Help finding a knife for my son in the Army

C

cdbjr

Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
11
I am looking for the best fixed blade knife I can afford for my son before he gets deployed this spring,I was looking at the Masters of Defense ATAC fighter but can't find any reviews of this knife anywhere. I am looking for sugestions if any of you have any. I am looking at spending up to around $300 or less.
 
What does he do in the Army?

A lot of folks think a Multi-tool is more useful than a large fixed blade.

There is the Leatherman Xt, which is one of the better available. Titanium frames and a 154CM (Better than the ususl blade steel you find on Multi-tools and a lof of knives) It has scissors which may be a lot more useful than you think.

The Cold Steel SRK (about $50-60) is well thought of and if lost or stolen won't make you weep. Other reccomended knives are BK7 BK10 RAT's Rangers Swamp Rats)

If I were buying for my son (and I know you want to get him the best, because, hell, its your son) I would still not get a $300.00 fixed blade. Not because its 'too expensive' but because it wouldnt get as much use as you think it would.

For $300.00 more or less I would get my son

Either a SRK (Image taken from sightm1911.com)

SRK_350.jpg


A BK7(Image taken from Lippman-enterprises.com)

bk7.jpg


A Leatherman Charge Xt (Image taken from all-leatherman-tools-4-less.com)

lm-chrg-xt1_0big.jpg


A decent Flashlight like a Surefire www.surefire.com or an Inova www.inovalight.com or a Pelican M6 LED

Get him one that has a removable red filter on it so that he can use it at night and not damage night vision.

Then a handy and light sharpening stone or system DMT are probably the lightest.

I'm sure lots of guys here will chime in.

Wish him the best from us here. :thumbup:
 
Check out some of the Swamp Rats http://www.swamprat.com Tough, affordable, (differing sizes well under your price range), and some models light enough to be carried without being hindrance. The Howling Rat may be fine for him.

Others to consider would be

Strider fixed blades

Al mar SERE

RD7 from Ranger Knives
 
It's rather easy to lose a knife in the field - a medium sized, affordable fixed blade is what would be best IMHO. Knives from John Greco are very tough, cut well, and are affordable to replace.

A multi-tool is crucial for a lot of weapons maintainance and remedial action (Y'know how spent cartridges will get jammed into every conceivable nook inside a SAW?), but he almost certainly already has a multitool.
 
When I first got to the fleet I carried a Ka-Bar in a kydex thigh rig. I thought I was tacticool.

That thing stayed in the locker after the first time I went to the field. The things that you use a fixed blade for are actually prybar functions, better performed with a government issue bayonet. I carried 2 good folding knives and a Gerber multitool for actual knife-type use.

You can fix stovepipes in a SAW with the pointy end of a bayonet and a boot, judiciously applied. I wouldn't want to abuse a $300 fixed blade like that.
 
I would recomend a good folder first. Mabye a Benchmade mini-skirmish,710, spyderco paramillie..ect. Also a good multitool. If you get him a fixed blade get him somthing relitivly inexpensive. Like a ranger RD6-RD7, becker BK7, Swamp rat...just be careful about weight.

TBG
 
For $300, I'd get the Leatherman XT, aSpyderco Calypso Jr., a BK-9, and a SAK, and a Surefire G2, or Pelican M3 LED flashlight. That is what would have been most useful to me when I was in.
 
Most soldiers that I know find that larege blades are somewhat troublesome, so watch blade size. In addition, the Unit commander may set an arbitrarty limit on blade length.

Get something replaceable.

A medium sized fixed-blade, a multi-tool, a one-handed opener and a good flashlight could all be purchased for that price, and that little package would make anyone happy, military or civilian.
 
I would stay away from large fixed blades. When I was in the Army I saw very little use for them. As already mentioned, he may get some grief from his chain of command. When I deployed for Bosnia I recall we had knife restrictions but I don't remember the specifics. I think it was 3" folders per the command. It can vary from anything goes (chainsaws, katanas, lightsabers) to stricter than TSA (no tweezers, nail clippers or nail files).

I also would stay away from anything that has great monetary or sentimental value. Things get lost, stolen, and confiscated in the military all the time. Go for a mid priced, solid, dependable folder or multi tool. Also not too big or bulky, he'll have enough problems carrying all his issue gear.

Good luck to both of you.
 
I love and enjoy my customs as much as anyone but I don't think I could carry them to the sandbox. I have friends in the Army and when you ask them about what knives get the most use they all say a good multi-tool and a cheaper fixed blade. Never a $200.00 or $300.00 knife. When the bullets are flying you don't have time to worry about did I get my sheath snapped good or did I remember to tie it on good. Send him with a good quality multi-tool, a small SAK and an Coldsteel SRK, in case he looses the SRK off his belt for the cost you could send 2 or 3 and still be below your buget.
 
I would suggest any of the following:

Al Mar SERE 2000
Spyderco Miltary
Spyderco Mannix
Spyderco Para-Military
Emerson CQC 7

Those are just models I have handled and/or carried while I was in. There are several other good Emerson models and Benchmade models. After getting him a good folder get him a good quality Multi-Tool - if he does not have one already. Fixed Blades are a "iffy" thing to get due to unit restrictions. My unit had some sort of limitation to nothing bigger than the length of your hand, though I never saw anything written. As such we mostly went with folders.
 
My Nickel.

Becker CU7......in my opinion it is one of the best knives for the money today.
And, a good multi-tool, surefire light.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I think my multi-tool gets more use than anything else I carry.....always seem to need a screwdriver for something.
 
My best friend spent 9 months in Iraq as a Marine Corporal, and he said he used his Gerber multi-tool everyday, and left his KaBar behind. He loves my Spyderco ParaMilitary, and states he would have much preferred carrying that over his useless KaBar.
Take it from these people here, and my friend who spent time there, spread that $300 around on a muli-tool, decent folder and maybe a good flashlight. My buddy also said that baby wipes came in most usefull, and in the field they were worth their weight in gold.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top