Nephew joining military, which knife?

The five is my favorite. But if I had to pretty much EDC a blade, fresh out the AF - hands down 4 clip point!!!
 
Rich275 said:
Nothing against my brothers in the AF, but their boot is a lot like a Boy Scout Jamboree. But without any bugs, sleeping outside, hiking, crafts or gunfire of any kind.
Check and see what type of things he is allowed to bring and maybe, get him a nice SAK or multitool if allowed.
Depending on what job he gets (the AF has jobs, not skills:)) then get him something approriate to that job. He won't need a 3,4,5 or Izzy if he's sitting in an office or washing the windows on a plane.
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Wow, so since you say no offense you can say whatever you want? Tell me, when did you go through AF boot camp? You obviously haven't within the last 10 years because I did all of that, "...sleeping outside, hiking, crafts or gunfire of any kind.", when I went through. Its also my understanding AF boot camp is eight weeks now instead of seven and they deploy multiple times to different "war zones" during the entire course.

Not sure about what you mean by bugs though? Do they teach how to fight bugs in the other branches? I usually either stomp on them or hit them with a stick... Crafts too, did you do basket weaving? Is that what makes other branch's boot camp's longer?

Thanks for the low blow to the AF... but then again, you started with, "Nothing against the AF" so it must be fine

The best advice I've ever heard, "Its better to keep your mouth shut and have others think you're a fool, rather than open it and remove all doubt." I'd follow that advice if I were you...
 
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To answer the original poster's question, when I was in Tech school (the training after boot camp) we weren't allowed to have knives in our barracks with blades over 2" or 2.5", I can't remember specifically. His squadron will have specific rules, so there's really no way of telling until he gets there.

Contrary to popular belief, the two largest career fields in the AF are: #1 Security Forces (AF MPs) and #2 aircraft maintainers. So if he's going in without a guaranteed AFSC he'll probably end up being a mechanic or cop.

I don't know about the MPs, but the maintainers aren't allowed to use any personal tools. I told an NCO I had a small pocket knife in my locker at the hanger and he told me he'd pretend he didn't hear that.
 
i agree about waiting for him to find out what hes going to be doing when he gets out, the 3 mil is pretty useful but he may not need a fixed blade at all. a good folding knife and a better than issue multi tool might be a better thing.

after the previous posts about the airforce i have to say that when they were designing the new uniforms i asked my wife (15yrs airforce 27yrs total active duty and a lt col) why they didn't use a print of office furniture for the new uniforms. she was not amused.

lol
good luck to your nephew
cricket
 
I know a fair number of guys in the sandbox right now. They pretty uniformly tell me that things like SAKs and multi-tools are more useful than any knife. Just sayin'.

On the other hand, I also know guys who are carrying things like this over there:

Randallcamo18.jpg


This being the ESEE subforum, though, I think you could never go wrong with either a 3 or a 5.
 
DanBo82 said:
Thanks for the low blow to the AF... but then again, you started with, "Nothing against the AF" so it must be fine

The best advice I've ever heard, "Its better to keep your mouth shut and have others think you're a fool, rather than open it and remove all doubt." I'd follow that advice if I were you...
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I wouldn't be so sensitive. There are many veterans on this sub-forum. I spent five years active in the navy & trust me I've heard every joke. I have one brother in the army & another in the air force, and we always bust each other stones. Inter-service rivalry has been around I'm sure since the revolution etc... In the end we know we're all on the same team.
 
another +1 for 3MIL. just seems so versatile to me...and so simple to carry in a variety of ways.
 
why so many 3mil votes?? what difference is there really paired up to the 3p?? help me dissect the 'mil' part of this knife, is it just the sharpened or 'modified' pommel?
 
Brother DanBo82,
My post was meant as a little tongue-in-cheek ribbing, nothing more. If you didn't understand that, then maybe you should go hang out with our brother Marines and have them explain interservice joking to you:) You AF guys have always been a little touchy.
The intent of my post which perhaps you missed, was that the OP should try to find out what his nephew can have with him or might actually need, instead of getting him a great knife, but one that he'll never have a need for.
P.S. While I don't do any basket weaving myself, I do enjoy playing with 550 cord.

My appologies to Norsman and congratulations to his nephew for stepping up and serving, regardless of branch.
 
I went through AF Basic back in the mid 80's and did'nt find it all that challenging. While I did earn my Marksmanship ribbon with the M16, we did'nt do anything very strenuous other than PT everyday. The AF obstacle course(at that time) was'nt very challenging, but given my outdoor activities prior to enlisting it was'nt surprising. However, while at Lackland AFB we did get into San Antonio one night to see the Spurs play. That was my first pro basketball game.
 
