Fixed blade recommendation for spec ops

^^^ That's a good looking knife! :thumbup: The Busse HellRazor keeps striking me as bada** as well...
 
afd11 said:
Hi guys,

I have been looking through this forum for some time now and finally decided I would just create an account. After a few days using the search function to narrow my search I have hit a wall, hence the thread.

I am currently looking for a knife for a friend of mine who is deploying with a spec ops/delta/sof/snake eater type unit and on his previous deployment he mentioned that he broke his blade. As a gift for his wedding I am buying him a new one but am not exactly a knife expert.

What we aren't looking for are folders and multis as he is coming down with those. He needs a high quality knife that will not only serve as a CQC weapon but also utility tasks, such as digging, opening ammo crates etc.

After much deliberation and research (and his input of course) I have come up with a few points that should help narrow the search.

1. $500 budget
2. 6-7" blade length
3. convex or scandi grind
4. 0.25" thick (or greater)
5. Full tang
6. Slight recurve
7. secure sheath, easy draw

As I said above, not looking for folders or multis, and as I have seen numerous times on this forum comments about how it will spend most of the time on his belt or it will be stolen are not helpful. There are no unit restrictions, other than the obvious bright colours and crazy designs etc.

Sorry about the long post and all the parameters but when your friends life might depend on a knife at some point then you have to be specific.

Thanks in advance.
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You mean something like this?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Battle-Grade-Tan-Canvas-Tanker-Grey-Brand-Ne


Just needs a sheath and it's not hard to find a kydex bender who could make a solid sheath in a week or two.
 
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Randall if you want a classic. If he is breaking quality blades it many not matter what he takes.

Please do NOT get him a strider. His buds may well throw him and the knife in a ditch when they find out about strider and his stolen valor stunts.
 
He "mentioned he broke his blade"... Did he say how? Perhaps he doesn't need a blade, he needs a prybar.

Green Beret buddy has carried a Benchmade AFO through many deployments. Owns the Reeve Yarborough, but doesn't carry it.

I never carried a fixed blade when I was in the military. Carried many folders. I see multi-tools today and I wish I'd had one when I was in.

To each his own, though. There's a butt-load of selections in your price range.
 
bodog said:
You mean something like this?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Battle-Grade-Tan-Canvas-Tanker-Grey-Brand-Ne


Just needs a sheath and it's not hard to find a kydex bender who could make a solid sheath in a week or two.
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I'll add this. If you need a custom sheath built, I'll do it for free to help our men in uniform. All of my sheaths are tek lok and MOLLE compatible so he won't have any issues attaching it to his gear. I have a dozen or so sheaths in the hands of our troops now and a couple as far away as the USS Steatham in Japan. My son is a Military Enforcement Officer in the USCG on the USS Valiant currently doing drug interdictions in the Pacific. He uses my sheaths on his gear exclusively. I'd be honored to help out if needed. Here's one of his rigs. I took a Spyderco Enuff in H1 with yellow handles and switched the black handles out from the VG10 version so it would pass inspection from the chief. I then built the custom kydex rig and attached it to his Safariland duty holster. Rather than use eyelets, I used black oxide stainless and black brass Chicago screws so he can disassemble the sheath and clean it out if needed.
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Hale Storm said:
I'll add this. If you need a custom sheath built, I'll do it for free to help our men in uniform. All of my sheaths are tek lok and MOLLE compatible so he won't have any issues attaching it to his gear. I have a dozen or so sheaths in the hands of our troops now and a couple as far away as the USS Steatham in Japan. My son is a Military Enforcement Officer in the USCG on the USS Valiant currently doing drug interdictions in the Pacific. He uses my sheaths on his gear exclusively. I'd be honored to help out if needed. Here's one of his rigs. I took a Spyderco Enuff in H1 with yellow handles and switched the black handles out from the VG10 version so it would pass inspection from the chief. I then built the custom kydex rig and attached it to his Safariland duty holster. Rather than use eyelets, I used black oxide stainless and black brass Chicago screws so he can disassemble the sheath and clean it out if needed.
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:thumbup:
 
Hale Storm said:
I'll add this. If you need a custom sheath built, I'll do it for free to help our men in uniform. All of my sheaths are tek lok and MOLLE compatible so he won't have any issues attaching it to his gear. I have a dozen or so sheaths in the hands of our troops now and a couple as far away as the USS Steatham in Japan. My son is a Military Enforcement Officer in the USCG on the USS Valiant currently doing drug interdictions in the Pacific. He uses my sheaths on his gear exclusively. I'd be honored to help out if needed. Here's one of his rigs. I took a Spyderco Enuff in H1 with yellow handles and switched the black handles out from the VG10 version so it would pass inspection from the chief. I then built the custom kydex rig and attached it to his Safariland duty holster. Rather than use eyelets, I used black oxide stainless and black brass Chicago screws so he can disassemble the sheath and clean it out if needed.
2a7hrf8.jpg
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Nice to hear from another Coast Guard family! Down in the Pacific not long ago and got a semi-submersible drug sub loaded with coke...my knife, any knife, could have cut through the hull on that thing!


