"Replacement" knife ideas?

L

LostCause

Joined
Apr 1, 2022
Messages
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Apologies ahead for long post. For core infos about knife, just skip to the last part.

I'm just over my mid 20's and I remember my grandpa giving me a knife when I was like 5 or 6yo. I don't even remember that knife anymore.

Since I was a child back then, my mom quickly took it away and hid it somewhere. So it's been around 20 years since last time I've seen it.

My mom is older than average mother of a guy in mid 20's as she's over 65.
Thing is, she's retired, and now she's looking for this knife for past few weeks, digging literally everywhere trying to find it.
Her health isn't the best anymore and she's becoming forgetful which is painful to watch.

I'm currently a student, but might go to some military training soon. And main reason for my mom to try to find that knife is that she'd want me to have her father's (my grandpa's knife) with me while I'm there.

Since I just know that knife probably got lost or accidentally tossed away inside something in past 20 years - I decided to buy another similar knife to place it somewhere. It'll at least give my mom peace of her mind and I'd no longer have to watch her search everywhere. And despite the fact 3V is better than 1095 and CS AK47 field is bettet knife than Mark I - I'll carry that with me if that brings my family some happiness.


The knife has to be medium sized, has to have brown leather sheath and stacked leather handle.
I'm looking at Ka-Bar Mark I USN as best option.
It's really pricey here and especially for my budget right now, as I've been into knives for a long time and during past few years I already overspent for ESEE 3, Candiru and Cold Steel AK-47 Field Knife with custom sheath.
I would appreciate your opinions.
 
Buck also makes some nice ones that meet your description, similar to 119.
 
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I think the Kabar mark 1 is the best bet, would it help to find an old sheath with some wear to at least make it look older? Or the above Pilot’s knife Looks good too.
 
Drop bear said:
Ontario pilots knife?
I had a look on ebay and you can get used ones pretty cheap. Which might also be more believable.
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No saw on back and not hollow handle.
Drop bear said:
Just having a look. Marbles do some. And they are pretty cheap.

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In case they expect me to carry it to military, IDK how well this would serve me.
cbach8tw said:
I think the Kabar mark 1 is the best bet, would it help to find an old sheath with some wear to at least make it look older? Or the above Pilot’s knife Looks good too.
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Mark 1 is pricey but best bet in case I'll actually use it.
I'm just looking local flea markets here, there are some old brown leather sheaths, just IDK if any will fit the Mark 1.

I could also sand some of coating on the blade and and then cut fruits with it. So it gets some patina on exposed steel. I want it to look old. I plan to do the same on buttcap and guard.

I want it to look like real deal.
 
LostCause said:
No saw on back and not hollow handle.

In case they expect me to carry it to military, IDK how well this would serve me.

Mark 1 is pricey but best bet in case I'll actually use it.
I'm just looking local flea markets here, there are some old brown leather sheaths, just IDK if any will fit the Mark 1.

I could also sand some of coating on the blade and and then cut fruits with it. So it gets some patina on exposed steel. I want it to look old. I plan to do the same on buttcap and guard.

I want it to look like real deal.
Click to expand...

I was having a look on ebay. And they do used Mark ones fairly cheap. Especially some of the ones that are not in great shape.

But I mean it's a knife. It would clean up and become serviceable if you put a bit of work in to it.
 
I'd go to a reputable knife site like DLT and put your requirements into a search to see whats out there and prices.
Once you know what your looking for, look on ebay and other places for a nice used one.
 
I hate saying this...
But your Grandpa's knife simply cannot be replaced. If it shows up: GREAT! If it doesn't: I'm sorry that it couldn't be found for you.
But trying to buy a knife to remind you of it; will only remind you of the loss...
Bu yourself a knife that is what YOU want to carry and use every day. That's the best way to pay homage to your Grandpa.
Happy Shopping.
 
Even when you know exactly what it is you are trying to replace, it can be difficult. I'll never be able to replace the Wenger Nomad my great uncle gave me for my 7th birthday. They did not make the model for very long, and they never pop up for sale. I had it up until five years ago, it went missing, probably in a box somewhere. I did replace it with the closest thing, a Victorinox Super Tinker.

Its best to find something that is close and works for you, and unfortunately, move on.
 
Possible Western L66, or a Ontario 499 Jet Pilot Survival" knife, Marbles Ideal, (among othe Gladstone, MI models) "Ka-Bar", WW1 and 2 Navy/Marines issue, Some of the Buck knives, Case Bird and Trout, several Schrade and Camillus, Colonial, Utica ... Over 100 possibilities for "stacked leather handle with a leather sheath." that are 20 plus years old.

FWIW if you go into military training soon, don't expect to carry whatever knife or whatever, or wear any boots, hat, socks, unmentionables, or anything else except maybe a non reflective pen and mechanical pencil that you want.
In Basic you probably won't need it, and your company commander probably won't let you carry (or wear) anything that isn't issue.
After Basic the individual company commanders and his or her superior officers decide what civilian goods - if any - can be carried by the troops under his or her command. The officers in the chain of command may have their own regulation on what civilian items (if any) the troops under their command (which includes you) can carry or wear, which may trump your company commander's personal opinion on what can and can't be carried or worn.

Leave the belt knives home when/if you report for duty. You probably won't be able to carry it, and it is likely to be stolen from your locker.
Same for pocket knives.

Be kinda stupid to buy whatever multitool is the current issue and bring it with you since they are going to give you a new one for free.
 
