NSN and GSA approved knives

[lokiman123]

I checked out benchmade the other day and noticed that nearly all BM knives in the NSN system have p/s blades. It got me thinking, how are knives approved for getting into that system??? Furthermore, why are there more GSA knives (many of which are p/e) than NSN approved knives?

 

[bruce]

I can't speak for GSA but NSN knives are "pulled" into the system by one or more services, or subset of one or more services (aviation, SF, etc.). they are not "pushed" into the system by the manufacturer. Benchmade does not just offer up knives for inclusion in the AMDEF (Army Master Data File - or whatever has replaced it over the last ten years). A knife is in the AMDEF because some military entity wanted it, selected it over other tested knives, or it was accepted as the only knife that could do a particular job.

 

[lokiman123]

bruce- that speaks a whole lot then about the BM550SBKHG as it was the only non automatic folder listed in benchmade's nsn list. Wonder what that is being used for

 

[phaserrifle]

I checked out benchmade the other day and noticed that nearly all BM knives in the NSN system have p/s blades. It got me thinking, how are knives approved for getting into that system??? Furthermore, why are there more GSA knives (many of which are p/e) than NSN approved knives?

far as I know, the NSN system is a millitary system, used to catalogue equipment that is issued to a countries army. the system is a standard used throughout NATO and several other countries. there are NSNs for tanks (at least theoretically, ordering one through the system might be a bit difficult though) it only covers items which are officially issued though, so some bits of kit which are used may not be covered.

meanwhile the GSA system seems to cover any federal agency, and maintains a list of "ready negotiated contracts". becuase of the wide variety of differing organiseations using the system, with far more flexability on what they order, there will be a larger number of knives available. what the FBI want in a knife might be quite different from what NASA want. there are a huge number of different federal agencies, and all of them are covered by the GSA system. hence more GSA listed knives than NSN listed ones. theres just far more scope.

 

[TheCaptainNasty]

Ok readers digest version here. There are an insain amount of items that are assigned a National Stock Number. Almost every thing has one. engine components, black hawk helicopters, tanks, underware, cocain (inactive and no longer in use, and my favorite... beer. the military supply system identifies items by this number.

The General Services Administration I contracted by the government to Identify vendors and give them a contract that the gives them a status to vend to the government (although this contract is not mandatory for us to by crap from them. It basicly says we agree to sell to the government at reduced prices. haveing the GSA contract not only gets them to sell cheeper to the government but also authorizes government credit card holders to spend more money through the contract holders that they would normaly spend at a non-GSA contracted company. It's all about the green.