Question for military or ex military personnel (soldiers)

Ya know with all this talk about what the special operations types use I've yet to see more than a hand full of special operations types with a fixed blade and I've got a whole buch of them running around here.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
I was with the Engineers during the 70's. I never carried any fixed blade other than a machete, and a bayonet and found those to be in the way most of the time. A small folder was another story.

I don't remember every folder that I carried but none of them were very costly. My folder during basic and AIT was a small cheap trapper that my father gave me. Some punk stole it almost immediately. I got it back after I threatened to beat him to a pulp with the barrel of my M16. It was amazing how quickly the NCOs showed up.

After AIT I carried mostly budget liner locks. CRKT was very popular with soldiers while I was in.Their knives were cheap and carried by aafes. CRKT's Marzitelli Prowler and M16-02 are the two main knives I carried in the field. The Prowler is still one of my favorite knives of all time.

The "demo" knife was still in the system when I enlisted but was replaced by Gerber's multi-tool before my retirement. If you stayed on your supply NCO's good side, you had a chance to get a demo knife. For those of you that don't know what a demo knife is, let me tell you. The demo knife was an all stainless scout knife made by Camillus (among others). It is a crude copy of the Victorinox Soldier/Pioneer knife. Vic's Pioneer is a much better product for about the same amount of cash.

Buck's 110 and Vic's SAK were very popular. In the 1980's Rambo movies hit the big screen and I started seeing some engineers carry big fixed blade knives. I remember one officer commenting about how many guys had big knives on their hips. As time went on we changed from wheeled to mechanized engineers and it seemed that we had more and more gear to carry and I did not see as many fixed blades.

If I HAD to recommend a fixed blade, it would be light, short and Molle capable. However, I have to suggest a good inexpensive folder instead. If I was going back in I would carry a Gerber MT, plus one other knife. Emerson's CQC 7 and Benchmade's Griptilian would both be considered but I would probably end up with a Ka-Bar Dozier, Utilitac II or my beat up Prowler. A SAK Alox or Soldier 08 would also somehow make it into the mix.
 
DudeoftheDesert said:
The knife I used the most in the Delta (VN, 1966-67) was the knife from my military tool box, a TL 29. Used it almost every day. Also it was the only knife I drew blood with when I was over there. From my best friend. Seven stitches on his right hand. York, do you ever think of me when you see the scar? Oh, the memories of living a year in a hooch.
The Dude abides.
Click to expand...

Best post in this thread. 😂😂😂 I want to hear that story. I got stabbed through the hand by a battle buddy during training because he was an idiot (and nothing exciting). Only three stitches though. I want to hear your story.
 
I served late 90's to 2006 in uk RAF, carried a Green River type from Sheffield (only ever used it for cooking & basha making on exercises and deployment.
My most used and still edc'd blade is a first gen leatherman wave i've had since '93ish (had pliers replaced twice got to love the 25 year warrenty)
If I had known about the Falkeniven F1 back then I would have bought one for general use.

Back then as for field sharpening I used to use 1200 grit wet&dry on the back of a mess tin and the top of a landy window as a strop/ finish.( if I was still in I would use a sharpmaker or similar)

ATB
NM
 
Last edited:
Senior Officers weren't that keen on soldiers having big knives because of the paper work involved. Bored, and even drunk soldiers, with too much time on their hands did silly things all the time. A big blade might add to the list of dumb ass things that would require paper reports. In the field it was up to the Colonel of the Battalion on dress code.

Those who had done the RAF survival course, or one of the excellent E&E courses, might carry a combat blade such as the MOD Survival Knife (rubbish knife though, SRK's are far better). I had Lofty Wiseman teach me, though I was brought up in the woods anyhow. Even having done such courses the big knife really never caught on and most reverted back to a stout folder. I have one of the very first SOG multitools.

Lastly, Gurkhas have the advantage they started high altitude training from birth, so are intrinsically strong and fit; their endurance being legendary. Their specialisation is jungle work where they excel.
 
In the Israeli Army, I was in a rescue unit and carried a Camillus Demo and a small pair of water pump pliers, which did everything I needed for cutting and opening

When on guard duty (check post stuff), carried a small double edged dagger covertly as backup in case of close direct attack
(never used it and eventually stopped carrying it)
 
Last edited:
I carried a Microtech D/A Socom in my pocket and a Cuda Dominator clipped to my vest. No fixed blades. Probably a combined value of $500 at the time.
 
GREENJACKET said:
Ask any soldier if on a "ten miler" combat endurance run if he would like to carry a Busse Battle Mistress and he will tell you where to stick it.

We have all heard the saying: "don't take a knife to a gun fight".
Well the military ones goes:
Why use a knife when you can use a handgun?
Why use a handgun when you can use an assault rifle?
Why use an assault rifle when you can use a grenade?
Why use a grenade when you can use a mortar?
Why use a mortar when you can use a tank's main armament?
Why use a tank when you can use Artillery?
Why use Artillery when you can use Air Power?
More than that just Nuke the f....
Click to expand...

