If you could take one current manufactured combat knife back to 1969 what would you p

I've never liked double guard and I don't understand why it would be so important even when stabbing..

It isn't.
A single guard is plenty good enough. The double guard just limits your grip options.:thumbdn:
 
Even today, the popular blades of that era would be a good choice.

I paid about $5.00 for a new USAF Survival Knife at a Bangkok flea market in 1970. It's still going strong and until recently was my favorite carry for winter hiking and camping.
 
It really says something that the pilot and kabar knife are still popular today. I agree with you, they are still very servicable designs. Inexpensive, fairly durable and can be found just about anywhere.

My first pilot knife was in 78' and sold it off over the years. Missed it for nostalgic purposes and bought another by Ontario. Have several "kabars" in the collection for similar reasons.

With all the modern forms of weatherproofing available, you can make a lowly PSK survive a lifetime with normal care. Funny how things come back around. :)
 
Here are a few more that come to mind.

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An M-16 that didn't jam. I guess our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan still have the same problem. Oh, you said a knife. In 1969 I didn't need no stink'n knife.
 
"I paid about $5.00 for a new USAF Survival Knife at a Bangkok flea market in 1970. It's still going strong and until recently was my favorite carry for winter hiking and camping.[/QUOTE]"

The Bark River Bravo 1 is very close in size to the pilot knife. A little more money but a warranty that can't be beat.

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I would take the Pilots knife

And I do.

I have gone full circle and ended up buying an Ontario Pilots Survival Knife about 3 years ago. I have not looked back. It is a timeless design for a reason.

I was 7 in 1969 and never in the military, so my choice is pretty objective. It can do everything pretty well.
 
I was a U.S. Marine grunt from 1970 - 72 and bought my own Camillus (Ka-bar style) combat/utility for $7 at a PX stateside. It served me well for the two years I carried it in the military. I gave it to a friend of mine's son who took it to Afghanistan for a tour in 2004 -2005 and (I'm very happy to report) returned safely home and still owns it today.
A young man I work with, deployed to Iraq with his U.S. Army Nation Guard unit last month; before he left I gave him a Ka-bar combat knife to take with him.
Some things work well and don't need to be improved upon, unless you want to pay more money for a product that delivers the same end result.
 
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