New Combat Knife

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They aren't 700 or whatever each. The contract allows a purchase of up to a certain amount for a total cost-- if the military buys all of them-- of 350k. Right now, they are just buying 489 initially. Let's say you allocate UP TO $400 for food per month. Does that mean when you went to 7-11 and bought two sodas, a bag of chips, and a candy bar that you spent $100 on each item? Of course not, and this is basically the same thing. Or you go into a knife store and say you won't spend more than $1000 total. Doesn't mean you spend a grand when you just bought a PM2.
 
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For what it's worth, ADS usually supplies the Benchmade Adamas and some variety of Benchmade auto (usually the Casbah) the last few years to satisfy these things.

I doubt we'll see anything too new or interesting.
 
tltt said:
For what it's worth, ADS usually supplies the Benchmade Adamas and some variety of Benchmade auto (usually the Casbah) the last few years to satisfy these things.

I doubt we'll see anything too new or interesting.
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Well that would explain the $700 price tag 😏

Kidding aside, those seem like really solid choices.
 
I got curious about knives issued to USA mil and the costs . So I asked Grok AI .

Looks like to me , if the info is correct , that knives are not a big deal cost wise , compared to say one stealth bomber ! :rolleyes:
Grok says :
Here's a breakdown of issued knives by US military service branch, based on available data from procurement contracts, NSNs, and official sources. Note that exact current inventory numbers ("in service") are generally not publicly disclosed due to operational security, so I've provided estimates derived from historical procurement quantities, adjusted for typical attrition rates (e.g., 10-20% loss/replacement over time from wear, loss, or decommissioning). These are approximate and may vary. Unit procurement costs are based on contract data where available (bulk purchases are cheaper than commercial prices). Practices can change, and not all personnel in a branch receive a knife—issuance is role-specific (e.g., combat, survival).

### Army
- **Model Issued**: M9 Bayonet (NSN: 1095-01-227-1739), a multi-purpose bayonet/knife compatible with M16/M4 rifles, issued primarily to infantry and combat units.
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: Approximately 300,000-400,000, based on over 500,000 procured since 1986, minus attrition.
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: $35-50 (varies by contract; e.g., ~$35 in 2012 contract, higher in earlier ones due to inflation).

| Key Procurement Examples | Date | Quantity | Total Cost | Supplier |
|--------------------------|------|----------|------------|----------|
| DAAA21-87-C-0001 | 1986 | 315,627 | $15.6M | Phrobis III |
| DAAA09-92-C-0406 | 1992 | 30,500 | $1.4M | Lan-Cay |
| DAAA09-94-C-0571 | 1994 | 104,111 | $3.9M | Lan-Cay |
| W56HZV-12-C-0327 | 2012 | 40,000 | $1.4M | Tri-Technologies |

### Marine Corps
The Marines issue two main models: the OKC3S bayonet for rifle attachment and the classic Ka-Bar as a utility/fighting knife.

- **Model Issued**: OKC3S Bayonet (NSN: 1005-01-506-0830), issued to rifle-equipped Marines.
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: Approximately 100,000-150,000, based on ~145,000 procured since 2002, minus attrition.
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: $38-63 (e.g., ~$38 in 2003 large contract).

| Key Procurement Examples | Date | Quantity | Total Cost | Supplier |
|--------------------------|------|----------|------------|----------|
| M67854-03-D-5036 (Delivery Order) | 2003 | 95,500 | $3.7M | Ontario Knife Co. |
| W52H09-06-D-0296 | 2006 | 14,000 | $0.6M | Ontario Knife Co. |
| W52H09-11-C-0009 | 2010 | 9,000 | $0.6M | Ontario Knife Co. |

- **Model Issued**: Ka-Bar USMC Fighting Knife (NSN: 1095-01-581-9100), a fixed-blade utility knife issued to ground combat units.
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: Approximately 50,000-100,000 (procurement data limited; based on long-term issuance since WWII and Marine Corps size ~180,000 active).
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: $80-100 (estimated from commercial equivalents; no public bulk contracts found, but government purchases align with NSN pricing).

### Navy
- **Model Issued**: Ontario MK3 Mod 0 Dive Knife (NSN: 1095-00-391-1056), issued to SEALs, divers, and special operations personnel.
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: Approximately 5,000-10,000 (smaller issuance due to specialized roles; based on limited contracts).
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: ~$80-100 (e.g., 1992 contract implies ~$85 based on total; commercial $116-176).

| Key Procurement Examples | Date | Quantity | Total Cost | Supplier |
|--------------------------|------|----------|------------|----------|
| DLA70091D0024 | 1992 | ~1,000 (est.) | $84,787 | Ontario Knife Co. |

### Air Force
- **Model Issued**: Ontario 499 Air Force Survival Knife (NSN: 7340-00-098-4327), a sawback survival knife issued to pilots and aircrew for ejection/survival kits. Some units may use the Benchmade Nimravus (NSN: 1095-01-598-4472) or similar combat knives.
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: Approximately 20,000-30,000 (focused on ~60,000 aircrew; based on recent survival knife procurements like 2,373 units in 2025).
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: $67-187 (e.g., $111 recent average for NSN 1095-01-598-4472; commercial $89 for 499 model).

| Key Procurement Examples | Date | Quantity | Total Cost | Supplier |
|--------------------------|------|----------|------------|----------|
| SPE7LX25U6779 (Survival Knife) | 2025 | 2,373 | Up to $250k | Not specified |

### Space Force
- **Model Issued**: None routinely issued (branch focuses on space operations; no knife-specific procurement found).
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: 0 (or negligible; personnel may use Air Force gear if needed).
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: N/A.

### Coast Guard
- **Model Issued**: 358 Rescue & Survival Knife (NSN: 4220-01-278-3007), a corrosion-resistant titanium knife issued to rescue swimmers and maritime teams.
- **Current in Service (Estimate)**: Approximately 5,000-10,000 (specialized for ~8,000 rescue personnel; no large procurements found).
- **Procurement Cost per Unit**: $100-200 (estimated from commercial analogs; no public contract details).

For more precise or updated details, consult official DoD procurement databases like FPDS or branch supply manuals, as public data is limited.
 
Danke42 said:
They also have a lot of Gerber and Leatherman blades. I am excited to see a $700 Gerber, I hope it's this one! Coyote is a hot colour right now.

GBR_StrongArm_Coyote_1_2015-1.jpg
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I have 2 of these. I can't even fathom what it would take to increase their value tenfold. You'd have to stamp the blade with both a butterfly and a horsey to even come close.

I'm more than a little disappointed that U.S. Space Force is not issued milspec lightsabres.
 
totally absurd - the troops could have all received Carothers Signature FK3’s for less than half that amount.

the waste is just bonkers.

or for $35,000 they could have received 1000 Glock 78/81s.
 
tltt said:
For what it's worth, ADS usually supplies the Benchmade Adamas and some variety of Benchmade auto (usually the Casbah) the last few years to satisfy these things.

I doubt we'll see anything too new or interesting.
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I think the image of a combat knife is cool. And would go well with the new rough tough image the military is trying to create.

So I could see a dedicated iconic military knife being on the cards.
 
shunsui said:
If you go to their website and download their full catalog you can see all the stuff they source. Looks like kind of a procurement company more than a manufacturer, but I might be wrong. There's a few knives and edged tools in the catalog which you will find under the chapter BENCHMADE. Yes, yes they are.

I'm looking forward to seeing whether the knife gets a functional finger guard (just a personal bias).
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If it doesn't have a guard, it's not a fighting knife.
 
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