Knife for an infantry soldier?

[Gideons]

The smaller and lighter the fixed blade; the more likely it will get carried and used.

I voted for the Benchmade Nimravus. (Has it been replaced with the Protagonist? I'm not sure of the differences between the the two. The Protagonist receives excellent reviews by Gideon's Tactical among others).

Nimravus has also received many great reviews. I don't think the protagonist replaced it, but it is a smaller, lighter alternative. I think for some abuse the nimravus is more stout while still light.

Have you looked at fallkniven’s s1 or a1?

I have, specifically the s1 because I like it's size. However, the coating isn't great, I would want DLC at that price range, and not ecstatic for rubber handles at that price range either.

Former infantry officer who was a platoon leader in Iraq (dismounted recon, 10th mountain). Stay away from SOG. Never broke one but they always felt cheap so I was hesitant to use (although I somehow acquired 3 over the years). (Loved my SOG Trident though which I used the hell out of and it still has shrapnel scars from an IED. :-D) I had a Benchmade that I preferred and it got good use. No personal experience with anything else in the list.

Sounds like a vote for the benchmade nimravus?

The esee 4 in 440c seems like it would fit his requirements, except for the dlc part; 4.5” blade, molded plastic sheath, tough as nails. Or the entrek bravo 18 s.e.r.e., kydex sheath and a little less than 6” blade, but with a lifetime guarantee he’ll never need to use.

I don't really used fixed blades often, but a knife at that price range shouldn't the steel be more premium than 440c? Wouldn't 440c or 420HC(strongarm) dull fast during outdoors work? Like I said, I don't use fixe blades often, so I'm not sure what steel attributes are recommended or well liked.

 

[mtngunr]

For $150 or less, on ebay, an original NIB Cold Steel Carbon V Recon Tanto. I never seriously hurt a Carbon V blade in three theaters of operation. They do rust in temperate and tropical climates (the edge, anyhow, the epoxy powder coat holds up well, and he can always repaint in garrison), and he would need wipe DEET off his hand before grabbing the kraton of that time. But exceptionally tough, sharp, edge holding blade, trim shape, can bust open ammo cans and hack rope to his heart's content.

 

[BladeScout]

OP.
He has a Wave and thats all he needs for sundry tasks.

If a standard soldier finds himself in a situation, where a knife is needed for serious 'social' work, somebody screwed the pooch but for the sake of argument; ESEE 3 of the ones mentioned in the OP. Compact and light weight equals easy to carry and no snagging when in a hurry to get out of an APC, chopper or the like.

 

[Gideons]

For $150 or less, on ebay, an original NIB Cold Steel Carbon V Recon Tanto. I never seriously hurt a Carbon V blade in three theaters of operation. They do rust in temperate and tropical climates (the edge, anyhow, the epoxy powder coat holds up well, and he can always repaint in garrison), and he would need wipe DEET off his hand before grabbing the kraton of that time. But exceptionally tough, sharp, edge holding blade, trim shape, can bust open ammo cans and hack rope to his heart's content.

How did the rubber handle, and the rubber guard hold up?

 

[Charlie Mike]

I carried a switchblade as an infantryman in Mosul 03-04.

Microtech D/A SOCOM.

 

[Yonose]

I don't really used fixed blades often, but a knife at that price range shouldn't the steel be more premium than 440c? Wouldn't 440c or 420HC(strongarm) dull fast during outdoors work? Like I said, I don't use fixe blades often, so I'm not sure what steel attributes are recommended or well liked.

440C isn’t comparable to 420HC at all, especially if cryogenic-quenched; .3-.45% carbon vs .95% carbon for one thing. It will hold an edge a lot longer and would be suitable for almost any task for which a knife would be used. That’s not saying it has the toughness of infi, but it will have better edge retention, and less maintenance requirements than carbon steels.

 

[strategy9]

I'm pretty sure the unmarked Gerber knives I had, not knowing my head from my arse, were made of 3cr13, 5cr if I was lucky, basically "surgical" steel at best...

Knowing what I do now, I would 100% without a doubt trust 440c in theater today, especially on anything under 6 inches.

 

[eisman]

The knives I've used most often, in 33 years in uniform, were slipjoints. I always have one in my pocket. For a fixed blade a 4-5" was all I ever needed and at that it was light enough to actually get carried. I think most every Soldier gets the "big knife" syndrome early on, but after a while you find those just get stuck in the bottom of a duffle bag.

 

[mtngunr]

OP.
He has a Wave and thats all he needs for sundry tasks.

If a standard soldier finds himself in a situation, where a knife is needed for serious 'social' work, somebody screwed the pooch but for the sake of argument; ESEE 3 of the ones mentioned in the OP. Compact and light weight equals easy to carry and no snagging when in a hurry to get out of an APC, chopper or the like.

Sure, break airdropped pallet straps, and bust open ammo crates with a Wave....probe for a mine, too...hammer it through a rope....it can do everything.

