Need some help on a gift suggestion for my nephew

R

richw

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Jan 28, 2010
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My nephew is 21, a marine and heading to Afghanistan in a couple of months. He is afforded very little latitude outside of standard issue. He is allowed to bring his own pocket knife.

He won't just accept the gift from me, so I have to "force" it on him. Ironically, he comes from a pretty wealthy family, but never asks for anything. Very modest kid/young man.

I was thinking of getting him a nicer pocket knife that he currently has. This should probably be something fairly tough. I was looking at the ZT0300 and possibly the ZT0200 series. Other thoughts were an Al Mar SERE or the Ritter M4 grip.

I am interested in suggestions and reasons for them.

Thank you,
Rich
 
I like the M4 Ritter Grip idea. The full size Grip is a good useful size and has a comfortable handle and the FRN while not fancy, is a very tough material. The AXIS lock is great and very strong.

M4 steel will get very sharp fairly easily. While it is not stainless I haven't done anything special with mine and I haven't had a problem with it corroding at all. It also has a DLC coating which is hard and one of the toughest coatings available. The M4 steel is pretty tough compared to most stainless and should hold up fairly well unless he just abuses it all the time. I haven't handled the others on your list but it would be my pick.

I did just get a ZT 0500 MUDD that is very beefy. It also has seals around the pivot and lock mechanism so if he drops it in the sand you can just wipe it off and not worry about it. It has 154CM steel which is good stuff but not as 'super' as the M4. It also has a DLC coating. The Hawk lock on it is the same as the RAM and I like it just about as much as the AXIS lock. This was recently discontinued but still available but who knows for how long. Worth a look at least.
 
+1 on the zt 0500:thumbup: i have heard nothing but good about them and they are very hard use knives that can take a beating:thumbup:
 
Hi richw -

If I had a similar situation, I would give the young man my Emerson CQC-7.

The CQC-7 just seems like a military knife and would be a no-nonsense blade with no springs that could potentially break etc.

A Spyderco Military would also be a great choice (although I have never handled one, I understand that Spyderco made this model with overseas military carry use in mind).

It is very kind of you to be "forcing" whatever gift you choose on this fine young man.

best regards -

mqqn
 
nothing wrong with the zt series, they get nothing but great reviews.

if you aren't married to the idea of a folder, consider a nice multitool like a leatherman ti surge or similar.
 
I should say he has a leatherman, I forget which one.

Are you saying he doesn't need another knife if he has that?

Thank you for the replies.

Rich
 
I'd lean away from the Grip. While it's a fine and capable knife, it doesn't feel like a fine and capable knife. For a gift, I'd want somethings that feels more solid.
 
Never been there myself, but most of the guys I've talked to who have been deployed tell me that they got the most use out of their Delica-small Sebbie-SnG-Paramillie sized folders. And the knives I've sold to active duty military personnel have been in that size range.
 
I'd probably go with the Military, black blade. It's been a lifetime since I was in the Corps but you'd want a lightweight knife, plenty of handle & blade and with the gloves they're now wearing, the big Spydie hole should be great!

The leatherman should handle most of your non-tactical needs....just sayin

PS: I'd add w/black G-10 scales for weight and not one of those full serrated jobs either (don't know if they come that way?)
 
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with that question in mind sypderco created the spyderco military. It is great get him one he will love it
 
Scott Free said:
I'd lean away from the Grip. While it's a fine and capable knife, it doesn't feel like a fine and capable knife. For a gift, I'd want somethings that feels more solid.
Click to expand...

I guess I have a different knife then. I feel like I could go chop down a pine tree with mine.
 
mqqn said:
I understand that Spyderco made this model with overseas military carry use in mind).

mqqn
Click to expand...

That is true.
Great knife: ergos, S30V steel, lock,easy to clean everything top notch.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I guess I have a different knife then. I feel like I could go chop down a pine tree with mine.
Click to expand...

You may be able to chop down a tree with it. No complaints about the abilities of the knife at all. I'm sure it's tough and durable. It's just the feeling of that light hollow handle that gives the mistaken perception of "cheapness." I know I'm not alone in this as I've seen others comment on it, too. If it's a gift, the nephew just might fall into the same camp that I do. As a "survival" knife or military knife, I think the Grip packs a lot of efficiency into a lightweight package. It's just that THIS knife is also meant to be a gift.
 
I would think about the weight of the ZT series. They are mas o menos 8 ounces, pretty heavy but will serve him well. Also, I'd reccomend the BM 710 or the Griptilian as you said. I would reccomend the Ares but extremely hard to find.
 
Get him a stainless folder, no humidity in the desert but who knows where other places he'll be in the future... Any of these will do:
Emerson CQC-11
Emerson CQC-8
Emerson CQC-10
Al Mar SERE 2000
Spyderco Military
Zero Tolerance ZT-0500
Zero Tolerance ZT-0350
Zero Tolerance ZT-0200
Kershaw Junkyard Dog II CB
 
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