helping a friend

J

jester buddersworth

Joined
Apr 19, 2015
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48
My pastors son is joining the marines and he's a good longtime friend of mine and I want to buy him a knife that will help him along the way. Sooo I've come to you fine folk for advice (he's very mature and careful)
 
I would suggest waiting until he's out of bootcamp. They're just going to take it away from him. Uncle Sam wants everybody to start fresh even from their skivvies.
 
When you do find where he's going to be assigned, I bet a Swiss Army Knife or a multitool will be more useful than anything else.
 
What is he gonna be doing? A grunt won't want a fixed blade. Keep that in mind. And grunts are notorious for using knives in the exact opposite way of the way they're meant to be used :P so keep that in mind, too. A cheap folder like a RAT 1 or a multitool would probably be the best bet.
 
We sent my cousin with a Busse Satin Jack (choilless), in a BuyBrown sheath. Bomproof. Super warranty. But, if stolen, it would hurt!

He deployed twice to Afganistan. It came back very well used, and missing a lot of finish, and in need of a good sharpening!
 
As has already been mentioned, wait until he's done with boot camp, and ideally until he knows where he's headed afterward and what he'll be doing. I'm personally of the "buy American" camp, with the possible exception of a Swiss Army Knife (check out the Soldier Standard Issue model) and would want to get something durable enough to last for however many years he ends up serving. I'm a fan of the Hogue EX folders: they're not flashy, but have great ergonomics, quality materials and are easy to operate with gloves.
 
Without knowing his personal knife likes, dislikes, or usage, it'd be rather rash to recommend a $500 knife.

As a former active duty Marine, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a KaBar USMC Fighting Knife 1217. Lots of history behind that one and something that'd mean something to someone right out of boot.
 
Why not something decently priced and tough, like a Utilitac or a Kershaw/Emerson? Multitool or SAK would be good certainly also, but that's not really a "knife" per se. As to the people suggesting knives costing $300+...why? Really, what would you likely do if someone gave you a $400 knife when you make roughly $28k/year? Carrying and using it are probably not high on the list. Save the money and buy him something that will get USED, and if you want to spend that kind of cash then buy him other useful things, like quality (approved) boots and sunglasses etc.
 
Wait till he graduates boot camp then consider a SAK or multi tool... something no greater than $100. The probability of it getting stolen is extremely high. This is from first hand experience of being in the military. He'll get more use with something like that then anything else.
 
Leatherman OHT? It has a feature that allows you to clean the barrel of a firearm (not a tool that is on the OHT, just an attachment point). Leatherman MUT also helpful for someone that will have a mil/leo occupation. Like others have said a multi-tool will see alot of use.
 
Im with the others on NOT spending that much
plenty of chioces that can be hammered on without a care.
personally like others have said.
A multitool, a decent folder ( zt 0560 for ex)and a decent fixed blade .with the first 2 being more important.
(Edit) all can be had for under 250 not saying he cant have a strider or anything else but like others have said most likely it will get stolen at worst and is very likely
 
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