Military grade fixed blade

T

tmayberry50

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Apr 23, 2009
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What is the absolute must have fixed blade knife that our troops want on their side while deployed in the sandbox? My nephew just entered Army basic training and I want to give him a good blade when he completes his training. I am familiar with many of the production and custom knives available, but I really want to know what is hot with the troops. Thanks.
 
Hot--->Strider
What I wish I had when I needed it----> Busse
 
I have heard they love Ontario blades and their Ka-Bars also the hard use tough folders, but since you are footing it I would recommend the ESEE name blades, basically the same designs with a better warranty and company mission, but you should get kydex shorts for them.

Some ideas that I might concider were i you,
ESEE-Izula
ESEE-3mil
Ka-Bar
Zero-tolerance 0301 or 0302 (haven't use them personally, but the reviews are solid it is likely my second after the next purchase)
 
All the brands names so far are good choices. Of course, you'll want to consider carefully what he's going to be doing with the knife in order to make informed decisions about size/shape. Hot or not, the main thing is that the blade be utilitarian.
 
Fixed blades can be a no no depending on the company commander and they add extra unneeded weight.

Some type of Multi tool and and Strider SMF or SnG would be a great gift.
 
Bark River Bravo-1, ESEE-4, Fallkniven F1 or S1. Any of these will work extremely well.
 
What MOS is your nephew? If he isn't likely to go outside the wire much when he deploys, then you might want to spend your money on a folder for him. For fixed blades, the Cold Steel SRK is popular, Ka-Bar of course is a good one, ESEE knives are excellent (though not popular because they don't seem to be too be available at clothing and sales stores (that I have seen). The Gerber LMF II is also popular, but other than the sheath it comes with, I don't really like mine.
 
i would wait to see where he is posted and what his CO says about outside equipment.
 
Volk said:
Hot--->Strider
What I wish I had when I needed it----> Busse
Click to expand...

Do troops deployed to Iraq actually use $500 folders???? You'd think they'd want something strong yet disposable, like a Rat-1 or something...
 
tmayberry50 said:
What is the absolute must have fixed blade knife that our troops want on their side while deployed in the sandbox? My nephew just entered Army basic training and I want to give him a good blade when he completes his training. I am familiar with many of the production and custom knives available, but I really want to know what is hot with the troops. Thanks.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by military grade? Just asking since I've been told that "military" or military equipment doesn't necessarily imply robustness. Not that I buy into that BS.
 
Scrap yard Regulator

BRKT Bravo 2

Ka-bar


What he can and can't have is a different story but for a combat knife I can't think of much better than the above 3.
 
Do troops deployed to Iraq actually use $500 folders???? You'd think they'd want something strong yet disposable, like a Rat-1 or something...
Click to expand...

They do if someone else buys it for them. :) I fly with a Busse, I know guys who keep a Randall in their bags. There is something to be said for a cheaper 'disposable' knife that you can lose and just buy a new one, but when I head back I'll still be packing an expensive knife. I have them, they're ment to be users. If for some reason I have to lose the knife then life sucks, but I'd rather have had something higher end then the AF issue "survival knife." As Guyun said though, just make sure it's utilitarian.
That being said, for a non-knife nut and if you're not interested in spending $400, a Ka-Bar should work fine.
 
A lot of good options so far. If you are going in the direction of a fixed blade, how about a Himalayan Imports khukuri? It combines indestructability with relatively low cost and high utility. It isn't a traditional combat knife, except for gurkas. I think it would do well as a utility tool: prying, chopping, and digging. If it were to be used in combat, it wouldn't make much of a stabber, but I bet it would get the job done in short order.

For a folder/multitool, I'd say Swisstool Spirit. I've handled a few different multitools, and it's what I chose for myself.

Oh yeah, Smatchet.

TC
 
mk.ultra said:
Do troops deployed to Iraq actually use $500 folders???? You'd think they'd want something strong yet disposable, like a Rat-1 or something...
Click to expand...

Actually I was talking about fixed blades, and I was saying what would be considered hot. And to think of it, I bet they do use their folders. Hot isn't something everyone goes for, some have budgets.

Now you might need something disposable if you were doing covert work, but when you use your knife as a tool for just about everything, then you'd really wish it was a $500 knife. You don't need to spill that much but $250-350 will get you something that will do everything you need for years.

What I said was, Striders are hot, and I would carry a Busse. How much stock you want to put into it, is up to you. Look into both knife companies and what you are going to use the knife for, then decide for yourself. Especialy considering the fact that there are other makers like CRK, ER, MV, and such that specialize in combat oriented knifes. In the end I'm just deciding what I'm going to get.
 
Get a Fallkniven F1 and a Leatherman multitool like Fuse or Kick.
These two are light enough to be carried around all day.
You could put the F1 on your LBE if you want to.
Since you already have the bayonet for your rifle you use that for mine probing.
Digging you do with a shovel.

In case you end up in a landscape with brush or trees a bigger knife/ axe might be useful. A Becker BK2 is small enough but also big enough for that purpose.

A regular Mora knife is also really useful. They cost about nothing. You could probably just get a bunch if you ask some of the swedish soldiers in MiS and they are more or less disposable.
Also if you lend someone your Mora and they lose it you can get a new when you are back at camp.

If I were to go out there I would have an F1 and the multi on my LBE and a small Fallkniven U2 with a whistle and firesteel in my pocket.
In my pack I would bring loads of Mora knives, as gifts to people who has none.
 
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