Knife for a Soldier

[AusLoX]

I started my nephew, who is a marine too, with a leather man, Rat folder and izula 2. Got the two knives from knife works and had them engraved. Later got him one of the Salt series b/c he's in Japan. Latest buy was the Scrap Yard skinner which I'm waiting on a sheath for.

The no budget makes me think Winkler- I love my Belt knife and his Operator looks tempting to me.

Can't go wrong with an ESEE 4 IMO, great design and sheath system.

Part of me says not to buy something he would be bummed if it was lost or stolen.

I like your style. I think I need to get him a couple blades and a leatherman. Because from what everyone says around here, it seems like fellow marines like to steal your gear...so giving him a couple backups might be a good way to go.

 

[ebidis]

I can tell you from my experience in the military (way back in the '80's/'90's), I got the most use out of a good sturdy folder (a Buck 110 at the time), a SAK, and a Leatherman. I never carried a fixed blade.

 

[nedflow]

Having spent years as a Marine groundpounder avoid the heavier blades. May not seem like a big issue but you WILL feel every ounce of weight, especially after his first forced march with 100 pounds on his back.

 

[AusLoX]

Having spent years as a Marine groundpounder avoid the heavier blades. May not seem like a big issue but you WILL feel every ounce of weight, especially after his first forced march with 100 pounds on his back.

Ah ok. Makes sense. How about the benchmade nimravus? It's very light but I'm not sure it's as tough as some of the others listed.

 

[nedflow]

Ah ok. Makes sense. How about the benchmade nimravus? It's very light but I'm not sure it's as tough as some of the others listed.

An ESEE Izula 2 is fine to start with. If he ends up in a specialized MOS (Scout Sniper/Recon/Raider) later on he will probably select something that meets his needs. I remember a lot of boots showing up to the fleet with these outrageous blades, LOL! Maybe hold onto the idea and ask him after he has been in for a while.

 

[Leftytwogunz]

I was thinking Busse. I have a KA-BAR and TOPS. Another one I was thinking is the benchmade nimravus or the fixed Adams? What about Winkler? Thoughts on those?

What type of job is he going to have in the Marines?

There are some nice busse's and kin for sale on the exchange sometimes, and I have been through and still have quite a few Winkler knives, and they are fantastic. Shoot me an email sometime if you want to know about any of them.
Take care.

 

[AusLoX]

What type of job is he going to have in the Marines?

There are some nice busse's and kin for sale on the exchange sometimes, and I have been through and still have quite a few Winkler knives, and they are fantastic. Shoot me an email sometime if you want to know about any of them.
Take care.

Absolutely man. I just got his new cell number from my aunt so I'm going to give him a call later and then I will have some more info on what's his job is. If he's in 29 palms, CA I think he might have something to do with tanks. Not sure though.

Here's what I have laying around my garage. I was thinking to just give him some of these options.

 

[rpn]

Not going to give him the ZT at the bottom of that last pic?! lol!

Nice knives there. :thumbup:

When my nephew was home on leave in the fall, I had him check out all my lives and the folders he liked were my Emersons Gentleman Jim and my 13. For the fixed blades he liked the Winkler Belt knife and mudder grips on the Scrap Yard.

If he can eyeball your collection, may help the process.

 

[Leftytwogunz]

One more vote for no knife until he has an actual duty station. The stateside military is a lot less knife friendly than some seem to think and each unit commander can have his own rules.

Here it is.

A reasonable pocket knife, like that HK axis or the 710 that you have pictured should suit him fine for many years. Until you discover he needs a multitool or a fixed blade with a purpose no reason to get ahead of yourself.

The military has changed a lot since many of us were in. I hear they barely wear boots in boot camp anymore and have stress cards in case their feelings get hurt. Odds are carrying around a large combat knife at all times (especially stateside or a friendly base overseas) is probably not fine. Find out what his job requires and then go from there.
Best of luck.

 

[Silvanus]

I was based in 29 Palms, which is close to Palm Springs. There is no restrictions on brands whatsoever. It all comes down to what the blade length is. For me back in 2007-2009 when I was stationed there, the limit was 3.5". Me personally, I'd have loved to have an Emerson with me when I was deployed. Anything under 3.5" would be good, I'd personally choose a Mini Desert Roadhouse or a Mini Commander.

