Hard use Marine (USMC) folder

Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
1,639
Started out thinking fixed blade, but now it's a folder.

I think the drop-point Buck Mini-Strider in BG-42 would be great. Problem is, it doesn't exist yet. The SB2 (mini-strider) tanto is available, but I'm not a huge fan of tanto blades.

Thinking now maybe an Al Mar SERE 2000 or something from Emerson Knives...?

Any pointers for a classic "tactical folder" for my son? I'm thinking $150-$350 range.

Mike

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http://www.users.qwest.net/~maos/Michael/knife/
 
check out the emerson cqc 7a. it's a spearpoint, it's built like a tank, and it now comes with a fancy-dancy "wave" opening device that is way cool. it's a little tab that sticks out a few millimeters that you can hook on the edge of your pocket on the way out, to open the blade.
peace.
aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

"come and get one in the yarbles, if you've got any yarbles."
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by alex_111:
check out the emerson cqc 7a. it's a spearpoint, it's built like a tank, and it now comes with a fancy-dancy "wave" opening device that is way cool.
</font>
Click to expand...

Where can I see / order a cqc-7a w/wave?

I hit the Emerson web page, and see the 7b w/wave, or lots of variations of the 7a, but none w/Wave.

Mike

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http://www.users.qwest.net/~maos/Michael/knife/
 
The SERE held up beautifully on our recent two-week survival trek into the Idaho wilderness. However, a new favorite of mine was the TOPS CQT Magnum 747 Folder, in hunters point, made from 154CM. MAN!!!

We beat the hell out of it and it never lost its edge, lock never failed despite every effort, and itsd fit and finish were as close to perfect as I've seen on any knife.

This is a winner in my book, and shouldn't be overlooked. It proved itself to us in the woods big time.

Best,

Brian.

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Brian Jones
Co-moderator
Wilderness & Survival Skills Forum

Check out Hood's Woods at:
http://www.survival.com
 
oh, man, i'm sorry... i forgot that only the 7b has the wave... poopoo...
frown.gif

however, you can purchase a 7a and have just about any custom maker put a wave on it.
and i know that you said you're not partial to tantos, but how about your son? does he like them? if so, you may want to go with the 7b.
check out the commander as well. it's got a very nice blade shape: lots of belly, and a bit of recurve towards the hilt. comes with the wave, is made by emerson (so it's a tank).
peace.
aleX.

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"i flip you... i flip you for real..."

"come and get one in the yarbles, if you've got any yarbles."

[This message has been edited by alex_111 (edited 06-26-2001).]
 
Don't rule out Benchmade the 710 is a really tuff knife can be had with D2 steel it doesn't get much better than that!
 
Several people have told me to stick w/3" because it's more-likely safe in airports / ports-of-call around the world. Marines tend to travel a lot.

That tends to rule out most "tactical folders", but I'm still looking...

By far my current favorite is the new mini-Buck-Strider SB2 drop point, especially if available in BG-42. If I could get one of those today, my search would be over.

Something similar that would lend itself to engraving would be a big plus as well. Something I could put "Semper Fi" or "Love mom & dad" or something profound.

Mike

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http://www.users.qwest.net/~maos/Michael/knife/
 
My advice would be to steer clear of liner lock folders, although I haven't tried the TOPS folder yet. I've owned 5 of the Buck Strider folders, and they all had serious lock/QC problems. The good news is Buck customer service is outstanding
smile.gif
. I've had three of the Emerson CQC7B's and I'll be sending the third one back to Emerson tomorrow for repair. The other two had lock problems as well. I've also had problems with a Benchmade 910 Stryker. Custom knives using a liner lock may work better, I couldn't say.
Try the Benchmade 710.
 
Hello Mike, my small sebenza has never missed a beat. Blade is 2 7/8" bg42. You might also want to look at the Masters of Defense (MOD) Keating Hornet, it has a 3" drop point in 154cm ,I believe. I have only handled them,however they seem well made. Good Luck, Greg
 
Clayton,

I hear ya on the liner lock thing. I've had benchmades and others fail on me. I was truly shocked that I couldn't budge the TOPS knife. The liner is thicker and sets in more, and (I'm told by one of my trek-mates) the pins on it are thicker than other knives on the market. It was designed to have fixed-blade strength in the compactness of a folder. It is an outstanding workhorse. We even did some chopping with it.

Michael, the TOPS CQT is 4.75" though...a little long for what you mentioned I guess. I think they have other folders that are smaller, but I haven't tried them.

Best,

Brian.

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Brian Jones
Co-moderator
Wilderness & Survival Skills Forum

Check out Hood's Woods at:
http://www.survival.com

[This message has been edited by Brian Jones (edited 06-27-2001).]
 
Michael,
Here's one you need to take a hard look at:

12.jpg


This is the MOD Duane Dieter CQD II Stealth model, essentially the MOD CQD's little brother. The blade is approximately 3.3" inches long, and overall design and construction is hell for tough. It's definitely chunkier than a small Sebbie, but that solid plunge lock gives one a great deal of confidence (and you can pick one up for about $180 at 1SKS).

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bronco:
Michael,
Here's one you need to take a hard look at the MOD Duane Dieter CQD II Stealth model, essentially the MOD CQD's little brother.
</font>
Click to expand...

Would you pick it over the Hornet? I'm thinking 3.1" could probably pass for 3" in most places, while 3.3" might be pushing it...?

Mike

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http://www.users.qwest.net/~maos/Michael/knife/
 
That's a tough call, Michael. I never sweated my Marines over carrying folders in the 3 to 4 inch blade range, in fact I ordered multitools for many of them, through the supply system, with blades that easily exceeded 3 inches. But as Ripper astutely pointed out in your previous thread, regulations (and C.O.s) can vary significantly from base to base. So too can the "vigor and enthusiasm" with which these regulations are enforced.

On the off chance that your son ends up on a base that prohibits blades over 3 inches, I would make sure his blade is exactly 3 inches or less. As much as I hate to say it, in the worst case scenario, the possibility exists that your son could simply run into the wrong "highly motivated" NCO/SNCO or JO at which point that extra .1 inch could just as well be a foot. Most, I'm sure, would quickly overlook such a minor discrepancy, especially if your son is a good Marine, which I have little doubt he will be. But not necessarily all would, and in the final analysis he would be leaving himself vulnerable.

Ergo, if 3 inches or less is the new standard, I'd stick with a Wegner Jr. or small Sebbie, just to be on the safe side. That having been said, in my experience it's just as likely that your son could end up on a base that has no problems with 3.5 inch blades. And in that case I'd recommend the CQD II over the Hornet if for no other reason than the CQD II's stronger (and redundant) blade lock-up mechanism. Those MOD Dieter CQDs are about as close to "Marine-proof" as production folders get.
smile.gif




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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
SERE 2000

This knife has to be as close to perfect, IMHO, as any production tactical/utility knife can be. All others seem inferior in it's presence.

You won't be sorry with this one. Your son will most certainly be the envy of his fellow Marines.

--The Raptor--
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bronco:
I would make sure his blade is exactly 3 inches or less.
Ergo, if 3 inches or less is the new standard, I'd stick with a Wegner Jr. or small Sebbie, just to be on the safe side.
</font>
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been chatting a friend in the A.F. and he's STRONGLY encouraging EXACTLY 3" or less as well.

Wish that damned Buck-Strider mini-drop point mentioned on thier web page was avialable now. Problem solved.

I'm in the market for a new custom for myself -- I could potentially get my small Sebenza nicely engraved and present it to him.

Mike



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http://www.users.qwest.net/~maos/Michael/knife/
 
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