Do soldiers really get knives "issued" to them?

I think a more interesting question is: As a soldier are you allowed to carry a decently sized fixed blade of your choosing.
 
In the Canadian Army, we used to have as standard issue the C5 (a twin bladed folder of no great quality). Then they phased that out and replaced it with a Gerber multi-tool. That is the only standard issue "knife" I am aware of. We all bought our own, and every guy was different. But if there was anything "universal" about our individual selections, it was that - to my recollection - most guys carried a boot knife and more often than not a Ka-Bar. Nothing fancy...
 
My unit has Ontario bayonets in our armory, but they don't get issued out unless it's for training or if we got deployed. They get treated as a government issued weapon, and are signed out and accounted for when issued out, then turned back in once they're not being used.

As for carrying personal knives and multitools, yes, we're allowed to. Some of our Marines caught flak for thinking they'd be cool and hardcore by carrying around a machete during a few FEXs, even though they knew they wouldn't have a need for any of them. Most others choose a fixed or folding blade between 3-5" just for general purpose stuff, mostly cutting 550 cord, clearing some light brush, cutting open MREs, and possibly prying open crates. Multitools are pretty popular since we have a large section of Comms Marines, so they tend to use those a lot more than anything else. Some of the guys in Crash Fire Rescue have rescue tools that they personally own as part of their kit, and I know that the Corpsmen have rescue cutters as well as their own choice of knives that they personally own as well. A few of the MPs went with more tactical and combat oriented designs since they're supposed to be our ground defense force, but most of the designs were more for basic utility tasks.

Currently I'm saving up for a utility/"field" knife that's similar in design to a Hinderer Flashpoint since it'd suit my needs for both EDC and as part of my kit. If I need something more substantial or if I'm going to deploy, I'll likely pick something up, but I've honestly only had to do the more mundane tasks with my current knife, and pry open a few ammo crates at most, then got told by a couple staff NCOs to take a step back and let the enlistedmen handle it.
 
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When I was deployed to Iraq, yes. I was issued a gerber multi-tool, a Kershaw folder and a benchmade folder. Also a bayonet. But I was Infantry, I doubt if any non-combat arms guys get any of it. Infantry gets a lot of extra stuff though. Obviously the gerber multi-tool was very appropriate, given we don't run around with a tool box. It also depends on your unit too.
 
A good friend of mine is a marine was deployed twice to Iraq and he was issued a Gerber 06 auto. My brother also a marine was not issued anything. I bought him a CRKT M16sf desert before he went to the Helmand because it was the knife he liked. He broke it in a week lol.
 
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My wife is in a non-combat MOS and was issued a Gerber multi-tool at deployment.
 
yea, but your wife was probably in a position where she needed one. I kind of worded it wrong.
Gerber multi-tool is useful to pretty much anybody deployed. I Meant that non-combat people probably don't get combat related blades. Even though some people aren't a combat mos, they unfortunately become one of the enemies favorite targets.
 
You can carry pretty much what you want. As long as it's small enough to fit appropriately on your kit. Also needs to be a military style item, not some weird elf/zombie fantasy weapon.
As a grunt you usually want a reliable fixed blade and multi tool. But you can also carry a collapsible baton and a tomahawk. But I've also had to lug around a halligan. Also have in mind, you want as many magazine pouches possible, so it kind of limits space. Ammo always takes priority. I managed to secure my k-bar behind my ammo pouches and my multi-tool secured to my belt.
 
TrueBlue11c said:
needs to be a military style item, not some weird elf/zombie fantasy weapon.
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AlienFantasyAxe.jpg


Damnit.....ah well :D
 
Netshadex if everybody carried that crazy looking ax, I think the Taliban would think we are pretty twisted. Would definitely be funny as hell going on patrol with it. the looks you'd get, would be well worth it and priceless.:thumbup: you got my vote
 
TrueBlue11c said:
You can carry pretty much what you want. As long as it's small enough to fit appropriately on your kit. Also needs to be a military style item, not some weird elf/zombie fantasy weapon.
As a grunt you usually want a reliable fixed blade and multi tool. But you can also carry a collapsible baton and a tomahawk. But I've also had to lug around a halligan. Also have in mind, you want as many magazine pouches possible, so it kind of limits space. Ammo always takes priority. I managed to secure my k-bar behind my ammo pouches and my multi-tool secured to my belt.
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One of our MPs had a halligan tool and an oversized breaching ax on his last deployment, had the photos to prove it too. Huge Marine too, linebacker type, with a breaching ax strapped to the side of his pack. He said it brought good luck since they took the least fire from anyone his platoon was with.
 
so if im getting this right you can take in a knife that you own. For example, i own the kabar d 2 fighting fixed blade, so i could use that if i joined the service
 
Brother in Law was issued a Benchmade Nimravus and a Presidio Auto.

The Presidio is beat to all hell but works perfect. The Nimravus is untouched to this day.
 
Served during the Clinton era and we got issued very little do to budget constraints. I do recall a very few NCOs getting some very basic Leatherman tools. Otherwise we just carried our personally owned knives. Hated signing out a bayonet as it almost always meant we got stuck doing some sort of parade foolishness.
 
Ahk said:
so if im getting this right you can take in a knife that you own. For example, i own the kabar d 2 fighting fixed blade, so i could use that if i joined the service
Click to expand...

It's heavily up to the CO's discretion, but more than likely yes. My previous CO didn't care what knife you had as long as it served a purpose and was non reflective. My current CO has the same policy. Most of the Staff NCOs and NCOs don't care what you have as long as it makes sense. Anyone who does care what our Marines are carrying on them are just making sure it's authorized and that it isn't excess weight.
 
The funniest thing one of our guys had to carry, was an assault ladder. Its a collapsible ladder with shoulder straps and it was heavy as hell. Pretty much each of us had some sort of breaching tool. But that damn ladder was like 40lbs, plus you have to wear the rest of your gear. We hardly ever used the dumb thing, but the poor guy had to lug the damn thing. Also hadji and Taliban respect bladed weapons, I guess they don't like the idea of getting stabbed, they'd rather get shot and take the express train to hell. Even our chaplain carried a machete strapped to his leg, since chaplains don't get issued a weapon. I asked him why he had a machete and he said if we ever get overrun, he'd use it on hadji for self defense. Thought that was pretty laughable.
 
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