SAS knife?

Buck 112

Buck 112

Joined
Jan 19, 2002
Messages
125
Does anyone know what knife the British SAS (Special air service) uses for their various operations??
 
I know the SAS have a couple of different knives they have used. They have a special curved chute knife that is in a pouch. As to tactical or fighting knives I know they have used both Fairbairn and Sykes type knives in the past.

The SAS is the kind of organization (like the seals) that pretty much lets there operators carry whatever the hell they want. I will look around and see if I can find out what they have as a 'standard' issue.
 
The SAS training doctrine seems to be that a knife is a tool, not a weapon. A machete or a parang (in the jungle) and a multi-tool for utility tasks seems to be the general idea, and, of course, there is no "Silent-Killer-Double-Edged-Combat-Dagger" as a standard issue.
 
I do know that the Rhodesian SAS during the war years carried the Recce by the South African maker Peter Beauchop.
 
Basically the SAS can choose what they want to carry, i'm not sure what they're issued as standard, but they are well trained in the use of their standard-issue blade as a weapon.
 
Andy McNab, a former SAS soldier, has a couple of books about his life in the SAS. He writes about how they prefer khukris in the jungles to use for chopping tasks, many don't like machetes. In his book about his secret mission in Iraq, McNab refers to the M9 bayonet that one of his men was prepared to use to kill two Iraquis.
 
McNab has a color pic of a khukuri in at least one of his books. Also, he has a pic of the Brit issue jungle knife, affectionately known as the Tree Beater. Basiclly, it is a POS knife!

My old Tae Kwon Do instructor was a Para and in the SAS. I think all guys in the Regiment love khukuris. Goloks are used too for jungle work. I bet folders are used (cheap brit issue ones) and I think your good 'ol "Ka-Bar" is foudn too. My friend mentioned khukuris and ka-bars. In fact, when we went hiking he would take his kabar.

I think the Brits are less of a blade kind of people than Canadians and Americans. Many SAS materials I have read make almost sarcastic comments about blades that would get rave reviews here. What the SAS lack in knife nutness, they make up in gun nutness! And curry lovingness. The latter makes up for their lack of passion for knives, in my humble opinion.
 
The SAS uses the same knife that the rest of the British Forces use, the MOD Knife. The Ministry of Defence Knife is rugged but not altogether a very good knife. That being said most of the SAS troopers carry what they want to accomplish the mission.

british.htm


All the best
www.usmilitaryknives.com
 
Actually I have seen on many pictures - including Andy McNab's Immediate Action biography - of the knife used in their CRW (counter revolutionary warfare i.e. anti-terrorist) kit.

It has an inverted green nylon sheath which is appears to be stitched to their vest. I have never seen the blade - it looks like a dagger with a brass guard and cheap plastic slabs for handles. It is NOT a FS for sure.

I've seen the pics in close ups in various special forces publications - but no pic of the knife itself.

Does anyone know?
 
If its the one I think it is it a German military issued knife. Any knife buff would hate it, but rest assured its used because for the trooper it was cheap, replacable and works.

Kukris are popular because of jungle training in Nepal and many SAS come from The Royal Green Jackets as did McNab which are affiliated with the Gurkhas. Kukris are not expensive. Basically its issued stuff, PX privately purchased as could be found in any unit, or very occasionally something very good because that individual was into the subject.

There are better things to spend ones money on: beer, girls, climbing equipment, mountain bike, house/mortgage.
 
ya ya. someone mentioned that british sas are less into equipment, and more into training and techniques. I remember seeing pictures of sas operating in borneo during the "confrontation" between Malaysia and Indonesia carrying "goloks" or parangs. but I don't remember khukris....they also seem to carry the fairbairn sikes type daggers....but I was a kid then and may not have noticed details...
 
From what I have read,there seems to be a growing love for the folding tactical knife in the Special Ops community.I would'nt be surprised if many of the SAS troopers were stapping on a Microtech or an Al Mar.
 
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