best knife as marine graduation gift?

J

Jersey Drew

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Feb 9, 2022
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i want to get someone who is at bootcamp now a nice pocket knife to carry around once graduated. i am going to have it engraved on one side "Semper Fidelis" and on the other side his last name and yes of graduation. what i want to know from you guys is what is most convenient out in the field. obviously i want to pick a metal that is easy to sharpen but what about serrations vs plain edge, size and would it be best to get a black blade or standard shiny finish? again i want him to be able to use it not just an ornament.

any help would be appreciated.
 
If I were in your shoes, I’d pick

- a corrosion free knife that can be submerged for longer times; he’s a marine after all
- a full Ti knife, that will make the engraving stand out more

That narrows the many choices quite a bit. The Spydiechef (in lc200n) could work, engraved by our WValtakis WValtakis , for instance.
 
Before you buy one ask if he has one now, and if not what he would like. This isn't a surprise party. If I was buying it, I would go for a big, classic, the Spyderco Resilience. It has a great feel for a large knife.

 
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If you visit with him often, maybe send him links to a few knife retail sites with snazzy photos. Tell him you’re in the market for a new pocket knife, and you need help deciding. If someone sent me a link to A G Russel for instance, I’d very quickly have a whole day’s worth of opinions. Often I don’t know I want something until I’ve seen it. I bought a Viper fixed-blade knife in Rome about twenty years ago, with burl handle scales, and I’ve been eying some of their folders myself, recently.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
Maybe a Benchmade Adamas or mini Adamas. Or a Spyderco Shaman.
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Seconded. These are both great gifts, that are stout and ergonomic, that can cut, and that aren't going to break or snap. These are beefy blades that are still nice at the edge. The Cruwear steel on the Adamas is really nice, very tough, and an ideal sharpening candidate. I have a Shaman, I don't have an Adamas, so I can double down on my recommendation of the Shaman. I love that because I am not afraid to let the tip fly.

The poster above me recommends a PM2. If you get this, I'd go for the micarta Cruwear version, for the reasons I listed above. Only thing that might be an issue with this is the comparatively fragile tip compared to a Shaman. A micarta Shaman in M4 steel would also be a great candidate, as it feels like a pocket fixed blade.

You say you want a tough blade for use "in the field", so I am thinking something that could be used outdoors and on wood and in dirty, crappy conditions. That is the only thing where the PM2 gives me pause, no matter the steel, that's a thin tip. Soldiers and stuff... they may break it, the ones I know. I will take a picture of the two and compare them.

https://imgur.com/a/22TcpAW

See that tip difference?

https://imgur.com/a/XJsKpWe
 
Jersey Drew said:
i want to get someone who is at bootcamp now a nice pocket knife to carry around once graduated. i am going to have it engraved on one side "Semper Fidelis" and on the other side his last name and yes of graduation. what i want to know from you guys is what is most convenient out in the field. obviously i want to pick a metal that is easy to sharpen but what about serrations vs plain edge, size and would it be best to get a black blade or standard shiny finish? again i want him to be able to use it not just an ornament.

any help would be appreciated.
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Don't, just don't. He's got a lot more training to go through and a personal knife will not be needed. He still needs to just blend in. A fancy knife will bring him nothing but grief at this stage of his USMC life. Maybe for Christmas. And then a nice SAK will be a good choice if you really want to get him something useful.

Post based on experience.
 
Get him a Leatherman. Trust me, a multitool will be extremely useful, and less likely to grow a pair of legs. Leatheman's website offers customization, and several dealers that support Bladeforums offer laser engraving as well/
 
I would get your friend a Leatherman and either a Buck 110 or a 112. Anything valuable grows legs in the military. I was in the Navy and I had several items disappear while on the ship. If you insist on getting him something extra nice, give it to him after his enlistment is up. This is just my humble opinion though.
 
First off, when describing a United States Marine, the M in Marine is always capitalized. In case you are wondering, yes he would notice.

Knowing his MOS would be helpful to pick a model but probably more important in a fixed blade than a folder.

I wouldn’t go with a coated or serrated blade, something with a satin finish would be good. Since you mentioned this knife as being a user, I would also not do any engraving, it will wear off quickly, look bad and generally not something that most Marines would carry. It’s like wearing a Ft Lauderdale t-shirt while you are vacationing in Ft Laudreadle.

Generally, these would be safe choices.
Spyderco Military
Spyderco PM 2
Spyderco Delica
CS SR1
CS AD-10
Buck 110 or 112 Slim Pro
Leatherman Wave+ or Charge
 
I hung up the tree suit a few years ago but here’s my two dinars as a Marine: Buck 112 Slim Pro in Micarta.

Plain edge, not serrated. Something normal size.

Don’t get something “tactical” or obnoxiously large. You want something thin that will be comfortable clipped in a pocket every day, and also be comfortable under body armor and not poke you when wearing gear. Something that won’t snag getting in and out of vehicles or office chairs (big variety of daily tasks depending on MOS). You also want something thin, light, and normal size to clip in your sock being held up by shirt stays when you’re in Charlies or Deltas or Blues and can’t have anything in your pockets. Something that will be comfortable against your shin bone or calf all day and won’t be affected by sweat. Micarta and Buck’s steels are good for this.

Buck does great engraving that won’t wear off. The warranty is second to none. All their steels are fantastic.

And once he has this good EDC knife, then you or he can consider a good fixed blade field/fighting knife to wear on his gear and a Leatherman.

Again, just my two dinars after dragging a variety of knives across four continents in the Corps.
 
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