Current Military and Law Enforcement Knives

The last knife that I knew of that was even close to standard issue was the demo knife from the sixties and seventies.

If you are looking for a knife that is issued like a Swiss Army knife, good luck. I don’t think any branch of the US service does that.
 
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Going back to the mid 70's Army as the Aviation Life Support Equipment Officer there were two knives standard with your Survival Vest. One was a stainless steel folder with stainless scales, one main blade and a couple of other things - really poor quality - a slip joint that the springs would simply fail by breaking. The other was a medium sized fixed blade similar to a KaBar, but a little smaller. It came with a leather sheath that had a pocket with a stone. It was also pretty cheap. I bought my own SAK to carry in my vest in '76 and gifted it to my grandson a couple of years ago. Still a great little 30+ year old SAK!!!
 
AshesFall said:
I heard a few years ago that the US Navy Seals were carrying the SOG seal pup fixed blades, also the US Marines used the Cold Steel SRK fixed blades in training. I can't personally say this is true though because it's only what I've read, but it would make sense to me with those 2 being very durable combat style survival knives.
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Well, if it's on the internet it must be true.

Especially if it comes from SOG, CS or their respective fans.

Ultimately military and law enforcement do not "general issue" knives like they did years ago.

Boring as it is, neither military or law enforcement get in a lot of "combat style survival" situations anymore. And they have guns.

They both often need and use mutitools, which they go and buy.

Pinemoon Pinemoon , you "liked" the idea that they might get SOG Seal Pups and CS SRKs. Get one of those. Liking certain knives is rarely about reality.
 
Here you go:

Benchmade Griptilian
NSN:510-01-598-7727

You can purchase the same knife without the NSN number as an over the counter item. Probably for less money too.
 
marcinek said:
Well, if it's on the internet it must be true.

Especially if it comes from SOG, CS or their respective fans.

Ultimately military and law enforcement do not "general issue" knives like they did years ago.

Boring as it is, neither military or law enforcement get in a lot of "combat style survival" situations anymore. And they have guns.

They both often need and use mutitools, which they go and buy.

Pinemoon Pinemoon , you "liked" the idea that they might get SOG Seal Pups and CS SRKs. Get one of those. Liking certain knives is rarely about reality.
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I don't know if it is issued, but in a lot of the training photographs with the newly formed Canada Navy MTOG (Marine Tactical Operation Group), have SOG Seal Pup Elite.
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90grains said:
Going back to the mid 70's Army as the Aviation Life Support Equipment Officer there were two knives standard with your Survival Vest. One was a stainless steel folder with stainless scales, one main blade and a couple of other things - really poor quality - a slip joint that the springs would simply fail by breaking...The other was a medium sized fixed blade similar to a KaBar, but a little smaller. It came with a leather sheath that had a pocket with a stone...
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We called that folder a Demo knife. Your right, it was/is poor quality. A SAK is much better.

IIRC, the fixed blade was what we knew as a Pilot Survival Knife and had a hexagon pommel.

The funny is that both of these knives are becoming collectibles.
 
From what I've heard, the US mikitary issies you a multi-tool of some sort - if your MOS is one that needs a milti-tool or not. (communications is one that does.)
My brother was in field communications (Army) a few years back. They have him a pair of electrician's scissors, and couple screwdrivers. He might have gotten a needle nose pliers, too.
He's working communications/electronics/wiring since he got out. Still uses the shears, but bought a pliers based multi-tool. I don't kniw which one. He claims he rarely needs or uses a knife.
I know from personal experiance as assistant engineer at a TV station, that
coax cable is easier to stick ends on, when you use the special stripper.
Come to think of it, even when working with regular single or multi-strand insulated electrical wire, I rarely used a knife to strip the end for a connector. A wire striper/crimper worked just as well, (if not better) and was faster.
 
sabre cat said:
We called that folder a Demo knife. Your right, it was/is poor quality. A SAK is much better.

IIRC, the fixed blade was what we knew as a Pilot Survival Knife and had a hexagon pommel.

