- Joined
- Apr 1, 2007
- Messages
- 101
Some here will know of where I'm coming from. Some will not. Stay with me, please.
A few makers here, have donated knives for the troops. So have I. It's the main reason I don't offer many for sale anymore.
However, the ones that do donate, may want my take on WHY it's important, and to whom they should go:
It was 1970, and I was headed to Viet Nam. I was a helicopter pilot. I had never heard of Bo Randall, nor his knifes. I brought along a 3 blade folder, a Uncle Henry, if memory serves. I had long been into knives for work and knew how to get an edge with the stones available. I sharpened many, for many that needed it done, and they didn't have a clue.
I got shot down twice on my tour. The first time was near the DMZ, Firebase Fuller. We took an RPG into the fuselage. (it was a CH-47 Chinook).
We hit hard, but with the help of some slicks nearby (Hueys, no guns), we got picked up within the hour.
The last time was in Laos, march of 71. It was an operation to stem the tide of materials on the Ho Chi Min trail. (you can read about it in the book "Into Laos" used, on Amazon, probably).
Anyway, this time I didn't get picked up right away and had to scramble. The crew was scattered, most dead. I attempted to break through the plexiglas to get at the codebook and weapons, but my little Uncle Henry wouldn't do. I left it behind. I had my .38 and sheath knife I picked up in Hawaii on R and R.
This one was a Schrade, I think. (heavy as hell). The Army didn't issue decent knives. I don't know how it's done now.
Anyway, to get to the point, most troops need a knife in crisis. Not to hack their way out, or survive in the wild. They need to break a window, cut a rope, make do with what they have. If it takes longer than a day to get rescued, they probably won't be.
The knife to be donated should be light enough so they don't leave it at base camp. It should be about 4-5" blade length. Kydex is good now, most will adapt it to their gear. A hollow grind, a flat gind, even a convex is ok. Most won't know how to sharpen it. Anything that flashes is not good. A coating is preferable. I use a bluing solution.
Now, to whom: People on their own. Pilots, snipers, recon, Rangers especially, and those doing dull duty as drivers. (it ain't dull when an IED goes off).
Most Air Force (in MY experience) don't do this kind of stuff. Army and Marines, do. My group is covered, so I'm not soliciting anything.
If you want to do good here, then just do a little research, and adopt a unit. Just remember to ask what they are doing before you send, ok?
A few makers here, have donated knives for the troops. So have I. It's the main reason I don't offer many for sale anymore.
However, the ones that do donate, may want my take on WHY it's important, and to whom they should go:
It was 1970, and I was headed to Viet Nam. I was a helicopter pilot. I had never heard of Bo Randall, nor his knifes. I brought along a 3 blade folder, a Uncle Henry, if memory serves. I had long been into knives for work and knew how to get an edge with the stones available. I sharpened many, for many that needed it done, and they didn't have a clue.
I got shot down twice on my tour. The first time was near the DMZ, Firebase Fuller. We took an RPG into the fuselage. (it was a CH-47 Chinook).
We hit hard, but with the help of some slicks nearby (Hueys, no guns), we got picked up within the hour.
The last time was in Laos, march of 71. It was an operation to stem the tide of materials on the Ho Chi Min trail. (you can read about it in the book "Into Laos" used, on Amazon, probably).
Anyway, this time I didn't get picked up right away and had to scramble. The crew was scattered, most dead. I attempted to break through the plexiglas to get at the codebook and weapons, but my little Uncle Henry wouldn't do. I left it behind. I had my .38 and sheath knife I picked up in Hawaii on R and R.
This one was a Schrade, I think. (heavy as hell). The Army didn't issue decent knives. I don't know how it's done now.
Anyway, to get to the point, most troops need a knife in crisis. Not to hack their way out, or survive in the wild. They need to break a window, cut a rope, make do with what they have. If it takes longer than a day to get rescued, they probably won't be.
The knife to be donated should be light enough so they don't leave it at base camp. It should be about 4-5" blade length. Kydex is good now, most will adapt it to their gear. A hollow grind, a flat gind, even a convex is ok. Most won't know how to sharpen it. Anything that flashes is not good. A coating is preferable. I use a bluing solution.
Now, to whom: People on their own. Pilots, snipers, recon, Rangers especially, and those doing dull duty as drivers. (it ain't dull when an IED goes off).
Most Air Force (in MY experience) don't do this kind of stuff. Army and Marines, do. My group is covered, so I'm not soliciting anything.
If you want to do good here, then just do a little research, and adopt a unit. Just remember to ask what they are doing before you send, ok?
