First knife for new Marine

[Sharp Guy]

What ever you decide to get, buy it from KnifeWorks, and have 'em laser engrave "Devil Dog" on the blade. They do a great job, for eight bucks.

Excellent idea!

I'm currently enlisted Navy and would suggest that you do in fact wait until he gets his permanent duty station. I believe it depends on that and what his MOS is. Depending on how much he will be using it. I wouldn't break the bank either way but also think I wouldn't get anything more difficult than s30v to sharpen. Chances are somebody in his unit will know how to sharpen. (remind him to pay attention to how their quality is lol) I've seen some people say they can sharpen knives and absolutely destroy a blade.

Noted thx! At this point the plan is to give the knife to him after boot camp. Still undecided on what to give him. It was suggested in another thread that I don't spend too much and give him something like an Endura or maybe Delica to start since young Marines can be so hard on their equip and there's a good chance he'll lose it.

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Yup. Agree with others. Wait until he's done with Boot Camp. He won't be able to use it in Boot anyway.

I'm going to suggest the Delica Salt for his EDC.

But I think you might want to consider something else here. Consider getting him something from the PX/BX on the Base as his first knife.

And I cannot stress this enough here: get him a beater knife, not a mid tech or high end collectible. You need to get him a real plain jane user. Ignore the PM2 and Military suggestions. He's going to need a knife he can beat the crap out of and replace easily. Also chances are he's going to lose it the first year anyway.

The BX/PX (as far as Marine bases go) usually have a pretty good selection of good quality beater knives.

And if he's Infantry, he's going to want a big knife for his gear, specifically a KA-BAR or an Ontario.

 

[usmcdjb]

I was active duty Marine Corps 1987-1999. No idea the rules on the bases now, but when I was in I carried a folder and bought my own fixed blade. Folder was a Gerber EZ Out, and the fixed blade was a Gerber LMF. The LMF was a considerable expense for me at the time!! I say that so you understand that the EZ Out was chosen because of its price and availability, and the LMF set me back a good bit - as Marines are not the highest paid career.

Now that I'm almost 50 and a little better off financially, I choose to carry a Spyderco Endura. I recently changed to a Chaparral when at work because I think the Endura is a little to imposing in an office environment. Don't want to scare the sheep.

I own other Spydies, but the Endura is the one I choose to carry. Nothing exotic or fancy, not too expensive, substantial enough to do what it needs to do, have the trainer for it and have trained with it, and I don't worry about using it or losing it. I think if I was still on active duty I would be pleased to be carrying one.

Best of luck to your son!! Semper Fi!!

 

[Sharp Guy]

Thanks all! He's going to be here with me over spring break so, along with some time at the range doing some shooting, I think we'll be spending some time discussing knives. Maybe a trip to the knife shop is in order too. I'll likely start him out with a basic Spyderco (Delica/Endura) and if he wants to get something from the PX/BX on his own then that's fine too. I have a Para Military 2 coming that'll have his name on it when the time comes to give it to him later on down the road.

 

[scoutchris]

First off, wait until he graduates. Secondly, as a former Scout/Sniper, go with a Delica. He's not going to learn to fight with knives, nor will he need to, so there's no point in getting a huge one. He needs something lightweight he can cut 550 cord and open MRE's with. He needs something that he won't feel guilty about losing when it gets stolen- and it will get stolen- and you won't flinch about replacing when it does.

Delica all the way. Maybe an Endura.

 

[skwurll]

We never seem to take the most important thing into consideration. Sharpening. If he is not an experienced sharpener, I would stick with a steel easily touched up and include a sharpmaker or double stuff stone with the knife. Perhaps a VG 10 Endura with a sharpening kit.

Not a Marine, but that's good advise IMO jascolli. VG-10 Endura would be good while learning to sharpen and not a major loss if lost. Otherwise PARA2 would be good as well - shouldn't be too much knife size-wise.

 

[Spectre]

I have only ever seen restrictions on folders when the unit is inside a Federal building with a guard force and metal detector, like the joint service agency I was with for about 18 months.

I am a Soldier, not a Marine, but I have worked closely with Marines both in the States and deployed. Good options:

FRN Native
FRN Endura
Manix 2 LW

When I am in uniform as a reservist now, I am usually carrying a Manix 2 XL. That's a lot of knife, definitely, but it would be hard to go wrong with any of these knives.

John Shirley

 

[Sharp Guy]

I have only ever seen restrictions on folders when the unit is inside a Federal building with a guard force and metal detector, like the joint service agency I was with for about 18 months.

I am a Soldier, not a Marine, but I have worked closely with Marines both in the States and deployed. Good options:

FRN Native
FRN Endura
Manix 2 LW

When I am in uniform as a reservist now, I am usually carrying a Manix 2 XL. That's a lot of knife, definitely, but it would be hard to go wrong with any of these knives.

John Shirley

Thank you John! Thank you for your service too!!

My boy will be here in a few weeks. We'll go over some knives together and see what he likes. If he's anything like me he'll probably like several. ;-)

 

[Tdhurl1103]

First off, wait until he graduates. Secondly, as a former Scout/Sniper, go with a Delica. He's not going to learn to fight with knives, nor will he need to, so there's no point in getting a huge one. He needs something lightweight he can cut 550 cord and open MRE's with. He needs something that he won't feel guilty about losing when it gets stolen- and it will get stolen- and you won't flinch about replacing when it does.

Delica all the way. Maybe an Endura.

