My nephew is now in boot camp and has volunteered to be deployed to IRAQ. His MOS is to be a MP. I am very proud of him and would like to give him a knife that he can be proud of and that will serve him well in all that he does. So far I am leaning towards a BM710HS or HSSR but I also like the BM910HS or HSSR and also the miniAFCK in M2 if I can find one. Please tell me which one you would choose and why. Don't feel limited to these knives. What is everyone's opinion on combo blades? For me, a sharp, plain blade is better but I think a combo blade may be useful to a soldier or policeman. Thank you in advance!
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Please help me pick a good EDC for a new soldier
- Thread starter bigox
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As an EDC for a service man, were you thinking of utility or combat?
Assuming its for utility and it's for while he's state side, the ones you mentioned are good. You may want to take him to your local shop and pick out something he likes, and you know the good stuff.
I was going to pick up the 710HS but I got a 705-401 instead as something dressier, with holidays comming up and all. The 710 might be my next, or next, next.
Assuming its for utility and it's for while he's state side, the ones you mentioned are good. You may want to take him to your local shop and pick out something he likes, and you know the good stuff.
I was going to pick up the 710HS but I got a 705-401 instead as something dressier, with holidays comming up and all. The 710 might be my next, or next, next.
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- Jun 8, 2005
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All that you listed are fantastic, but I'm a big para military fan, and here's why:
S30V is a great balanced steel with good edge retention, strength, corrosion resistance....
the compression lock is me-tested and very tough. Its blow through design will prevent buildup in the knife unlike a lot of other kinds of locks.
The oversized spyder hole is good with gloves on.
I love leaf shape blades....seem very sturdy and practical.
G10 handles work even better when you sweat and look good too.
The ergonomics are fantastic and give guys with big hands plenty of room.
I find choils to be a nice safety feature.
S30V is a great balanced steel with good edge retention, strength, corrosion resistance....
the compression lock is me-tested and very tough. Its blow through design will prevent buildup in the knife unlike a lot of other kinds of locks.
The oversized spyder hole is good with gloves on.
I love leaf shape blades....seem very sturdy and practical.
G10 handles work even better when you sweat and look good too.
The ergonomics are fantastic and give guys with big hands plenty of room.
I find choils to be a nice safety feature.
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 193
My nephew is in Falujh, now. My sister and I bought him a second-hand Strider SnG, because that's what he asked for. It's a status thing and expensive, but an awesome knife if you can afford one.
I tried to talk her into a Paramilitary (my choice) or a Manix. Less expensive, but great knives, made of the same, S30v steel as the Strider. I've never handled a Manix, which is said to be heavier and stronger, but it's a lockback. I perfer the Para, with the compression lock, and it's lighther weight.
If it's to be used for self defence, or as a weapon, he should have a good fixed blade, instead of a folder. Lots of them to choose from.
I tried to talk her into a Paramilitary (my choice) or a Manix. Less expensive, but great knives, made of the same, S30v steel as the Strider. I've never handled a Manix, which is said to be heavier and stronger, but it's a lockback. I perfer the Para, with the compression lock, and it's lighther weight.
If it's to be used for self defence, or as a weapon, he should have a good fixed blade, instead of a folder. Lots of them to choose from.
Hi,
the BM 710 is a great knife. I own one for some years now and never had a problem with it. That is why ordered a little brother, the 705-401 from americanheritagesports (who did a great job sending it overseas). This knife arrived today and my first impression is very positive. It is lighter and smaller, but I expect it to be just as practical as the 710 (although perhaps a bit less easy to flip open). My choice would also be a 710, or perhaps this 705.
Good luck.
the BM 710 is a great knife. I own one for some years now and never had a problem with it. That is why ordered a little brother, the 705-401 from americanheritagesports (who did a great job sending it overseas). This knife arrived today and my first impression is very positive. It is lighter and smaller, but I expect it to be just as practical as the 710 (although perhaps a bit less easy to flip open). My choice would also be a 710, or perhaps this 705.
