MACV Recondo School Honor Graduate Knife?

[digital9ja]

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

 

[MrPocketsOfSteel]

Now that it has been established that it was a Ben Baker SOG knife, I wonder if it matches ones of the Presentation models listed here.

Military Fighting Knives/Collection

From what I remember, the 5th Special Forces Presentation model had a slightly different grind than the others, the grind line met the tip of the second spine peak. This was not the case for the various "sterile" versions. And this was the basis of the commercial SOG knives in 1986.

Thanks Ken for dropping that link. I took just a 30 second glance for me to know to keep that. I appreciate that! Good reading right there. :0)

 

[Thijs]

Late reply... Not sure if you ever found a good photo of the knife. A close relative was the first recipient of this honor grad award knife. I could send you a photo of the knife. He was a LRRP and was featured in Six Silent Men.

 

[Thijs]

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

I have the knife if you need a photo

 

[Ruari]

I have the knife if you need a photo

Please post pics!

 

[KenHash]

I have the knife if you need a photo

Please post the photo here and share it with us. Thank you.

 

[DKF]

Sept 1968 Grad ( #2 in my class) & I never even got a recondo pencil

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

and I was something like No. 22 or 23 in my class. Nobody but No. 1 received anything but the patch. At the time that seemed like a plenty. Our class started with around 80 people and 24 passed. (July 68)

 

[digital9ja]

I sure wish Thijs would have posted that picture! I reached out via PM asking for the pic, but haven't heard anything back yet. Sure would be cool to see what it was!

DKF and Sidehill Gouger...thank you for your service and WELCOME HOME! I just watched this interview with Gary Linderer that was good:

and he said there is an Annual LRRP Reunion in Branson, MO. I didn't know how well they advertise it, so I thought I would mention it here for anyone interested. Here's a summary I found that talks about one of their previous events in Branson: https://www.lrrprangers.com/story-klimek-branson.html Another thing I saw was that some whiskey company called "Three Rangers" was taking something like 25 cases of their whiskey down there!

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

Gary and I were acting NCO's in the same basic training platoon. The plan was to go through Airborne Infantry training and jump school together. Long story why that didn't work but we both ended up in LRP units in different places.

 

[digital9ja]

That's cool you know him. I have two of his "Phantom Warriors" books. I have the utmost respect for all Vietnam Vets, but I especially admire guys like you who did the sneaking and peaking. I like to spend as much time as I can in the woods here in Michigan and I often find myself thinking about LRRP teams. Like how the heck you guys were able to do what you did and were able to move so silently through those jungles. Pretty amazing, my hat is definitely off to you and your brothers in recon! Especially all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We love and appreciate you great Americans!

 

[Jimchriss]

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

Here is a photo of my knife.

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it

 

[Jimchriss]

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it to

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

I have the knife given to me as the distinguished graduate in April 1968. I would post pics if I knew how on this site.

 

[knarfeng]

I would post pics if I knew how on this site.

As a registered user, you can post pictures using a picture hosting site. I use Imgur, but there are others. Once you have uploaded a picture to the hosting site, copy the web address of the picture. Note: picture web addresses must end in .jpg or .gif

Then go to your post and click the image tool on the toolbar next to the smiley tool. Click the link icon in the popup. (Looks like a chain.) Paste the picture address into the window. Then click the INSERT button.

 

[Jimchriss]

I was just watching a video on Recondo School in Nha Trang, Viet Nam and they mentioned that each class's honor graduate received a "coveted bowie knife" with the title "Recondo Honor Graduate" engraved on the blade. I've done some googling around and searched these forums but can't find anything about this knife. Of course, there is a flurry of knives made by SOG, Bark River and others that are named "Recondo" but they have no claim to being replicas of whatever was awarded to Recondo school honor grads.

I'm sure many can speculate, but I'd appreciate limiting replies to credible sources or personal experience. My guess would be it was some kind of SOG-style bowie but I suppose it could have been a Randall, John Ek, Ontario/Ka-Bar, Case, etc. I have read that the winners of each Best Ranger competition used to receive special John Ek knives. I actually had in my possession for a time a beautifully engraved and glass cased Ek Bowie US Army in Viet Nam commemorative bowie but I gifted it to my barber who was a Viet Nam vet.

Anyway, thanks for any help. I used to work with a guy who graduated Recondo School, I'm going to email him and see if he knows anything about it too.

Here’s a pic of my knife:

Here is a photo of my knife.

Here is a photo of my knife.

https://imgur.com/a/2xkPCIl

 

[justjed]

In 1968, my dad brought a non-presentation MACV-SOG Bowie home. No, he wasn't Special Forces. He was a Load Master on C-130s, flying in and out of Vietnam, as well as Central and South America. On one of his return flights from Vietnam, a Green Beret traded Dad his SOG knife for passage to Japan for some much-needed R&R! Unfortunately, it was one of the many with less than stellar heat treatment, and a brittle tip. About 1973, my older brother tried to use it as a screwdriver, and broke about 3/8" off of the blade. Probably could have been reground, and I've seen some that were, with varying degrees of success, but it simply disappeared at some point....

 

[digital9ja]

Thank you so much for that picture Jim! I'm sure many will appreciate it very much, as I do! And thanks for your service sir!