LOL, I was going to mention the "stolen" part in my post as well, but, unless you have been in the Army or Marines you wouldn't be able to comprehend that Soldiers and Marines steal from each other ALL the time, LOL. I chose "lose it" instead. The manner of loss is subjective at this point though. Also, showing up to Boot with any knife....well, the DI's are gonna confiscate it. Or perhaps, they might take pity and have him store it in his personal bags to be locked away for months, LOL.

My first Spyderco, as a young M60 gunner, was an Endura. It was an awesome gate-way.

 

[Sharp Guy]

LOL, I was going to mention the "stolen" part in my post as well, but, unless you have been in the Army or Marines you wouldn't be able to comprehend that Soldiers and Marines steal from each other ALL the time, LOL. I chose "lose it" instead. The manner of loss is subjective at this point though. Also, showing up to Boot with any knife....well, the DI's are gonna confiscate it. Or perhaps, they might take pity and have him store it in his personal bags to be locked away for months, LOL.

My first Spyderco, as a young M60 gunner, was an Endura. It was an awesome gate-way.

LOL! I knew what you meant when you said "lose it". I was thinking about someone swiping it from the start but that kind of got lost in my desire to give him something special, like a PM2 for instance. For now he's probably going to get a Delica or maybe a Native 5 FRN. Whatever I give him will most likely be purchased on the exchange and when he "loses" it I'll look for another user to send him. I'll save the special knife for a time when I feel he's earned it and I think he's in a position to hang on to it for a while.

I really do appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments. If I didn't start a thread about this I probably would've just gone and given him the PM2 I just bought. However, I'm liking the knife too much to give it up at this point (it really is better than expected). No sense giving it to him and having some kid steal it. He'll get it when it's time and, like I said, he's gonna have to earn it.

 

[Spectre]

Thank you John! Thank you for your service too!!

My boy will be here in a few weeks. We'll go over some knives together and see what he likes. If he's anything like me he'll probably like several. ;-)

After he's out, let me know if he deploys. Bento Box has been allowing customers to buy ARKS to donate to service members, and I tell them who to send them to. Most recent recipient is a forum member's Marine son who's deploying to Iraq.

John

 

[Surfingringo]

After he's out, let me know if he deploys. Bento Box has been allowing customers to buy ARKS to donate to service members, and I tell them who to send them to. Most recent recipient is a forum member's Marine son who's deploying to Iraq.

John

Hi John, what am I missing here? "BBS has been allowing customers to buy ARKS..." ???

 

[Spectre]

Um, not sure. BBS lets customers buy an ARK without a specific recipient, just a deploying service member. BB then contacts me to find out who to send them to. Of course anyone can buy any legal product in these United States to send to anyone they choose.

Help me understand what you don't understand, and I'll find a different way to explain it

 

[Surfingringo]

Um, not sure. BBS lets customers buy an ARK without a specific recipient, just a deploying service member. BB then contacts me to find out who to send them to. Of course anyone can buy any legal product in these United States to send to anyone they choose.

Help me understand what you don't understand, and I'll find a different way to explain it

Ahh, I gotcha. They allow customers to buy a knife as a donation to a deploying service member (not necessarily one they know). I thought you meant they would "allow" me to buy an ARK and give it to my cousin/brother/son/friend...thus my confusion. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Sharp Guy]

Thank you sir! That's very generous of you. I'll keep that in mind and let you know if he deploys.

 

[Spectre]

No problem. That's why I have access to them: generous people just donate them to a deploying Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

 

[Sharp Guy]

No problem. That's why I have access to them: generous people just donate them to a deploying Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine.

Got it! It's very generous of the donors and also very nice of you to make me aware it. Part of me is hoping I don't need to contact you but understand it's possible he'll be deployed. I'll be in touch if that happens.

 

[USMComgIloveSalad]

Marine here, not sure what everyone is going on about not being able to carry a knife on base, as long as it's an American base (read:not in japan) he should be fine carrying a smaller folder, as I've done so every day for the past 5 years. Obviously wait until after boot camp like others have mentioned. I'd suggest a Military or PM2 as a first knife. Lately I've been swapping between my slysz bowie, an SnG, and my lionspy. If you want to get him a knife for the field I'd say go with a fixed blade as they can tend to take a lot of use in a short amount of time, for that I carry a zt 0180.

 

[Sharp Guy]

Marine here, not sure what everyone is going on about not being able to carry a knife on base, as long as it's an American base (read:not in japan) he should be fine carrying a smaller folder, as I've done so every day for the past 5 years. Obviously wait until after boot camp like others have mentioned. I'd suggest a Military or PM2 as a first knife. Lately I've been swapping between my slysz bowie, an SnG, and my lionspy. If you want to get him a knife for the field I'd say go with a fixed blade as they can tend to take a lot of use in a short amount of time, for that I carry a zt 0180.

Excellent info! I appreciate your chiming in. I originally thought PM2 but I don't think I'm going to get him anything too expensive right away. I'll probably go with a Delica or Native 5 LW to start. I want to make sure he's going to be able to hang on to it for awhile before spending too much money.

Great idea on the fixed blade!

 

[legato1]

Marines are notorious for their ability to break supposedly unbreakable gear. Id recommend a fully serrated salt folder or aqua salt fixed blade. Its lightweight, low maintenance, and can handle the stress of edc actives on deployment. Ive heard that common chores include breaking down sand bags, removing staples, opening crates etc, this stuff requires a tough ductile steel and an edge that can take some punishment. Fully serrated H1 is hard to beat when you have to put your knife to the test. I own tons of knives in many steels ranging from budget steels to top tier s90v and s110v type steels, H1 is what i reach for when I need something i know won't fail me. Good luck to your son, and thank him for his service from us here at Bladeforums. The marines are going to forge a good man out of him, he deserves a good blade. What ever you pick, spyderco won't let you down.