This line of thinking (which is funny by the way) makes sense in terms of conventional warfighting (ex. USA vs USSR), but is incorrect in an era where modern military conflicts are not between industrial superpowers. Not having some form of edged weapon, folder or fixed, could present a problem for the average soldier, to include the non-infantry types that erroneously believe they are serving out of harms way. Look at how ISIS fights and how "lone wolf" individuals have literally run up to military personnel in places like Israel, and attacked them at point blank range. If someone cannot reach their primary weapon, they had better hope they are either the best hand-to-hand combat fighter in their unit, or carrying something else.
 
Not in the military, I'm a police officer in Europe, I carry a clip point Recon 1 folder. Because for me it holds the best weight/strength/price ratio. I've (ab)used the thing on several occasions and it hasn't let me down yet. With everything hanging off my belt I especially appreciate the modest weight so I can only imagine how a soldier in full gear would feel the same
 
Last edited:
I wasn't going to add more to the thread as I had said enough.
Modern soldiering includes a lot of peace keeping and policing. Rear echelons are also more exposed as the front line is less defined.
A knife isn't much use against car bombs or random attacks. Personal defence remains the issue assault rifle. If you can't carry that then ensure you have a handgun. Heck, even the British Army now issues handguns to anyone who wants one (bought some Glocks).

When any well dressed terrorist has a AK, then a knife just doesn't come into the equation.

For all the romance of martial arts and knives fighting they really don't play any part in reality. A soldier who can hump kit miles and endure months of boredom in uncomfortable conditions miles from home, while still being ready to react intelligently, with absolute aggression if need be, at the drop of a hat is far more useful. Sure do the personal training if that is what you are into, but just make sure you can call down a fire mission too... and on the right grid square.

War Studies put knives in improved weapons category which amounts to a fraction of 1% of all casualties. Its why a knife usefulness is judged on the weight and its utility. Why a multitool wins hands down.
Don't get me wrong I love a good knife.
 
Last edited:
72 to 76 in the Army. 2 1/2 yrs of that with a border patrol unit on the Czech border. 1/3 Cav. Never carried anything but a Tl-29 in the holster with the wire stripper pliers that were issued to all of us in commo.--KV
 
I'll caveat my post first off by saying that I'm a military member who makes knives and sells them primarily to other military members so, that being the case, I may be a little biased and this could be taken as a slight conflict of interests from the outside looking in, however I can assure you that I don't make enough money off the very few knives I sell to sway my feelings either way and this comes from my own personal experience. My first point is on self defense.. Yes, soldiers carry a rifle/carbine as a primary and a lot (including myself) carry a pistol as my EDC at work, but to think there is zero use for a knife as a backup for your backup is a little naïve. Things happen, and sometimes things happen in close quarters which prohibit the use of the long gun altogether and can seriously limit access and use of your pistol, which leaves a little room to rethink leaving a knife at home. That's the last think i'll say about knife use for self defense as IMHO it is fairly limited and is such a small percentage of what most soldiers will ever use a knife for, which leaves me with the reasons I actually still carry a medium fixed blade at all times. There are literally thousands of times when I have used my fixed blade for every other use possible and I can honestly say that I wouldn't be without one if I had any choice in the matter at all. Things happen, and when they do, it is the educated soldier who will have the very best chance of surviving whatever situation they are in at the time, and if you can't think of the time when a decent fixed blade would come in handy then you've just never experienced enough situations, so i'll list a few that might be slipping most people's minds in this age of drones and GPS, such as:
building shelter
building a hide/OP
fire prep
food prep
clearing brush/shooting lanes
fieldcraft/bushcraft
building entry/breaching light doors or windows
just to name a few... I've used mine in all climates, in all manner of situations throughout the world and I personally wouldn't be without one.

p.s. GREENJACKET, just to assure you that I'm not a yesteryear soldier with no ties to modern military combat, I can call a fire mission if I have to, lol. I have spent the last 8 years in SOF and most of that as a JTAC imbedded with some of the worlds elite... most of whom carry a fixed blade of some sort. most of those of the under $150 range and medium sized such as the sog seal pup type knives and absolutely ZERO huge Rambo style knives as they all get left behind once the soldier realizes how large and obtrusive they are.
 
My blogging tone can come over as bit lecturous but in truth I'm just trying too be informative to those casual readers. Its not directed at anyone particular.

I carried a Chris Reeve Project II for 9 years on my webbing battle order, so I am a fan. I grew up using knives and would feel naked without something. Lots of people just aren't interested or much fussed. Further more, fewer and fewer soldiers feel the need to carry the classic "combat knife". They get carried a lot but really don't see much use. A crow bar might be as good for many a situation. SF, and those working away from the resources of a base regularly, may well decide that a good fixed knife tool is worth the taking. For most main units a folder and multitool will be more practical.
Same goes to how much time an individual puts into other combative techniques, there are good shots and bad. What is better time spent: doing a combat medics course or a hand to hand advanced technique course? Those "in" for a good time might do both, but the former is the most useful.

