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Best commando knife?
- Thread starter Samael
- Start date
I think the issue with Commando knives are that a purpose built dagger/trench knife can have only one use - and since many Commando types may be on their own for a particular period of time, it muddies the issue. I would imagine it seemed like a good idea to give Fairbairn-Sykes pattern daggers to OSS/Commando types so they could have a blade designed towards killing, but for practical purposes it may not have worked out in the long term. I imagine that many a "Commando" ended up with a good hunting bowie or ka-bar type knife to cover all contingencies. I think the M3 Trench knife of WWII is an interesting compromise - as are most bayonets (similar if not identical blade shape). Its tough - I don't know if one would benefit from having a dagger/trench knife and a utility blade at the same time - when weight is an issue. I think I would rather a do all knife and more ammo 
. I like the Gerber, the Applegate Fairbairn in the dedicated sense, but I think a kabar, sog, M3, or similar would be good enough.
. I like the Gerber, the Applegate Fairbairn in the dedicated sense, but I think a kabar, sog, M3, or similar would be good enough.As far as the "commando" pattern goes, there really is no reason to fault it for military carry. I've used the Gerber Mk II, Glock, and now have a Kershaw Military Boot Gen I. They are lighter that the broader bladed Kabar styles - a lot compared to a Randall Attack, have a slimmer profile for easier carry, and work just as well for the medium range of duties most military have to do. They are not sharpened prybars - but the genre didn't exist in the day because more combat was woodland, not urban, where SP's see a lot more duty on doors, windows, vehicles, etc.
Big broad bladed knives for heavy duty use were actually shunned by most service men since the Civil War - Confederate Bowies in photos are as often an early conflict prop, not a user. Even these days most soldiers go with folders, not fixed blades. Moving up to a commando pattern would be an easier transition to a fixed blade, and then if you needed it, throw a real prybar on the LBE for those chores, where the extra length would be really useful.
Aside from the Military Boot, I don't see the Nimravus mentioned - and it's got an NSN, IIRC - which could definitely put it into the hands of some "commandos" in our present conflict.
Big broad bladed knives for heavy duty use were actually shunned by most service men since the Civil War - Confederate Bowies in photos are as often an early conflict prop, not a user. Even these days most soldiers go with folders, not fixed blades. Moving up to a commando pattern would be an easier transition to a fixed blade, and then if you needed it, throw a real prybar on the LBE for those chores, where the extra length would be really useful.
Aside from the Military Boot, I don't see the Nimravus mentioned - and it's got an NSN, IIRC - which could definitely put it into the hands of some "commandos" in our present conflict.
For all those who don't belive that knives are useful for a modern SF soldier check out the National Geographic doc about the SAS "Who cares who wins". In it they discus an attack in Afghanistan in a cave where the fighting got so close that guns became to cumbersome and they had to use knives. This is not some 19th century bayonet charge but a battle that happened since 9/11 with a foe we (both the US and Canada) are still at war with.
This is the knife that was issued before the FS Dagger
The best knife I have personally used that comes closest to being the best balance of fighter and survival knife while taking weight and length into account was the Chris Reeve SEAL Neil Roberts knife. It fixes all my complaints about the GB ,has a great balance for a fighter but can still be used as a survival knife but is not ideal for either.
It even comes in 2 sizes the shorter is better for the kind of soldier who spends a lot of time getting in and out of vehicles and the longer for the kind of guy who spends long periods alone in the bush.
This is the knife that was issued before the FS Dagger
The best knife I have personally used that comes closest to being the best balance of fighter and survival knife while taking weight and length into account was the Chris Reeve SEAL Neil Roberts knife. It fixes all my complaints about the GB ,has a great balance for a fighter but can still be used as a survival knife but is not ideal for either.
It even comes in 2 sizes the shorter is better for the kind of soldier who spends a lot of time getting in and out of vehicles and the longer for the kind of guy who spends long periods alone in the bush.
For what it's worth....
My father served 3 tours with 5th group in vietnam, spent lots of time in Dak To. He carried and used a Gerber MKII (later traded to a Royal Marine Commando for his "seasoned" F/S, and a USN MK2 given to him by a Marine leaving country. He says he used both many times, and won't choose one over the other because they both saved his life.
He gave the USN MK2 to my brother who used it in Afghanistan with the 82nd and Iraq as a sniper, through his time instructing at RTB (Ranger Training Battalion) in Dahlonega and has it now back in Iraq. According to him it has saved his life also and he swears by the KaBar design.
Long story short, I consider either of those perfect commando knives alongside the F/S.
Just my .02.
My father served 3 tours with 5th group in vietnam, spent lots of time in Dak To. He carried and used a Gerber MKII (later traded to a Royal Marine Commando for his "seasoned" F/S, and a USN MK2 given to him by a Marine leaving country. He says he used both many times, and won't choose one over the other because they both saved his life.
He gave the USN MK2 to my brother who used it in Afghanistan with the 82nd and Iraq as a sniper, through his time instructing at RTB (Ranger Training Battalion) in Dahlonega and has it now back in Iraq. According to him it has saved his life also and he swears by the KaBar design.
Long story short, I consider either of those perfect commando knives alongside the F/S.
Just my .02.