Good, Serious Deployment (Fixed) Blade?

[knives-n-stuff]

Absolutly the best advise in this whole post!:thumbup:

Not to mention a few other things the recruiter probably left out.

Before you make plans on spending this money on fancy knives, think about the fact that many CO's don't even permit the carrying of non issue knives. Fixed blades can be out and out banned.

Also, having something higher end or fancier than the PX sellection of knives, means it may very well get stolen before you outlive your newby status. Some of your fellow soldiers will be less than nice people. They are transferring in and out all the time, and a high dollar or attractive knife or other item will tend to disappear. As much as barracks thieves are despised, they do exist. If you get hurt and end up in the field hospital, half your gear will vanish like the morning mist. Go on leave and stuff will go missing.

I know this because I spent 10 years and 4 months in the army engineers before being medically discharged for active duty injuries. They shipped me to Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. for physical therapy and learn to walk on a right leg that was not the same again, and half of my stuff never got to me from my last duty station where I was injured. Including a Randall model 15. The irony of the stolen Randall was, it had never been carried. With all the other stuff we had to pack, it was too heavy and too big to be useful. In 10 years of duty with the engineers, I needed a fixed blade knife like I needed a hole in the head. What I and my fellow soldiers used most was a good utility pocket knife. That included my tour with the 39th Combat Engineer bat. in Vietnam.

Forget what you see on TV or in video games, and forget half of what your recruiter tells you. Just have a good folder/multitool on you, and that's it. It's not gonna be the glorious TV movie that you think. I'm sure the recruiter has painted a very nice picture for you, but you are going to find military life not quite like it has been painted.

Wait till your 18 or 19.

Carl.

Thanks. I can't deploy until I'm 18, but I'll join, and go through Basic this summer. And I've decided to get something Like a SOG Tech Bowie. It's funny, I talked to my Dad, and he said the same stuff happened to him while he was over there as well (MRE's were the biggest problem... get that, LOL)

 

[knives-n-stuff]

Did you read the rest of my post?

The SMF is a great knife, but probably a little big to be carrying around in a High School :thumbdn: Yes, it's worth it, if you like it or want it or need it.


My advice is buy the Blackjack if you want it, they are well made and you shouldn't be disappointed. Just don't do it with the expectation that you will be fighting anything more aggressive than MRE #22 with it. The best advice I have ever heard given on combat knives is "If you expect that you will run out of ammo, leave that big knife and take more ammo instead."

We don't recall ever being more than half a mile from my truck (doing convoy security and route recon) and had 10+ mags in my pack in the truck in addition to what was on my body (never more than 4 mags).


No matter how fit and strong you are, you will always be "better" with less gear/weight. That's simple physiology, there's no way around it.

LOL... I don't carry my knives in school (except for one time I forgot to take out my Endura 4). And I agree, I won't need a 10lb blade, esspecially for 11B. I'll get a SOG. :thumbup:

 

[Ankerson]

Absolutly the best advise in this whole post!:thumbup:

Not to mention a few other things the recruiter probably left out.

Before you make plans on spending this money on fancy knives, think about the fact that many CO's don't even permit the carrying of non issue knives. Fixed blades can be out and out banned.

Also, having something higher end or fancier than the PX sellection of knives, means it may very well get stolen before you outlive your newby status. Some of your fellow soldiers will be less than nice people. They are transferring in and out all the time, and a high dollar or attractive knife or other item will tend to disappear. As much as barracks thieves are despised, they do exist. If you get hurt and end up in the field hospital, half your gear will vanish like the morning mist. Go on leave and stuff will go missing.

I know this because I spent 10 years and 4 months in the army engineers before being medically discharged for active duty injuries. They shipped me to Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington D.C. for physical therapy and learn to walk on a right leg that was not the same again, and half of my stuff never got to me from my last duty station where I was injured. Including a Randall model 15. The irony of the stolen Randall was, it had never been carried. With all the other stuff we had to pack, it was too heavy and too big to be useful. In 10 years of duty with the engineers, I needed a fixed blade knife like I needed a hole in the head. What I and my fellow soldiers used most was a good utility pocket knife. That included my tour with the 39th Combat Engineer bat. in Vietnam.

Forget what you see on TV or in video games, and forget half of what your recruiter tells you. Just have a good folder/multitool on you, and that's it. It's not gonna be the glorious TV movie that you think. I'm sure the recruiter has painted a very nice picture for you, but you are going to find military life not quite like it has been painted.

Wait till your 18 or 19.

Carl.

Oh so true.

