Good, Serious Deployment (Fixed) Blade?

K

knives-n-stuff

Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
157
Hey everyone. I am looking for a good blade for myself when I join the Military (Wisconsin National Guard-Sappers/Combat Engineers). I expect to have an Infantry 11B (and deployment option), and a 21B Combat Engineer M.O.S. at my time of deployment (in other words, I'll keep quite busy if all goes well =). I want to get a knife now (as to avoid future restrictions/price hikes) that will be a good option for a tactical ("GASP" :eek:) blade. My uses would be... well... you know, the obvious, and some light utility chores. Since I will be Infantry (I can get my Sapper MOS, and still deploy with Infantry), I want something that will be good for CQC.
I was looking for something about 7'' in length, around 3/16'' thick, with a neutral, round-profiled handle. I would also preffer a convex grind (that sure narrows it down a bit, don't it ;))
Just to save some repeats, I have, and also already considered the following blades: Kabar USMC (OK... but not my favorite, and also not convex, and along with this, I've experienced some not-so-good tings with this one), ESEE-5 (LOVE this knife, but more of a Survival knife to me, and just too short for my liking), Glock 78 (More of a dagger in my opinion...hate the sheath, and I'm selling it... maybe), Gerber LMF II (NOPE... I HATE Gerber's steel), BRKT Bravo 1 Rampless (My favorite knife other than my custom, but it's a little too short, and the Bravo 2 is just too long/heavy), Cold Steel SRK, Recon Scout, Trailmaster... (I'm sick of their warranty, service, AND products... SRK has crap handle, and Recon Scout broke)... I have more, but I cant think of them, and most are Bushcraft knives anyway...

OK, so what I found that I REALLY like is the Blackjack 1-7 (cuz I'm not paying $700 for a Randall...). My Grandfather, and two Uncles carried a Randall #1 in Vietnam (well, actually, one of my Uncles carried a Gerber Mark II, but whatever...), and needles to say, they LOVED them. I know it's a cliche knife (and I'm the first one to point this out...), but the damn thing just works. The biggest selling point for m is the Convex grind, which has been my favorite knife grind since I started my knife facination.

large-BJBCB7BM.jpg


If you guys have any other suggestions, PLEASE let me know. Also, if you have any experience with a BJ 1-7, or (now thinking), a BJ Halo Atack, please let me know how you like them.

Thanks, Jared
 
That BlackJack is a very nice knife. You'll never use it, and it's a lot of weight to lug around, but it's a nice nice nonetheless. I suppose you could open MREs with it.

I'd say spend the money on the top of the line Leatherman or Vic multitool.
 
I took a Ka-bar USMC fighter/utility and a Vietnam Tomahawk with me and used them mostly for fun, used folders and my Gerber multi-tool all the time though. I always had a M1014 with me. I beat up the tomahawk a lot but not the Ka-bar - it's a perfect fighter with sharpened swedge and I would never want to beat up on one.

I never saw any other Marines, Soldiers, Sailors or foreign military or civilian contractors with expensive knives - nothing marketed over $150 besides Benchmade AFO's people got issued.
 
marcinek said:
That BlackJack is a very nice knife. You'll never use it, and it's a lot of weight to lug around, but it's a nice nice nonetheless. I suppose you could open MREs with it.

I'd say spend the money on the top of the line Leatherman or Vic multitool.
Click to expand...

Have em' both. :D I was going through a very expensive Multi-Tool phase a couple months ago. and, since I'll be doing Demolitions, I'm sure It'll see some use, although I'm aware it won't be my main tool. :thumbup:
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
I took a Ka-bar USMC fighter/utility and a Vietnam Tomahawk with me and used them mostly for fun, used folders and my Gerber multi-tool all the time though. I always had a M1014 with me. I beat up the tomahawk a lot but not the Ka-bar - it's a perfect fighter with sharpened swedge and I would never want to beat up on one.

I never saw any other Marines, Soldiers, Sailors or foreign military or civilian contractors with expensive knives - nothing marketed over $150 besides Benchmade AFO's people got issued.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... intersting. A tomahawk... Now that's an intersting kit choice. I already have a few CRKT's (OIF, and OEF from my Dad's last deployment) that he gave me that I'm sure I'll take for my folders. IMO, I'd rather spend the $170+/- on a nice knife that will last me forever, than $50 that I'll wreck while I'm over there, or when I come back :D
Thanks for the suggestions, though. And thanks for your sevice!!! :)
 
I think a USMC KA-BAR would handle anything you would need it to do and they aren't very heavy.
 
