Knife for Afghanistan

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thebrain said:
An ESEE 6 is a pretty fine tool in that size range or maybe the TOPS Prather War Bowie. Op do you prefer stainless or is carbon steel ok?
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cool with either. not much of a rust issue on previous deployments so i doubt ill have to worry about it.
 
ROCK6 said:
The CMFTW knife is superb...that is going on my redeployment-gift list:thumbsup:

Now, I mentioned the possible issue with shipping larger fixed blades back home if you're not traveling with your unit, but there are other considerations. I'm all in support of carrying a larger fixed blade, but the key aspect is the sheath system along with how and where you carry it. Most operations involve wheeled or fixed wing/helo-transport. Having anything long hanging off your kit will get caught up in doors, seatbelts, and seat-webbing. I've personally observed one young trooper getting hung up coming out of an up-armored HMMWV, and another who was eating in a DFAC and when he stood up, the plastic chair was hanging off his fixed blade:eek:

I'm out of uniform, but now wearing "combat casual" here in Afghanistan. The two fixed blades I rotate, but carry one daily, are the TOPS CUT 4.0, and the ESEE 3, both worn in Kydex Armatus sheaths (typically worn horizontally/SOB). I'm a professional low-speed, high-drag advisor...no kicking down doors, low-crawling in the sand, filling sandbags, or doing any foot-patrols. Just a retired vet still working in a combat environment and unabashed knife enthusiast!

In the past I've carried Busse, Mad Dog PATAK, Randall #15, Cold Steel SRK (my first fixed blade on Active Duty back in the early 90's), and a few others. If you're willing to spend the money on a Custom, I really recommend it. No, it likely won't be an EDC-user blade, but it's still comforting, adds a story to a knife you'll hopefully hand down to your son/grandson, and keeps the tradition of carrying a combat knife in combat alive. Along with a good fixed blade, I still do appreciate a SAK and/or Multitool (Swiss Spirit X). You will most often use a folding knife, but there is a lot of mental comfort derived by a fixed blade.

Weight is a factor. I love that the CMFTW is under a pound; that's important. Most fixed blades will be carried more than used (unless you do some training), so if your operations involve more dismounted stuff, consider the weight of the knife system.

Also, make sure you pop back in and tell us what you decided on...here area few I've been carrying and using:









ROCK6
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I'm currently looking at the winkler field knife and i really love that cut 4.0 shown above. I carry an Emerson aftershock for my folder so that's taken care of. As far as the carrying issue goes, I was planning on carrying somewhere off of my vest.
 
Winkler was a top contender (still is on the list!). You will want to find a good Kydex sheath maker that offers good retention and a versatile attachment system. I was (still am) really considering this version of the Winkler Belt Knife.

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One consideration on blade-length is what you may get away with back at garrison (much depends on the specific regulations for the post as they all vary). I carried a Mad Dog Pygmy ATAK which had a 5.5" blade as part of my EDC and my top BDU/ACU/OCP blouse covered it up perfectly. I carried it for about 15 of my 30 years on Active Duty.









ROCK6
 
Also partner, get yourself a box of fineliner sharpies, and a decent pen with no cap like a clicky mechanism such as Tuffwriter pens.
 
While I have no experience with this knife it looks like it would be one to check out with a 7" blade and 14oz. It's made by Rmj and well under your price point.

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Based on your position, if it were me I’d be thinking more utility and less fighter. Carbon steel over stainless. 5”-6ish” with a little bit of mass.

When I was in Rifle and Scout Platoons, we all ditched the issued bayonets (yes, I am dating myself) and carried K-Bars. Mine never let me down.

If I had to do it over again today and I had the money, I’d probably go with one of the larger and heavier Winklers (Woodsman looks great to me).

I would also add a medium sized SAK to the list. They’re cheap, open silently, can be used for light prying and light utility. Mine was my most used knife while in the service. I still carry one.

Thank you for your service and best of luck!
 
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GermanyChris said:
Recoons are the bad a$$es

It's amazing how everyone is a super special SEAL or a LRRP special pseudo ranger now that Vietnam is 50 years old you're like the OP a special boy scout snipper. The loose definition of special that exists now 50 years later my old man a brown water sailor who spent his four tours in Vietnam is a SEAL even though he was a gunners mate. I look forward 30 years when I become special forces because I was fought in the same battles that they fought in.

Mean while back at the ranch a scout sniper is likely attached to MARSOC and really would have gone through other specialized schools like SERE so he'd know what he needs and not need to poll the knife nut community.

Signed Christopher Davis an ole 11B2p sorta pseudo Ranger (I mean I went to the school and all that chit and graduated mountain warfare school which is just like the phase of ranger school I failed right)
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So you will still probably call me a fake (but not to my face for sure) but I served in E/20 LRP Airborne Infantry First Field Force that was reflagged as C0 C, 75 Rangers First Field Force in Jan. of 69. That includes graduating from the MACV Recon Commando School. Stateside it was A/1/505th Parachute Infantry 82 Abn. You are probably right about all the fakers but I'm not one of them. I have a number of old team mates that can back all of that if need be. By the way, I was 11F2P in the Rangers but back to plain old 11B2P stateside.
 