The handles have held up well...cannot pound with or on pommel, but that is a good way to break your hand on smaller targets, and knife has a very thick and heavy spine...the originals are very very tough....the 0170-6C steel received a very sophisticated and precise molten salt bath heat treat cycle. There really isn't any production knife of similar dimension made tougher to this day. The shorter original SRK also handier, but, the tanto is trim and light for length and generally easier to find NIB.

But, don't listen to me, listen to the knife and steel flavor of the month crowd here, they know everything there is to know. Take a poll, you'll see.

 

[GermanyChris]

Sure, break airdropped pallet straps, and bust open ammo crates with a Wave....probe for a mine, too...hammer it through a rope....it can do everything.

The handles have held up well...cannot pound with or on pommel, but that is a good way to break your hand on smaller targets, and knife has a very thick and heavy spine...the originals are very very tough....the 0170-6C steel received a very sophisticated and precise molten salt bath heat treat cycle. There really isn't any production knife of similar dimension made tougher to this day. The shorter original SRK also handier, but, the tanto is trim and light for length and generally easier to find NIB.

But, don't listen to me, listen to the knife and steel flavor of the month crowd here, they know everything there is to know. Take a poll, you'll see.

OK we won’t listen to you.

A modern folder can do everything asked by an infantryman one is not more special than any other and virtually no one requires a fixed blade if they did you’d actually see them from the cool kids on down.

Our OP is a Canuck IIRC, while it’s been a while since I’ve been on mission with them I don’t recall seeing any fixed blades on them (yes I know you can google pictures that will “prove me wrong”). While I’m not an expert I worked with 3PPCLI and they carried pretty much what we did plus a few more long guns and minus a few machine guns.

 

[mtngunr]

Considering I combat jumped in two invasions, and played ground pounder in another, and did some advising/training in tropics, I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about. Just carry a Barlow, don't worry, be happy.

 

[BladeScout]

Considering I combat jumped in two invasions, and played ground pounder in another, and did some advising/training in tropics, I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about. Just carry a Barlow, don't worry, be happy.

In which two different invasions did you combat jump and in which invasion were you a ground pounder?
Reason I ask, is that whilst there has been 'Operation Enduring Freedom' combat jumps for that particular combat mission, its been a while since the last 'invasion' let alone three of them.

 

[GermanyChris]

Considering I combat jumped in two invasions, and played ground pounder in another, and did some advising/training in tropics, I have absolutely no idea what I am talking about. Just carry a Barlow, don't worry, be happy.

OK, we'll be happy and carry a Barlow

 

[BladeScout]

Sure, break airdropped pallet straps, and bust open ammo crates with a Wave....probe for a mine, too...hammer it through a rope....it can do everything.

You do realize, that in todays asymmetric warfare in the open desert (let alone in villages/towns/cities), those things are not likely to often be in an infantry officers job description?
Besides, they have these things today, they are called mine detectors.
Mine probes are also present.

 

[DocJD]

The USA may not always enjoy the overwhelming advantages militarily that now seem taken for granted . History teaches that things always change and it's good to be ready when things go bad . Having a full size military field knife and some survival skills might help . Was found to be useful in nasty past wars .

 

[BladeScout]

The USA may not always enjoy the overwhelming advantages militarily that now seem taken for granted .

What do you mean by this?

Was found to be useful in nasty past wars .

Get with the program We are talking asymmetric warfare in open desert - not Iwo, Okinawa or clandestine ops in dense jungle foliage in Vietnam.
Romantic notions of times gone by are all well and good - just not the reality (apart from a few notable exceptions - anything is possible of course
https://www.neatorama.com/2011/01/29/40-train-robbers-vs-1-gurkha/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hought-I-going-die--I-tried-kill-I-could.html)

 

[katanas]

My (our) clandestine ops in 'Nam may well be revisited in the future. Never dismiss past warfare because it is not the kind now experienced; BAD move. The Brits made that mistake with our revolutionary troops who reverted to the "French and Indian war" techniques and refused to fight Napoleonic style warfare (again in the Civil war-or the war of northern aggression, depending). I know that SOCOM insertion units STILL carry fixed blades, and that's a good idea-SRK remains my vote (although the Recon Tanto is a superb alternative IMO.).

 

[Danke42]

Well I know we all have time in but we seem to have strayed from the salient point. Giving a brand new officer a pointy sharp fixed blade.

I would say first of all ask the platoon Sgt. or the Company Commander if he's allowed one. An officer is expected to be an example and that would include non-standard kit. If he's allowed a knife a Grohmann could be a good choice.

In the meantime the average brand new minted platoon leader won't be leading any SF missions that involve silent sentry removal. If he is above average he will know what knife he needs and have one already.

 

[katanas]

My, how times have changed. I asked my sergeant many things, but what I was allowed to carry sure as hell would NOT have been one of them. Old soldiers etc. And, by the way, sentry removal was/is part of the LTs job at times (a silenced, subsonic 9mm was usually used instead of a knife).

 

[shinyedges]

Some people are still living in nam apparently. If they ever really went there. Come back to reality.