A knife for a new Marine.

PWatkins

PWatkins

Joined
Oct 20, 2017
Messages
583
Hello,
My nephew just joined the USMC, he's about a week into basic training so far and I'm sure he'll finish what he's started. I went to visit him for a few hours before he shipped out the following day. As we were talking he was packing he belongings and I noticed a knife sitting by his wallet, being a knife nut I of course had to check it out.

What I found was a assisted tacticool flipper made from the " stainless China " steel. It was dull and I told him I'd have it sharp for him when he finished basic.

I was planning on giving him a $100 bill when he graduates but after sharpening and playing with that pos knife. I've decided to get him a new knife.

I assume he will be issued a ka-bar or some other fixed blade. So I'm thinking a good sturdy folder $100 or less. I'd like to get something laser etched on the blade for him so there needs to be room for that.

Right now I'm thinking rat 1 in d2, or maybe a pm2 If I can catch one on the exchange in that price range.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
 
RAT1 would be my go to recommendation. Either that or a nice multi tool.
 
I had one of the scout type knives & a Camillus survival knife that I carried in VN when I was in the Marines, but that was in 1966-70. I still have the Camillus. There are lots of modern folders around now that would be easier to carry. Looking back though, I think we all would've given anything for a Leatherman if they'd been invented back then.
 
I might go for a Spyderco Salt with H1 blade. Although Marines are taught to take care of their equipment, a rust free blade might come in handy. They can found for less then $90.
 
I seriously wouldn't go too expensive right off the bat. Rat-1 or -2, or Buck Bantam really.

He'll take off to his various schools, depending on MOS, and things just happen to grow legs while you're there. This is unfortunate... here's everybody gathered together, learning to be a team, supposed to have each other's back... and people will walk off with your stuff. Only thing I hated about "A" school.

Didn't see my first Leatherman tool until I got out of the military. First thing I thought was "Man, wish I had one of these when I was in the military!" A Leatherman Wingman or Sidekick won't set you back much, and would be useful.

As to your assumption that he'll be issued a Ka-Bar, I'm not sure if that's the case. Somebody more knowledgeable than myself will have to confirm or deny that.
 
gazz98 said:
I might go for a Spyderco Salt with H1 blade. Although Marines are taught to take care of their equipment, a rust free blade might come in handy. They can found for less then $90.
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This. Maybe even consider a serrated version. A rust proof, "almost never needs sharpening", pocket chainsaw? That's something he could literally carry at all times and it will be ready no matter the situation.
 
I can confirm that he will NOT be issued a Kabar. I know many Marines and none were issued one. However, many that deployed sometime in their service were given some kind of folding knife. I've seen Benchmade autos (AFOs and Presidios) and one ZT302 carried by former Marines who tell me the knife was issued to them. The Marines I know who never deployed didn't seem to get one....
 
Since you were wanting to give him $100, I'd assume around that would be your desired price. I can confirm that numerous solider have repeated that their knife was used as a tool, nothing more, so it doesn't have to be anything fancy, and it will be beat to hell so something more utilitarian is better. I would suggest a Mora Companion for the fixed blade, and an Ontario RAT 1 in D2 for the folder. Should run about $60 total, and both are tried and true knives, you'd even have money to get some kind of sharpener, but for that I'd talk to him to see what he wants,, I'd recommend a Worksharp guided field sharpener, it will handle both knives with ease.
 
Soldiers, perhaps especially Marines, don't use knives the way we do. Though perhaps out of the price range you were contemplating, a Benchmade Adamas would be a useful choice - but for the cost and the risk of loss. The Cold Steel Large Voyager is a value in ruggedness and durability.

I would say a Leatherman would be far more useful and even appreciated. He may or may not be issued a Gerber Multi-Tool at some point but they all, and we all know that tool pales by comparison to a good Leatherman. Depending on whether you (he) would want the knife blade accessible from the outside or could live with it on the inside, a SuperTool 300 (available in black) would be very useful, as would a Wave - also available in black IIRC. The Surge and Charge are also very good.

For $100 you could get him a Leatherman Sidekick (has a saw blade in place of the scissors found on the otherwise identical "Wingman") and a rugged folder careful shopping; while I have several RAT-1s and love them, for your Marine nephew I would persoanlly select the Cold Steel Large Voyager combo edge.

Please thank him for his service on behalf of us here at BF.
 
A Spyderco Manix 2 would be my choice if I were back in the military. It can be had in a light weight version, as well. I would not get him the Maxamet or the S110V version right off because those steels are too difficult to sharpen in the field.

Another great choice, and smaller, would be a version of the Spyderco Native 5. This can be had in the standard or lightweight versions with S35VN steel (and soon rust proof LC200N).

A Spyderco Pacific Salt would be a real good choice as it is completely corrosion proof, but you need to get the serrated edge for the best edge retention.

I also like the Cold Steel Broken Skull and Recon 1 folding knives. They have CTS-XHP steel and are great knives.
 
I thought I read somewhere that Marines were issued a Gerber multi tool so I wasn't considering one. But if not that maybe a good choice. He's going to work security at US embassys over seas and he told me he my even be in plain clothes on duty sometimes if that makes a difference for any recommendations.
 
riversidedep said:
I can confirm that he will NOT be issued a Kabar. I know many Marines and none were issued one. However, many that deployed sometime in their service were given some kind of folding knife. I've seen Benchmade autos (AFOs and Presidios) and one ZT302 carried by former Marines who tell me the knife was issued to them. The Marines I know who never deployed didn't seem to get one....
Click to expand...

A very long time ago, but I was never issued any kind of knife. I "liberated" my Camillus survival knife from a REMF in DaNang who had no use for it.
Maybe it'd be better to give him an IOU for any kind of knife he wants (within reason) & after he's in for a while, let him decide what kind of knife would suit him best.

There used to be an old saying: Lock a young Marine in a small windowless room for an hour, with nothing else in it but three anvils. After an hour, when you open the door, one anvil will be lost; one will be broken; and one will be pregnant.
 
In the mid 90s, I was only issued a bayonet when in the Army, but carried a Griptilian and Gerber multitool as well. Cut anything from MREs, 550 cord and 100mph tape.
 
Leatherman rebar & an Esse avispa aus8 version or the
Gerber mp600 black oxide coating and Colsteel workingman ,you should be able to pick these individual sets up for less 100.00
 
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