Question for military forum members

K

Kool

Joined
Aug 10, 2002
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37
A question occurred to me today as I was reading about U.S. Marines fighting with bayonets in Iraq. This question is directed to forum members who are in the military and unlike most of us, face a real possibility of having to use their knife to actually kill someone. What knife do you carry?
 
Not that I'm in a qualified position to talk about this, but I think that bayonets and fighting knives and field knives are completely different.

The best bayonet is a long spike. The best fighting knife is a long light double edged knife while a good field knife is short enough to control, heavy enough to chop and has a single edge...

One can always compromise and make multi-purpose knives, but in the end, it's not the best for any specific task, but useful for all.
 
Currently, a Delta Z Osprey, since my Camillus EDC is in for repairs. Also a Victorinox Swisstool. Over here in Korea I can't have a knife with anything over a 4" blade, so I lost my Ka-Bar at customs on the way over here. I'll be replacing it with something when I go to the Blade show, until then I've got my Osprey. I wouldn't say I'm too likely to have to use it to kill anyone though, because if they've already gotten that close someone has made a big mistake.
 
USMC 88-92

I was there for the first round with Iraq.

Bayonet was strictly for the end of the rifle.

I carried my Kabar for everything else.
 
As an officer, I carried a personal knife or Gerber Tool---it really depends on your branch (infantry/artillery/SF/Tanker)....as a mech artillery man, I depended on my personal side arm (M-16 or 9 mm)---if things got close (rare for the mech FA) like hand-to-hand & I was out of rounds; always had my E-tool around.
 
Top right pocket - Leatehrman Squirt S4
Left hip - Leatherman PST with cripmers
Left pants pocket - MOD CQD II
Fixed blade - Colin Cox survival. That choice changes depending on a couple of variables. Listed above is what I carried in Afghanistan and it seemed to work out fine.

Regards,
Doug
 
Well, here's the short list:

Primary:

either Busse Steel Heart II or Swamp Rat Knives Camp Tramp

Secondary:

Snody Ronin
Busse Assault Shaker
Busse Badger Attack E
Strider GB/AR
Emerson Commander
Cold Steel Voyagers
Benchmade Ascent
CRKT KISS
Swamp Rat Ratchet/Howling Rat
SOG Powerlock

etc., etc., etc...

All depends on the situation since the issue bayonet is pretty lame.

Just an opinion of an MP on the line.

Ed
 
Swedish WW2 bayonet. Except the totally anti-ergonomic handle, it's perfect blade-length, weight and thickness of blade.
However, no swedes, not even we who go on peacekeeping missions into warzones, get issued knives. The training in hand-to-hand fighting includes however (for some units) knife fighting techniques, and our instructors then used both a bayonet like mine, as it's quite common here in Sweden, and they used a, relatively small, Fallkniven F1 (and a little bigger version, also made by Fallkniven).
 
speaking of swedish grunts...
what ever happened to that guy who used to post here all the time... the bald guy who was deployed to the balkans...
I can't remember his name or his handle, and now that avatars are gone...
 
Originally posted by gris91
However, no swedes, not even we who go on peacekeeping missions into warzones, get issued knives.
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That’s because the UN is afraid that their peacekeepers might use their knives or bayonets to cut themselves loose after they have been hog tied and used as human shields. If that happened the US wouldn’t have to rescue the UN “forces” and do their fighting for them. :p


Peace!
 
I am currently on duty with the 10th Mountain Div at Fort Drum, NY. I am in the Infantry and use knives in the field alot! The knives I usually use are: Leatherman Wave, SAK Rucksack, Al Mar Sere 2000 and I just orderd a BK&T BK9 in Desert Tan and plan on it going with me to the middle east in the near future.
 
My most used knife in Afghanistan, Emerson CQC-7, I used to carry a Gerber dagger like knife for a while and realised it was just more crap to carry without much use. What I mean by that is that It doesn't have much more purpose than a bayonet. Sure it will kill if you use it right but so will something with a more usable blade profile (like a Kabar or Anza 719) Since carrying a knife similar to the Anza, I have been alot more happy lugging it around knowing I will actually use it. You wouldn't believe how much they can rust in desert conditions! (sweat)

I used an entrenching tool to kill a snake once and it worked great. I would probably use the E-tool or swing my rifle like (pugile fighting) before using a knife in defense. Taking out a sentry, maybe a garret or shoving a knife blade under the base of the scull. I'm told this will crumple a guy before he can utter a sound. :eek:
 
When I was an enlisted guy, I carried a Tinker SAK and a Buck 112. Of course, we had an axe, shovel, sledge hammer and tanker's bar in the sponson box.
 