All I am saying is every piece of personal military kit has to be weighed up. The final decision is up to the individual. As the thread input clearly shows, most were happy with not a lot of "knife".
 
Rustyrazor,,,,, I only had served mandatory military service in post communist era within middle of Europe, our regiment has been issued at the time UTON Vzor 75 fixed combat knives and bayonets along assault rifles. As I observed, we did find a lot of use for UTON knives issued to us, whether it was day to day duties, mostly of utility use. We has never been deployed to any conflicts, neither war actually, but these fixed knives comes handy a lot to most of us and were frequently used during exercises, trainings, or after within time off.

I can only fully agree with your addition and point of view, there is a good number of reasons why fixed blades are still issued within military and across many units...

At the same time, I do understand guys who find them obtrusive in some terms and preferably opt for pocket knives or multitools, but for many units, the fixed blade is still a "must"...for others it's just not.Personally, if deployed into any hot spot or conflict, I d definitely carry at least one fixed blade and back up too. One never know, where he end up and how will events unfold....
 
While I have never been in the military I see these threads come up often with similar responses. Most make sense but I sometimes feel the recommendations are dated. You see, we have been in this war with the Middle East for a long time and in this part of the world the knife is highly respected, even decorated and worn for status. I think it's even been said that the locals are scared of the kabar. With that in mind I would probably carry a large-ish knife for cultural reasons if anything.

Now, for every story of not needing more than a multi tool I've also heard stories of using knives when the bullets ran out, from CQC with a pocket knife to crazy Gurkhas swinging their kukri and even a bayonet charge, there is no shortage of stories on knives. Even the CS subforum has a thread dedicated to the subject. And I'm pretty sure there are countless threads on BF if you search.

One thing I do know is that most Military members that have sent me a knife for sharpening have sent a medium sized fixed blade of 4-7in and/or a folder. Mostly Kabar, benchmade, and customs. While the production knives seem to be more tacticool the custom knives (probably experienced soldiers) tend to look more like utility bushcraft knives.
 
Any quality fixed blade for normal utility and field use.........and a Gerber Mark II for specialized tasks.....
 
The theatre of war has a lot to do with whats carried: dust and rocks not much to do; wood and mud more reason; jungles then it better be long. If not required it stays at base camp.
You pack it, you carry it. The more experienced you are the less you need, well at least less not needed.
 
I am surprised that non of the Randall's popped up yet,but these were probably very rare and also too pricey even for veterans from Vietnam or Korean wars - where these supposed to be deployed in numbers.So far it's predominantly number of Camillus, Kabars and Gerbers fixed blades,plus lot of folders and multitools. I also wonder if somebody come forward here with Khukuri :) as I read elsewhere on BF, these were too options for certain individuals in Iraq or middle east lately, in contrary to what most military wouldn't opt for (big and heavy)
 
Price. Most young soldiers don't have a lot of disposable income and there are better things to spend money on. Certainly at basic training everything is provided for, including a pointy bayonet, and individuality isn't encouraged. Even after that few are going to spend much, and then probably at a PX. The popular models are most often those found in the PX shops.
Every catalogue now has knives of every tactical style and something for every pocket. But still soldiers only carry what they have to, and only buy things they need. A boys night out on beer takes priority, or the girlfriend. NCO's and officers are more likely have the disposable income, and the authority to do as they please, to buy something "sporty" like a good knife.

Kukris are best left to Gurkhas.

Mechanised troops may need choppers for camouflaging vehicles but training areas aren't for doing it in, as these areas are too hard used and are often places of scientific interest, nature reserves; so leave the flora alone.
Anything more is because its from a specialised course or specialised unit that some additional tool might be of use.

The rest is due to marketing and soldiers are like everyone else. What bloke isn't a succour for a good knife? (Quite a lot actually, bunch of pansies! In truth so many weren't allowed them when growing up, so don't have a clue.)

Finally, I've broken a Gerber Guardian, similar build to a MKII. I've also broken a EK. Get something that will bend rather than snap. The old Randals were good tough utility blades of their age, probably still as good, but way too expensive.
 
Last edited:
Hi my name is max i served in israeli army as a mercava 2b gunner for 3 years i had 2 years combat expiriense including having an honor shooting 105mm point blanc into yaser arafats building while he was there inside. I wasnt usually carieng a knife bicous it can be used agenst u when surrounded by crouds or rendom palestinian but a letherman it is super usefull in everything . but i now make knives for a half year or so and i made a knife that i think i would carry if i was infantry. I dont think i would use folders for hand to hand battle bicous i know how steel bihaves and i would never trust my life on a 2 mm diamitar scroo espesially if i didnt made that scroo. I sugest strong full tang and carbon steel to allow darkening with asid. I use o-1 steel and persise heat treet

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top