Do soldiers need or just want a knife ?

[Mike-The-Knife]

Well I need to carry a knife . Why wouldn't a soldier
I use mine every day !


...............................................
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS ! :emot-yarr:

 

[Halfneck]

Medic with 2/187 Infantry from '95 to '99. Usually had a multi-tool (Gerber, later SOG) on my belt and a folder in my right front pocket. Multi-tool got used for everything from vehicle maintenance to extracting spent shell casings from the M60. My folder was used to open MREs, cut medical tape, paracord, and other utility tasks I can't recall. Prior to the multi-tool I carried a Victorinox Huntsman. Honestly it worked better for most of my tasks than the multi-tool. Scissors were great for a cutting medical tape and fitting bandages. The tweezers were better than the issued ones and used on splinters and ticks quite a bit. Folder I carried for a while was a Spyderco Delica with a combo-edge. Then I switched over to my Benchmade 970 (Emerson CQC-7). While in the field I almost always had a fully serrated Spyderco Remote Release on the right front strap of my LBV. I was always paranoid about a sling-load going sideways and needing to cut it loose fast.

So in my opinion, yes a service member needs a knife.

 

[flipe8]

Yeah, I think soldiers need some sort of knife. It doesn't need to be a $400 knife, but something reliable certainly isn't too much to ask.

 

[95BravoMP]

Absolute necessity for armed forces members. As was posted earlier, a good multitool comes in very handy, but a not-overly-large fixed blade or robust tactical folder is great reassurance in the field. Whether its opening rations, care packages, or cutting twine, 550 paracord, or last ditch holdout, it's just peace of mind in your pocket. The few times I inexcusably forgot to pack mine, I felt absolutely naked w/o it

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Different strokes for different armies/cultures.

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.

 

[Quillan]

If my rifle jammed, I'd rather have a knife than not. Every tiny option for survival you can give yourself may mean the difference between going home or not. What's the first rule in war? Stay the eff ALIVE. If I found myself separated from my unit (God forbid), I'd be bloody grateful for a knife as I put into practice the evasion/survival techniques we were taught. IMO, a good knife is absolutely indispensable.

 

[gooeytek]

Need.

They might not be used properly in many situations, but you use what you have in whatever way you can. You might hammer with the spine or handle/pommel, use it as a prybar, scraper, shim, or screwdriver, etc. but it s an easy first thing to grab and use one-handed.

 

[mromeo23]

I got into knives originally based on my friend's recommendation to purchase a benchmade. He got his while in Iraq and carried it through two tours there and everyday since. Without going into detail, he hinted he used that knife extensively there.

I would assume a soldier without a knife is like a doctor without a stethoscope.

 

[Navyblu]

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.

I apologize for my ignorance, but how does one go about procuring a multitool during their deployment? Can someone send you one from home or is there some sort of application process? Same thing for acquiring knife. I aspire to be a TACP in the air force and I like the idea of taking a blade, multitool or both. Thanks for any feedback, and many thanks for your service.

 

[cpio]

I apologize for my ignorance, but how does one go about procuring a multitool during their deployment? Can someone send you one from home or is there some sort of application process? Same thing for acquiring knife. I aspire to be a TACP in the air force and I like the idea of taking a blade, multitool or both. Thanks for any feedback, and many thanks for your service.

You should be able to have whatever you want shipped to you, or be able to buy stuff at a PX or BX where you're deployed. Of course, if there's something in the SOFA agreement with the host nation regarding certain types of knives or other items, that might take precedence.

 

[ArmouredNZ]

It fascinates me how people think this is a "man's" duty. Women should just use their nails?

In my time serving, I can only recall one female who would be able to carry/move a combat laden soldier if required. This I have a problem with. Especially if my life is concerned. The defence force is not for everyone, That's why there are requirements.

When I was on deployment I carried three knives. One large knife (bayonet) on my front. A benchmade folder in my pocket. And a SAK in my webbing. The benchmade got the most use by far. Everything for opening food to prepping wires for dems. I still buy benchmade today. I do know a couple of people who's life depended on a knife. God bless they came home safe. I think every soldier needs a knife

 

[NetshadeX]

There's a story floating on the internet about some guy who served in Fallujah who got in a bad spot and had to kill a guy with a Recon 1. If that actually happened I'm pretty sure he was glad to have it on him.

 

[CHRISTIN]

All personnel in the Armed Forces want and need a good knife. It has been in our kit since the first armies marched into battle... and it will always be there.

Those in a non-combat, support type role can get by with the daily tasks by carrying a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman type combi-tool... soooo many choices here.

Those in combat roles can carry the same Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman type combo-tool but also include the additional sheath knife for G/P or "General-Purpose" use... for those of us that venture into harms way.
These knives should have clip-point blades from 7 1/2" and longer, have a double guard... have micarta leather or other natural handles... and should be strongly constructed and come complete with a good sheath. Some
examples from cheap to expensive... A KaBar (cheap), Randall 14 (moderate) or Bagwell (expensive) will fulfill the role... again, lots of choices here (...do your research). A word of caution (from my old SGM)... stay away
from any serrations/saws on the spine of your G/P sheath knife, as these can be detrimental in the employment of the knife... for combat purposes.

Dagger types (Gerber, F/S, V42) are cool and historical, but are limited only to sticking people... and that's it. Which most of you will never do anyway... if you are lucky. A G/P type blade will serve you far better.

