Armed Forces questions

Joined
Apr 15, 2002
Messages
3,376
two questions

what knives are issued to the branches of the US Military by the government?

how, if a service person wishes to bring their own personal knife overseas, do they go about it?

thanks
Peter
 
The issue depend on the unit - almost everyone gets a multi tool. Infantry gets bayonets, hooah. Not sure about the best way to bring a knife with you.
 
Bayonets for the M16A2 or M4 are issue items to those forces using this assault rifle system.

There are a variety of knives or tools issued to US Forces, these dependent on organization, military occpational specialty, and mission.

If you are US military and going overseas, dependent on where it is you are going, refer to your organization's load-out plan as to what you can bring, how you can bring it, and so on.

GW
 
When my son went to Iraq 14 months ago his unit commander had to approve what each of them took. Most of the guys found out the UC was taking a SOG 2000 Navy Seal and bought the same knife so it was a given that he'd approve it. But he also approved every similar knife for his troops like many Cold Steel Recon Scouts, Recon Tantos and the like and also multi tools and Swiss Army knives, and many many Kershaw Black out Assisted opening folders.

In my home town and in surrounding towns nearby the local Wal-Marts sold out nearly every Kershaw assisted opener in stock before the 201st moved out. From what I've heard they all performed admirably.
 
I can't speak for the other services who tend to be anal about things but in the AF as an SP you just throw whatever the hell you want in your bag and don't ask too many questions.
 
The U.S. Army supply had the Pilot Survival Knife. I beleive that we had the one made by Ontario knives. Possibly Camillus. I carried one. Every jump master had one taped to to their leg during a jump. You can still get them fairly cheap. My friend who is still serving, has brought me three different Benchmades that his supply had in stock. That's real cool considering that when I was in the service, we usually purchased our own knives.
 
Wunderbar:
What models were those BM's your friend got you? A Marine friend of mine was issued a BM AFO, a sweet little automatic. The supply system seems a mite better than when I served thats for sure. It makes me happy considering its our tax dollars at work here. Money well spent.
 
I got out of the Army back in 1992 so things may have changed since then.

With one exception, the only knives ever issued to me were a bayonet and a small 2-blade electrician's knife that came with my tool kit (I was a 31V communications specialist)--both of which I had to turn in everytime I changed duty stations, and was re-issued once I drew my gear at my new station.

The one exception:
Just before we deployed to the 1st Gulf War our 1stSgt went through the barracks and gave all of us the Ontario Knife Pilot's Survival Knife.
I still have it to this day--but it's not really that great of a knife IMO.

I did have other knives of my own.
I just packed them inside my checked baggage when flying commercial.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
LJK, I've got the 9050sbt, 9100sbt, and the 140sbt. I have a 9050 (satin finish) that I purchased myself, and both seem to be identical.
 
allenC said:
the Ontario Knife Pilot's Survival Knife.
I still have it to this day--but it's not really that great of a knife IMO.
Ah yes. Mine must be the Ontario version too.
 
As said before depends on the branch of service, how good your unit supply is. Our unit just got back from 12 months in Iraq, here is an example of what we got:

10 people got Benchmade 9050's
6 people got Benchmade 140's
approx. 50 got Letherman's PST's
approx. 10 got Leatherman Crunch
50 got small folding Gerbers of some sort.

unfortunately I wasn't one of the ones that got a Benchmade, but since I all ready had several wasn't that big of a deal.

As to what you can take, depends on the units leadership. Most will approve it if it is in the supply catalog (GSA) or you can buy it at the PX / BX.
When we left Kuwait to fly back to the US, the only auto's they would let anyone take back were Benchmade's.
 
d clark:
What knives did you personally carry/use over there? I was also wondering how those Benchmades folders held up in all that sand? And thanks for your service to your country.
 
How good is your supply or motor pool NCO? That's the question! We were issued a Cammillus CQB1 (great knife) and a Benchmade Auto. Some other units had the Becker Knife and Tool. You would be suprised what's in the supply system. Units in Iraq get lots of cool toys you would normally never get. All in all, we were very well supplied and outfitted.
 
LJK said:
d clark:
What knives did you personally carry/use over there? I was also wondering how those Benchmades folders held up in all that sand? And thanks for your service to your country.

The knives I had over there were the following :

Leatherman Wave, PST
Benchmade : 145HS, 814SBT, 905, 805, and a 9530.

