Combat dagger (custom?) Suggestions?

Asher Sympson said:
I've been in the poolie program since January and I am a 3 sport athlete. I read any and every article about the Marines that I can find. I've talked to local veterans and I am in regular (at least twice a week) contact with my recruiter.
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Studying is good and smart it will give you an advance over trying to learn when your tired and stressed.
As for the recruiter.........well wait to you meet your DI......
 
000Robert said:
What is a 0321? I've been out of the Corps for decades.

Here is my grandson's gorgeous Carothers UF2 in D3V steel, full double grind, and Cocobolo scales. She just came in today actually.
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0321 is Reconnaissance. That's a gorgeous knife! I'm looking for a symmetrical blade for myself, I might have to check out Carothers in the future.
 
And for those who are going to caution me about recruiters' promises, I did get a physical copy of my 'Statement of Understanding'. Which specifically lists my mos at the top.
 
Asher Sympson said:
0321 is Reconnaissance. That's a gorgeous knife! I'm looking for a symmetrical blade for myself, I might have to check out Carothers in the future.
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I'm no expert but it seems to me that a Tanto blade might be better for what you want to use it for. It would have a stronger tip.
 
Not military myself, but my son is Army, so I can only speak to his experience which he has shared with me. In Basic, he wasn’t allowed to carry anything that wasn’t issued to him and only when they said so, moreover, there was no need to. Even during AIT, his pocket knife (a Benchmade Griptilian) got scrutinized a couple times. After Basic and AIT, he had a lot more leeway. After he got settled in his duty station, I gave him the choice of several knives for field exercises and/or deployment (because dear old dad is still good for something). Of them, he chose a Becker BK10 as being the most practical for the things he’d likely need a field knife to do. It’s definitely not a HSLD combat knife, but he tells me all the time how useful it is.

Another thing to remember is that, although we would hope there’s honor among all service members, it is well known nice things have a way of, shall we say, wandering off. It may not be wise to carry expensive, self-financed gear until your footing is sure, especially on a starting pay grade.
 
Centermass said:
Not military myself, but my son is Army, so I can only speak to his experience which he has shared with me. In Basic, he wasn’t allowed to carry anything that wasn’t issued to him and only when they said so, moreover, there was no need to. Even during AIT, his pocket knife (a Benchmade Griptilian) got scrutinized a couple times. After Basic and AIT, he had a lot more leeway. After he got settled in his duty station, I gave him the choice of several knives for field exercises and/or deployment (because dear old dad is still good for something). Of them, he chose a Becker BK10 as being the most practical for the things he’d likely need a field knife to do. It’s definitely not a HSLD combat knife, but he tells me all the time how useful it is.

Another thing to remember is that, although we would hope there’s honor among all service members, it is well known nice things have a way of, shall we say, wandering off. It may not be wise to carry expensive, self-financed gear until your footing is sure, especially on a starting pay grade.
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Yep. If it was me I would feel quite covered with my Carothers DEK1. The blade is only 4.5", but that should be plenty. But I believe a less expensive Tanto blade with a good quality steel would be better for him to start with.

Mine-17a.jpg
 
Centermass said:
Not military myself, but my son is Army, so I can only speak to his experience which he has shared with me. In Basic, he wasn’t allowed to carry anything that wasn’t issued to him and only when they said so, moreover, there was no need to. Even during AIT, his pocket knife (a Benchmade Griptilian) got scrutinized a couple times. After Basic and AIT, he had a lot more leeway. After he got settled in his duty station, I gave him the choice of several knives for field exercises and/or deployment (because dear old dad is still good for something). Of them, he chose a Becker BK10 as being the most practical for the things he’d likely need a field knife to do. It’s definitely not a HSLD combat knife, but he tells me all the time how useful it is.

Another thing to remember is that, although we would hope there’s honor among all service members, it is well known nice things have a way of, shall we say, wandering off. It may not be wise to carry expensive, self-financed gear until your footing is sure, especially on a starting pay grade.
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We aren't allowed to carry any weapons of any kind in boot camp. We are allowed one religious item and that's it. All my knives would stay with my family til I'm through training. I have an srk-c or a seal pup for any real hard utility use. I would just carry this for the heck of it. Is theft a big problem in the Marines?
 
Heck, if you can make it through Marine boot camp, and you're willing to risk your life fighting for your country, then I say you should carry whatever knife you feel like when deployed, as long as it's within the regulations, and serves your actual needs.

I've never served in the military, but I still like daggers. I've owned several, posted pics of some, and yet no one has ever questioned me about why I wanted them or what I was planning on using them for. I bought and owned them simply because I liked them. And on this forum, with all the knives people buy and own, I think "Just because I like it" is a good enough reason to buy and own a dagger.

Also, depending on the grind, a dagger is perfectly capable of performing plenty of cutting chores. I've mentioned several times on this forum of a co-worker of mine when I worked a shipping dock, a Vietnam Vet, who used an old EK commando dagger all day at work. He cut rope, twine, pallet wrap, and a variety of other things all day long without the slightest difficulty.

It's not like you're going to be skinning elk for the Marines. How many soldiers in Vietnam carried the Gerber Mark 2, or the GI issued M3, or the EK dagger.

As far as the Busse, it's a very nice knife. I'd love to own one, and gave serious consideration to buying one. But it's way too much money for me to pay for a knife that I have no actual need for.

Like I said, I've never served in the military, but I've heard many times from people who have that you don't want to carry anything expensive. It only takes one thief to relieve you of that expensive knife.
 
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Asher Sympson said:
We aren't allowed to carry any weapons of any kind in boot camp. We are allowed one religious item and that's it. All my knives would stay with my family til I'm through training. I have an srk-c or a seal pup for any real hard utility use. I would just carry this for the heck of it. Is theft a big problem in the Marines?
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Again, I can’t speak from personal experience, but many friends over the years have told me stories about the frequency of things vanishing. And definitely not just in the Marines.

I am aware of one particular incident though…regarding a jelly donut.
 
Asher Sympson said:
What would you recommend then? I see it as an investment as well, seeing the way the economy is going. I'm doing everything I can to prepare myself for boot camp. I don't see the harm in wanting to purchase a good blade.
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If you want to prepare for boot. Do cardio.

Otherwise has the boker fairborn dagger been mentioned?

Actually the cold steel drop forged boot knife should be fairly tank like for a dagger. And unlikely to cost that much.

 
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000Robert said:
I'm no expert but it seems to me that a Tanto blade might be better for what you want to use it for. It would have a stronger tip.
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Both the double edged dagger and tanto blade are specifically designed for combat. In addition to a stronger tip the tanto adds far more utility. Which is why it is often seen carried by combatants as personal purchases.
 
KenHash said:
Both the double edged dagger and tanto blade are specifically designed for combat. In addition to a stronger tip the tanto adds far more utility. Which is why it is often seen carried by combatants as personal purchases.
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He also mentioned opening MRE's and beating on it and stuff.
 
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Centermass said:
Again, I can’t speak from personal experience, but many friends over the years have told me stories about the frequency of things vanishing. And definitely not just in the Marines.

I am aware of one particular incident though…regarding a jelly donut.
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I can speak of personal experience. I awoke one time sweating my butt off because some jerk stole my fan while I was sleeping. And he also stole my nice Zippo lighter and my last cigarette. I was going to smoke it after I woke up. I think him stealing my last cigarette pissed me off more than anything else. Just the principle of it.
But anytime you get a bunch of people together you are bound to have one thief in your midst.
 
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