knives and USMC

M

Maximus

Joined
Feb 5, 2000
Messages
102
I'm probably going into the Marine corps next year. I know in basic knives are banned (this is what an Army buddy told me) I was wondering if all knives not issued are banned, and if I was allowed to have certain knives after I recieve my commission.
 
I don't about your exact situation, but there was a guy who said he was able to carry a variety of different knives in the army. Also, in blade magazine in the "knives we carry" section, you often see military people carrying a Randall or something else.
And I would probably want a knife that wasn't too reflective either.

[This message has been edited by edrozen (edited 05-03-2000).]
 
A friend of mine is in Army ROTC, and he told me that during training, on a hike, one of the cadets pulled out a decent-size fixed blade during lunch, and was quietly told by one of the instructors not to, in the future. What's America coming to, anyway?

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Your Army friend is right. We were always supposed to be on suicide watch to make sure no one offs himself. They do not issue knifes for that reason. We only used knives when we practiced bayonets and then we had to turn them in after practice.
The rule is no locking blade or anything over 3 inches, but all knives can be considered contraband if the Sergeant Instructors think so. I had a Leatherman and many had SAK's especially the Spartan and Solider models and no one said anything.
When you are in fleet, I heard it depends on your Platoon Commander and your MOS.
 
In Basic, your knives will be banned. If the Corps wants you to have anything during basic, they will issue it to you. This includes the air you breathe. About the only thing they won't put a clamp on is your Bible and address book.

After basic, the knife you carry in the "field" will depend on about 300 different factors including, but not limited to, your MOS, your commanding officer or NCO, your supply Seargeant, the idiots who stabbed themselves in the foot the week before you go there, the terrain you will be in, and the phase of the moon.

What you can carry while in Class A's will vary from what you can carry while in BDU's. And what you carry in uniform may not be legal for you to carry in your civies. (Oddly enough, the opposite may apply also.)

No one said the Military made sense.

Semper Gumbi - Always flexible

PS - They will issue you a big clunky thing called an M9 (not the Beretta version either!). You will do just about everything with it except use the edge of it.
wink.gif


[This message has been edited by the4th (edited 05-03-2000).]
 
It is truly ironic that our nation's military is entrusted with defending not only America, but most of the other countries in the world, and yet they are not trusted to have real "knives." This is supposedly because every year, each large base (Ft. Bragg, Ft. Knox) tends to have at least one murder per year. Folding knives are generally kosher and the rules tend to relax a little when you are in the field. Jumbo folders like the SIFU or the A/F Combat Knife probably won't fly, but a Spyderco, Covert, and anything in the 2-4" range you will probably be able to get away with. The part about your MOS and unit is definately true. It will also depend on who you are individually and who you are on good terms with. And for some crazy reason, they don't like you sharpening your bayonet (as a manner of circumventing the "no sheath knives rule") either. Most of the sticklers and people in charge are hypocritical enough to say "you can't have any knives" one moment and the next futily struggling to open their own MRE or untangle a knot that is impossible to undo.
 
As a former Marine, I have to echo the sentiments of the others when they say "No blades in Boot Camp"!
After BC, your MOS and Commanding Officer will be the main determining factors on what is allowable carry and not. The 4th hits this nail on the head squarely in his post above.
For example, my Buck 110 was verbotten in one command I served under but perfectly alright when I transferred to another command. Go figure. Same MOS, just different CO's. Anything other than the issued Kabar was frowned upon. But, back then, there weren't that many affordable alternatives that were any better than the Kabar anyway, so why bother?


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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
 
Maximus' post indicates that he will be entering the Corps as an officer. If this is the case then the rules in force at The Basic School are slightly different that those governing boot camp. Things may have changed in the last 15 years, but when I went through TBS a fixed blade sheathed knife was perfectly acceptable for use during field exercises. That having been said I feel I should interject a word of caution; A basic rule of survival at TBS is to try to avoid doing anything that unnecessarily draws attention to yourself. Six months is a long time to be on the skyline. For this reason I strongly recommend purchasing a KaBar at the base exchange for $39 or whatever the going rate is. The KaBar is a fine knife that sharpens easily, will do everything that needs to be done, and most importantly, won't be a topic of discussion amongst overzealous instructors. The fact that it's readily available at the base is also a plus as it will give you the opportunity to see what the current rules are before making your purchase. Once you get to the fleet you'll likely have more flexibility depending upon your MOS and station. Good luck.

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Semper Fi
 
Killerman may be able to talk to some of the Marine Company Officers at the Academy and give you more up to date info on what flies and what doesn't these days at TBS.

