Military Knives:

[AfghanWarrior]

BlueFalcon,

Good points. I will say all Army Soldier blades in my Infantry Brigade were private own/purchased knives never issued by the Army. We were never issued any blades like Benchmade, Gerbers, or KaBars by the Army. We could bring anything into Afghanistan, but leaving many were not allowed back thru customs and the US mail.

 

[Bama Joe]

Okay I'm going to clear up some misconceptions I've read on this thread about marines. Because I was one until recently, marines carry garbage. Cheap gerbers and crappy leathermans they bought at the px. If the unit issues a knife its almost always a benchmade and if its a multitool its a gerber. Benchmade consists of autos for folders and the nimravus for fixed. Multitools were usually the gerber det with the blasting cap crimper and the c4 punch. Now you can get the leatherman det or the armors one. The only time I know of anyone getting issued striders were the friends I had that were scout snipers. A far as the IAR weapon replacing the saw. Its a piston driven m16 variant similar to the h&k 416. Marines stopped getting issued the m16A2 back in 2009. Everyone is issued an m16a4 or if you are anofficer/SNCO an M4. ( if you have friends in the armory you can get an m4 too ). And it was made mandatory toissue everyone RCOs ( rifle combat optics ) at the end of 2009 beginning of 2010. Even though
They weren't making it mandatory to actually go train with it like they should have.

Sorry I was wrong on the M16 model but it's my son's rifle and not mine. ;-) I guess when he enlisted they were still using the A2 but I'm not sure. I was aware they were not issued any high end blades.

As far as the IAR, he received his about three weeks ago right before shipping out to Mojave Desert for combined arms.

My son is stationed in Camp Lejeune NC and is in Kilo Co, 3/9 Marines and his info is all I have access to. Where were you stationed?

 

[imbryan715]

I think i read somewhere that Marines are issued a Strider.
Someone please correct me if im wrong.

a lot of marines are issued benchmade 9050 afoII's and marine recon units get striders. all units use a little bit differnt gear but those are 2 common issue knives

 

[BlueFalcon]

I was stationed in camp pendleton for two years, I did two years in okinawa japan as well. I was attached with a couple guys from 2/7, and random other companies over the years and ran a marksmanship training unit/ marine corps martial arts training facility.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Several lifetimes ago, I was in Korea and Okinawa, mid-50's. We had bayonets. Now I read about all these neat knives used by the military. Maybe I'll re-up.
Sonny

p.s. to Blue Falcon above me: When I was there, Okinawa was independent; just one of the chain of RYUKYU Islands. just a side note. Thanks for your service, Marine.

When we were out on patrol on the outback roads of Korea, sometimes the Turks would stop to give us a ride and we'd pile into the back of their pickup trucks and share cigarettes. Man, those Turk cigarettes were awful, but we shared happily. Those Turks were great guys. At night, they would go out on patrol (yes, after the Armistice) and across the front lines, armed with JUST their knives. They would come back to camp before dawn. The toughest soldiers I ever knew.

 

[catcalls]

Thank you to everyone who served.

 

[BlueFalcon]

Sonny,
That'd pretty awesome I love hearing from my salty brothers of the old corps. You guys are my heroes. I ended up marrying a japanese woman while I was there. I learned a lot.one thing its the okinawans hate being associated with japan. Another if they aren't as happy about us being there with our 7 bases and bad drinking habits as I originally thought . Oorah

 

[clockman]

Where's the popcorn?

Nice 1 Chuck.....made me laugh.

 

[Bama Joe]

Sonny,
That'd pretty awesome I love hearing from my salty brothers of the old corps. You guys are my heroes. I ended up marrying a japanese woman while I was there. I learned a lot.one thing its the okinawans hate being associated with japan. Another if they aren't as happy about us being there with our 7 bases and bad drinking habits as I originally thought . Oorah

Semper Fi Blue Falcon and SonnyDaze!! I think I love the Marine Corps even more than my son and he is living his dream being a Grunt! I am so proud of him and all our Marines. It's hard to describe how much his bravery and commitment means to our entire family. His Momma and I do worry though.

Drinking habits? That's a new one. My boy doesn't really like the taste of booze but he thinks it's hilarious watching his buds roll in Friday night/Saturday morning sick as a dog. I never thought him being a picky eater would ever pay off.