Good knife for a soldier?

Good old Ka-Bar is a good choice. Becker companion, Gerber LMF II, Benchmade nimveris, Cold Steel SRK............

Im all honesty the wave will see more use than anything, but the other may come in handy for other things occasionally. The chances of him using it for combat are small.
 
a nice (but perhaps to many not quite the greatest choice) but practical knife gift for a soldier, would have to be any Swiss-made folder with a locking main blade feature.
 
My picks would be a Spyderco Endura and a older alox scaled Soldier SAK.

Keep it light. Believe me, he will appreciate it.

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
 
IMHO:

Folder: Spyderco Military (sprint run with carbon fiber handle, BG-42 steel blade), or Benchmade Rift 950-1

Fixed: Fehrman Peace Maker, or J. Horrigan Fighter Model One. If you want a lighter fixed blade, but always tough, Spyderco Perrin Street Beat (but the sheath it's not the best, need to be changed with a custom sheath IMHO).

Ciao, Alfredo
 
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Fixed blade: Glock 78 or 81 (very cheap), Cold Steel SRK, Kabar
Folder: Something from Emerson or Strider maybe, but they are really expensive. Or maybe a Gerber Paraframe, cheap and solid.
 
I'm currently deployed in Afghanistan (With the CF, not US)
I'd recommend:

Folder: SAK, Multitool (Leatherman, SOG), Emerson, Benchmade
Fixed: RC-3/4, RC Izula, Becker, or KA-Bar

Also, what is his occupation on his deployment? Cus that might help you narrow down the choices depending on what he's going to be using them for.
 
Rat RC4 with molle back and SAK or multitool.

Or a Swamp Rat Bandicoot but you'll need a sheath made.
 
Hello,

why not the Glock fieldknive? it´s a great tool for prying and do other rough jobs... trust me... i just try try and try too crack the blade... with bantoning oder prying..with 500grams hammer oder wood stacks...
Because the bottel opener is great in use for coke and beer;)

I´ve crack the blade or left then in them in the field or or or...it´s realy sheep too buy a new one;)



For the fine cutting take a fulder like the Military or Paramilitary... thats realy fine cuttingtools...

Greats

Kay
 
I have to get the wife to work, but have saved this thread. I just got but from my 2nd deployment 18 Sept. I will PM you later with my thoughts.
 
GIRLYmann said:
a nice (but perhaps to many not quite the greatest choice) but practical knife gift for a soldier, would have to be any Swiss-made folder with a locking main blade feature.
Click to expand...
:thumbup:
You could try the one handed trekker. It's not too big/heavy, gives you a functional main blade that locks (you might not have to carry a dedicated folder) and it's got a saw, bottle opener, screwdriver, awl and can opener. Plus, its not very expensive.
 
I would say a K-Bar would be the classic choice, I carried them when I was in the USMC.

Also either a CS Recon Tanto or SRK would be excellent choices, stronger than the K-Bar.

Or maybe one of these combos. :D

 
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When I was a soldier I got a lot of use out of my Leatherman PST. I would recommend a multi-tool over a folder or fixed blade.
 
very interesting thread.
should be prseved for historical reasons for sure.

The Military Knife and its use in War Zone Afghanistan.
all good
buzz
 
He said price wasn't an issue. And I would strongly recommend and locking one handed SAK like the trekker and a a leatherman wave. If you wanna kill someone with it. (prolly not going to happen) I would suggest a SRk or a good old izula.
 
If I was back in and going I'd take my Gerber Multi and my RAT RC-4.

Sounds like you got the multi-tool covered with the Wave and there's several fixed blades that will do well but the RC-4 is a great size for EDC on person or gear.
 
If price isn't an issue, I'd go with the Strider SnG for the "I can open it a sand dune" factor
 
When I was deployed to Bosnia in -01 I carried a Leatherman PST in my belt and a Fallkniven F1 (and occasionaly S1) on my west. I had a SAK in my pack as well, mostly because I might need a really sharp and clean knife and the tweezers were great.
Both the F1 and S1 are now approved for use in the USAF.

I barely used the fixed blades but the PST was used everyday.

Maybe a medium sized folder with thumbstud or similar can be useful.

It all depends on what you plan to use your knife for.
Sitting on a stone in the green zone in Helmand province carving small wooden horses = small pointy knife.
Creating nice BBQ pieces from a suitable animal = any good hunting knife.

Well, get a multitool that you like, strap a Mora 2000 handle up on your LBE for cutting and the issued bayonet for pry and bend jobs. Try to find some Swedish troops in the sand and ask them for Mora 2000 knives. They will probably throw them at you for free.
A relatively cheap knife doesnt make you cry blood if lost.

If I were to sign up again I would bring a Leatherman PST or Fuse, a Fallkniven PXL folder and a Fallkniven S1 in my pack. Instead of the PXL I could bring an F1 and leave the S1 at home. I would however bring a spare F1 just in case, and a bunch of plastic Moras. remember that you should varry the stuff all the time.
Put the multi on your trouser belt and the fixed on your LBE. If you carry a small fixed, a 3" or so you can also keep it in your belt.
 
I've never been in the military, but folder -wise a xm-18 with a flipper would be good. It doesn't take any special tools to disassemble (one hex and a flat head). I gotten it plenty loaded with dirt and it's always been fine and I believe the Strider guys make their folders with that in mind also. By no means are any of these options cheap, though.

Also as a side note, the xm-18 will bite into your hand a little where the g-10 handle material rises slightly higher that the locking arm on the index finger indention. The Strider SMF doesn't bite in as much, but I prefer my xm to the smf. Even though both are VERY simliar in construction. The SMF is lockite-ed together so there really no dissassembling that without a solder iron.
 
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