RABII said:
I went through AF Basic back in the mid 80's and did'nt find it all that challenging. While I did earn my Marksmanship ribbon with the M16, we did'nt do anything very strenuous other than PT everyday. The AF obstacle course(at that time) was'nt very challenging, but given my outdoor activities prior to enlisting it was'nt surprising. However, while at Lackland AFB we did get into San Antonio one night to see the Spurs play. That was my first pro basketball game.
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haha, sounds like my navy boot camp in the 90's at great lakes (great mistakes) besides the tear gas chamber nothing was to difficult. Our ordnance training consisted of squezzing off two mags with a .45 that had a .22 conversion? I was able to qualify on my own as a gunners mate with the rifle/pistol for two ribbons. Most emphasis was on damage control, and I got to play a bit more with big boy toys in a-school.

Congrats to the op for having a relative that is serving, many people won't take up that challenge. At least he didn't join the coast guard;)
 
pitbull592 said:
At least he didn't join the coast guard;)
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Ahem. I have a nephew serving his country in the Coast Guard right now. Perhaps you should reconsider that post. Because if you don't, we're gonna have to get into it, and you're not going to like what happens next.
 
If I had to pick a fixed I'd say the 3(MIL), 4 or Fallkniven F1. I'd also be inclined to agree with some others that mentioned a SAK or MT.
 
Norsman said:
My nephew is joining the Air-force (I think) and I was thinking that it would be nice to set him up with a good knife after boot camp.
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A nice Swiss Army Knife will probably be all the knife he'll need, and the most useful knife he'll ever own.
 
I would go with a Izlua II for now then see what he will be really doing.
 
Rich275 is probably on the right track here. Having spent a bit of time in the AF (some years back), it's not exactly like the Infantry. I hear things have changed considerably, but depending on his job, he might not be issued anything in the way of a knife. FWIW I spent most of my time in an operations center where a SAK or Leatherman would have been far more useful than a 3-MIL.

That said, I think the 3-MIL is a great knife, unobtrusive, and tough as nails. The Izzy would also be great, but don't be surprised if all he does with them is cut up apples for lunch. If he's heading over to Iraq or Afghanistan, it would be a good idea to find out what he can take with him. Sometimes commanders in forward areas get fussy about personal gear.

SP
 
It seems like everyone has great opinions on what to get your nephew. IF your thinking an ESEE than he is going to get a great knife either way. Have you thought about letting him decided on which knife he would like. Maybe he does not use it in his MOS but for recreation. Just a thought
 
pitbull592 said:
haha, sounds like my navy boot camp in the 90's at great lakes (great mistakes) besides the tear gas chamber nothing was to difficult. Our ordnance training consisted of squezzing off two mags with a .45 that had a .22 conversion? I was able to qualify on my own as a gunners mate with the rifle/pistol for two ribbons. Most emphasis was on damage control, and I got to play a bit more with big boy toys in a-school.

Congrats to the op for having a relative that is serving, many people won't take up that challenge. At least he didn't join the coast guard;)
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I went through GM "A" school in 1986 -- some cool toys for sure!
OTOH, the Coast Guard does a lot -- my G-Father did convoy escort & Sub-hunting in the Coast Guard in WWII, (just off the coast of Africa) and they do a lot of active pirate & drug runner "hunting" in the gulf currently PLUS SAR, so disrespecting them is not a good plan.
 
I'd wait until he get's out of boot camp and finds out what he'll be doing for sure. Most units have blade limits on what they'll allow them to carry out in the field. Being in the AF, unless he's really lucky, most MOS's don't spend much time outdoors. For a good guess, I'd say the ESEE 3MIL would be a safe bet though.
 
1066vik said:
I went through GM "A" school in 1986 -- some cool toys for sure!
OTOH, the Coast Guard does a lot -- my G-Father did convoy escort & Sub-hunting in the Coast Guard in WWII, (just off the coast of Africa) and they do a lot of active pirate & drug runner "hunting" in the gulf currently PLUS SAR, so disrespecting them is not a good plan.
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Nice, to see another shipmate from the cube. Haha, I have nothing against the coast guard. Those guys busted our stones hardcore, so I take it all in fun. I spent some time with them on vbss duty. My grandfather served in WW2, my dad served in vietnam, and now myself & my two brothers stepped up to serve, so I know what alot of veterans go through, and I respect anyone who has worn the uniform. I'll still bust the other branches stones when I can, but it's something civilians won't understand.
 
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