Knife for Marine Pilot

H

handyman720

Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Messages
26
Been in the Smoky Mtn Knive program "knife for a soldier" for quite awhile. One of my old HS classmates has a son flying Osprey V-22's and just came back from Irac. Now incharge of Squadron at new river (N.C) and will be sending another Squad over to Irac i think. Anyway asked his dad if i could send him a knife now. Nice to know who's getting one. Was thinking maybe Ontario, Cold steel, or Columbia...most bank for the buck. have to pay full price now. I still have a few Columbia river Marzitelli Prowlers left. I still fill its a great strong folder, strange style blade. I also was wondering if the military allows non issue knifes??? the ground pounders seem to use what they want. dont know about the pilots tho. anyway any suggestions on a fixed or folder at a reasonable price and naturally must hold up....tks in advance...chuck.
 
I recall seeing a thread like your a while back - one point that came up was that pilots often have a special pocket in their flight suits which is intended to hold a knife, and they favored blades which would fit that pocket gracefully.
 
That pocket is located thigh area and is meant to hold the automatic issue knife with the primary intent of cutting shroud lines of their parachute. However, I know there are some helicopter specific flight suits and not sure if that pocket applies. Hell, the Osprey is both so not sure what they wear but I believe most chopper crews prefer fixed blades anyway. I could've sworn we had an aircrew life support/egress specialist lurking here - maybe they could chime in - or a "plane-o-ropter" pilot er, um, aviator could chime in.
Either way, I would definitely try and find out the individuals preference. The only downside is you'd be limited to SMKW's stock.

Gibby
 
It's always good to have a big survival type knife and those brands mentioned will work. I have several friends that fly C-130s and most of them keep a Leek in there flight suits.
 
Guys: just a note to say thanks for the feedback on the knife querry. all good comments and will wait till his dad sends me some feedback. in mean time will start to look for options. Any comment on the columbia river Prowler??? probably have more options on a folder, but will see what he says...rgs chuck.
 
The knife pocket of the CWU-27/P not only fits a knife but has a lanyard sewn in so you can't lose it (or at least they used to have a lanyard...not sure about current issue) . It should fit the Prowler nicely.
 
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