Being in the Military isn't as glamorous as some tend to think it is for sure. Yes there are plenty of thieves and other bad sorts about, also back stabbers and others who can and will cause one problems along the way.

One really needs to pick ones friends very carefully when in the Military.

I will add don't believe anything your recruiter says..... Get everything in writing, and I mean everything.

Some things people will learn and realise once they are in for awhile.

 

[knives-n-stuff]

Oh so true.

Being in the Military isn't as glamorous as some tend to think it is for sure. Yes there are plenty of thieves and other bad sorts about, also back stabbers and others who can and will cause one problems along the way.

One really needs to pick ones friends very carefully when in the Military.

I will add don't believe anything your recruiter says..... Get everything in writing, and I mean everything.

Some things people will learn and realise once they are in for awhile.

I'm aware of the recruiter dealio. It's not going to be all "glory, glory, glory" and "hooah, hell yeah, here we are!". Luckily, my recruiter is my Uncle, and he warned me about the smoke-n-mirrors of his profession. And what to look out for.

 

[NDJeep]

My sons a 21B Combat Engineer with a Sapper unit. Just being an Engineer doesnt narrow down your exact job description. His unit doesnt build anything they simply clear routes...which you'd expect from a Sapper unit. The rest of the Company does other things with heavy equipment and such.

His unit deploys shortly and is being issued an Engineer/EOD specific multi-tool. Thats it. But they are allowed to take whatever folders or fixed blades they choose. As mentioned some COs have restrictions. My son's going with the issued multi-tool, an ESEE 3 or 4 or maybe my Chris Reeve Pro Soldier(the smallish necker-style fixed)....and a cheap folder which he may or not carry.

Several of the BTDTs in the unit recommended that a fixed is fine to carry preferrably on a vest as the belt sheathed are a PITA when sitting. They also say smaller is better for the fixed. More likely to be used and less cumbersome.

I agree with this and it's good advice for 11B also...but to each his own.

 

[marcinek]

...And after hearing this, I'm not gonna get the Blackjack. Instead, I'll get a SOG Tech Bowie, or something like it. :thumbup:

Have you listened to anybody who has replied to your question? A fixed blade fighter, like that SOG Tech Bowie is pointless.

There's no stabby tacti-awesomeness in what you are planning on doing. Folder/multitool. Anything beyond that is sheer fantasy.

 

[NDJeep]

A fixed blade fighter, like that SOG Tech Bowie is pointless..

Actually...its quite "pointy".

 

[marcinek]

Actually...its quite "pointy".

True. Perfect for a high speed dark tac ops spec engineer/sapper!

To me, without question, the combat engineers/sappers do just as important, dangerous work as everyone else who serves. Heroes, every one of them. But I just get the feeling, and I'm no expert, that they don't have the need for some big ol' pointy stabby SOG. Unless they are going on night missions to assassinate some enemy sandbags or something. For that matter....who currently serving in any capacity does, outside of an incredibly small percentage of elite operators?

I'm not sure where our eager young friend is getting his ideas from. Video games?

 

[knives-n-stuff]

Have you listened to anybody who has replied to your question? A fixed blade fighter, like that SOG Tech Bowie is pointless.

There's no stabby tacti-awesomeness in what you are planning on doing. Folder/multitool. Anything beyond that is sheer fantasy.

In fact, YES. That is why I no longer am going with the Blackjack. IMO, all LEO, and Military personell SHOULD, at all times have some sort of fixed blade. Not saying you'll be slicing heads off of zombies, its just a good thing to have some sort of worse case senario weapon. AND, you don't have to use it for tactical purposes only. Use it for utility, and I guarentee you it will be more effective at heavy EDC/Utlility uses than a SOG Flash I.

 

[knives-n-stuff]

True. Perfect for a high speed dark tac ops spec engineer/sapper!

To me, without question, the combat engineers/sappers do just as important, dangerous work as everyone else who serves. Heroes, every one of them. But I just get the feeling, and I'm no expert, that they don't have the need for some big ol' pointy stabby SOG. Unless they are going on night missions to assassinate some enemy sandbags or something. For that matter....who currently serving in any capacity does, outside of an incredibly small percentage of elite operators?

I'm not sure where our eager young friend is getting his ideas from. Video games?

I can see why people switched... Anyway, I plan on using it for utility uses. I use fixed blades (Kabar USMC mostly) for utility purposes ALL THE TIME... And the Kabar is just as "pointy-poke-poke-stabby" as the SOG, yet, it is VERY popular throughout our Armed Forces.

