Any advice?

R

Rickk1324

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Sep 25, 2012
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I'm a navy Corpsman with a Marine detachment. I am being deployed to the Middle East soon. i am looking for a knife seeing as i am not fond of my Ka-Bar due to its long blade and lack of maneuverability. I was wondering what knife you would suggest i bring with me. i would like something with a shorter fixed blade (4.5-6 inches) durable of course. Synthetic grip (i get sweaty hands and slippage worries me)Seeing as i already carry extra weight, i dont want a heavy knife. I have been looking at some Gerbers (LMF ii and the Prodigy) as well as the Sog SEAL pup elite. but im not sure if im looking in the right direction.

Also, i dont want to exceed $100
 
I wouldn't recommend Gerber just because they have slipped down a muddy slope over the years.
SOG FIXED BLADES are OK (from what I've heard. I DO NOT own one), but I would recommend to read many many reviews on the one you like first to be OK.
MY recommendation for you would be a Kershaw Field knife. Smaller, one-piece construction, with G10 grips.
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Four tours in Iraq as an Army Civilian Technician.

Take the Ka-Bar along in your baggage, you may need something heavy. I doubt you will use a knife for self defense, but you may need it for digging rocks or opening tin cans.

For your pocket or belt, get a 3.5" to 4" folder that is easy to open with one hand and very rugged.
I don't recommend Gerber. Sog SEAL, Benchmade, Spyderco, CRKT. A good deployment knife will run $65 to $150.
You may not be able to sharpen it all that often, so good steel is important.
My knife in Iraq was a CRKT. If I went back, I would take my Spyderco Military, or Spyderco Manix 2 XL.
Make sure the blade is black or bead blasted so it's not reflective.

Don't laugh, but get a blade that slices well. You will get good chow if you are lucky, but they use plastic knives.
I know your budget is $100, but get a good knife that you trust. You will use it often.

All the Best on your trip.
 
I would go with a Scrapyard 311 or 511. Scrapyard makes some good tough blades. For a very reasonable price. You will need to purchase a sheath, and will probably have to sharpen it as soon as you receive it. I like Scrapyard, but generally they come rather dull.
 
The lmf is one of the heaviest knives I own.

The sog seal pup elite I like allot. I carry mine often in the swamp. Its a good overall user, imho. Not the best slicer though.

Esee 4 is a great all around user also, imho.

Have fun on the hunt for the perfect knife. Stay safe while you're over there.
 
Holy hell, for a little over $100 you can get 2 great knives. Made in America too but not the sheaths. Check out BK&T/KaBar BK7 & BK17--a little over your $100 price. Ontario Spec-Plus series SP-2 Air Force Survival Knife (nice short blade, around $40) & a SP-49 for a HD blade, around $66. With shipping both combos would be a little over $100.
 
Consider the Entrek survivor. Tough, not too big and not too small, and will make a good defensive/utility knife. also can be had under $100 and has a sweet warranty.
 
The LMF II would suit you but it is very heavy and will get dull very fast due to the crappy steel. A RAT-5 would be good, but they're not light either. Maybe a Benchmade Nimravus or a CSK II? I really like my CSK II, but it might be too close to the Ka-Bar in size.
 
I like the Becker 'Tweener knives. Not too big, not too small. Enough to get the job done and tough enough to do it.
 
I have a kershaw tremor that is a good blade for the money. The assisted opening is fast and easy one handed opening. The steel is easy to get a good sharpening on and seems to hold an edge fairly well. The grip is good when wet. Cheap enough that if you lost it you would not loose much sleep over it.

Omar
:rolleyes:
 
Look into the Kabar MKI, the kraton handle gives you grip, nice palm swells for working with sweaty hands or gloves.

Not to mention a heavy pedigree with the Navy, and Marines. Not as intimate a history as the Kabar 1217, but the lineage is still there. Made in the USA. Around $65 so you got enough left over for a SAK Explorer.

Thank you for you service, and Semper Fi, Marine.

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Moose
 
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