Do soldiers need or just want a knife ?

[R.c.s]

This started on an other thread and i thought it needed one of its own . I went in the army in 1986 i was in for 6 years in the grenadier guards . I had a folding lock knife that i used all the time if you ask me i needed it . I would't of wanted to be with out it . Or maybe i could of done with out it but i did't afto . So what do you think ?

 

[blue109]

never let my multi-tool get far from me. probably used it at least once every day over a 8 year enlistment. many times a day on both of my deployments. think it was much more valuable than a knife.

 

[uscav24]

I agree with blue109. Soldiers more so need a multi-tool more than a knife. I have also used my multi-tool many times while being in the military and would never be caught without it.

 

[fetzer85]

IMO, soldiers DESERVE a knife. Whether or not they use it is up to them....but if they're putting their life on the line for me they should have one hell of a blade regardless of whether it's cutting rope or taking someone's life.

 

[Mike8008]

There was a thread a while back asking current and former servicemen what they carried/used when deployed. IIRC, most of the responses were the same as blue109's above, that a multi tool was the most useful.

 

[leghog]

Most soldiers need a knife. Do you expect them to strip commo wire with their teeth?

 

[cricketdave]

Yep I used a multi tool and a folder a lot, a fixed blade some.

 

[Bollingern]

IMO, soldiers DESERVE a knife. Whether or not they use it is up to them....but if they're putting their life on the line for me they should have one hell of a blade regardless of whether it's cutting rope or taking someone's life.

We'll said sir. I still carry a multi-tool daily after 18 years (currently a Leatherman Wave). During my deployments I carried a 4-5 inch fixed blade. This was useful from cutting bands off crates/boxes to picking through/searching through loose grain and rice looking for contraband.

 

[2 shot]

Think about it, how often does a soldier need to cut something? Some more than others depending on their job not unlike civilians.

Most people don't need a knife, few want one. I use my flashlight ten times more than my knife but I always carry a knife because I like it, even more than my flashlight.

 

[richard thurman]

when I was in it was a crime to have any kind of knife on you or stored in your locker. but that is what the captain wanted.

 

[leghog]

when I was in it was a crime to have any kind of knife on you or stored in your locker. but that is what the captain wanted.

In was in 1981-2004. Thankfully I never heard or saw something so asinine.

 

[Ryu_GTX]

I asked a good friend of mine who is currently in the Army for some knife suggestions and what he used. He said that he used a SOG Trident (with serrations) that someone gave him and he mainly used it to open up MREs. So he would joke around with other soldiers with more expensive knives saying that his knife cuts MREs just as well as theirs.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

Yeah agree and even the MREs I've seen have 2 notches which allow me to open them by hand
I've been in the German armored inf (not in the kitchen or any office) and never needed a pocket knife or fixed blade. But sure was fun to have one and play with.
Btw also never needed a shrapnel vest but it's good to wear one just in case. Same for a knife. If you really need it (however rare that might be) it's good to have one.
What's more useful, fixed or folder or would both of them be really needed can be debated.

Never cut or stripped communication wire. All we used were radios. That might look different in a messaging unit but I guess they would have proper cable pliers.

 

[leghog]

Never cut or stripped communication wire. All we used were radios.

You used radios in the dismounted defense or with your OPs? Weak OPSEC, that.

 

[mtangent]

Of course they need a knife. If not for predicable everyday reasons, then for the unexpected. I believe battle & war is full of unexpected things, even in non combat roles.

 

[jackknife]

My own opinion is that every man with a pair of pants on, should have a knife in a pocket. Everyman, no matter what his profession or occupation.

As for soldiers, they do need a knife, but how much knife is open for debate. I spent a wee bit over 10 years in the army, and was going for a 20 when I was medically discharged because of injuries received while serving. I spent my time in the engineers, and it was basically like working for a contractor. Our mission was construction and building. So everyday was a day working on a construction site. A pocket knife was a needed thing. Line to b cut for surveying stakes, cutting open burlap bags of materials and hardware, sharpening sticks to serve as survey stakes, opening c-rat boxes, strip wire for connections, and a zillion other uses. It was apparently enough of a necessity that our supply room kept both the Camillus TL-29 and the ML-K scout knife, sometimes called the demo knife, on hand.

But in the bit over a decade I served, I can't ever recall one time I needed anymore knife than whatever pocket knife I had on me. Hopefully a SAK or scout knife type of thing with a few tools on it. This is including a tour in a little Asian country called Vietnam. In general, soldiers and sailors are just like the general population. Most are not knife people who obsess over what knife to carry that day. In 99% of the time, whatever the supply room issues is good enough. For the few that are the afflicted and obsessed knife knuts, they will just go buy what they want.

For the modern day soldier, a basic multitool or scout knife will do very well. A SAK is always a good thing.

 

[22-rimfire]

Yes, I think a soldier needs a knife. What kind of knife is dependant on their service, interests, and abilities. I think every man should have a knife of some kind. I use a knife every single day, and that does not count kitchen duties.

 

[Mannlicher]

I have sent a number of lads folders, fixed blades and multi tools. No one has ever told me later, that they did not need them. I ask what they want, and send what they feel they will need. One good friend has taken a gifted Benchmade D2 710 into the mountains of Afghanistan twice now. He says he won't go without it.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

You used radios in the dismounted defense or with your OPs? Weak OPSEC, that.

What is op?
Opsec I can guess. Within the tank crew (we were tank mounted 120mm mortar) we used our mouths to communicate. When it got too loud then through our helmets/caps which had spiral wire connected to board communication.
Due to the highly mobile nature of mortar tanks, forward observer, and fire control constantly moving, wires between all the units would have made for a funny YouTube video but not very practical.
Wires tend to be more secure since you need to tab them physically but even that was done in Stalingrad and probably much earlier. Some weird frequency hopping chopped and encoded radio could be actually more secure even if it broadcasts in every direction. Don't ask me how they were supposedly so secure. Maybe all it would have taken for the other guys to capture on of the radios to listen to us? Simply don't know.

Dismounted defense was an unlikely scenario but a nice excuse to let us run around the base with a dismounted heavy mortar. Barrel 90 ponds, base plate 130 pounds, bipod 40 and so on.

Why so mobile? While mortars can be invisibly firing from behind hills or houses, Russian radar was expected to see the trajectory of our flying grenades. Within a very short time real artillery would have pounced on us or even some of the mean looking Russian anti tank helicopters. Anyways, 3 shots with our 6 tanks and then off to the next firing position.

Doesn't sound very aggressive but the idea was only to slow down the attacking forces until our American friends could strike back in a conventional way or drop some nukes on them (and us), if required.
I'm sure Russians had similar plans for their allies in the east.

 

[leghog]

What is op?

Observation post.

You didn't run wire between the Fire Direction Control and the mortars? You used radios? That's lust begging for an enemy strike.

Can't believe you spent much time in the field or deployed if you question a soldier's basic need of a basic folding knife.