I carry my Ceya`s TRIDENT plain edge Fixed blade,

Spyderco Rookie 50/50 blade, Spyderco Delica 50/50 blade folders.

Any larger fixed blade will depend on the mission I am tasked with at the time.

S/F,
Ceya..Ceya Knife Dseignz
Grunt University!!!
 
Always a gerber on my right side under my blouse attached to my belt. In my right side pocket I rotate, but usually a CRKT M16. I'm an infantry guy so we usually take the bayonets in the field and if we will be going into close combat the bayonet will be on our weapon. I'm also thinking about buying a next gen KaBar for my field gear...but I've already got too much crap to carry.

As for the e-tool...some CMA (Congressional Medal of Honor)recipients used it.

Wilson, Benjamin F.
Rank: First Lieutenant (then Master Sergeant)
Organization: U.S. Army Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Hwach'on-Myon, Korea, June 5, 1951.
Entered service at: Vashon, Wash.
Birth: Vashon, Wash.
General Order No.: 69, Sept. 23, 1954.
Citation: First Lieutenant Benjamin F. Wilson, Infantry, United States Army, a member of Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy near Hwach'on-Myon, Korea on 5 June 1951. Company I was committed to attack and secure commanding terrain stubbornly defended by a numerically superior hostile force emplaced in well-fortified positions. When the spearheading element was pinned down by withering hostile fire, he dashed forward and, firing his rifle and throwing grenades, neutralized the position denying the advance and killed four enemy soldiers manning submachineguns. After the assault platoon moved up, occupied the position, and a base of fire was established, he led a bayonet attack which reduced the objective and killed approximately 27 hostile soldiers. While friendly forces were consolidating the newly won gain, the enemy launched a counterattack and Lieutenant Wilson, realizing the imminent threat of being overrun, made a determined lone-man charge, killing seven and wounding two of the enemy, and routing the remainder in disorder. After the position was organized, he led an assault carrying to approximately 15 yards of the final objective, when enemy fire halted the advance. He ordered the platoon to withdraw and, although painfully wounded in this action, remained to provide covering fire. During an ensuing counterattack, the commanding officer and 1st Platoon leader became casualties. Unhesitatingly, Lieutenant Wilson charged the enemy ranks and fought valiantly, killing three enemy soldiers with his rifle before it was wrested from his hands, and annihilating four others with his entrenching tool. His courageous delaying action enabled his comrades to reorganize and effect an orderly withdrawal. While directing evacuation of the wounded, he suffered a second wound, but elected to remain on the position until assured that all of the men had reached safety. Lieutenant Wilson's sustained valor and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.
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BROWN, MELVIN L.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company D, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion. Place and date: Near Kasan, Korea, 4 September 1950. Entered service at: Erie, Pa. Birth: Mahaffey, Pa. G.O. No.: 11, 16 February 1951. Citation. Pfc. Brown, Company D distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While his platoon was securing Hill 755 (the Walled City), the enemy, using heavy automatic weapons and small arms, counterattacked. Taking a position on a 50-foot-high wall he delivered heavy rifle fire on the enemy. His ammunition was soon expended and although wounded, he remained at his post and threw his few grenades into the attackers causing many casualties. When his supply of grenades was exhausted his comrades from nearby foxholes tossed others to him and he left his position, braving a hail of fire, to retrieve and throw them at the enemy. The attackers continued to assault his position and Pfc. Brown weaponless, drew his entrenching tool from his pack and calmly waited until they 1 by 1 peered over the wall, delivering each a crushing blow upon the head. Knocking 10 or 12 enemy from the wall, his daring action so inspired his platoon that they repelled the attack and held their position. Pfc. Brown's extraordinary heroism, gallantry, and intrepidity reflect the highest credit upon himself and was in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service. Reportedly missing in action and officially killed in action, September 5, 1950.
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Originally posted by Angus McGunnigl
USMC 88-92

I was there for the first round with Iraq.

Bayonet was strictly for the end of the rifle.

I carried my Kabar for everything else.
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USMC 88-92 2nd Tank Bn, 2nd MarDiv

I also was there in the Gulf, part I

I also carried a K-Bar and my Bayonet. I also was never without my Leatherman Multi-tool. (hey, I couldn't exactly copy Angus's post)

I personally kinda chuckled at some of the knives people were strapping to their H-harness'. It's not the knife, it's the person holding it.
 
Easy, issued M-9 bayonet. I don't want to get blood and other bodily fluids on my nice stuff. I will have nice knives in my pockets, but I wouldn't use them for much more than getting into my MRE's and other little tasks. If I had to buy a knife to kill someone, then it would be the Chris Reeve Green Beret knife. I like that one alot.
 
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