Busse Boss Jack, or Satin Jack, or Skinny Ash1, or TankBuster

Or if you want a smaller fixed blade Mean Street, or Boss Street, or Active Duty.....


Great stuff!
 
knives-n-stuff said:
Hey everyone. I am looking for a good blade for myself when I join the Military
Click to expand...

First and foremost, get whatever knife or knives you like.

Moving on, don't bother buying a knife you expect to carry in combat before you're even through with boot camp. If nothing else, your unit may decide everyone will carry an M9 Bayonet and nothing else will be allowed.



I carried a Strider BN-SS and SMF and a Benchmade 5000 Auto Presidio.
 
If I had to pick one blade it would be a swamp rat RMD. I'd grab a nice folder like the spyderco military too.

In your specs the halo attack from blackjack looks nice.
 
I'd go with the Bravo-1. Can't imagine you'd need something longer, its a very capable knife, and you will be more likely to have it on yourself verses something larger/heavier. With that, I'd take a decent multi-tool (probably a Leatherman Charge), and good folder (a Spyderco Military).

Good luck.
 
The BlackJack or the Kabar would work fine, but here's another option. You might be interested in this Swamp Rat knife. The full tang handle is a little stouter than the other two. Good steel, good heat treat. Keep it oiled.

Eric Isaacson said:
Pre-order Closed

The RatManDeux LE (RMDx LE)
Steel SR101
Full Height Convex Ground
Satin finished
Black Paper handles
OAL approx 11 1/4"
Blade Length approx 6"
Weight approx 12.2 oz
Spine thickness approx 3/16"
Price $198.95 plus shipping

Pre-order Closed

RMD220LE.jpg

RMD2B.jpg
Click to expand...
 
A Becker BK7 sounds pretty close to what your looking for and you'll have plenty of money left over. I would also bring a hawk but more as a way to kill time than anything else. Deployments are full of sitting around and doing nothing, having a hawk to mod/throw would have been fun while I was over there.
 
Buy whatever you think looks cool... That's what most 11Bs do.

Or you can buy a sensibly sized fixed blade that you can actually stand to wear for hours and hours.

"If Busse (and kin) is an option, then Busse is the answer."
 
jimmyd1982 said:
A Becker BK7 sounds pretty close to what your looking for and you'll have plenty of money left over. I would also bring a hawk but more as a way to kill time than anything else. Deployments are full of sitting around and doing nothing, having a hawk to mod/throw would have been fun while I was over there.
Click to expand...

In your size range I'd go this route. ESEE-4 might be my choice.
 
Why don't you ask again in 2-3 years; when you're actually in the military and have a MOBORD?
 
eisman said:
Why don't you ask again in 2-3 years; when you're actually in the military and have a MOBORD?
Click to expand...

+1 for that comment.

To further explain, you have no idea if you're gonna get the mos you want and if you are even gonna deploy within the time period you signed up for.

Also in today's world, we soldiers will most likely be not using them to hurt people intentionally. They are now tools to use and maybe abuse.

Look at Kabar though, good all purpose knife that is cheap and replaceable.

By the way, Eisman what do you mean about "MOBORD"??

I'm 11b and I have no idea what that means.

Edit:

Thanks, in my unit we just say orders. Good to know though.
 
Last edited:
Lots of good ideas here as I read through this thread. Still, at the end of the day, I'd go with a new Vic multitool (or leatherman) and be done with it. A smallish fixed blade probably would not see much protracted use, but something from the Wauseon clan might fit the bill if you were stuck on that idea/concept.
 
Jason.Lee740 said:
+1 for that comment.

To further explain, you have no idea if you're gonna get the mos you want and if you are even gonna deploy within the time period you signed up for.

Also in today's world, we soldiers will most likely be not using them to hurt people intentionally. They are now tools to use and maybe abuse.

Look at Kabar though, good all purpose knife that is cheap and replaceable.

By the way, Eisman what do you mean about "MOBORD"??

I'm 11b and I have no idea what that means.

Edit:

Thanks, in my unit we just say orders. Good to know though.
Click to expand...


Exactly...

As others have said, one might want to wait until they have joined the Military and finished Boot Camp, Advanced training ect before they even start thinking about what to get.

Just because one is in the Military doesn't really mean they will be deploying anytime soon either. ;)

Also they are currently talking about pulling the US Military out of IRAQ and Afghanistan so in 3 years who knows what the situation will be like.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top