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Semper Fi
 
Marines RCT 7, HQ TOW CO., We carried anything and everything we felt like. some of us went off to Somalia packing so much hardware you would not believe it! I weighed over 300lbs when they weighed me with all of my gear before getting on the plane! I carried a very nice EK double edged knife with desert camo wrap and sheath in addition to my kabar. I also had a Springfield Armory .45 carried in SOB just in case. In addition to my 12 gauge shotgun and my 9mm attached to my flak jacket. My command could care less what knife you carried! our SgtMaj carried one of those ridicuous Gil Hibben split bladed monstrosities that he would show to anyone and everyone.

One word of advice:

You get out of the Marines what you put into it. Earn your Rank by hard work and meritorious promotion - not just because you stayed out of trouble and were in long enough to get it. My training in the Marines is directly responsible for me being very very very successful in business.
I made it from PVT. to SGT in less than 2 years as a result of working 24 hours a day to be the best jarhead that ever walked the planet! This was in an 03 MOS where promotions usually come few and far between. Let NOTHING get in the way of your goal - to graduate boot camp and become a member of one of the most elite clubs on the planet - the Marines. This same drive has earned me a salary and position far above and beyond that of my degreed friends.

Good luck
and
Semper Fi

Chris Canis
 
I can't speak for the Marines but as a former Company Commander in the Army, there was a local rule against troops carrying anything larger than a pocket knife on duty. This was to keep them from hurting themselves or someone else, especially during one of the drinking binges that occasionally broke out. I did allow them to keep any knife they liked in the arms room in a box right next to the units bayonets. This would allow them to be properly armed when they needed it but not have large sharp things in the barracks.

Bruce Woodbury
 
Bronco:

Since I have about three years until graduation, I have been worrying more about the academic side of things than TBS (still a long way away). I went down to OCS last weekend and none of the instructors there were concerned about the Mids having Ka-Bars and similar knives, but I don't think that something bigger like an RTAK would have passed their muster. The regs on blades here at the Academy are pretty strict and a little hypocritical. I.E. you can have the sword they issue you (if your billet requires one), but you can't have a katana, rapier, etc. You can have your bayonet (M1 Garand, 10" blade, WW2 vintage), but they don't want you to sharpen it. But you can't have a Ka-Bar or anything with a blade longer than 3.5" at the Academy. Some of my classmate who were Navy priors say the rules on knives are a lot looser here than in the fleet. However it still depends on who you are (and or what sport you play) (and what year (ie "rank") you are.
 
Hang in there KillerMan, the first year's definitely the toughest. It sounds like you've got your priorities in the right place though and the importance of that can't be underestimated. Kick ass on your youngster cruise and I promise it will be a new world you return to next August.

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Semper Fi
 
Mark6:

I figured that there had to be at least one other Mid hiding around these forums somewhere. Probably a couple of woops too and maybe a zoomie.
 
I like this discussion. I can't understand any of it. Actually, I like it 'cause I'm surprised how many of the terms I either know already or can figure out, just from listening to my friends who are in Army or Navy ROTC, and listening to the Air Force guys whose building is right next to the race car garage where I spend much of my non-Bladeforums time. Imagine what happens to a bunch of uppity Air Force cadets when a car gives a nice backfire ("what are you guys shooting?!" "relax, can't you guys tell the difference between a gun and a car?"). No offence to anyone in the Air Force...

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Hey, mids, I am deeply hurt by your slanderous remarks about the West Pointers... But I suppose I shall have my revenge when we KICK THE CRAP OUT OF YOU NEXT ARMY/NAVY GAME!!!

Actually I am just a junior in HS right now, but I am working on admissions to WP. A friend is trying for AF and another has already been taken at Annapolis. Say hi to Tim Scheidler plebe year, mmmkay?

As far as knives go... stupid is as stupid does. They trust you guys with a sub full of Nukes but not a pocket knife? Jeesh...

I also have a bud that is 1st class at the Point and he is kinda sick of the bureaucracy in the military. How is it in Annapolis?

P.S.- I visited two summers ago and the town was beautiful. I just can't see myself on a boat for six months.
 
Ya'll can go on doggin' the USAFA folks as much as you want, as long as you don't extend it to the rest of us fly-boys...
smile.gif


I know at my field training, they frowned at just about everything. This was whether they told you to bring it or not, and they did not tell you to bring a knife, in fact, they told you not to.

This doesn't change the fact that I did have a SAK in my kit, nor the fact that it was useful. Though I would have been lucky for it to be relieved of my possession ond handed back when I left if those in charge had cared to notice.

I'd advise not to bring a knife. Take some good nail clippers. Anything else you need, outside of your own brain and limbs, will be issued to you. Have fun, and good luck. I'm glad there are boys on the ground willing to run after the guys that want to shoot us. You ever need some air support, give me a call, and if I ever run into you, I'll buy you a beer.


Stryver
 
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