Folder for Iraq Duty: How Necessary?

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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I have a friend who's bound for duty in Iraq come February. He's presently undergoing Marine training in a California desert and says the heat is incredible. Anyway, I wondered how much of an asset a folder is in Iraq and am considering giving him a CRKT Desert Cruiser, a rugged sand-yellow flipper with a 4-inch AUS 8A half-serrated blade. Not only will the knife be a great keepsake (if he lives), it makes for a good hand weapon and tool.

Are Marine officers likely to need a folder like this or would it just be excess? What would my friend likely use such a folder for?

Thanks!


OIFDCRUZ.JPG


The CRKT Desert Cruiser also is an Iraqi Freedom commemorative. It's got
a decent grip, a LAWKS safety, and a pointy tip good for stabbing.
 
Everybody needs a good folder, they just don't know it until they start carrying one everyday.

A quality multi tool is also a great gift.

If it is their first knife for the most part I would not spend a lot of money on it.

Yes, I do think that would be a good fit. I have some other personal preferences, but that is merely my opinion. AFAIK, there are many out there that like the CR folders.

God bless the Marine Corps.
 
A knife is a good tool and asset to have. What I end up telling people is you shouldn't just outfit yourself for one theater. Being in the marines he will deploy to many places and varied environments. Part of my bat just got back from thailand a far cry from the desert. A good knife will last him many tours and see lots of different uses. If you're looking for a good gift knife it's hard to beat spyderco, but CRKT and SOG knives are popular with a lot of guys around in uniform. Those CRKT run around 50+? A spyderco endura would be a good gift knife or maybe a sog trident.
 
I carried a folder when I was a soldier, as did many of my fellow soldiers--I don't think that a day went by where I did'nt use it for something.
 
Most guys from here carry a SAK of one form or another. The ones that can afford it carry a SAK and a Lovett fighter. The SAK is the preferrred knife/ tool. When a unit is preparing to deploy, you can't find a SAK anyplace, they are all sold out. Sounds ridiculoous, but if you think about it, the military supplies all they weaponry you are likely to need, but forgets about day to day requirements. Been there, done that.
 
Thanks for the comments. I've already got some Iraq Freedom commemoratives from Columbia River. Having handled one extensively, I'm convinced it will be a good field knife for my friend's purposes. For one thing, if he makes it back, the knife is something he can keep the rest of his life as a reminder of his service. It's also a great "pummal" knife and fits the hand well. The knife's sharp, pointy blade makes penetration less of an issue and, finally, the flipper on this knife is extremely fast. As both a tool and as a weapon it serves well, plus it can be thrown in someone's face closed.

The only other knife he has is a Kershaw Onion with a wavy-shaped blade which is probably not suitable for the type of work he'll do in uniform.

His wife'll probably kill me for getting him another knife, but I think soldiers need a good cutting folder.
 
<< Are Marine officers likely to need a folder like this or would it just be excess? >>

Any soldier (or Marine) needs one every day. Your selection is a thoughtful gift that he'll appreciate.

cf
 
I've looked at the SEK one-handed Trekker and I might get me one of those. Anyone know what type of steel it's made of? Amazon has them for $28 postage paid. I might get my friend one, too, if I like it. He doesn't go until February.

Thinking more about this, it's amazing the military doesn't issue them a folding knife. Even Boy Scouts had knives. Marines don't?

Years ago some handgun mag was really criticizing the military for its ridiculous helmets. They showed an Israeli helmet and a U.S. helmet side by side. The U.S. helmet had a bullet hole in it; the Israeli one had a bit of a scuff mark. Now U.S. helmets are one of the best in the world from what I hear. How much can you get one for surplus?
 
personally, I think that everyone needs a folder. Amzingly useful general tools.
For a soldier? Even more so. For a deployed soldier? The need grows. the number of tasks that are made easier by carrying a folder grows the farther one goes out in the field. The only difference between a deployed soldier and a civilian are the rules that one must follow that limit the choices, and the envrionment that would also be limiting. In the case of (some parts of) Iraq, fine powdery sand would be the consideration. Nobody likes that gritty grinding sound when you open your knife--choose something easily cleaned.
 
