Best folder for military?

B

bigmonkey

Joined
Dec 14, 2000
Messages
14
I'm looking for suggestions on a folder for general purpose cutting tasks. I've been issued a Benchmade 9053SBT AFO and a 9100SBT Stryker. I'm not really thrilled by either one. Don't get me wrong, they are well made. I'd just prefer a non-automatic folder with a good lock. My friend's 9053SBT spring that opens the blade broke. He uses it as his demolition knife and it has held up to a lot of heavy cutting otherwise. He made sure Benchmade knew about the spring and they quickly repaired it by the way. Any ideas or suggestion would be appreciated.
 
I used to have a 9100BT and I loved it! I traded it away in a moment of weakness. :eek:

Take a look at the Spyderco military. It's a well made large, sturdy folder with a good liner lock.

Or

Benchmade 710 Axis. It's the favorite big utilitie folder of many here. Great blade, great lock, great handle.

I have both and like them equally well.
 
I've carried alot of different knives when I served but I never found any knife that was more useful than a good multi-tool.
In fact, if you're the only one with a multi-tool in your squad, the others will bug you to no end borrowing it.
I personally prefer the Gerber Legend but I like Leatherman tools also.
And if you're worried about hand-to-hand combat, forget the folder and use your E-tool or a military machete.

Good luck and thank you for serving our nation,
Allen.
 
you have some experience so i'm sure you already carry a multitool (that was the most useful for me when I was in a field unit) as far as non auto folders I liked the Emerson P-Sark a whole lot but I sold it and kind of regret it. right now I carry a Dalton Scalper and it is awesome but you said non auto so I would definately recommend the P-Sark. Actually any emerson will do the Job. My beater knife and the one that I hand to my buddies when they need a Knife is the Emerson Mini CQC7B which is a lot more knife than you would expect in that small package. Check out all of the Emersons if you have a chance. I would recommend any of them.

Brandon
 
Sorry to not add much to the thread. I just find it amusing that someone who is issued autos wants to use a manual knife while many of us here in the states are not legally able to carry an auto and would love to carry one instead of a manual.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify things a bit. I've been issued or given around 20 different knives over the years from from a Colombian machete to one of the old CAMILUS issue pocket knife. I've only bought two knives: my SAK Camping which I've carried everyday for the past 13 years, and a old John Ek commando that I carry when things are hairy. My other EDC while on duty is a super Leatherman that was issued to me as well.
For certain missions I need a one handed knife that is compact and easy to access. Thus the auto knives I've been issued. It has to be able to handle abuse in an extreme situation. I'm just not that crazy about the locks on the autos. Especially after that spring broke on the other one. I know the buttons will loosen up with use and practice will make me quicker, but I don't mind buying a folder with a more durable lock. Does anybody have links to the Emerson or Strider websites?
 
Looks like you need a Buck/Strider SB1 Tanto. I had one for almost a year and I can tell you it is a tank of a knife.
 
In the folder catagory. . .I prefer one of the following:

For production blades

Microtech SOCOM; DA or MA ~ tanto or clip
Microtech LCC DA
CRK Sebbie

For custom blades

Carson Model 4 (large)
DDR EDC
Mayo TNT (I've yet to carry mine on duty)

:D
 
Benchmade's axis lock folders are a good choice, the 710 or the big griptilian would probably be best for hard use in the field. I just got a 710 recently and I had no trouble opening and closing it at night in the dark with thick gloves. Unless you really pack mud into the works, an axis is about as reliable as a folder lock will get, and faster and easier to use than any auto. Any of the others would fail long before this will. The Benchmades are ambidextrous, compact, with good pocket clips, reversible for lefties, without giving up much on long, strong blades.

I recommend the Buck/Strider spearpoint rather than the tanto since it's a more general purpose blade. Definitely bombproof, although as a linerlock it is technically possible it can fail. The tang sticks out slightly above the handle, and I found I can use this to flip the blade open and locked without touching the thumbstud, and I can do it just as easily lefty as righty, even with gloves on. Very slick! The ATS-34 blade is thick, sharp, holds a great edge which I beat on thorn bushes without a nick or noticeable dulling. I was really impressed. The overall design of the knife is very similar to the Sebenza, by the way, just slightly larger: blade shape, open-back handle, old-style clip, single thumbstud. It is an almost clumsily large package, though.

I carry a Leatherman Supertool myself. Great for fix-its, and the saw is super handy in the woods. You might not want to carry anything like my Sebenzas, given the price, but consider how much you will spend on lesser knives over the years ... a secondhand Sebbie, a good belt sheath like the TAD-OS, a wrist lanyard ... what could go wrong? :D
 
Back in 1969 I spent 18 monthts crawling all over S.E. Asia for
Uncle Sam doing pacifaction work and the only cutlery I used
for the entire time were my camillus all steel camp knife and a
camillus pilot survival knife. These two knives did more and put
up with more sh!t that you would ever believe. As a matter of fact
I carried that camp knife until I wore it out finally.

I read all these suggestions about what to buy and I wonder how much
they pay in the military now. Didn't pay doodle when I was in. I did learn
one thing though ...........keep it simple and keep it sharp.
 
If you're a Soldier and you can afford a Sebenza...

You're not drinking enough BEER!
 
Dude, it's been trial and error for me for years. The best I would suggest is the Buck Strider regular or mini, and if you have the cash the Real thing (AR or GB). I have used in the field and on light duty the following folders:

MT Socom ( great knife but no longer made )

Spyderco Military ( also great, but a bit of thin blade)

BM AFCK ( it held up well for a year, but then started to develope liner problems. I lost it before I could send it in for service )

Any Emerson folder ( these will not let you down. There are many choices)

It all boils down to personal preferance. I am now hooked on the Strider folders. I am carrynig a mini tanto on duty these days, and am getting ready to buy a real Strider AR or GB soon. I already have one of thier fixed blades. They are awesome.
 
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