Good luck.
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- Feb 7, 2005
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- 2,892
I'd go with a Paramilitary, a Manix or an Al Mar SERE 2000.
My favourite of the three would be the Manix, closely followed by the Para.
My favourite of the three would be the Manix, closely followed by the Para.
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- Jul 29, 2003
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- 666
I think the benchmade AFCK would be the way to go - the version with the tool steel.
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- 6,997
BM 710 is good advice. I'd recommend it, especially the HS blade steel.
I'd also recommend Emerson knives very highly. They're tough as nails (i'd even say tougher than Benchmade, but maybe not by much), they're made of excellent materials (ususally 154CM blade steel), they're user-disassemblable with common tools (extremely important, and Emerson actually recommends it instead of voiding your warranty!!!), and they're extremely well-designed.
Good luck you you, and especially to your son.
I'd also recommend Emerson knives very highly. They're tough as nails (i'd even say tougher than Benchmade, but maybe not by much), they're made of excellent materials (ususally 154CM blade steel), they're user-disassemblable with common tools (extremely important, and Emerson actually recommends it instead of voiding your warranty!!!), and they're extremely well-designed.
Good luck you you, and especially to your son.
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2005
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- 5,171
Benchmade knives are good products, therefore I'd recomend the knife that he feels fits his hands best. Have him try 'em out at a store or barrow one. The M2 HS/HSSR version are great users.
Please remember to get a sharpener to go with the knife (An often neglected necessity.)
Please remember to get a sharpener to go with the knife (An often neglected necessity.)
Large Regular Sebenza
Spyderco Manix
Benchmade 520
Benchmade AFCK if you can still source one
Microtech Amphibian
Combat Elite RRF (maybe a little small)
Lonewolf Harsey T2
Buck Strider 880
Emerson Commander
Emerson CQC13
Strider (If you want to play Roulette with QC)
Benchmade Skirmish
Spyderco Manix
Benchmade 520
Benchmade AFCK if you can still source one
Microtech Amphibian
Combat Elite RRF (maybe a little small)
Lonewolf Harsey T2
Buck Strider 880
Emerson Commander
Emerson CQC13
Strider (If you want to play Roulette with QC)
Benchmade Skirmish
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- Apr 19, 2002
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- 286
I Carried an Emerson CQC7 when I was there. I used it alot, always had it with me 24/7. I couldn't believe how this thing rusted in the "arrid" desert. Truth is, it was me sweating a couple of gallons through the course of a day. Just something to consider...
Beautiful sunsets n' sunrises accompanied by morning/evening prayer of course.
Rick
Beautiful sunsets n' sunrises accompanied by morning/evening prayer of course.
Rick
Concur with Artfully Martial about the Paramilitary. Keys for me are as follows:
1. Compression lock -- one of the strongest locks on the market. More importantly, no moving parts and highly resistant to, for instance, SAND mucking up the locking mechanism. Easiest knife to clean because there's no back spacer. Far easier than any folding Benchmade.
2. Large opening hole. Your son will surely be wearing gloves in Iraq, and the large Spyderco hole is the ONLY one IMHO that works with gloves. (I just got a Benchmade AFCK 806D2, and it's a great knife, but it just doesn't work as well with gloves -- and it has an oval opening hole. Thumb studs are downright cumbersome with gloves)
3. This is going to be a utility knife, I'm guessing. Your son's primary backup weapon will be a sidearm -- not a knife. Hard utility in my mind says flat grind, leaf shape blade.
I vote for the Paramilitary, having had my time in the sand as well. Enduring Freedom.
All the best to your son. We're all proud.
1. Compression lock -- one of the strongest locks on the market. More importantly, no moving parts and highly resistant to, for instance, SAND mucking up the locking mechanism. Easiest knife to clean because there's no back spacer. Far easier than any folding Benchmade.
