Alright...for you first question, gryphon46, the USG does NOT issue what I think it needs to issue!
If you are issued a 9mm (beretta 92F) pistol, you get a K-bar as a knife. If you are issued a M16A2, you get a bayonet (no knife).
The quality of these, as everyone who has ever used "goverment issue" knows, is LOW quality. I have broken only 1 bayonet in my time, but seen plenty others broken...
There is no "fighting" knife issued to the average "grunt." However, the Marines are experimenting with a new "fighting" knife/baynet with a 8" blade, serrations near the choil, and the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on the handle. (Every service wants to
sign their new gear issue -new cammies, new knife, new packs and for each service too...waste of tax payer's dollars IMO!)
As for the what you can carry: I mentioned this in another post, but if you have a knife with a blade over 3" (even if it is a folder!) you are required to check it into the armory and get a "weapon's card" for it (in order to check it in and out of the armory).
Do a majority of Marines do this?

what do you think?!
Most Marines buy and carry their own knives.
I carried a Busse SH on my first deployment (outstanding knife) and I most recently carried a ATC Brend Hatchet with me in Iraq (met and overcame ALL obsticals!)
The "higher ups" were back and forth about me carrying a hatchet, too. First I couldn't, then I could, then I couldn't again...finally convinced them by showing them the blade was LESS than 3"...(like it matters with a spike on the back!

)
IMOH, the "warrior attitude" that all fighting units should have has taken a back seat to the "PC" issues that go out the door during a war anyhow...don't get me started!

:barf:
As for Shelly (my wife), she DOES have a sister, but her sister is only 18...but she's a hottie! (Shelly's sister is a little taller than my wife too! I'm a sucker for the tall ones!

Don't tell my wife I said that!)
