am a knife junky so I carry a knife for just about everything. But for admin I reccomend a simple mutli-tool-robust folder I carry a vic Soldier when I know i'm not going to leave my shop. But hey some might get bye with a simple slip joint.

Airwingers, Airwing you have to deal with ropes metals lots of thick objects that you have to handle quick fast and in a hurry. I strongly reccomend an auto or assisted with a full serration and a pocket clip. Even though I'm admin I am airwing admin if I know i'm going to be on the line I grab a waved spyderco bird hawkbill. But serrations are key when it comes to airwing.

Transport, Transport in conveys are often on their own and could use a good fixed blade and a multi-tool. Something that can take diesel/grease filth and gunk and not let it jam up their lock or other parts.

Military Police now these guys will mostly likely need a knife thats strong enough to pry open a trunk or rip the liner out of a seat to search for contraban.

General POGs(Personal other than Grunts) basically if I've made a point the average Soldier/Marine/Sailor will only need a knife for general everyday tasks so theres no need to go and get them a Sultan Slayer 2000 or other garbage knife. If deployed for a Marine I know every Marine is a rifleman so we all can do patrols I know that It sucks carrying heavy pack rifle only to be weighted down by gear were not going to use. I'm sorry if this post seems like a noitall post but I hope i helped someone out and If you would Service Members please post what your favorite Knife was while you were serving my Favorite is honestly a cold steel spartan but everyknife has a place in diffrent mos's. Thank you PFC REZDAWG
 
Rezdawg, thank you for your service.
What type of blade would you suggest for me to get for a friend of mine with the MOS of Artillery? I made him a light 8" fixed blade tanto with a kydex sheath before, but I want to get him something better, Thank you again for your service.
 
If he arty I'd get him something with a heavier blade. Or maybe just get him a good MOLLE compatable sheath for his tanto If i'm not mistaken arty never takes their flaks off. But i know that my arty friends were lining up to get the kabar big brother.
 
The best gift for most folks in the military that I know: Alcohol.

However if you insist in buying a knife, at least for us AF guys: Leatherman.

That being said, I of course fly with a lot more then that. :) Most folks I know have a basic folder.
 
I second the Leatherman (if they don't have one). It will see a lot of use. When it comes to how people carry stuff, it's always different for that particular person. A larger blade is always good to have, but the weight-saving issue is universal, so a good camp knife is a good bet, but it shouldn't weigh so much or take up space.
 
I'm a infantryman based in hawaii (2SBCT anyone?) and I say see if he has a multitool, if he doesn't send a LM Wave.

Also you can't go wrong with energy drinks and food.

Actually, just send food like sunflower seeds and jerkies for us to chew on.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I know he doesn't have a multitool, I'll look into getting him a leatherman, He has an Al-Mar Sere 2000 folder and a Ka-Bar right now (I was able to ask him) so I don't NEED to make him another blade, that will just weigh him down, but I may make another with a MOLLE compat. sheath and give him a Leatherman. Thanks guys!
 
I know it will pain some to hear it, but tantos and combo edges. I have seen plenty of Ti M16s carried in this config, plus I have gotten Soldiers and agents to pick out new blades, invariably something tanto point, CE, and also coated. There's a reason the mall ninjas like them, which is because military and LE does. Why mil/LEO does is the real question.
 
WOW you know it's just amazing how I survived with just a KA-BAR for those 4 years I was in the Marines back in the early to mid 80's.... ;)

Never even thought about carrying a folder out in the field.......... Had my KA-BAR, it was all I needed.....

Multi-Tool....... Never even a thought at all.... Didn't even know what that was back then.....
 
Ankerson said:
WOW you know it's just amazing how I survived with just a KA-BAR for those 4 years I was in the Marines back in the early to mid 80's.... ;)

Never even thought about carrying a folder out in the field.......... Had my KA-BAR, it was all I needed.....

Multi-Tool....... Never even a thought at all.... Didn't even know what that was back then.....
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Just cuz you made it with inferior tools doesn't mean the modern Marine/Soldier needs to now. ;) It reminds me of when they said that soldier's during the Korean war didn't have heat, so we shouldn't complain when ours broke in the middle of winter there. Well I bet if they had the choice they would have taken it. ;)

I think the guide makes sense from my experience being deployed too. We have some great modern tools that can be very useful. Absolutely necessary, not really, but still useful.
 
bobusx said:
Just cuz you made it with inferior tools doesn't mean the modern Marine/Soldier needs to now. ;) It reminds me of when they said that soldier's during the Korean war didn't have heat, so we shouldn't complain when ours broke in the middle of winter there. Well I bet if they had the choice they would have taken it. ;)

I think the guide makes sense from my experience being deployed too. We have some great modern tools that can be very useful. Absolutely necessary, not really, but still useful.
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Man I just don't know how we all survived without all those gadgets to weigh us down.... I always wanted more crap to carry I tell yeah, more the better..... Best thing since sliced bread I tell yeah, or Sun Shine on a rainy day.. ;)

OH... We flew in then we WALKED every place after that........

I am sure things have changed in the past 25+ years....... The cold war is long over with ect so the Mission is likely different also.
 
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Ankerson said:
Never even thought about carrying a folder out in the field.......... Had my KA-BAR, it was all I needed.....