2. Large opening hole. Your son will surely be wearing gloves in Iraq, and the large Spyderco hole is the ONLY one IMHO that works with gloves. (I just got a Benchmade AFCK 806D2, and it's a great knife, but it just doesn't work as well with gloves -- and it has an oval opening hole. Thumb studs are downright cumbersome with gloves)
3. This is going to be a utility knife, I'm guessing. Your son's primary backup weapon will be a sidearm -- not a knife. Hard utility in my mind says flat grind, leaf shape blade.
I vote for the Paramilitary, having had my time in the sand as well. Enduring Freedom.
All the best to your son. We're all proud.
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- Apr 19, 2002
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I'm comparing the Emerson to Spyderco to Buck Srider 880 (the one that looks more like the AR)
The Buck is alot of bang for the...nah, can't say it
The thing is BEEFY!
Opening and closing the Spyderco Paramilitary with issue cbt gloves is to easy Followed by the Emerson and Buck/Strider. The benchmade AFCK (mini) didn't fair as well for me at least.
If I were to pick again, maybe the Buck, don't get me wrong I love the Spydie,it is in my EDC rotation here but the blade tip doesn't look bone head proof :foot:
. The Buck/Strider cuts far better than I thought it would.
I've been thinking of making a fixed blade EDC, I've seen some on BF and they look handy. I only mention this so someone more in the know can comment on them
Rick
The Buck is alot of bang for the...nah, can't say it
The thing is BEEFY!Opening and closing the Spyderco Paramilitary with issue cbt gloves is to easy Followed by the Emerson and Buck/Strider. The benchmade AFCK (mini) didn't fair as well for me at least.
If I were to pick again, maybe the Buck, don't get me wrong I love the Spydie,it is in my EDC rotation here but the blade tip doesn't look bone head proof :foot:
. The Buck/Strider cuts far better than I thought it would.I've been thinking of making a fixed blade EDC, I've seen some on BF and they look handy. I only mention this so someone more in the know can comment on them
Rick
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2002
- Messages
- 4,187
For all-round utility, a good Swiss Army Knife!
Both a BM 710 and an SAK will cut well. However, sooner or later, he's going to want to tighten a screw/strip a wire/use tweezers to remove a splinter/cut out a coupon using scissors etc. etc. That's where the SAK races ahead.
Forget about self-defence use. In all the hundreds of thousands of man/years spent in Iraq, I can only recall one reported use of a pocket knife in combat. (I think it was an south- or central-American grunt with a Buck 110 knockoff).
maximus otter
Both a BM 710 and an SAK will cut well. However, sooner or later, he's going to want to tighten a screw/strip a wire/use tweezers to remove a splinter/cut out a coupon using scissors etc. etc. That's where the SAK races ahead.
Forget about self-defence use. In all the hundreds of thousands of man/years spent in Iraq, I can only recall one reported use of a pocket knife in combat. (I think it was an south- or central-American grunt with a Buck 110 knockoff).
maximus otter
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2005
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- 161
My best friend spent 9 months in Iraq as a Marine Corporal, and said his Gerber mulit-tool (same thing as a Leatherman) was extremely useful. He also carried a Ka-Bar, but admitted that he never used it, and frequently left it behind.
Now that he is home again, and safe, he LOVES to play with my Para Military, and says that he would have carried that in Iraq instead of the useless Ka-Bar. I am thinking of getting him a Para Military for christmas, even though he is not expecting to return to Iraq.
So I would suggest a Leatherman type multi-tool, and a Spyderco Para Military; and this suggestion comes from somebody who served over there and I value his opinions highly.
Edited to add: You can get the Para Military in black blade, that should prevent sweat induced corrosion.
Now that he is home again, and safe, he LOVES to play with my Para Military, and says that he would have carried that in Iraq instead of the useless Ka-Bar. I am thinking of getting him a Para Military for christmas, even though he is not expecting to return to Iraq.
So I would suggest a Leatherman type multi-tool, and a Spyderco Para Military; and this suggestion comes from somebody who served over there and I value his opinions highly.
Edited to add: You can get the Para Military in black blade, that should prevent sweat induced corrosion.