There's more special forces and infantryman on the internet than I thought. Jeesh, I feel like lowly piece of excrement for being a non infantry mos.

If only everyone was an infantryman or special forces and we didn't need mechanics for vehicles, medics, guys who deal with chemicals, missile defense to keep our guys from being blown up before than even do commando stuff, and about a million other things that make our war machine function.

Criminy.
 
shinyedges said:
There's more special forces and infantryman on the internet than I thought. Jeesh, I feel like lowly piece of excrement for being a non infantry mos.

If only everyone was an infantryman or special forces and we didn't need mechanics for vehicles, medics, guys who deal with chemicals, missile defense to keep our guys from being blown up before than even do commando stuff, and about a million other things that make our war machine function.

Criminy.
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They're got a saying that the SAS is biggest regiment in the British Army because everyone knows someone who's in it.

I think the military needs a MOS for knife guy. Right now it seems scattered.
 
I picked up a used Gerber MKII the other day. I was just kinda wondering when this type of knife fell out of favor with military personnel? Was it way back in the 80's?
 
cbrstar said:
I picked up a used Gerber MKII the other day. I was just kinda wondering when this type of knife fell out of favor with military personnel? Was it way back in the 80's?
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I think they were still popular into the 90s. In the 80s that Gerber family was the go to for the average soldier.
 
Seems like a good way to generate 10 opinions on a service knife is to ask 5 vets. ;^)

Not that this distinguishes vets from other knife nuts in any way and not that there's anything wrong with that.

Non-vet question... I understand the uses for a 6"-7" knife in the woods. Other than wood prep, are there any uses where a 6"-7" becomes more useful for soldiering than a 4"-5" knife?

Related George Carlin joke, have you noticed that people who drive slower than you are inconsiderate and people who drive faster than you are reckless? I'm guessing there is a knife size analog.
 
shinyedges said:
There's more special forces and infantryman on the internet than I thought. Jeesh, I feel like lowly piece of excrement for being a non infantry mos.

If only everyone was an infantryman or special forces and we didn't need mechanics for vehicles, medics, guys who deal with chemicals, missile defense to keep our guys from being blown up before than even do commando stuff, and about a million other things that make our war machine function.

Criminy.
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Seriously, don’t. Like you say, it takes all types to keep the machine rolling and every type of service has it’s hardships and value.
 
TrainedBullets said:
Seriously, don’t. Like you say, it takes all types to keep the machine rolling and every type of service has it’s hardships and value.
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For sure, it's together we make the most well rounded baddest military on the planet. Much respect to the tip of the spear too, they know that. Most of them also know without other mos's it would be much uglier for them.

I got out in 2012, now I work for a dod contractor and manufacture the armored vehicles we roll in. Still, support our troops :thumbsup:
 
pinnah said:
Seems like a good way to generate 10 opinions on a service knife is to ask 5 vets. ;^)

Not that this distinguishes vets from other knife nuts in any way and not that there's anything wrong with that.

Non-vet question... I understand the uses for a 6"-7" knife in the woods. Other than wood prep, are there any uses where a 6"-7" becomes more useful for soldiering than a 4"-5" knife?

Related George Carlin joke, have you noticed that people who drive slower than you are inconsiderate and people who drive faster than you are reckless? I'm guessing there is a knife size analog.
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That’s a really funny post! Thanks!

I suspect it depends on the person’s job. Someone somewhere probably needs to stick someone with the pointy end, but for almost everyone it’s going to simply be a tool. What you do with that tool depends on what your job is.

I carried a K-Bar in the field as a Light Infantryman (mostly to build and conceal a defensive fighting position), plus my trusty SAK. When I got a Battalion staff job I simply carried the SAK with a pistol taking the place of the K-bar on my belt.
 
Not sure what Germany Chris is so upset (?) about and not sure how MARSOC got into the discussion as I did not see Slayer-12114 mention that. Slayer might want to check carefully with his unit on what they allow before investing $500-$600 into a knife. Lots of good recommendations on what to carry from folks who have been down range in Afghanistan. One small point, I have known Side hill Gouger for about 23 years now, and can testify that he was in the units he listed, and did what he said he did, to include successfully attending and graduating from RECONDO School. John
 
I agree the support troops who aid in all the less glamourous aspect are still as important in my mind. The tip of the spear will get dull fast with out these great men and women backing up the tip.

Back to the topic. For your price range a Randall model 15 or even model 1 would serve you well and be an incredible heirloom for your family. They have a huge military history and background. A SWAMP RAT RMD or a WINKLER would be my second choices. A lot of great options out there. God speed and thank you for being a patriot to our country.
 
Tooth to tail ratio not withstanding.

Perhaps have a look at either the Benchmade 162
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Or the Buck 119 Brahma. Here it is between two classics,
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And on its own,
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Webelos '67-'69.
 
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