Multi-Tool....... Never even a thought at all.... Didn't even know what that was back then.....
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I can't speak for Marines ('cause they tend to get the short end when it comes to getting cool toys) but Soldiers these days carry a lot more stuff that needs disassembly/adjusting on a regular basis. Off the top of my head, I can think of 3 different pieces of equipment that require a real screwdriver to get to the battery compartment, because the screw is protected by a dust cover with a hole that isn't wide enough for a knife blade or other improvised tool.

If you spend much time around military vehicles, it's pretty much guaranteed that you're going to have to some some creative routing/splicing of all the internal wiring. A lot of the older vehicles (Humvees) have had new systems tacked on willy-nilly, and it's not unusual to see ones with separate wiring systems for internal comms, GPS/Nav, ECM, and fire suppression mounted all over the interior, getting frayed, stepped on, slammed in doors, etc... You can get by with a knife, but the wire strippers and cutters on a multi-tool sure are nice to have.
 
CubistHamster said:
I can't speak for Marines ('cause they tend to get the short end when it comes to getting cool toys) but Soldiers these days carry a lot more stuff that needs disassembly/adjusting on a regular basis. Off the top of my head, I can think of 3 different pieces of equipment that require a real screwdriver to get to the battery compartment, because the screw is protected by a dust cover with a hole that isn't wide enough for a knife blade or other improvised tool.

If you spend much time around military vehicles, it's pretty much guaranteed that you're going to have to some some creative routing/splicing of all the internal wiring. A lot of the older vehicles (Humvees) have had new systems tacked on willy-nilly, and it's not unusual to see ones with separate wiring systems for internal comms, GPS/Nav, ECM, and fire suppression mounted all over the interior, getting frayed, stepped on, slammed in doors, etc... You can get by with a knife, but the wire strippers and cutters on a multi-tool sure are nice to have.
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We didn't have any of that fancy stuff around 30 years ago...

And we still used Jeeps......

Didn't need any batteries either except maybe for a flashlight. ;)
 
I'm sorry but this stuff always gets under my skin. The then vs now argument. Thanks for your service Anderson but clearly you're not paying attention to current military trends. Compared to back then, we're better trained and take far fewer casualties. I'm glad your KA BAR worked for you but new gear is used for good reason. Not tryin to sharp shoot you, man. Just making a point.

Regards,
A ten year vet... Still serving. Headed to Afghanistan in 2 weeks.
 
xjzhx said:
I'm sorry but this stuff always gets under my skin. The then vs now argument. Thanks for your service Anderson but clearly you're not paying attention to current military trends. Compared to back then, we're better trained and take far fewer casualties. I'm glad your KA BAR worked for you but new gear is used for good reason. Not tryin to sharp shoot you, man. Just making a point.

Regards,
A ten year vet... Still serving. Headed to Afghanistan in 2 weeks.
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I think they just kept things a lot simpler back then, they pointed us in the right direction and let us do our job, and we traveled light so we could move fast.

But then those were different times with a different Mission at hand.

Not taking away from what the current Service people have to deal with though.
 
You make a good point. Well said. Yeah we're issued a ridiculous amount of gear. Some of which I wonder the purpose but mission always dictates.
 
xjzhx said:
You make a good point. Well said. Yeah we're issued a ridiculous amount of gear. Some of which I wonder the purpose but mission always dictates.
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I really couldn't even begin to say why, and I do keep up with some of it, but I just don't feel it.

Maybe I am getting old or just like things simple. :D

Just give me a M16 and a .45 then point me in the right direction and I am good. :)

Point A is were I am, Point B is were I am going, kill everything that moves between point A and B then wait for the Army, that's pretty simple.
 
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PFC Rezdawg, I would have never guessed that was really your last name :D

I think most important is getting some quality for a good price. You can make most blade shapes, lengths, and serrations, half-serrations, or no serrations all work for just about anything. For folders if you go by Cold Steel Voyagers and Spyderco Enduras as a baseline you'll be okay - same as it was 10 years ago. I would put the $38 Large Voyagers up against any $100-200 folder. Just about any fixed blade 4-7" blade length from a known brand with a sheath that offers half way decent retention from $60 on up will be ok.

Ankerson is an awesome, old school Marine with a lot of knife knowledge - he was pulling embassy duty before there were embassies :D
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
PFC Rezdawg, I would have never guessed that was really your last name :D

I think most important is getting some quality for a good price. You can make most blade shapes, lengths, and serrations, half-serrations, or no serrations all work for just about anything. For folders if you go by Cold Steel Voyagers and Spyderco Enduras as a baseline you'll be okay - same as it was 10 years ago. I would put the $38 Large Voyagers up against any $100-200 folder. Just about any fixed blade 4-7" blade length from a known brand with a sheath that offers half way decent retention from $60 on up will be ok.

Ankerson is an awesome, old school Marine with a lot of knife knowledge - he was pulling embassy duty before there were embassies :D
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Thank Man.... I think. :eek::D

I am old enough that we still have some Vietnam Vets that were still in my Battalion.

But I ain't that old. :D
 
As a Medic I carried, at various times:

Multi-Tool: Started with the original Gerber, then on to a SOG.
Folder: Spyderco Delica, then a BN CQC-7, then a EKI CQC-7B. Usually had a SAK with scissors & tweezers too.
Fixed Blade: Ontario Ka-Bar, too big & when I broke it I got a Ontario Pilot's Knife.

The SAK scissors were great for cutting medical stuff. The tweezers worked great on splinters.
 
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