best soldiers knife selection???

rustyrazor

rustyrazor

Joined
Oct 13, 2011
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got one for you... I've been chosen to select a solid "hard use" EDC fixed blade for my platoon, it has to be a small, rugged workhorse and be under $110 each for budget. i've picked out a few that seem to hit the mark, but i was wondering what you guys may have thought that i had forgotten. So far, i've picked the falkniven F1 (overbudget), CS ultimate hunter in san mai, Ontario ranger model, and the ka-bar mk-1 to give you a starting point of the type I'm looking for.
 
The Becker BK5 or it's cheaper (over here) brother the Magnum Camp Bowie. You could get them a decent leatherman with the change.
 
I would take a long hard look at the Buck / Tops CSAR T fixed blade knife. I have had the folder for a good while and recently got the fixed blade. If this knife can't do it , it doesn't need to be done. You can't beat the Buck warranty either. Just one mans opinion of course.

James
 
Esee or Becker, keep the blade at 4" - 5". I would say the esee4, because of the sheath.
 
Have you looked at the cold steel srk? I know cold steel sometimes gets a bad rap, but for military use they kick butt. I carried one all through my career and have given several to guys in iraq and afganistan, and the are issed to navy seals during buds training. The are tough as hell. I have abused the hell out of them and even levered open a car door with one on A accident scene. The san-mai version is even better, the recon scout is a awesome choice also. These can be found very reasonable on the internet. Just my two cents worth. There are many good choices out there.....i love my srks but have been looking at the esee5 also designed by military operators.....
 
I like the Spyderco Bill Moran, seems to be about the same size as the Fallkniven F1.
 
Dude if you have been making combat knives for 15 years you should just make some for your platoon or pick one that is closest to your design.
 
Swamp Rat Rodent Solution - $109 from the store but available occasionally on the exchange and elsewhere for a little less, tougher than the F1 (at least on paper), excellent materials and workmanship, USA, best warranty available. The Swamp Rat RatManDu is an excellent larger blade (similar in size to the standard Kabar fighting knife).

Swamp Rat Knife Works has a subforum here, check it out, and see if you can get a military discount!

You could also try a Scrap Yard knife like the 511 - same steel as the Rodent Solution (SR-101, a special form of 52100), but a longer blade and also a shorter handle (maybe too short for working with gloves on...)

Going less expensive, there is the Gerber Prodigy (little brother to the LMFII), and various offerings from Buck - try to stay USA manufacture on knives of those brands, just my opinion.
 
I own two Rangers (RD6 and RBS4) and I think they are great knives for the value. You can use the extra $ on sheath upgrades or maybe a multi-tool.

EDIT: As the poster above said, make sure you call and see if you can get a military discount, especially if you are equipping a platoon.

I thought about Swamp rat and scrapyard, maybe contact Jerry and see what he can do.
 
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The 5 1/4" KA-BAR.

Ka-bar.gif


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KA-BAR

It's been the choice for 70 years, I don't see why it wouldn't cut it now. Plus at $50 or less, you could buy Leathermans for your platoon, too.
 
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gazz98 said:
I own two Rangers (RD6 and RBS4) and I think they are great knives for the value. You can use the extra $ on sheath upgrades or maybe a multi-tool.

EDIT: As the poster above said, make sure you call and see if you can get a military discount, especially if you are equipping a platoon.....
Click to expand...

About the discount....consider that...especially if you go the Ranger route. Track donw (he's a member here, I believe) and talk to Justin Gingrich, the guy behind the Ranger knives. He's an Army Ranger and might be proud to "hook" your platoon up somehow.

And Rangers are excellent, bomb-proof knives for a very reasonable price.
 
If you have $110 max to spend, I'd also recommend something from ESEE (or similar... Ranger RD series, etc.). Can't go wrong with those. Strong, handy, great bargain. :thumbup:
 
I love the Ranger series, and the ranger handles are fun and easy to customize so everyone can make theirs unique, the factory slabs are a little bulky. If RD6 too large a blade i really like the Becker BK2 for hard use, also fun to customize. Here's a couple easy handle mods I did on some Rangers and an Ontario tak, and my bk2 stripped with micarta handles. You could get BK2's with micarta handles in your price range.
IMG01474-20111116-1246.jpg
 
thanks guys... I like what you have done with the handles "BLADEHOUND86" and the second one from the right definitely looks like what I had in mind... which model is it exactly? i don't want to offend anyone, lol. And a shout out to "OrdinanceBubbaUSMC" I just don't have the time or workshop to turn out 40 blades in the time required. most of the blades I am looking at are similar to what I make in a lot of respects, and I can get them cheaper... plus it would be a conflict of interests with me buying knives off myself.
 
Go Becker. I'm not just saying it because I'm a Beckerhead. Becker makes such a wide variety of knives, and every single one of them is a workhorse and that's no lie. A solid piece of hard steel that will tear **** up. Check them out, they make all different kinds for all different needs.
 
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