• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Fighting and utility knives

C

Combativ

Joined
Dec 29, 2013
Messages
26
Hi. I’m a military (Army) and I m looking for a utility and fighting knife under 400$ with these specifications: 6 to 9 inches fixed blade, premium steel or metalurgical powder (CPM S30V, 3V, D2, etc.), full tang, drop/spear point.
Could you please, from your field experience, recommend me one very good knife (below mentioned or others)?

1. Mil-Tac CS1: 6,75 S30V blade - 215$
2. Cold Steel OSS: 8,5 San Mai III blade - 115$
3. Viper Fate: 7 D2 blade – 160$
4. Hogue Large Tactical Fixed Blade - 7 A2 blade - 170$
5. DUSTAR Arad Combat Knife - 7" D2 Carbon Blade - 200$

What about Busse Team Gemini Light Brigade: 7.75 infi blade - 387$? Is it Infi steel proprieties comparable with S30V or D2?
Thanks for your consideration.
 
Well, from what I hear from the people around here who have served, there isn't a lot of knife fighting going on these days, and so they seem tofocus on utility. And what they seem to feel is most useful is a good multitool. It seems that the folks toting around big, fancy tactical fixed blades, may be viewed, by some, as silly.

That's the impression I get after hanging around here for quite a while.
 
What's your MOS? Reason I ask is to get a better idea of what your going to be doing with the knife, If you haft to have a fixed blade I would go with the Zt 0100, but a few more questions, are you deployed now? If so what are your means of sharpening? Again your MOS is going to have a lot to do with the type of knife you may or may not need. Personally I never had a need for a fixed blade , I carried a emerson Cqc-7 my whole time in, and If I ever needed my knife for anything other than utility you better believe we were in a bad bad situation.
 
Last edited:
I've sent quite a few knives to servicemen when my business was booming.
Kabar, ESEE, Becker and SOG were all well received.
In reality, any of the above are under or around $100 and combined with a quality multi-tool and folder are a better option.
IF I had to spend a lot, I'd look at some of the Knife-Smiths that post here and have one of them make me exactly what I wanted.
 
Combativ said:
Hi. I’m a military (Army) and I m looking for a utility and fighting knife under 400$ with these specifications: 6 to 9 inches fixed blade, premium steel or metalurgical powder (CPM S30V, 3V, D2, etc.), full tang, drop/spear point.
Could you please, from your field experience, recommend me one very good knife (below mentioned or others)?

1. Mil-Tac CS1: 6,75 S30V blade - 215$
2. Cold Steel OSS: 8,5 San Mai III blade - 115$
3. Viper Fate: 7 D2 blade – 160$
4. Hogue Large Tactical Fixed Blade - 7 A2 blade - 170$
5. DUSTAR Arad Combat Knife - 7" D2 Carbon Blade - 200$

What about Busse Team Gemini Light Brigade: 7.75 infi blade - 387$? Is it Infi steel proprieties comparable with S30V or D2?
Thanks for your consideration.
Click to expand...

The first thing I'd like to tell you is to go to a physical shop and try and see as many of those as you can. Try to forget their prices to focus on how do you really like it (or dislike it). Also, almost any military knife will be useful, but if you want top notch i can understand.

Ok now, from that list the DUSTAR Arad looks better IMO, but I would also suggest the following:

Blackjack Model 14 Halo Attack : 7 1/2 inch blade / 6mm thick / Micarta handles / 2 handles to choose from / Wicked point / you can find it for about 200$ + or -. Nevermind the Randall (Model 14) , actually, I consider the Blackjack as an improvement (since the micarta is not only glued but screwed into place. Also , it is a gorgeous gorgeous knife. You must check it out.

Chris Reeve Green Beret : 7 inch blade / IDK the rest. Not used it but tried it in hand. I'm skeptical about this one. Very pricey (about 300$ range) and 55-57 in the Rockwell scale. I know I'm being picky but If I had to depend on a knife like you seem to have I'd like a harder one ( Especially if it has sawteeth, which you cannot sharpen ).

Also, beware of thick coated blades. I know you loose those reflections but they slide in slower and IDK if they will light up a firesteel.

The Busse is also gorgeous but again, watch out for that coating. Also the grips are hideous.

Another thing I would consider is the grind of the edge. A convex edge, even with all of its flaws, might be better for what you want, as it is easier to sharpen.

As a note I'd like to ad that CDS knives makes a gemini clone wich is not coated ( and is also cheaper and I guess has a worse steel too, but just so you know)

All in all If I were you I'd focus on knives like the Arad or the Model 14. Dont get the "tacticool" get up to your head much.
 
Last edited:
DPC said:
Also, beware of thick coated blades. I know you loose those reflections but they slide in slower and IDK if they will light up a firesteel.
.
Click to expand...

Slide into what slower?!? Are you saying during the heat of a knife fight, the drag from the coating of a knife is going to make penetration more difficult? :confused:
 
marcinek said:
Slide into what slower?!? Are you saying during the heat of a knife fight, the drag from the coating of a knife is going to make penetration more difficult? :confused:
Click to expand...

Yes, that seems to be what the person is saying. :foot:
 
INFI would be considered superior to the steels you mentioned by most around here. If your willing to spend the money (and the wait) go with the TGLB.
 
stabman said:
Yes, that seems to be what the person is saying. :foot:
Click to expand...

I have no doubt that the men and women who serve are fit enough to where overcoming the drag caused by a coating is not an issue. Particularly the ones who might get into a knife fight. :D
 
marcinek said:
I have no doubt that the men and women who serve are fit enough to where overcoming the drag caused by a coating is not an issue. Particularly the ones who might get into a knife fight. :D
Click to expand...

Well when I was in we were so 'High speed, low drag' we would remove the parkerizing from our M7's so they would slide in smoother. :rolleyes: ;)
 
marcinek said:
I have no doubt that the men and women who serve are fit enough to where overcoming the drag caused by a coating is not an issue. Particularly the ones who might get into a knife fight. :D
Click to expand...

I think you are likely correct.
Luckily, most military personnel won't have to use their knives for anything more daunting than the rest of us, and the (unlucky) ones who do will be so full of adrenaline they could stab the enemy with blunt rebar.
 
marcinek said:
Slide into what slower?!? Are you saying during the heat of a knife fight, the drag from the coating of a knife is going to make penetration more difficult? :confused:
Click to expand...

Oh, you didn't know it's common place to have knife fights to the death, you know the drill tie the 2 peoples wrist together and say go, :rolleyes:, When I was in combat we had , dang what are those things called again..............rifles yea rifles, like I said in my first post if your in a combat situation and your down to a knife , you're in a very bad situation.
 
DPC, you give me a very exact and profesional ansswer for my need.
Good price for an intersting knife, this Blackjack Halo Attack Model 14 Knife.
I dislike Green Berett 7 knife becouse it is serrated and is it buid from s35vn which is not tough enough for my bussines.
And I dont like coated blade, this is for me like a painted blade for avoidin rusting.
 
Last edited:
Dear Allen, as military I have to prepare myself for the worst and hope for the best. I d like to use the knife for normal activity but be ready for a ferocies fight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top