Finally, some of us will need specialty cutting tools like machetes, smatchets or khukris... for specific tasks in rough environments.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I would think that even if you carried a knife everyday for ten years before you finally actually "needed" it, then it would justify the ten years you carried it and didn't.

 

[22-rimfire]

My view is that a soldier is no different than anyone else. I suspect a SAK would come in quite handy.

 

[WJC01]

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

I saw a jarhead do that and it ground a small groove in his teeth!

 

[Quillan]

In the 1980s (when I was in the Forces), the standard issue knife to Canadian soldiers was the C5...a 2 bladed all steel folder with a lanyard ring. Our web gear knife/fork/spoon pouch was adapted with a smaller pouch attached to accommodate this tool. Since the 90s, the C5 has been replaced, and is standard issue, with the Gerber combination tool. Can and did we carry other knives? Of course, but on our own dime - naturally. I carried a Ka-Bar for 5 years on my vest and had a 3 inch boot knife as well. All my edged tools/weapons saw a LOT of use, for many different reasons.

 

[leghog]

All personnel in the Armed Forces want and need a good knife. It has been in our kit since the first armies marched into battle... and it will always be there.

Those in a non-combat, support type role can get by with the daily tasks by carrying a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman type combi-tool... soooo many choices here.

Those in combat roles can carry the same Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman type combo-tool but also include the additional sheath knife for G/P or "General-Purpose" use... for those of us that venture into harms way.
These knives should have clip-point blades from 7 1/2" and longer, have a double guard... have micarta leather or other natural handles... and should be strongly constructed and come complete with a good sheath. Some
examples from cheap to expensive... A KaBar (cheap), Randall 14 (moderate) or Bagwell (expensive) will fulfill the role... again, lots of choices here (...do your research). A word of caution (from my old SGM)... stay away
from any serrations/saws on the spine of your G/P sheath knife, as these can be detrimental in the employment of the knife... for combat purposes.

Dagger types (Gerber, F/S, V42) are cool and historical, but are limited only to sticking people... and that's it. Which most of you will never do anyway... if you are lucky. A G/P type blade will serve you far better.

Finally, some of us will need specialty cutting tools like machetes, smatchets or khukris... for specific tasks in rough environments.

I'll take exception to that, else knife fighting would be regularly taught "for those of us that venture into harms way", and truth be told, it is not taught excepting in a very few schools and very few units that very few of "those of us that venture into harms way" are selected, assessed, and trained for. Yes, soldiers need knives, but you paint an inaccurate picture of the need.

 

[leghog]

I saw a jarhead do that and it ground a small groove in his teeth!

Should have used a knife.

 

[jackknife]

All personnel in the Armed Forces want and need a good knife. It has been in our kit since the first armies marched into battle... and it will always be there.

Those in a non-combat, support type role can get by with the daily tasks by carrying a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman type combi-tool... soooo many choices here.

Those in combat roles can carry the same Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman type combo-tool but also include the additional sheath knife for G/P or "General-Purpose" use... for those of us that venture into harms way.
These knives should have clip-point blades from 7 1/2" and longer, have a double guard... have micarta leather or other natural handles... and should be strongly constructed and come complete with a good sheath. Some
examples from cheap to expensive... A KaBar (cheap), Randall 14 (moderate) or Bagwell (expensive) will fulfill the role... again, lots of choices here (...do your research). A word of caution (from my old SGM)... stay away
from any serrations/saws on the spine of your G/P sheath knife, as these can be detrimental in the employment of the knife... for combat purposes.

Dagger types (Gerber, F/S, V42) are cool and historical, but are limited only to sticking people... and that's it. Which most of you will never do anyway... if you are lucky. A G/P type blade will serve you far better.

Finally, some of us will need specialty cutting tools like machetes, smatchets or khukris... for specific tasks in rough environments.

Well, I'll have to disagree with most of that.

I spent 10 years in the army, MOS 51B20, Combat engineers. We needed knives on a daily basis as we were a construction outfit. But our supply room kept a nice large amount of TL-29's and ML-K all steel scout knives to hand out. It was all that was needed. When we did our own perimeter security while in a combat zone, we still didn't have any need for what you describe as a 7 1/2 inch clip blade sheath knife. First, there wasn't any spare room on our TA-50 web gear for a large knife. The army already had an issue large pointy thing called a bayonet that went on the end of the issue M16 if something needed to be stabbed. But 99.9% of what we needed a knife for the issue pocket knife was fine. We spent 13 months in Vietnam (39th Combat Engineer battalion) and never needed a sheath knife. As for the Randall 14, I had one just because I was a knife knut and I thought Randall's were IT. This was after my tour and I never carried the thing as it weighted what two extra 20 round mags would be for my rifle. I'll take the extra ammo any day. Ended up selling off the Randall as it was never used because it was just too much to carry around.

Modern day soldiers need a knife, but one for utility and it needs to be compact and light. I made it through my tour carrying a Victorinox huntsman, and it was a fine cutlery companion in a combat zone. Now our niece and a nephew have taken their turn over in Afghanistan, and they both report that the Leatherman multitool they were issued was the most used piece of gear theory had, aside from a small flashlight.

I don't know where the knife magazines get their bull hockey, but the whole 10 years I spent in the service before being medically discharged, I never saw a Randall or any other large sheath knife being carried by field personnel. What was the single most carried knife I saw? The Buck 110 folding hunter. I saw a black pouch on ever swinging Richard that was mobil with two arms and two legs. They were for sale at the PX very cheap compared to prices in civilian stores, and even the chairborne rangers in the office had one on the belt. Today, it's the era of the multitool, and that works well too.