 

[AusLoX]

I was based in 29 Palms, which is close to Palm Springs. There is no restrictions on brands whatsoever. It all comes down to what the blade length is. For me back in 2007-2009 when I was stationed there, the limit was 3.5". Me personally, I'd have loved to have an Emerson with me when I was deployed. Anything under 3.5" would be good, I'd personally choose a Mini Desert Roadhouse or a Mini Commander.

Awesome choices. I may look into getting him an Emerson. I'm headed to Emerson HQ on Thursday with a buddy of mine. So I will most likely but a few knives when I get there so I can give him some options.

 

[Sonnydaze]

If your friend is a new boot, you might want to hold off on the expensive knife until he has a good idea of what he is going to be allowed to carry.

YES. Once you know it's okay, then have a ball. I generally gift folders to deployed soldiers: SAKs, Millies, PM2's, BM's.

 

[exracr]

Buy him an Arkansas stone... He's gonna need it! Besides, even if he beats up his issued gear; he can learn to re-sharpen them himself. He can also take it with him if he deploys. A sharp knife only goes dull once in combat if you can't sharpen it/ don't know how. 20 yrs, 2 months, 3 years served...... "I know nothing." Besides, most the time when you deploy; they have a "I forgot I have a knife in my bag" drop box.... so stupid IMO trust me. What do you mean? We're doploying XX # of combat aircraft, with XX # of gatling guns and munitions... I can't take a knife with me? "NOPE THEY SAY!"

 

[Chris Larrikin]

From slightly left of field, knives by Hardcore Hardware Australia have become quite popular with our deployed armed forces. If size is an issue, take a look at the LFK series. They're small, have several mounting options and from speaking with some guys with deployment experience are quite liked as a very versatile little tool. They're on the pricey side for D2 but with the strong US dollar vs the Aussie dollar you should be able to get a good deal. I am pretty sure that some of the BF member dealers stock them.

Also give some thought to a sharpener. My suggestion would be a Fallkniven DC4; small, light, extremely effective little diamond/ceramic combo stone.

 

[USMCPOP]

Having spent years as a Marine groundpounder avoid the heavier blades. May not seem like a big issue but you WILL feel every ounce of weight, especially after his first forced march with 100 pounds on his back.

Ya think? My kid weighed maybe a buck twenty five. Marines are tough but bones and sinew have their limits. Marines (and Soldiers) on deployment are not your average hiker. And nowadays they seem to load them down even more than in days past.

 

[mccoppinb]

I was based in 29 Palms, which is close to Palm Springs. There is no restrictions on brands whatsoever. It all comes down to what the blade length is. For me back in 2007-2009 when I was stationed there, the limit was 3.5". Me personally, I'd have loved to have an Emerson with me when I was deployed. Anything under 3.5" would be good, I'd personally choose a Mini Desert Roadhouse or a Mini Commander.

Bring back memories lol

 

[Butcher1]

A lot of great suggestions already but I'll throw my two cents in.

First, get him a good folder, as has already been pointed out they are more useful and much more likely to be carried than a fixed blade. Second, get him a coarse/fine DMT diafold, they are as compact and light as most field sharpeners but they handle makes them a little safer and easier to use.

I would also get him a couple of Ontario 498s for trade fodder, fixed blades may not get carried as often but if he gets stationed overseas everyone will want to trade for a kabar from a marine.

 

[AusLoX]

Ok might have changed from fixed blade to folder with all this new info. Might get a Emerson mini CQC8 or roadhouse for the 3.5" blade length with a backup HK axis. And a multi tool just because. I have this Nimravus laying around so I'll throw that in as well. Thanks for all the help everyone. I really hope he likes the options.

 

[strategy9]

Benchmade Adamas for Folder, a solid hunk of a knife, that will handle anything you throw at it.

 

[strategy9]

Just read through better and saw he's getting stationed in Japan. They have pretty tough laws on knife carrying. Might want to look into that more specifically before purchasing a folder.