I think it depends if you are on the front lines or a REMF. Front line units often limit what you can carry. I have a close relative that was a recon platoon leader in beautiful Baghdad for 18 months. His wife was stationed at the Baghdad airport.

He and his troops all carried and used the M9 knife-bayonet fixed blade. They sharpened and serviced it daily. He said it was effective for opening door, house and car. They were also allowed to carry a small folders of their own desire. He said he would rather carry more ammo than more knives for obvious reasons.

I sent both of them a Microtech MSE-SC automatic. It lasted through sand storms, camel spiders, and all sorts of nasty surprised without fail. It is expensive though. He wanted something that could be easily opened with only one hand ( and either hand) quickly.

http://www.m9bayonet.com/

http://www.1sks.com/store/microtech-mini-socom-elite-automatic-seatbelt-cutter.html
 
I think that a lot of civilians fail to realize that life in the military is a bit more mundane than you might imagine. Of course your MOS, rate, speciality, etc. (your job), as in the real world helps to determine what your daily tasks may consist of. Needless to say, front line combat troops, special forces, bomb disposal units, etc., most likely have a more stressful day than the average joe in uniform and probably place higher demands on the knives and tools they use. Not everybody in the military falls into these categories though, and more often than not, most people in the military have a more normal kind of job.

My advice for anybody entering the military and looking for a good knife or for somebody sending a knife to a friend/loved one in the military is as follows - forget the big, scary, Braveheart sword kind of knife. Also, just because the individual is in the military doesn't mean that he/she needs or could necessarily legally carry a switchblade. It would be a real shame to send a nice $200 auto to your buddy just to see it get confiscated (or stolen - lots of thieves in uniform unfortunately). Rather than a biggest and badest kind of attitude, look for something that is really useful. Swiss Army knives for instance are terrific for EDC. They are small enough to drop in a pocket of any uniform and not only have great cutting blades, offer can openers (great for food packages from home), scissors, small screwdrivers, etc. Also, a quality multi-tool is a must-have item anymore. I spent 5 years on active duty in the Navy working on helicopters and 3 years in the Army Reserves. A SAK and a multi-tool took care of my needs day in and day out. As a side note, there is often a lot of down time (standing long watches, stuck in the barracks, etc) and having a neat little Swiss Army knife or Leatherman to play with sure helps to pass the time!
 
How can you pass time with a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman?

Oh, well. Anyway, so many people are recommending them, I may get my friend the Trekker after all.
 
Confederate said:
How can you pass time with a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman?

Oh, well. Anyway, so many people are recommending them, I may get my friend the Trekker after all.
Click to expand...

Trust me, I suffered through many a long late watch by fiddling with my knife or multi-tool. I suppose the same would be true for about any knife for that matter, because trust me, time seems to just stand still after working for 10-12 hours then standing an 8 hour watch.
 
He and his troops all carried and used the M9 knife-bayonet fixed blade.
Click to expand...

I don't know marine rules, but that type of stuff is battalion dependent when it comes to scouts. Our scouts could carry chainsaws and as long as they were desert tan I doubt anyone would say anything.
 
Confederate said:
How can you pass time with a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman?
Click to expand...
I don't know, but I do.

I am not in the military, but I can tell you that I don't play videogames or watch movies anymore because my new hobby is just fiddling with my knives. I just look at them, open and close them, whatever.
 
Confederate -
First let me say that I think it's extremely thoughtful of you to want to send your buddy a knife. There's nothing like a little bit of home in your pocket to help you pull through some nasty experiences. As far as my previous recommendations go, I suggested a SAK and/or multi-tool based on my personal experiences. I was never in the middle of a battle field with bullets flying over my head, so my tastes may differ from somebody who is. All that being said, imagine if you were to choose a knife to give your friend even if he wasn't going overseas and was to edc that knife here at home. I would dare say that his day to day cutting needs would be covered with that same knife just fine. I'm sure that no matter what knife you choose, your friend will be very appreciative and feel a little closer to home with that knife in his pocket.
 
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