Recommendations on a knife for a soldier

abbydaddy

abbydaddy

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Hello All,

My good friend (he was my best man, and I am his for his upcoming wedding) is getting ready for a deployment. I want to get him a good fixed blade for his deployment. I have researched this topic quite a bit, and I have a short list of knives that I am considering, but I wanted to ask for input and suggestions.

My friend recently inherited a very nice knife collection, and he owns knives that would work just fine. He has some reliable folders, including one that I gifted him, so folders aren't really needed (though if someone has a suggestion for an EDC that would just be AMAZING for general use in the military feel free to share).

Like I said he has knives that would work fine. What I'm looking for are suggestions for something special, but useful and hard working. He's an artillery officer , so a purpose built combat knife like a Fairbairn-Sykes isn't what I'm after. I'm after a do-as-many-things-as-possible-as-well-as-possible knife.

Budget is up to ~$500

Looking forward to advice.

*Edit: While there is no hard and fast length limit in play here, I'm of the opinion that getting much over 6" is not very useful for general use. So I'm ideally thinking 6" or less.
 
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This question seems to pop up more often than not, and the simple answer is whether or not the soldier's MOS and assignment requires that said soldier possess a fixed blade; if so, the Army will issue one. Insofar as folders go, the decision to carry a folder is up to each individual. Most units do not allow for individual "accessorizing" when it comes to things like fixed blades, handguns, ammunition choices, etc...you get everything you need, nothing more and nothing less.
 
To add to what Alnamvet68 has said, other than what is issued have you thought about a multi tool? I'm sure the extra function of that tool plus the built in knife blade may serve him well. Good luck to him and may he be safe.
 
If you definitely want to get a fixed blade, try the Survive! 4.1 or 5 . Or a Spartan Harsey Hunter.
 
For ~$500 get him a Leatherman wave, RMJ tactical Shrike or Jenny Wren and a BK-2/ESEE-4/BK Tweener. That would set him up pretty nicely.
Depends on his MOS though.
 
Do not buy something expensive and precious. Rather make up a kit consisting of things he will use without reservations.
 
Don't spend the money if he cannot carry it in his unit.
A good folder would be great. As mentioned already, a nice SAK is hard to beat when you want multi-purpose.
Spending more money won't necessarily get you a better knife; more likely will buy you a folder with a thick blade that won't slice, but will pry without breaking.
Hope your buddy comes back home fine.
Merry Christmas! You're a good friend to have.
 
I agree with whoever said to check what he is allowed to use. It would suck to give him a well thought out gift that had to stay in his locker.

abbydaddy said:
Budget is up to ~$500

Looking forward to advice.

*Edit: While there is no hard and fast length limit in play here, I'm of the opinion that getting much over 6" is not very useful for general use. So I'm ideally thinking 6" or less.
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ZT0180 is an incredibly stout, do it all production fixed blade. Very similar in shape is Bark River's Bravo 1. I hate the sheaths that come with both though and replaced mine immediately with kydex.

If you want something that is ideal out of the box, look at Spartan Difensa or Strider's MT or the shorter MT Mod 10. They all come with great sheaths and excellent guarantees.
 
Nellem said:
Do not buy something expensive and precious. Rather make up a kit consisting of things he will use without reservations.
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:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Beware of buying him an expensive fixed blade he may not ever have a use for. For one, if he's going out in the field, he's gonna be weighted down with so much gear, it won't get carried. After a little while the soldier discards what he doesn't need. Also, insane as it may sound, some unit CO's will not allow carry of fixed blades that are not issued. Some CO's are okay, others can be the south end of a north bound horse.

One other thing, an obvious expensive nice knife will disappear in the barracks life. People are transferring in and out all the time, and things go missing. Some of the people serving out country are not the sterling people we'd like for them to be.

A good utility folder or multitool is needed more than a fixed blade. This has always ben true of soldiers. I served in the army and did a tour in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, and a utility folder was so useful for those thousand and one things that come up. If we needed something to stick with, the army gave us the bayonet for the M16 we carried. Never got used, but our pocket knives did everyday. But we were engineers, so we were not out hoofing around the jungle.

Give him a good multitool, and good flashlight. A flashlight is of great use ev try single night. Make it small and use AA batteries.

What is his MOS and what will he be doing and where. All are major importance in figuring what to give him. What he won't need is a big honking' fixed blade that will just be in the way, and get left back in the barracks.
 
MatthewSB said:
I agree with whoever said to check what he is allowed to use. It would suck to give him a well thought out gift that had to stay in his locker.



ZT0180 is an incredibly stout, do it all production fixed blade. Very similar in shape is Bark River's Bravo 1. I hate the sheaths that come with both though and replaced mine immediately with kydex.

