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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Green Beret
- Thread starter JK Knives
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2002
- Messages
- 4,131
I've handled one and its just amazing! I didn't get to use it though...
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2000
- Messages
- 15,399
I purchased my GB at the NY Knife Show a few weeks ago. I just had the opprotunity to put it through its paces on a hike.
For starters the knife is well balanced in the hand with the balancing point just behind the hilt. The handle design is such that it prevents the knife from twisting in your hand. This is very important because when the knife is being used to pry or dig you won't lose your grip on it.
My first act of "testing" involved cutting some dead wood for a walking stick for the old fart in our group. A 3" dead sapling was easily cleaved in 3 whacks utilizing snap cuts with my hand more toward the butt of the knife. No damage to the edge and it still shaved hair.
Next was cleaning and digging out a small fire pit. The ground was frozen and I was concerned about the possibility of hitting a rock or two. Not a problem. I started poking and prodding around and soon we had a 2 ft. round by 6" deep fire pit. The edge was still intact and the coating was still on the tip.
Now that we had the fire pit ready to go we needed to gather some wood. I cut and chopped for a good half hour and I felt no hotspots or fatigue in my hand. The wickedly sharp edge did most of the work. The knife was then used to make some fuzz sticks for tinder. I used the edge before the serrations to do these. Again, never any trouble.
My only gripe about the knife was the sheath. Simply put.....I hate it. Nylon and kydex suck. It is noisy. All I heard was the "whish-whish" sound of it rubbing against my pants leg. Very annoying. The knife was easy to remove but a bitch to put back in. It kept getting hung up on the nylon right before the hilt. A royal pain in the ass. I truly hope that CRK is working on a leather sheath for this. it would definitely make a great knife better.
Throughout the hike I was bombarded with questions about the knife and where they can get one. I happily gave up the info on how to obtain one. Hopefully I have converted a few.
For starters the knife is well balanced in the hand with the balancing point just behind the hilt. The handle design is such that it prevents the knife from twisting in your hand. This is very important because when the knife is being used to pry or dig you won't lose your grip on it.
My first act of "testing" involved cutting some dead wood for a walking stick for the old fart in our group. A 3" dead sapling was easily cleaved in 3 whacks utilizing snap cuts with my hand more toward the butt of the knife. No damage to the edge and it still shaved hair.
Next was cleaning and digging out a small fire pit. The ground was frozen and I was concerned about the possibility of hitting a rock or two. Not a problem. I started poking and prodding around and soon we had a 2 ft. round by 6" deep fire pit. The edge was still intact and the coating was still on the tip.
Now that we had the fire pit ready to go we needed to gather some wood. I cut and chopped for a good half hour and I felt no hotspots or fatigue in my hand. The wickedly sharp edge did most of the work. The knife was then used to make some fuzz sticks for tinder. I used the edge before the serrations to do these. Again, never any trouble.
My only gripe about the knife was the sheath. Simply put.....I hate it. Nylon and kydex suck. It is noisy. All I heard was the "whish-whish" sound of it rubbing against my pants leg. Very annoying. The knife was easy to remove but a bitch to put back in. It kept getting hung up on the nylon right before the hilt. A royal pain in the ass. I truly hope that CRK is working on a leather sheath for this. it would definitely make a great knife better.
Throughout the hike I was bombarded with questions about the knife and where they can get one. I happily gave up the info on how to obtain one. Hopefully I have converted a few.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
Promises, promises, where's my walking stick ???
I just got mine today as well! I really believe that this knife raises the bar considerably above any 'issue' knife I have ever handled in two areas: workmanship, and ergonomics. I don't know how much the Special Forces are paying for the Yarborough but I have to think that it is a lot more than the military has ever paid for a service issue knife. I am somewhat surprised to think that this wouldn't border on military extravagance - not that they aren't getting their money's worth, but that they are probably paying a significant premium for workmanship that itself has no significant added value in utility! I'm definitely not saying our Special Forces don't deserve the best; it is just that I am somewhat surprised that someone was convinced to issue a knife whose retail price is probably close to what the military pays for the Beretta M9 service pistol!