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Honestly...when I was in Iraq in 2003 in Umm Qasr with US, British and Australian units I didn't see guys carrying $500 knives or any personal expensive gear...they were afraid of losing it or it being "borrowed". I carried a Ontario RAT. Good quality, dependable and not that expensive so if I lost it I would be very upset. But if that's what he wants, good luck in your search.


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I have a drill press and a sawzall. I'll cut a crowbar in half and skeletonize it so its lightweight for him. Jk. Get him a a busse I hear good about


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Hale Storm said:
I'll add this. If you need a custom sheath built, I'll do it for free to help our men in uniform. All of my sheaths are tek lok and MOLLE compatible so he won't have any issues attaching it to his gear. I have a dozen or so sheaths in the hands of our troops now and a couple as far away as the USS Steatham in Japan. My son is a Military Enforcement Officer in the USCG on the USS Valiant currently doing drug interdictions in the Pacific. He uses my sheaths on his gear exclusively. I'd be honored to help out if needed. Here's one of his rigs. I took a Spyderco Enuff in H1 with yellow handles and switched the black handles out from the VG10 version so it would pass inspection from the chief. I then built the custom kydex rig and attached it to his Safariland duty holster. Rather than use eyelets, I used black oxide stainless and black brass Chicago screws so he can disassemble the sheath and clean it out if needed.
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That's incredibly generous of you, thank you for the offer. I might just call on your expertise
 
What about a Blackjack? They look a lot like Randall's and for about 1/4 the price. Plus, no waiting list. I have the model 4 and it's an outstanding little fixed blade.
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afd11 said:
Bit of both really, as I don't know enough about knife steels I figured it was the best way to express the durability in layman's terms. Can anyone shed light on the best steel?
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Best steel is a minefield. They're all compromises one way or another. My personal favorite is CPM3V, which is less of a compromise. By that I mean it is damn tough, has excellent edge retention and has a bit of rust resistance.

Several of the custom makers who are members of this forum do some excellent work with it. It's worth looking at the custom fixed blades area of the Exchange. Member Nathan The Machinist's work is particularly noteworthy as he has developed a specialised heat treatment which really brings out the best in that steel.

It is important to realise that no knife is unbreakable though.
 
Perhaps consider the SwampRat RatManDu as previously mentioned. It's 3/16" thick and when ounces begin to equal pounds--it has a greater appeal than a knife a bit thicker and inch or two longer.

It's not a recurve and you'll have to sheath it but they are fairly plentiful and come in way under your budget...a good thing considering it's expendable in some situations.

They are fun to play with too...


 
OP - Your buddy's request really isn't all that unusual for a special forces operator....doesn't necessarily mean it's logical, but not unusual. While it isn't common for an infantryman to carry such a knife, it certainly isn't uncommon for a teams guy to...they often reach out to custom makers or grab a higher-end production fixed...or they're just issued one. I'd go custom personally as you can describe the exact knife wanted & likely pay less for it than the two production's I'd recommend; namely a fitting Busse (as others have posted) or the 5150 by FirstEdge - they've done work directly for the Navy SEALs, 6" Elmax blade - one of the toughest/bestest stainless steels out there. The scales are black G10 - a nice material choice for a hard use military knife...the blade, although stainless, is also blacked out for obvious reasons (come on, how can a SF warrior carry anything but a tacticool blacked out knife??) You can watch a bunch of Youtube vids on it, it's a newer knife for about $270. Best of luck brother, & like some have said throughout this thread - you're a good friend for doing this for your buddy/a serviceman.
 
TOPS Steel Eagle $160
TOPS Knives Screaming Eagle $180
Hogue EX-F01 $212
Treeman Knives Phalanx (tanto no recurve) $430
 
Some options confuse me a bit.
1) Convex or Scandi.
Scandi is a very, very weak edge. Excellent for cutting but it'll chip easy. Convex edges are nice, but is a bear to sharpen for those who aren't knife-savvy.
2)0.25 or thicker is a very thick and heavy knife.
3) The uses are a bit...strange. I'm not sure why he would be digging with his knife.
Personally, I'd look into a Winkler Striker or Belt knife in micarta or rubber. Wouldn't hurt to get him a mini pry bar also.
 
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