If you want something that is ideal out of the box, look at Spartan Difensa or Strider's MT or the shorter MT Mod 10. They all come with great sheaths and excellent guarantees.
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Thanks MatthewSB,

The ZT0180 is exactly the kind of suggestion I was interested in. The Spartan Hunter, Difensa, and Model II are all on my short list, are the CRK Professional Soldier and Ontario TAK1. My friend will actually be picking which knife he wants, I'm mostly looking for more options.

I'm personally a big fan of Bill Harsey's designs, for a number of reasons (including because I know Bill), but most especially because of the ergonomics of his handles. The ZT0180 looks like another interesting option; I like Hinderer's designs and attention to issues like weight.

And I want to be clear here that the knife that I am looking to buy is not really about need or carry all the time practicality. Like I said, my friend has lots of knives, and is well set up for folders. He is also well set up for multitools. I am aware that whatever fixed blade I get him will probably spend more time in the locker than not. This is more about finding a knife that will be most useful on those days when something beyond the pocket knife is appropriate. The fact that whatever knife I get him will probably end up not seeing that much use on his deployment is a big part of why I am looking for something that can be useful generally (like for hunting and camping) beyond purely military applications.

Honestly I'm kind of hoping he opts for a Professional Soldier and TAK1 combo (or the like) so that there is more chance of at least one of the knives being useful more often. I'd also be pleased if he decides he wants something like my Fantoni HB 02. I just recently bought my Fantoni HB 02, and I think it is more generally useful than the fixed blade options, so I'm hoping he will fall in love with it when he visits. But ultimately it will be up to him what he wants.
 
If you want to get him a useful fixed blade get him a Fallkniven F1. It is not too big. I carried a Buck of similar size when I was in the service jumping out of airplanes. Also, heed what Jacknife said. A good folder is very practical. I carried a Buck 110 but they are heavy, but good for all around use (there is a story here or on another thread about a soldier whose Buck 110 took part of a grenade blast and saved his life). If I were in today, I would carry a Spyderco Endura or a Cold Steel American Lawman (best lock out there). They are both good all around knives but the Endura is easier to carry.
 
abbydaddy said:
Honestly I'm kind of hoping he opts for a Professional Soldier and TAK1 combo (or the like) so that there is more chance of at least one of the knives being useful more often.
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Another one to look at, similar to the professional soldier, is the Emerson PUK. It's very compact, like ESEE-3 sized, and flat so it carries easily on a belt, in a pocket, or mounted on MOLLE gear. It's a pretty good cutter too, and the odd grind is super easy to sharpen with limited equipment. The kydex sheath is perfect, and ready to go.

Sorry if it seems like I'm emphasizing sheaths too much, I use fixed blade knives daily and know how irritating a bad sheath can be :D
 
HOKIE_FAN said:
A Benchmade Adamas or Contego would be a good choice.
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I have owned two Benchmade Adamas 0275 manual folders. Four-inch D2 blade-steel; extremely strong lock. It is about as close as you can get to a fixed blade.
Has Molle attachment so can carry easily on his personal rig.
 
From reading past forum topics, perhaps more veterans have expressed a need and appreciation for multi-tools than other knives. In my own experience, Victorinox makes the nicest multi-tools. :thumbup:
 
I had a Kabar D2 DLC strapped to my leg when I was in Iraq. That will do the job most of the time just sitting in its sheath!
 
For something a little different and eye catching check out kiku matsuda knives at Japanese knives direct. Some really extraordinary pieces
 
first post here; multiple deployments. If he has been in the army for more than a day he has a boat load of multi-tools and folding knives (gerber and benchmade autos have been issued to me a multitude of times). Never have I seen a unit that would have an issue with the knife you had on you. I could see a blazing stainless with orange handle bringing unwanted attention.

I carried a a cheap SOG Pentagon or similar on my chest above my rack, it was my secondary weapon if ever compromised at close quarters (never needed it for that) tried not to use it much so it was sharp if ever needed. I had a ESEE (actually at older Rat Cutlery) RC-3 next to my mags until it was lost on a night movement when I thought I put it in the sheath (sad day and still not replaced yet). I used that knife for so many things. In a General-purpose pouch I would keep a gerber or benched auto folder with a multi-tool.

In the end it had to have a kydex sheath that didn't rattle, secure, ease to draw, durable, and something I didn't have to think about.

I know what you want to do as a gesture, if he likes knives then get him something to keep and if he needs a knife for a deployment (almost everyone does) then get him something he won't be thinking about losing. I would consider getting him two or three if he is both.
 
ranger mac said:
I know what you want to do as a gesture, if he likes knives then get him something to keep and if he needs a knife for a deployment (almost everyone does) then get him something he won't be thinking about losing. I would consider getting him two or three if he is both.
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Thank you Ranger Mac, those are good points.

And yes, he has been in the army for more than a day and this is not his first deployment.
 
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