This is a superb knife design, with typical CRK execution (perfect bevels and grind lines, every edge radiused to perfection, awesome polished convex edge.) Most photos don't do the knife justice. The handle is very three-dimensional with palm swells and a butt flare that is a very positive retention feature. The handle just feels right, better than any other large knife I have ever felt. It is an ergonomic tour-de-force; superb design! For those on the fence about getting one of these, I highly recommend finding one to examine for yourself. It will sell itself.
I am looking forward to a custom version: exhibition desert ironwood scales, polished hardware, satin flats and polished hollow grinds, Gfeller presentation sheath...
This is a superb knife design, with typical CRK execution (perfect bevels and grind lines, every edge radiused to perfection, awesome polished convex edge.) Most photos don't do the knife justice. The handle is very three-dimensional with palm swells and a butt flare that is a very positive retention feature. The handle just feels right, better than any other large knife I have ever felt. It is an ergonomic tour-de-force; superb design! For those on the fence about getting one of these, I highly recommend finding one to examine for yourself. It will sell itself.
I am looking forward to a custom version: exhibition desert ironwood scales, polished hardware, satin flats and polished hollow grinds, Gfeller presentation sheath...
I saw one and handled one in a bricks and mortar store a couple days ago. Its great. Not going to do anything a project 1 will not do, but its a great value.
I am not sure that all the army special forces troops are getting these but that may be the case. From what I saw released new graduates are now being given these at the end of the Special Forces qualification course. A lot of guys will put these up as a memento, and probably buy another if they want to use one. I know I would. I do not know they are just handing them out to everybody that is already in the field. I also heard the price to the army was 200 or less. Not much considering the investment they make in these guys. Wanna guess what one C-130 practice jump costs divided out per person?
As for the sheath, its the way to go for a military knife. Leather sucks if you swim it and keep it soaked. Jungle rot is a problem. Kydex alone is too noisy and too brittle in very cold temperatures. It could also soften too much if left on a pack in the hot sun.
The nylon/kydex lined sheath works about as good as anything all around. Nothing is perfect. You also have to be able to lash it onto gear/packs etc. Busse, Strider, Swamp Rat, and others use these type of sheaths, as well as BKT on their combat type knife. Compromises seldom are perfect for everyone.
Digging with my knife is also something I would not do except in a dire emergency. That is what a glock folding shovel or other E-tool is for and a lot better and quicker too. Save your edge for "cutting" things. The Green Beret knife is very much on my must buy list. Anyone thats a fan of CRK one piece line will love it just as much. Very well done at a reasonable price.
I am not sure that all the army special forces troops are getting these but that may be the case. From what I saw released new graduates are now being given these at the end of the Special Forces qualification course. A lot of guys will put these up as a memento, and probably buy another if they want to use one. I know I would. I do not know they are just handing them out to everybody that is already in the field. I also heard the price to the army was 200 or less. Not much considering the investment they make in these guys. Wanna guess what one C-130 practice jump costs divided out per person?
As for the sheath, its the way to go for a military knife. Leather sucks if you swim it and keep it soaked. Jungle rot is a problem. Kydex alone is too noisy and too brittle in very cold temperatures. It could also soften too much if left on a pack in the hot sun.
The nylon/kydex lined sheath works about as good as anything all around. Nothing is perfect. You also have to be able to lash it onto gear/packs etc. Busse, Strider, Swamp Rat, and others use these type of sheaths, as well as BKT on their combat type knife. Compromises seldom are perfect for everyone.
Digging with my knife is also something I would not do except in a dire emergency. That is what a glock folding shovel or other E-tool is for and a lot better and quicker too. Save your edge for "cutting" things. The Green Beret knife is very much on my must buy list. Anyone thats a fan of CRK one piece line will love it just as much. Very well done at a reasonable price.
- Joined
- May 7, 2001
- Messages
- 1,138
Is it actually labled "green Beret" ?