Fishunter nailed it! We get this question at least 2X a year, and we've had people who have been there, done that, weigh in.

Leave anything you want to keep, at home! Even if Basic in other places is vastly different than here in the States (as in, you can actually bring non-issue gear) I assure you that there will be at least one guy in the barracks who likes to steal other people's shxt!

Get the knife, by all means, and tell your mother whatever you think will bring her peace. Then, explain the situation to her, and put the knife in a box, with a note remindin her to leave it there, if you're worried that she will forget.
 
Bob Denman said:
I hate saying this...
But your Grandpa's knife simply cannot be replaced. If it shows up: GREAT! If it doesn't: I'm sorry that it couldn't be found for you.
But trying to buy a knife to remind you of it; will only remind you of the loss...
Bu yourself a knife that is what YOU want to carry and use every day. That's the best way to pay homage to your Grandpa.
Happy Shopping.
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I assume he is leaving it somewhere for his mum to "find"

I had to do that with one of my kids once. Worked out fine.
 
afishhunter said:
Possible Western L66, or a Ontario 499 Jet Pilot Survival" knife, Marbles Ideal, (among othe Gladstone, MI models) "Ka-Bar", WW1 and 2 Navy/Marines issue, Some of the Buck knives, Case Bird and Trout, several Schrade and Camillus, Colonial, Utica ... Over 100 possibilities for "stacked leather handle with a leather sheath." that are 20 plus years old.

FWIW if you go into military training soon, don't expect to carry whatever knife or whatever, or wear any boots, hat, socks, unmentionables, or anything else except maybe a non reflective pen and mechanical pencil that you want.
In Basic you probably won't need it, and your company commander probably won't let you carry (or wear) anything that isn't issue.
After Basic the individual company commanders and his or her superior officers decide what civilian goods - if any - can be carried by the troops under his or her command. The officers in the chain of command may have their own regulation on what civilian items (if any) the troops under their command (which includes you) can carry or wear, which may trump your company commander's personal opinion on what can and can't be carried or worn.

Leave the belt knives home when/if you report for duty. You probably won't be able to carry it, and it is likely to be stolen from your locker.
Same for pocket knives.

Be kinda stupid to buy whatever multitool is the current issue and bring it with you since they are going to give you a new one for free.
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IDK about your army, but here they send you home to wash your laundry and other shit, they even send you home to sleep more often than not during your basic training...
Hell, they even told us to bring our own can openers and similar crap...

I most likely won't even have to go to more stuff than just that 1 exercise as a part of my university. I don't want to be a soldier.

I might not need a knife for training here, but I just don't want to watch my mother looking for this damn thing for the rest of her life, which is main reason why I want to get something.
 
Bob Denman said:
I hate saying this...
But your Grandpa's knife simply cannot be replaced. If it shows up: GREAT! If it doesn't: I'm sorry that it couldn't be found for you.
But trying to buy a knife to remind you of it; will only remind you of the loss...
Bu yourself a knife that is what YOU want to carry and use every day. That's the best way to pay homage to your Grandpa.
Happy Shopping.
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I 100% agree with you, but I'm not doing that for myself.
I'm doing that to make my mom think she found that knife as it's painful for me to listen to her talk about it for weeks and lately watch her looking for it day after day...

Shorttime said:
Get the knife, by all means, and tell your mother whatever you think will bring her peace. Then, explain the situation to her, and put the knife in a box, with a note remindin her to leave it there, if you're worried that she will forget.
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This is what I'll do.
Drop bear said:
I assume he is leaving it somewhere for his mum to "find"

I had to do that with one of my kids once. Worked out fine.
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This is exactly what I plan.

And since I found out my grandpa bought the knife for me and paid for it enough to not want to talk about it with my grandma - the knife was brand new which will ease all of this tremendously.

Since nobody saw this knife for roughly 20 years, not even my mom remembers how it looks.

My mom thought my cousin's SRK is Glock field knife (she saw Glock knife in hardware store once and was like "your cousin has that same knife") so I know she'll fall for it.

Butt has to be rounded, handle stacked leather, sheath has to be brown leather, knife has to be medium sized, no serrations or teeth anywhere and blade must not be shiny.

I'll bite the bullet and order Mark 1 within few days, pay for express shipping, have it delivered at pick-up location, and then plant it somewhere I know she hasn't looked yet and let her find it.
 
Just talked with some guys who went through basic training here.

You can bring a knife with you there, but you won't need it for anything except maybe opening MRE faster. The guy told me to just bring that ESEE Candiru with me and call it a day... which is what I'll do.
 
LostCause said:
IDK about your army, but here they send you home to wash your laundry and other shit, they even send you home to sleep more often than not during your basic training...
Hell, they even told us to bring our own can openers and similar crap...

I most likely won't even have to go to more stuff than just that 1 exercise as a part of my university. I don't want to be a soldier.

I might not need a knife for training here, but I just don't want to watch my mother looking for this damn thing for the rest of her life, which is main reason why I want to get something.
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US ARMY (Reserves)
I was sent roughly 2000 miles from home for Basic. (Iowa to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.)

I don't know where you are but I've never heard of such a lax military.
 
afishhunter said:
US ARMY (Reserves)
I was sent roughly 2000 miles from home for Basic. (Iowa to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.)

I don't know where you are but I've never heard of such a lax military.
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Professional military is serious... this basic stuff is what it is.

Country is Croatia 😂

If only you knew all stories I heard 😂
 
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