 

[BOBO]

Good luck with your BootCamp and your future service. Being that your a knife nut, get whatever you want, but remember that you'll have to leave whatever your not carrying on your person back in the hooch. Most of the CONUS living places will be very secure, except for your roommate, but out in the field you'll be in a open GP tent. You have the bases covered with the ESEE 4, you can pry with it (3/16" thick), easy to sharpen (1095), has a great profile, and you only have to spend that money once (lifetime guarantee), plus a multi-tool, and a quality folder. The other benefit of the ESEE 4 is the kydex sheath, most other production knives are good, except for the sheath. And there's enough of a following that you can get another kydex sheath/customize the grips/or get a leather sheath. You'll figure this out for yourself, but the way your PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) rides will dictate how you carry your fixed blade, and the use of sub-loads (pouches/holsters that hang from your duty belt and strap to the sides of your leg) often prevent using a drop sheath. Many things to consider. Once again, good luck, and let us know what you decide on.

 

[marcinek]

In fact, YES. That is why I no longer am going with the Blackjack. IMO, all LEO, and Military personell SHOULD, at all times have some sort of fixed blade. Not saying you'll be slicing heads off of zombies, its just a good thing to have some sort of worse case senario weapon. AND, you don't have to use it for tactical purposes only. Use it for utility, and I guarentee you it will be more effective at heavy EDC/Utlility uses than a SOG Flash I.

Fair enough. But I'll throw this out and be done. The loss in utility in something like that SOG as opposed to a multitool (or something small and luggable like an Izula) isn't worth it. The chances that you will need your knife to fight with are astronomically small. So carrying a knife designed as a fighter like that SOG or BlackJack is a waste of weight. It's like carrying a can of shark repellent with you, just in case you're attacked by sharks.

All that said, best of luck to you. Come back safe.

 

[Magnaminous_G]

Fair enough. But I'll throw this out and be done. The loss in utility in something like that SOG as opposed to a multitool (or something small and luggable like an Izula) isn't worth it. The chances that you will need your knife to fight with are astronomically small. So carrying a knife designed as a fighter like that SOG or BlackJack is a waste of weight. It's like carrying a can of shark repellent with you, just in case you're attacked by sharks.

All that said, best of luck to you. Come back safe.

+1

Also... SOGs are for posers. Cheap, made-in-China, mall ninja gear.

 

[shunsui]

After the satellites are gone, the batteries are dead, and you're long out of ammo, that pointy stabby fixed blade will start looking real good.

 

[puukkoman]

In my eyes, the BlackJack 1-7 is the closest normal/regular/attainable production knife to the old Randalls available today. Get one, you will NOT be disappointed. It's really the contemporary equivalent to the "old school." Same style, same tradition, same materials, same attention to detail. Do it. If you don't like yours, I'll buy it. No joke.

 

[perksy]

The Blackjack Model 13 is the go, nice knife.

 

[knives-n-stuff]

+1

Also... SOGs are for posers. Cheap, made-in-China, mall ninja gear.

Well I didn't know they were made in china? Maybe I'll get a US made blade. (( rules violation ))

 

[knives-n-stuff]

In my eyes, the BlackJack 1-7 is the closest normal/regular/attainable production knife to the old Randalls available today. Get one, you will NOT be disappointed. It's really the contemporary equivalent to the "old school." Same style, same tradition, same materials, same attention to detail. Do it. If you don't like yours, I'll buy it. No joke.

HA! After looking at my Uncle's Randall... It's not that heavy. I'm not the type to wien over a knife over 2.3 ounces, anyway. I'll much rather take the Firepower, over Mobility any day. Looks like the BJK is a VERY good reproduction of the Randall. BTW... I'll let you know if I don't like it, but don't hold your breath

 

[November4]

I was in the Marines for 6 years. The last thing you want to carry is extra weight. All of your gear will kick your butt as is. With all of the Weapons and firepower available to you the last thing you need is Rambo crap. Get a good multi tool and a 4 inch cheap but strong fixed blade or a good folder. I carried a Leatherman and a K-bar. Esse3 or 4 or Cold Steel SRK would work great. You will learn to carry only what is usable and cant do without.

 

[knifestuff]

take a knife that'll work (meaning it won't break on you 1st time you try to use it) but one that won't make you cry if it breaks because it was so expensive or irreplaceable). Blackjacks are good but pricey still, from that viewpoint. I carried a German Army feldmesser on my web gear for 15+ years--set me back all of $25 used (think you can find used ones today at $45 at gunshows). Hell of a utility field knife at a great pricepoint (and mine were all Solingen made).