The folders held up well, Just needed to clean them out every now and then. The 145 had the BT coating on it, the sheath would attract dirt and would scratch the coating off. I carried the 9530 in a BM sheath the whole time, which kept it cleaner the the my pocket carry knife.

Everything was lubed with Militech-1. Worked great.

Just doing my job.
 
d clark:
Thanks for the info. "Just doing my job" History has recorded many a good and brave man saying those words. Thanks again.

Barker45:
Did you ever get those pictures posted?
 
LJK,

I tried to send my pics to another member to post them for me but it didn't happen. If you could post them I can e-mail them to you. Email me at Barker45@hotmail.com and I send you some pics. Thanks!
 
I can't disagree with any of the posts here. I'll just reinforce that "it varies."

Literally, any unit can get ANY knife. It's just a matter of getting the commander (usually the first O3-O5 in the food chain) to hack off on it. Having said that, there are a number of knives "in the system." That is to say, they have National Stock Numbers", and the supply system can order them just like a pallet of sandbags, or a helicopter engine. Typically, they are considered Class II Expendable or Durable. It the case of the former, once it's issued, the army doesn't expect to see it back. In the case of the latter, it has to be signed for, and accounted for. The army wants it back when your done with it.

In most cases, the "durable" items are parts of kits and tool sets. Like the electrician's knife mentioned earlier in the post. They are required to complete these sets, and the next guy that has to sign for the set would expect the knife to be there.

Another example is an aviator's survival vest (I am an aviator). It actually containes two knives. One is either a multi bladed stainless steel pocket knife (cheap) or a standard leatherman (better). The other knife is a Camillus 5733 Pilot Survival Knife (the one with the brown leather handle). This is a really functional knife. I think you could bend the blade in half and not have it snap. The metal is so soft, you can sharpen it on your leather boots. This, of course, is preferable to a hard, potentially breakable knife. Of the two, one is Class IX expendable, and the other is Class II Durable. But the Army expects them both back when your done.

Enough on the Army supply system. On to the good stuff. I have been issued a BM AFO 9053 Auto. This is identical to the AFO 9050. The 9053 just identifies it as an Army Buy. If you go to the BM web site, you can find a section on GSA purchases. They have a non-auto folder, the 9053, and a fixed blade knife that they will sell to the government in bulk.

Other knives that I have seen issued are:

The MC-1 Para knife. An ironic side story here is that the auto part of this knife was supposed to be the hook. But none with auto hooks were ever produced. Only with the auto blade (about 3 in)

Of course, there are a variety of bayonets, new and old. My favorite which is the M9.

And a variety of cheapish utility knives, mostly for tool boxes. The BM 9053 is the only main stream, auto, primarily commercial production knife that I have seen actually "in the system." There are also a wide range of gerber and leatherman multi tools, as well as 3"-4" gerber folders.

As for the "rules", I have never been challenged on shipping or transporting a knife. I had to chuckle at my AF bother when he said "don't ask too many questions." This is very true. The official Army standard is "no longer than 3.5 inches" for personally owned knives. This applies to both fixed and folding knives. Having been stationed over seas for "peaceful" purposes, I have sent my various knives (nothing outragous) with the movers on a number occations. As for combat deployments, there is a wide margin of common sense. just about anything with-in reason is permitted. The only knife I've seen not permitted was a 5 inch survival knife with a spring in the handle and a release button that sent the blade part flying about 25 meters. I think it was called a "balistic knife".

Whew! Prolly more info than you needed.
 
Jemelby: That's very interesting. Thanks. I would say on this forum there is no such think as to much info.
 
Pilots Survival Knife. I actually have the one that was issued to my father way back from Vietnam. It's a great knife.

You can pick up a knew one from Camillus for 35-45 bucks. Only problem is it's light tan leather brand new.
 
lasersailor184 said:
Pilots Survival Knife. I actually have the one that was issued to my father way back from Vietnam. It's a great knife.

You can pick up a knew one from Camillus for 35-45 bucks. Only problem is it's light tan leather brand new.
Funny you should mention that "new" tan leather.

A fellow pilot once atributed a particularily sub-standard flight to the fact that his survival vest was sporting a brand new survival knife. He took it home and soaked the handle in black coffee, rubbed in used motor oil, and polished it on his bench top buffer wheel. Then he whacked a few dents in the blade on the sidewalk. he had it looking "experienced" in no time, and claims he hasn't had a bad flight since.
 
Back
Top