If every citizen of the United States received a standard issue knife...

TheJeepster said:
I have said it before and I will say it again, every American should be issued a M-14 with 10,000 rounds of .308 NATO ammo at birth with a Ontario SP10 Marine Raider Bowie Knife.

It would be ok to substitute the Ontario SP10 Marine Raider with a Randall Made 1-7 Fighter with stacked leather handle.

Is this not beautiful?
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Homicides just went up. :p
 
manowar669 said:
Yep, or maybe one of these:
Picture080.jpg
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My first thought was a SAK. But I agree, in this case it should be made in the U.S. by a U.S. company. I'm thinking they need to be utilitarian for the average person. So my second thought was a Leatherman. I prefer not to carry anything on my belt and, for me, a Leatherman is a bit too large to pocket carry. So yes, the above knife seems like a good choice....a few tools and a blade. Don't know what the new Cub or Boy Scout knives look like, or where they're made now, but I think a model like my old 1960's Cub Scout knife would work. I'm really afraid that now days, 70% to 80% of the public (a number I pulled completely out of the air, but seems about right to me) would not know what to do with, or appreciate a decent pocket knife, let alone treat it properly. That Randall is a beaut though. Mike
 
I love my Queen D2 steel knives for daily use. CFK also makes a fixed D2 knife that I love to use.
 
DShiflet said:
SAK of some sort-lots of Americans will never carry something like a Manix 2 even if you give it to them. Other people can't due to laws on blade size and such. An SAK is something that I believe the most people would actually carry and use.
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If everyone in America carried a knife for utility then there wouldn't be blade length laws.
 
I dont think they would make a traditional knife the standard that was given to everyone. That would be a waste of the progress made in the knife industry to date. The agency in charge of nationwide knife distribution would want something that took advantage of modern locks, materials, blade shapes, steels, etc. Most likely it would be modern and very "standard looking". My vote is for the Sebenza 21 (you get to pick what size). You cant get more standard looking than a plain jane sebenza. Plus its American made so.....
 
If the carrying of a useful (not intimidating or wannabe commando) will be a mark of useful citizenship or a coming of age, I agree that the knife must be a USA pattern and made in the USA. Perhaps there should be several such as

1. The scouting pocket knife or the US military pattern (demo knife) for utility use. This is to be awarded to every child when he/she is capable of using it safely. It can be carried to school and everywhere else for cutting string, opening cans and bottles, sharpening pencils and drilling holes in wood and leather; it will be the Swiss Army Knife for Americans.
2. The TL-29 for tradesmen, firefighters and others with similar needs - cutting blade and a locking screwdriver,
3. A Case/Western leather-handled sheath knife with a 4 inch or so blade - the traditional deer and trout knife of hunters, fishermen and outdoors people.
4. Small stockman or barlow for office workers and those not needing a knife for heavy use. This can, of course, be embellished with ivory scales or scrimshaw or engraving. Required carry for judges, school principals, governors and legislators.
5. Leatherman multitool to supplement any of the above. Other brands allowed, if American made.

While I dislike compulsory laws, one or all of the above should be carried as often as a wallet and drivers license. Screening at airports and courthouses should be to identify individuals who do NOT have these useful tools in good working order. :D
 
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When I was 18 Gillette sent me a razor. I have no idea why or how they knew my birthday.


...I would have rather had a knife. :)
 
* If every citizen of the United States received a standard issue knife...

...I would hire two attorneys, skilled in fraud, to lobby the Future Users of Controlled Knives Department and advise them of my learning disorder, contracted in the last war, and which should entitle me to additional knives.

Once I was on Knife Stamps, I would direct the attorneys to look into off-shore knife accounts, fixed-blade arbitrage, folder bonds and contraband anchor babies from Central America in order to evade the Future Users of Controlled Knives Department.

Soon I would have all the styles of knife I wanted. Gotta love it here.
 
Mike157 said:
My first thought was a SAK. But I agree, in this case it should be made in the U.S. by a U.S. company. I'm thinking they need to be utilitarian for the average person. So my second thought was a Leatherman. I prefer not to carry anything on my belt and, for me, a Leatherman is a bit too large to pocket carry. So yes, the above knife seems like a good choice....a few tools and a blade. Don't know what the new Cub or Boy Scout knives look like, or where they're made now, but I think a model like my old 1960's Cub Scout knife would work. I'm really afraid that now days, 70% to 80% of the public (a number I pulled completely out of the air, but seems about right to me) would not know what to do with, or appreciate a decent pocket knife, let alone treat it properly. That Randall is a beaut though. Mike
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Yup. Another vote for a U.S. Demo knife. But made to old Camillus quality--not the more recent Ontario ones (which were recently discontinued.) Most appalling quality control I've seen from any company and I had to stop carrying them as a result. Only about 1 in 12 would pass inspection because of busted over-hardened springs, over-ground kicks, burnt edges...you name it. But the pattern itself is simply, pocketable, durable, teaches a certain degree of proficiency through its use without being too advanced for the lay person, and appropriately arms a citizen to deal with countless daily utility troubles.
 
For some reason this thread reminds of something that happened in Santa Barbara a long time ago.

A gang banger was stabbed in the belly and it severed his spine. The stabber was never found, but it was thought that he was stabbed with a bayonet.
The cops were stopping people on the street to check for knives. If they didn't have one, they were issued one.

What does this story have to do with anything? Damned if I know.
 
I would say a Benchmade Griptilian. An American made knife that is pretty basic and simple, but can handle more than most people would ever need it for.
 
Your choice of a ZT 566, Spyderco Manix 2, Benchmade Griptilian, or Buck Marksman.

I think this "program" should be amended however with the following restrictions:

1. Anyone who is a violent youthful offender will NOT be issued a knife.
2. Anyone who is not registered to vote will NOT be issued a knife.
3. Anyone who is 18 who elects to join the armed forces is given their choice of a knife up to $1000.

The "program" should be funded with the money we waste on foreign aid to countries that hate us, and with 50% of the money that would have gone to pay for elected officials and their staff members.
 
The US Demo Knife would work for me. No plastic.

You make it through high school, have a clean record and pick up your knife at your local post office when you show proof of citizenship and that you registered to vote.

You are issued ONE knife only. After that, you get to pay for it's replacement.

Fun idea, having a standard issue knife for Americans. I like it. Made by Americans for Americans.

But, sigh, we can't even seem to issue a standard simple pocket knife to our men and women in uniform.



Can you think about all the safety regs that Washington DC would try to put in place? I wonder who the "Knife Czar" would be and who would put them in office.
 
If this ever happens, you can bet your bottom dollar that Ontario knives is probably going to win this federal government tender.
18 year olds could be spending their birthdays with an old hickory knife to peel potatoes....
7065-old-hickory-paring-750.jpg
 
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