Knife for an infantry soldier?

What knife would you suggest?

  • Cold steel srk 3v

    Votes: 40 38.1%

  • Benchmade Nimravus

    Votes: 14 13.3%

  • Gerber Strongman

    Votes: 8 7.6%

  • Esee 3

    Votes: 18 17.1%

  • Esee 4

    Votes: 39 37.1%

  • Lionsteel T5

    Votes: 11 10.5%

  • SOG Seal Pup Elite

    Votes: 5 4.8%

  • SOG Tech Bowie

    Votes: 1 1.0%

  • SOG Pillar

    Votes: 4 3.8%

  • SOG NW Ranger

    Votes: 2 1.9%
  • Total voters
    105
Lionsteel. maybe an M4 or an M5 model.
Compact, reliable good steel.
A fixed blade is a very nice present - IMHO.
 
Question about the Esee-3/4. I've noticed that the ones with the Grey micarta handles, seem to have an inner orange layer between the handle scale and the tang. The orange seems out of place, is it possible to remove that orange, or is it possible to change that somehow(not including using a sharpie lol)?
 
PoorUserName said:
Ontario RAT 7 with or without serrations.
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Used an Ontario Tak-1 during SERE school. Was an excellent knife for that purpose, D2 so did not need sharpening in the field (would have been a pain in the ass with that steel). Carried it for a bit on one deployment, but it was too heavy and too single purpose. Multitool used everyday, fixed blade used for one thing only so the lighter, the better.

I carry an American Kami GTFO now, light, and fits centerline of kit carrier
 
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Kawika said:
Used an Ontario Tak-1 during SERE school. Was an excellent knife for that purpose, D2 so did not need sharpening in the field (would have been a pain in the ass with that steel). Carried it for a bit on one deployment, but it was too heavy and too single purpose. Multitool used everyday, fixed blade used for one thing only so the lighter, the better.

I carry an American Kami GTFO now, light, and fits centerline of kit carrier
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How is that GTfO in revese grip edge in?
 
It might look stupid what they are doing.

But i much prefer a durable knife that is hard to break but needs resharpening more than an hard steel blade with excellent edge retention that is more prone to breaking.

So an SK5 steel carbon blade knife would be top of my list.

 
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Gideons said:
Question about the Esee-3/4. I've noticed that the ones with the Grey micarta handles, seem to have an inner orange layer between the handle scale and the tang. The orange seems out of place, is it possible to remove that orange, or is it possible to change that somehow(not including using a sharpie lol)?
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Those liners are bonded to the scales. If you get the ESEE 3MIL it will have plain green canvas scales, as will the desert tan ESEE 4, or at least they used to.

Another note of interest. The ESEE4 is only about 1 inch longer than the ESEE3, but thicker steel and weighs almost twice as much.
 
mistwalker said:
Those liners are bonded to the scales. If you get the ESEE 3MIL it will have plain green canvas scales, as will the desert tan ESEE 4, or at least they used to.

Another note of interest. The ESEE4 is only about 1 inch longer than the ESEE3, but thicker steel and weighs almost twice as much.
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That is disappointing. I was looking into EESE-3 with a modified rounded pommel. The desert tan eese-4 fails to meet the requirements of having a black blade.
 
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Gideons said:
That is disappointing. I was looking into EESE-3 with a modified rounded pommel. The desert tan eese-4 fails to meet the requirements of having a black blade.
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The liner gets dirty and non-stand-out-ish pretty quickly with use. I have an old set of scales in my desk drawer for an ESEE 3 I used to carry with custom scales on it that have a bonded green liner, so I don't think they are all orange. You may want to ask the purveyor
 
erhodes said:
Swamprat ratmandu. I'm active duty 82nd infantry and my ratmandu has taken everything I throw at it. Well worth the money and you can get a nice custom sheath with it as well
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Do you know if the handles are removable?
 
I'm planning on getting a friend who's going Army a traditional Ka-bar after he gets out of basic
Gideons said:
Hey BF,

A mate of mine just became a officer of a light infantry airmobile unit. He already has a Leatherman wave, and many premium folders at his disposal. So for a graduation gift I'm looking to get him a fixed blade. How much of an issue of rubbery handles getting eaten up by kydex sheaths? If the fix blade you would recommend isn't listed in the poll, just post it down below. Thank you for your input!

The specs he is looking for are:
Length: 4.5"-6"
Weight: sub 9.5oz
Sheath: kydex(could buy custom)
Bladecoating: yes(preferred DLC)
Price: $200 or less.

Thanks you,

Gideons
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Thank you for all of your assistance. I ended up purchasing a CS SRK 3V. I was pleasantly surprised by how light and small the knife was. Overall my initial impressions of the SRK in 3V are very positive.
 
I'm putting in a vote for the SOG Pillar, It is the best SOG made. It's not your typical SOG. This one is made here in the USA and is using s35vn steel. Very few people really know about this knife, and most turn their heads because its a SOG. The quality is top notch.
 
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