Recommended combat knives?

[Arathol]

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[MrkSRT]

How do you know this person is protecting your freedoms? Do you know without any doubt that you're both in same country?

How do you know they carry a gun? Armies have file clerks and cooks too who'll never see combat (Casey Ryback not withstanding).

Most armies are not enamoured with private soldiers tooling up with samurai swords and the like in case it all goes sideways. They like the uniform to be for lack of a better word uniform.

OP; put up some details on what army this is, where you are stationed and just what your job is. You can share all that without compromising any operational or personal security.

I think you guys are taking it a little too far, I was just asking for suggestions for a combat knife, as i assumed there are more experienced individuals on this huge forum than in my whole company.
Also I'd rather not share any details regarding my military career as it is not relevant.
all of you may discuss combat knives on this thread but if the speech here will get any uglier I'll have no choice but to delete the thread
We're all here to have a good time, let's try and keep it that way

 

[mitchnola]

How do you know this person is protecting your freedoms? Do you know without any doubt that you're both in same country?

How do you know they carry a gun? Armies have file clerks and cooks too who'll never see combat (Casey Ryback not withstanding).

Most armies are not enamoured with private soldiers tooling up with samurai swords and the like in case it all goes sideways. They like the uniform to be for lack of a better word uniform.

OP; put up some details on what army this is, where you are stationed and just what your job is. You can share all that without compromising any operational or personal security.

He’s asking for a knife recommendation for serving in the military. He doesn’t need to prove anything and he came to the right place where everyone loves making recommendations. As this thread proves.

out, Op good luck with your search!

 

[The True North]

How do you know this person is protecting your freedoms? Do you know without any doubt that you're both in same country?

How do you know they carry a gun? Armies have file clerks and cooks too who'll never see combat (Casey Ryback not withstanding).

Most armies are not enamoured with private soldiers tooling up with samurai swords and the like in case it all goes sideways. They like the uniform to be for lack of a better word uniform.

OP; put up some details on what army this is, where you are stationed and just what your job is. You can share all that without compromising any operational or personal security.

 

[Arathol]

I think you’re quite disrespectful how you’re talking to someone protecting our freedoms!

He carries guns to shoot people he should probably carry a knife that can stab. If anyone needs a knife for the sole purpose of self defense, it’s those serving in the military.

Check yourself!

You have no idea who this person is any more than I do. Just trying to establish some facts before things get along too far. Is he US military? What branch? MOS? New recruit? Nobody can recommend what he should have really unless he knows whats allowed and communicates it along here.

 

[Danke42]

View attachment 2455985

Now we're talkin'

 

[Danke42]

I think you guys are taking it a little too far, I was just asking for suggestions for a combat knife, as i assumed there are more experienced individuals on this huge forum than in my whole company.
Also I'd rather not share any details regarding my military career as it is not relevant.
all of you may discuss combat knives on this thread but if the speech here will get any uglier I'll have no choice but to delete the thread
We're all here to have a good time, let's try and keep it that way

So you're not an infantry soldier?

 

[scdub]

I would like to ask you about the following knives:

- Buck Ground Combat knife
- Gerber Strong Arm
- Cold Steel SRK (the regular and the compact versions)
- Cold Steel Razor-Tec 5
- SOG Seal Pup
- SOG Recondo FX

Hey Dude - thanks for your service!

For me, if there’s a higher than average likelihood that I’m going to need to use my knife as a weapon, (as you indicated might be your situation), especially against people wearing gear, I want a knife that’s a weapon FIRST.

To me that means two things primarily: A very substantial guard and a penetrating point. Durability is certainly a plus but wouldn’t be my first consideration unless I’m likely to be walking with a very small group.

Of the models you listed, I’d go with the SRK as it probably has the most substantial guard of the lot, but none of them really have adequate guards in my opinion.

This is the knife I’d take into urban combat (something larger in forest/jungle):



And this is what I’d purchase in your price range if I was in the market - Kabar Modified Tanto:

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

Esee 6 would suit you nicely OP

I like most of the ESSE knives and think they would be good choices. I would suggest the Terrill Hoffman designed ESSE Chestnut Mountain CM6 is a little more "pointy" if you are looking for a combat knife. On the other hand, I'm not crazy about the clip carry arrangement on their Kydex sheaths. And my MOS was 11F2P in Viet Nam, 11B2P stateside before someone asks.

 

[Deino]

Calm down. Whatever organization he is with, be it US NG or full active duty, if he is with the combat trade, a lot of thing could be allowed.
I'm the a type fake it till you make it and I somehow did, still an entry level joe. It's not important what you carry, but what you are. Train like we fight, moral is just as important. Having a knife even for fun is a good moral and confidence boost on the field.

