Military Fixed Blades

JW Knives

JW Knives

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Feb 22, 2011
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Does anyone know of a good online source that shows the current knives in use by the world's militaries?

I've searched for a while but have yet to find anything solid..
 
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I don't think anyone keeps statistics, so it would be up to current active military to chime in. I believe the Ka-Bar and Ontario Knives are still in use.
 
What do you mean by "in use"?

Knives being used like the stuff bought from the PX that the majority of American servicemen and women use, or are you looking for sonething along the lines of "The Official SEAL Knife"?
 
I believe he means standard issue knives. For instance the US Marines is still a plain old kabar.
 
Actually I don't believe they're issued Ka-Bars anymore. It's just that the soldiers still buy and use them regularly. I'm not sure if there is an "Official SEAL Knife". I know there are a few models designed specifically for military use or even to a specific branch of the military, but I don't know if they actually use them:D.

Anyways, my coworker is in the army, and Ka-Bar was the name that came up. I would assume Ontario Knives are used as well because of the rough similarities. But in general I think any well-built fixed blade in the $50-$60 price range with a partially serrated edge will be used the most, because that pretty much covers the entire spectrum of what a non-knife person considers a "quality knife" for hard use. Though I myself wonder how they manage to use those 440A blades to cut anything, even with serrations. But I suspect it's more of a sharpened prybar than anything else.
 
A couple of notes:

--small, special units like Seals and Delta have special budgets for acquiring gear and experimenting with it. A number of knives have been used by the Seals; I'm not sure they were standard issue.

--I doubt any military has a standard knife, as opposed to a standardized bayonet, like the one on the AK series, and the US M9.

--from what I've read, the vast bulk of knives crried by US personnel are individually purchased. While there are certain favorites, there is also a lot of variety.

--I'm not aware of any definitive catalog. I used to get Jane's Annual Small Arms Review. At the back, they had a comprehensive list for each nation, of the standard issue pistol, submachine gun, reifle, up through crew served weapons. IIRC, there was no listing for edged weapons.

--there are several books that list bayonets of the major nations. Nothing comprehensive though.
 
I got out of the marines in 2005 and what everyone carried for the most part was the ontario bayonet we were issued, a gerber/leatherman multi tool and usually you would see some stuff you could pick up at the px, they tend to sell alot of crkt knives. While I was in afghanistan I picked up the crkt m60 and at some other point I picked up a smith and wesson boot knife
 
Ok, here i go. I am a former serviceman of the U.S. Army & have been a knife person since i was 7 years old, now 47. I think the entire Armed Forces do thier soldiers a SERIOUS dis-service when it comes to knives. I have broke at least 3 bayonettes. I have also broken a Marine KaBar, by just dropping it by mistake, from about 4' onto concrete. The butt cap weld broke off. It was a Camillus. I think a knife should be capable of so much more than just killing someone. Lets face it, if your a soldier & your reaching for your knife in combat, you are at about the end of your personal defences. That is when you absolutely, positively, can NOT have your knife fail, for whatever the reason. IMHO, the Army's bayonettes are junk, because they are only good for 1 thing. The KaBars that the Marines have are also, IMHO, junk. The reason i say this, is because i am comparing them to what else is available. There are QUALITY, MADE IN THE U.S.A. knives that are MUCH better than what our troops have to use, for about the same money. What comes to my mind: Becker BK2 & BK7, Ontarios RD6 & RD7, even the Spec-Plus series from Ontario is better than the current issue. A knife that is 3/16" or 1/4", full width, full tang, with a good heat treat is what they need. And thats my opinion on that ! :D
 
xmtgx said:
I believe he means standard issue knives. For instance the US Marines is still a plain old kabar.
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Lots of people think the Marine Corps "issues" uniforms! NOT. It comes out of our check while we are in Boot Camp! So to think you would get issued a knife is crazy!

When I was on active duty we carried whatever we could get away with, and that usually meant what salty old Gunny's would let you carry; a USMC Ka-Bar. Until you got in the field, then all the stuff we usually hid came out. But as I've said before this was actually a great way to teach what works best. Bringing a big "tactical" knife or monster Bowie seems cool, until the Gunny makes you carry it everywhere!

After a few long trips to the desert and woods to train, most end up carrying a good old USMC Ka-Bar again. Its light, its heavy, its big, its little and it gets the job done. If it breaks getting you out of a bind, then it was $50.00 well spent; go to the PX and get another one. When you get your DD-214 put it on your desk and use it to start stories until you die or pass it on to your kid or a friend.

Of course there are lots more choices these days and maybe some other blades I would have hidden under my blouse (SRK) but I'm sure a USMC Ka-Bar would still be in my go-bag.
 
I love kabars but I wouldn't trust my life with one....

If I could choose anything I think a busse boss jack is the perfect, size, thickness, strength, steel etc. I WOULD trust my life with one, and if you break it- it has a warranty for a reason

My 2 cents- it may or may not change once I go in
 
I served my 4 from 06 in USAF. During that time I noticed that not only are fixed blades not really issued anymore (unless orders or GWOT funds allow it). Otherwise, 99 percent carry a folder. Among those, the dominant (in numbers, not necessarily quality) are CRKT M-16, SOG Trident, SOG Aegis, Gerber 06 Auto and CS Recon 1 folders. This is likely because they were mainly available through base supply stores and AAFES. Surprisingly, Kershaw Onions and Leeks were popular too (not heavy duty, but good for EDC).

Amongst the fixed blades (uncommon), I saw the Gerber LMF II the most.
 
Noctis3880 said:
Actually I don't believe they're issued Ka-Bars anymore. It's just that the soldiers still buy and use them regularly. I'm not sure if there is an "Official SEAL Knife". I know there are a few models designed specifically for military use or even to a specific branch of the military, but I don't know if they actually use them:D.....
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My point exactly. I don't think there is an "Official SEAL Knife" either....or an Official Marine knife etc etc etc. It's marketing.

Un-awesome as it is....your average serviceman or woman is using the Gerber or CRKT that they could afford to buy at the PX and are using it to open MREs. Maybe they have a multitool.

Not a whole lot of knife fighting, sentry deanimation, or going down deep behind enemy lines going on these days.
 
I have worked and cross trained with a lot of foreign military personnel. I saw a lot of ka-bars with the Israelis ( I even saw one that carried a Wally Hayes wakisashi on his back), a few Emerson folders and lagrife style knives and Winkler knives fixed blade and some Phill Hartsfield knives with some SEAL guys. An SAS guy that I worked with carried a switchblade.

I would recommend that you post this question a one of the military forums; i think the blade choice is a very personal one with some of the more specialized military groups out there. And you find a very interesting variety of blades among them.
 
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Edwood7 said:
I have worked and cross trained with a lot of foreign military personnel. I saw a lot of ka-bars with the Israelis ( I even saw one that carried a Wally Hayes wakisashi on his back), a few Emerson folders and lag rife style knives and Winkler knives fixed blade and some Phill Hartsfield knives with some SEAL guys. An SAS guy that I worked with carried a switchblade.

I would recommend that you post this question a one of the military forums; i think the blade choice is a very personal one with some of the more specialized military groups out there. And you find a very interesting variety of blades among them.
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+1

It's almost 100% personal and what individuals consider "quality"
 
P.S.

I carry a Winkler Belt knife

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