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2000
- Messages
- 15,399
The knife is not marked as "Green Beret" on the knife itself. The CRK logo and Harsey logo are etched on both sides on the "civilian" version of the knife. The SF Q-Course graduate knife is marked with "Yarborough" and a serial number. This version is available only to the grads of the course and former SF members.
- Joined
- May 7, 2001
- Messages
- 1,138
Good i would NEVER buy a knife marked "Green Beret" out of respect, thats why i was glad that strider made the BN (SEAL), i wish that more companies would stop using military units as names for knives.
The box my knife came in from the CRK shop has a sticker on it that says "Green Beret" probably because they use the same box to send knives to Fort Benning. But my non-serialized knife has both the CRK and Harsey logos on both sides of the knife rather than the "official issue" knife that has the Yarborough name and serial number on them.
...but I agree with the LizardKing that I don't want some other unit insignia or name on my knife! If I wanted my unit on my knife I would have to find someone to make a "229th Supply & Service Company" knife since I commanded that unit from 1980-1982. Not likely. ...besides, the most appropriate knife for an S&S Company would be a "box cutter!!!" I don't think so.
I bought a Camillus fighting/utility knife (kabar style) in the PX because it was black and didn't have "USMC" stamped on it. The USMC model from Camillus and the Kabar brand all had USMC stamped on them. Although I respect my Marine brethren, I didn't want to advertise that respective service on a knife strapped to my "Army" BDU's!
Bruce
...but I agree with the LizardKing that I don't want some other unit insignia or name on my knife! If I wanted my unit on my knife I would have to find someone to make a "229th Supply & Service Company" knife since I commanded that unit from 1980-1982. Not likely. ...besides, the most appropriate knife for an S&S Company would be a "box cutter!!!" I don't think so.
I bought a Camillus fighting/utility knife (kabar style) in the PX because it was black and didn't have "USMC" stamped on it. The USMC model from Camillus and the Kabar brand all had USMC stamped on them. Although I respect my Marine brethren, I didn't want to advertise that respective service on a knife strapped to my "Army" BDU's!
Bruce
I'm not sure the "Yarborough" knife is technically an "issue" knife. The term "issue" indicates equipment that belongs to a unit, is issued to each soldier on a "hand receipt" of some sort, and when the soldier leaves the unit, they turn the equipment in and receive credit off of their hand receipt. If the equipment is lost or damaged, the soldier signs a "statement of charges" where the cost (minus depreciation) is taken out of their pay, or the soldier goes to the "Clothing Sales Store" and buys the item to turn in (if the clothing sales store stocks that item), or refuses to do either and a "Report of Survey" is initiated where an officer investigates the circumstances of the loss and makes someone accountable.
This knife is given once to each SF trooper upon graduation of the qualification course -- their name and knife serial number are recorded -- but I don't think they have to give it back when they leave the service, or account for it in any other way.
It is a little like the "kit" a General Officer (at least Army type) gets upon being promoted to BG. They get several "GO" type items (black belt with gold buckle, red flag with a star, etc.) including a handgun of their choice (from a small list I presume). Those GO's I am familiar with chose a Colt Officer's Model in .45acp. They did not have to give it back upon retiring.
If I were "Q" qualified, I would keep the Yarborough given upon graduation, and purchase a standard model to use. This would keep the issue model in "collector" grade while still having one of the best knives to use in the field ever built.
My thoughts only.
Bruce Woodbury
This knife is given once to each SF trooper upon graduation of the qualification course -- their name and knife serial number are recorded -- but I don't think they have to give it back when they leave the service, or account for it in any other way.
It is a little like the "kit" a General Officer (at least Army type) gets upon being promoted to BG. They get several "GO" type items (black belt with gold buckle, red flag with a star, etc.) including a handgun of their choice (from a small list I presume). Those GO's I am familiar with chose a Colt Officer's Model in .45acp. They did not have to give it back upon retiring.
If I were "Q" qualified, I would keep the Yarborough given upon graduation, and purchase a standard model to use. This would keep the issue model in "collector" grade while still having one of the best knives to use in the field ever built.
My thoughts only.
Bruce Woodbury