First post and a ?

B

Balog

Joined
Oct 11, 2003
Messages
30
Hello all, this is my first post on these forums. If anyone here also posts on the High Road you might know I recently got back from boot camp. I'll be heading to the School of Infantry in early Jan, and I'll probably be deployed soon after.
I've always tried to plan for the future, and one aspect of my deployment I've been considering lately is what type of knife to carry. My interests have always been 90% guns 10% knives, so I decided to do a little research. So far it seems that Busse Combat would offer everything I want in a fixed blade knife, if the test results about the INFI steel are correct (which I believe they are). This presents me with two problems.

First is that they are freakin' expensive. I'm an E-2 and God willing I'll pick up E-3 before too long, but I still don't make that much. I've gotta worry about paying off my student loans and saving up to replace our 230K+ mi car before getting a really pimping knife. I might be able to set up some kind of payment plan, but SoI is only 8 weeks and I'd hate to get deployed with it half paid off.
Second is choosing a grip. That's the worst part about mail order; you can't try out the products to see which fit you best. They offer a wide variety of handle designs, and I'd hate to spend all that money only to discover another design fit me a lot better.

So what say you, knoble knife knuts? I was taught that good tools were worth the expense, but I was also taught that a Honda will get you from point A to point B just as well as a Lamborghini. Should I go for it and lay out for a Busse, or should I start looking into lower-priced but still good knives like Swamp Rats etc? Many thanks for any replies. I must say my interests have shifted since I began my research, and I'm prolly around 60% 40% now. :) I hope to spend more time on this fine forum in the future. Nice to meet ya'll. :D
 
Wait till you get assigned before you choose a blade... Your CO may have certain rules...

buy from the PX... they will usually have something good... and always at a better price than anywhere else. If they have a Cold Steel SRK, that's usually there at a very good price and very serviceable.

Save as much money as you can, cause on a E3's pay, you ain't got a lot to work with. There's much more gear you need when you head out to the sandbox.
 
Hmmm, good point re CO's limitations. I don't think most infantry units are overly burdened with regs about what kind of blade you deploy with, but you never know I suppose.
 
Balog, welcome to Bladeforums, and thanks for your service. :)

Unless you are going over there in some real special capacity, you will not need a big knife, it will get in your way more than help, it will weigh you down and be clumsy to use, even if your CO allows it.

What you need is a multitool. We've got a whole sub-forum to discuss them: Multi-tools & Multi-purpose Knives. You may even want a folder, also, because the knife blades on most multitools aren't the best.

Don't spend a lot of money on any of them. Quality costs, but you don't need the fanciest knives, only good working grade users. reasonable quality doesn't cost all that much.

There are many recent discussions right here in the Blade Discussion Forum about knives for servicemen in combat zones. Browse a few for ideas, and you'll find an incredible number of approximately similar knives suggested.

Come back safe and tell us if our advice was any good. :D
 
If you do decide that you want to go with Busse, email them. I had 48 hours notice before I deployed with DHS/FEMA, and they were able to put me in contact with a representative in my area, who had the knife I wanted and even met me halfway to get it to me. Maybe you could test out the grips that way. .
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Balog, welcome to Bladeforums, and thanks for your service. :)
Click to expand...
Glad to be here. :)

Esav Benyamin said:
Unless you are going over there in some real special capacity, you will not need a big knife, it will get in your way more than help, it will weigh you down and be clumsy to use, even if your CO allows it.
Click to expand...
I was looking at something in the 6 1/2 to 7 inch range. Not a gigantic fighter, but a bit larger than the standard folder.

Esav Benyamin said:
What you need is a multitool. We've got a whole sub-forum to discuss them: Multi-tools & Multi-purpose Knives. You may even want a folder, also, because the knife blades on most multitools aren't the best.
Click to expand...

I'd been planning on a BM AFCK in D2, and whatever quality multi-tool fit my hands best.

Esav Benyamin said:
Don't spend a lot of money on any of them. Quality costs, but you don't need the fanciest knives, only good working grade users. reasonable quality doesn't cost all that much.
Click to expand...

Very true I suppose. I've had some bad experiences with cheaper knives/tools, but quality doesn't necessarily require the very best.

Esav Benyamin said:
There are many recent discussions right here in the Blade Discussion Forum about knives for servicemen in combat zones. Browse a few for ideas, and you'll find an incredible number of approximately similar knives suggested.
Click to expand...

Well, I've been trying. ;) The Search function hasn't been working on this site for some reason. Could be a conflict with my version of Mozilla, but it works on all the other vBulletin boards I browse.

Esav Benyamin said:
Come back safe and tell us if our advice was any good. :D
Click to expand...

I can hardly wait. Talk about field testing! ;)
 
Checking through recent discussions to find information that might help you, I found that we have been discussing A LOT lately, pages and pages to hunt through! :D

Here's some:

Most popular carry blades for deployed troops
Who do think makes the best combat knives?
S.Rat vs Tops vs ? best steel? combat knife
Knife I'm going to bring to Iraq

I'll make a couple of suggestions, based on known solid performance and reasonable price. Both of these are high-carbon steel, not stainless, but both are coated to reduce the chance of corrosion: the Becker Knife & Tool Combat / Utility Knife for a big hand, or the Cold Steel SRK for a smaller hand.

If you can pick out a simple sharpener and learn to use it, you will get a lot more out of any knife.
 
Balog, for a multi-tool, I recommend the newer model Wave, or Charge. The action, ease of opening, blade shape/materials, is good enought to let it be a stand alone knife. As long as you're a righty.

About the 806-D2, Have you handled this knife yet? I have heard that the handle is a bit big and somewhat uncomfortable (depends on size of hand though).
 
I've been a multi-tool user for years and although the Charge is a great tool I would worry about losing those reversible bits. Something like the LM Blast is simple, serviceable and cheaper and will allow you to pick up decent knife (which would probably have a more useful blade) and still keep the cost down. My .02 cents worth.
 
So what say you, knoble knife knuts? I was taught that good tools were worth the expense, but I was also taught that a Honda will get you from point A to point B just as well as a Lamborghini.

Exactly
Chances are your not going to be using it for "covert deanimation"
For my 2pence worth (0.09 of a Euro shortly I'm sure) A good multi tool or a SAK is a must.
Do you realy want/need a fixed blade?
Swamp rat seem a fine product, I can't imagine breaking one but be diferent. I'd love to hear how you got on with the deal wraped as a bargain that is Mora. You may laugh but it does everything you need.
Personaly I'd just buy a nice big beater of a folder, Cold Steel or whatever.
What ever you decide on- take care
All the best and merry Christmas
Tim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top