best knife as marine graduation gift?

What is his MOS?
It is likely he will not be able to carry it until he is in the fleet.
On the Low end I would go with Buck Vantage, good knife.
High end, Hogue deka, I'm cheap. Marines don't steal, but they do liberate from time to time, you know for educational purposes.
A Leatherman is a good choice also.
 
I was in the Marines from 1966-70, and had a pilot's survival knife, and one of those orange handled things with a shroud cutter. But what I wouldn't have given for just a basic Leatherman! And I'm sure others that were in at the time, no matter what MOS, would feel the same.

I wouldn't get anything too expensive. We had a saying: Lock a Marine private in a windowless room with three anvils. Come back an hour later, and one anvil will be broken. One will be pregnant. And the other one will have disappeared.
 
Hashishiin said:
Yeah, I have a lot of remarks that I think are funny locked and loaded, but I wouldn't want anyone to think me serious so, I think I will follow ol' Danny's example and say: Thank you for your service, nothing else to contribute.

Is the "Don't. Just... just don't" people idea coming from a "Hey fancy boy, what you got there???" type ruler-of-the-roost situation, being singled out, etc?
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For some reason you feel the need to post on every thread. Getting tired of reading your nonsense.
 
It is kind of risky even if the recipient's personality is well known. Many folks who think that they know me well have been surprised that in addition to knives and knives sharpening my other passion is Korean romantic TV d dramas - go figure! :) And, highly biased, I will allow myself to suggest two knives I still don't have, but will get them soon: Otter-Messer's Three Rivets or Anchor Sailor. Maybe the Three Rivets is better because the company's logo is smaller and there is more room for engraving. However, these are German knives, is it important the knife to be American made? Buck 303 or 301 are just fine, I think.
 
If your intended recipient is a cutlery enthusiast, and the gift you have in mind is a folder: IMHO the folder should be as lightweight and utility oriented as possible. Most knife guys* understand: A fixed blade for hard use, and a folder for EDC level tasks.

FWIW: I recently ordered a custom Gerber Savvy with my last name laser engraved. If I had my druthers, I'd carry a Microtech OTF, but that tends to attract unwanted attention. That said, I've seen buddies carry Spyderco PM2s, Microtech SOCOMs, Gerber Autos and gas station specials.

Another idea would be a multitool with a standalone knife: Such as a Gerber Centerdrive or a Leatherman Signal**


*The guys that don't have a gas station/Chinesium special.
**Not a fan of Leatherman. The first and only Leatherman product I purchased was a Signal. It popped a rivet that I had to send back for warranty within day 1. Good warranty though.
 
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FWIW, I used a Leatherman OTH for a couple years in the Marines before nearly all of the liner lock mechanisms failed on me. As well, I broke a few Benchmade tips. The lesson is that in an operational capacity, rather than in garrison, knives are often used and abused in an improvisational manner.
 
Knives are a great gift but realize that they are apt to get lost or "borrowed" in training or deployement.
I have two sons that were Marines and gave each of them nice knives for graduation. I gave my first son an Emerson with his name and Eagle/Globe/Anchor engraved on the blade. He LOVED the knife, but unfortunately it got lost at 29 palms while training. I think he dropped it and someone kept it for themselves ( it would have been easy to return it to the owner because his name was on it. ) I subsequently gave him a Spyderco Military D2 which disappeared somewhere between Kuwait and Iraq. I suspect it came unclipped while moving gear. Finally, I replaced his Emerson with a used one that I got on Ebay. He finally put an "idiot" lanyard on it while deployed and still has it. I also gave him a Leatherman Charge Ti, I believe, when he was deployed and he used it MUCH more than the pocket knive. He gifted it to a translator before he came home. I gave my other son a Zero Tolerance 0551 limited edition w which he noticed was missing when he returned from the MCMAP pit ( He forgot to remove it when he went for the practice and apparently it came unclipped). Back when Kershaw/ZT had a subforum here, I was whining about my son loosing this special knife and the head guy at ZT heard about it and graciously REPLACED it for FREE from his personal collection! I am forever a fan of ZT/Kershaw for this kind act and amazing customer service.
So if you want to give a knife, I'd place ZT high on my list of recommendations. But...have him keep it on a lanyard while serving. Also, a multitool is a great and much used tool by Marines.
 
Engraved: Nice!

Don't know your budget though.

Consider that if the knife is too "nice" it will be an object of serious envy. I would avoid anything like a CRK folder or a knife with Damascus etc.

CRKT makes a hefty folder that looks nice in their M-18. Looks nice enough for civi wear, can be a good everyday user and is hefty enough to satisfy the swagger in any Marine. I am sure that others here will come up with more choices that fit the bill too.

I have written elsewhere on these forums how I spent $1K on serious cutlery for our son before he deployed to Iraq in 2004.

 
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Depends, does he know how to take care if knives at all? I personally carry a winkler woodsman with me as a marine infantryman when out in the field but that’s because I’m a knife guy and I know how to take care of a carbon steel knife even if it gets wet, it’s also very expensive but I trust myself to not get it stolen, that being said, i consider winklers to be the pinnacle of military knife design. A ka-bar USMC would definitely be a cool gift, and I would’ve loved one as a bootcamp graduation present, but it is not exactly the pinnacle of knife design anymore. If he’s gonna be an infantry guy or spending a lot of time out in the field, get him a small but tough fixed blade, something like an Esee 3 in S35VN steel or the Izula. If he’s gonna be admin, supply something like that maybe a good lightweight folder like the Benchmade bug out.

You also can’t go wrong with a good leatherman, the pliers, screwdrivers and wire cutters are invaluable for so many applications. I personally carry the OHT nsf the Supertool 300 and both have survived real use and abuse.
 
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Gerber LMF II, in black, coupled with a LM Wave in plain SS finish. Add the ( very inexpensive) LM pry tool/ wrench/ bit driver, to the LM holster, along with a Fenix 05 flashlight + thin “dummy cord” ( with an added clip for pocket or cover brim) The holster easily fits all three. Optionally, add to the gift package an 8” Knipex Bolt Cutter, which will cut all manner of heavy duty wire fencing, thinish chain links and even diamond cut-out steel fencing. You can make a decent, flat, pocket holster for the Knipex, from clear report cover ( in stock at Staples, etc.) and tapped together with Gorilla tape to keep it clean and dry. All for under $300 if you shop around.
 
Honestly. Shake his hand congratulate him. Make sure he knows how proud you are. Let him know when he needs something to let you know.
 
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