The funny is that both of these knives are becoming collectibles.
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One of the first knives I ever wrecked. Prying with the screwdriver end; still have it though.

I would guess these are becoming collectible because so many were used and abused and disposed of and now nostalgia has those ex soldiers in it's grasp.
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As an LEO, I know of exactly zero agencies who supply their officers a knife. Which is fine by me, as it’s a personal choice. As stated, most of my coworkers carry cheap gas station knives or something they got for free at a seminar. I have turned several to the ways of quality cutlery, but many are too worried about losing a good knife that they’d have to replace themselves (with actual money instead of a memo, lol).

I personally carry a Benchmade Presidio Axis Auto (old school 5000 model) on my off side while on duty; however, the multi tool in the car sees much more use.
 
Danke42 said:
One of the first knives I ever wrecked. Prying with the screwdriver end; still have it though.

I would guess these are becoming collectible because so many were used and abused and disposed of and now nostalgia has those ex soldiers in it's grasp.
Ec0qqmE.jpg
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Somewhere around here there's probably a few of those stuffed into some corner. I came across one a little while back and tossed it on the table next to my chair. It had some light rust spots and I was feeling nostalgic and thinking I might get it cleaned up. Messing with it off and on over a few days one of the springs broke.

Oh yeah, these are junk and that's why I have no idea where any of mine are any more...

I worked "civilian" law enforcement for a couple years in a small department and no knives were issued. None of my friends who went on to work in large departments got them either.
 
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Danke42 said:
One of the first knives I ever wrecked. Prying with the screwdriver end; still have it though.

I would guess these are becoming collectible because so many were used and abused and disposed of and now nostalgia has those ex soldiers in it's grasp.
Ec0qqmE.jpg
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That would be the one. I think I might have one somewhere. I know I used to. The main blade is the only thing I can open on mine.

Like I said, the Pioneer is a much better knife.
 
sabre cat said:
That would be the one. I think I might have one somewhere. I know I used to. The main blade is the only thing I can open on mine.

Like I said, the Pioneer is a much better knife.
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I had a SAK before I had this one. The tweezers where awesome to have. This one though is a keeper as getting one pried away from a supply clerk was an epic quest.
 
Danke42 said:
I had a SAK before I had this one. The tweezers where awesome to have. This one though is a keeper as getting one pried away from a supply clerk was an epic quest.
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A extended family member was a supply sgt, that is how I got my first one in the seventies. It’s long gone.

My second one was given to me by a friend that works gun shows.
Not really sure where it’s at. I remember seeing it in one of my tool bags.

I really prefer the Vic Pioneer/Soldier model or the
Wenger Standard Issue with it’s bail.

I have one Soldier model with a lanyard ring like a Pioneer. It’s a favorite of mine.
 
The only ones I know of are the Gerber multitools, with the out the front pliers. I know group purchases of knives are common in the Navy, but those aren't really "issued"

Also, I always think of this whenever someone asks this question.

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Silent H said:
The only ones I know of are the Gerber multitools, with the out the front pliers. I know group purchases of knives are common in the Navy, but those aren't really "issued"

Also, I always think of this whenever someone asks this question.

jvcNdyG.jpg
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LOL! That’s pretty good.

I have found my Gerber MP-600 to be a valuable tool. How else am I to finish splitting the half-cracked Pistachios left at the bottom of the bag?
 
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Centermass said:
As an LEO, I know of exactly zero agencies who supply their officers a knife. Which is fine by me, as it’s a personal choice. As stated, most of my coworkers carry cheap gas station knives or something they got for free at a seminar. I have turned several to the ways of quality cutlery, but many are too worried about losing a good knife that they’d have to replace themselves (with actual money instead of a memo, lol).

I personally carry a Benchmade Presidio Axis Auto (old school 5000 model) on my off side while on duty; however, the multi tool in the car sees much more use.
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the SMPD & LAPD LEO’s I know & have discussed knives with, for the most part that they prefer cheap Chinese folders because they use them to pry into gates, screens off of windows etc and know the’ll get messed up or lost. A few carry multi tools, one had a BM seat belt cutter......that’s about it.
 
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