Not all unit are allowed the same. For me though, here are what I usually bring with me, one of them at time of course, most of the time just pocket knife like most people. The fixed blade guys are uncommon, it is easy to share a for small task anyway. Worst case just bring the bayonet, which everyone avoid like plague. Yes, there are guys carry big knives, but those are also guy running with machine gun faster than most joes with rifle.
I have the Mora Garberg, but yet to use it. Yes, I consider the Tevera 140 heavy, I'm a small dude. I agree with you that there is very little reason to get a full size Ka-Bar. Whatever you or I get issued is already of that size, little sense to get replacement for something so similar.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Fixed blade or folder? If folder manual or auto? Or dual action? Maybe both/all? (as in a folder small/medium&a fixed blade also) fixed&folder would be my preference...but thats me. As far as "friends" recommendations&criticism on different knives....kinda like discussing politics/religion. Not wanting to "stir the pot" trying to give some basic things to consider. You're on the right forum!

 

[Centermass]

I presented my son, who is in the Army, with some options a couple years back when he said he wanted a fixed blade for the field when he come home on leave a couple years ago. For reference, he is a 68W (Combat Medic). The choices I put before him were the Cold Steel SRK, a Becker BK7, and a TOPS Apache Falcon (the TOPS was only on the table because I already had it. The other two I bought new for the purpose of giving him a few options). Of those three, he chose the Becker because it suited what he felt it would be most useful for out in the field, which was not necessarily fighting. Could it be used for that if necessary? Sure, but the reality was he’d more likely need it for camp chores and opening difficult stuff. As a medic, he probably gets more actual duty-related use out of the Leatherman Raptor shears and Benchmade Griptilian I also gave him. He didn’t like the TOPS because he thought it was too heavy and my handmade leather sheath wouldn’t tie well to his gear, and he preferred the style of the Becker over the SRK.

So, I kept the SRK, and I dig it as a good all-arounder fixed blade At its price point, I think it’s a huge value, especially perhaps on a soldier’s budget. Nearly indestructible, with a comfortable grip, a decent, seemingly versatile and weather durable sheath setup that would tie to gear or a belt well. It’s easy to sharpen to a good working edge (though the blade thickness will never let it be a super slicer) and has a very strong point, which is still acute enough for good piercing. It’s not exactly ideal for fighting, but I think it would do in a pinch (not that I would really know, definitely not a knife fighter). It’s kind of a “jack of all trades, master of none” type knife. Plus, if it’s lost or stolen, you aren’t out much.

 

[beeinak]

Thank you very much for the reply! I did not think about the isolating grip, I heard very good things about the SRK but I am worried about its tang, from what I understand it's a full tang but not very wide, if you have good experience with it I will consider getting this one
Once again thank you for your reply

It is a great knife that will tolerate a lot, and you can get a 3V version for just over $100.

 

[bucsfan69]

The ESEE 5 is about as indestructible as you can find. In your price range, my choice is the ESEE 5, then 6.. after that a Bradford then Becker.. I personally took a Microtech Socom Alpha… but I’m one of the knife nerds

 

[kobold]

AK47 bayonet knife. You can cut barbed wire with its sheath and it's indestructible.

 

[Weiss]

I've never served in the military, nor have I ever done anything interesting or useful, so feel free to ignore my advice.

The Cold Steel SRKs are good knives, as is the Recon.

But I’d probably just pick up a Gerber Strongarm for the stainless steelness of it. It’s also demonstrably tough and easy to sharpen. (Unless you want to pay a bit more for San Mai versions of either Cold Steel suggestions.)

If you’d rather go lighter at that size the SRKc saves 2 ounces (it’s only available in SK5 steel).

Without knowing your location, task, or other job requirements, those seem like decent general purpose tools, and are easily affordable.

 

[DocJD]

for stabbing an enemy

Very rare to actually do this anymore , but for morale purposes , maybe something like a Cold Steel Recon Tanto would be a comfort .

 

[scdub]

Very rare to actually do this anymore , but for morale purposes , maybe something like a Cold Steel Recon Tanto would be a comfort .

I’ve heard this sentiment before - and I imagine it’s been rare since the days of semi-auto firearms. However, people DO run out of ammo, and weapons DO malfunction, and it honestly seems crazy to willingly enter a battlefield without an edged weapon…

It’s a comfort because it can keep you alive. Just like a grenade or an extra magazine…

 

[Sibyrnes]

It’s just how many times, how many threads about the best “combat” or “tactical” knife can we endure. Always full of expert opinions from people who never have or never will be in a knife fight. And that’s good - a knife fight is one the stupidest activities one can become involved in.

And you kids get the hell off my lawn

 

[Andy the Aussie]

ESEE 4, 5 or 6 may fit your needs (they each have different specs other than blade length as well). Lifetime warranty if you screw it up etc. If such is important to you, US made as well.