Say a folder was authorized for gov't issue...

Harry Callahan

Harry Callahan

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Let's just say a folding knife has been authorized for government issue to all five branches of service. You are on the board. Nothing has been nailed down, the plate is wide open, and of course (with $500 toilet seats) cost is not a factor.

What chew gonna vote for?
 
Edited because I changed my mind. ;)

I would vote for the serrated Spyderco Native (lightweight) for the following reasons:

- Light and strong.
- Made in USA.
- Sharp factory edge.
- Sensible cost.
- Ambidexrous and ergonomic.
- Near stainless blade, low maintenence, strong lock.
- Good utility blade shape.
 
A 4.25" bladed Sebenza.
 
I would choose a stainless Spyderco PE Endura OR a Spyderco PE Chinook.
 
Kershaw Boa

~Made In The Bad New USA.
~Wicked Sharp. Sharper than the speed of darkness.
~CPM440V Blade.
~Fast Opening, and it won't ruin your pockets like the Emerson wave! You get all the speed and quality feel of an Emerson w/out all the damage of the wave feature.
 
I'm happy with the existing issued knives... the AFO and the autostrykers... both automatics by benchmade.
 
Just one style? They don't need letter-openers, forget the lightweights. A multitool would probably be the best all-around gadget, but it's not really a knife. Go for massive, durable -- better make it in the US, remember the mess with those Chinese black berets? No autos, come on, how do you justify a broken spring in the field?

I vote for Strider AR or Buck/Strider (spearpoints) or MOD CQD. Too much for a desk jockey but it's the grunts who really need a knife, anyway. If you want to compromise on mass, OK, go for the Microtech SOCOM Elite.

If you really want to fantasize, look at a Dozier folder. He's got a couple of big titanium handled jobs that would do it -- but he isn't a factory, to run off the quantities you might be looking for.
 
I'd second the vote for a Spyderco Military, for all the above mentioned reasons plus the following:a. Recognizing that all who use it will not be "Knife Types", i.e. a Wave feature would take too much training for many. b. It can be used ambidextrously, as long as the clip could be changed to either side, or there were some issued as "righty's" and some as "lefty's". c. It could be used by either men or women equally as well. Hand size wouldn't be an issue. d. With it's large hole, opening with gloves would present no problems. geegee
 
I know it doesnt exist, but I would vote for a larger Native. If they took the Native up a notch to the size of the Military or Endura, maybe thickened the blade a bit, it would be great for several reasons:

- utility blade shape
- strong point
- lockback (I don't trust liners or autos for hard use)
- totally ambi clip and opener

Would be perfect if they could do the handle out of G10 with steel liners.

Sal, are you listening?
 
id probably say BM710. but i have a reservation.

would it be a good or bad characteristic of the knife to be able to be disassembled? i realize it will get dirty but is it a good thing for the average soldier to be able to loose the blade or screw? this is warranty aside of course.

if bad, Spydie military. if good, 710.
 
How about the new Ryan Wilson/Darrel Ralph Tactical Elite?? A slightly larger Sebenza would also fit the bill, especially considering that it can be sripped down for cleaning very easily.
 
The same thing that has been issued to our troops and armies around the world. A variation of a SAK, US made of course. Cheap, dependable with plenty of useful tools. You don't bring a knife to a gun fight and any issue folder is more likely going to cut open MRE's and adjust euipment than draw blood.
 
You don't bring a knife to a gun fight ...

Well, of course, if you're going to Afghanistan to camp out or do ethnographic research or distribute food packets to starving refugees, a big Strider would be handy for breaking open containers.

If you're going there to fight, why even bring a gun? The Air Force will bomb the b@st@rds back to the Stone Age, anyway, right? Nooooo ... you need personal armament, and that means fists through knives through pistols through rifles and grenades and, and, and. Not all of it always, but a knife isn't bad insurance for close encounters of the unfriendly kind, it isn't inconvenient or clumsy to carry, and it does have those less violent applications to recommend it, as well.

If "Government Issue" means nothing else allowed, well then, this exercise contradicts its own best interests. Of course every civilized human being should carry a SAK or multitool! I do. But I'm looking at the question from the point of view of 'what is the minimum needed in a worst-case scenario?'
 
You're forgetting this is the government.

First thing, it would have a 500 page manual. It would be issued dull so that the female soldiers would not feel inferior to the sportsmen who know how to sharpen. The handle would be pink; the color 'black' implies that those individuals are war-like and cannot be civilized. Left-handed? Heck, it would require NO FINGERS to open it, less it offend the 'digitally challenged.

Sarah Brady would immeditely ask to have all of these knives welded shut 'because assault knives are just made to kill people.'

Lockheed would probably get the bid, but before the first test model hit the slack-belt, the project would be in cost overruns.
 
A Balisong of course:).

1) Strength. It's the strongest lock design around(Although the tri-fold designs one sometimes see's give it a run for its money.).

2) Excellent blade to handle ratio.

The only downside is that they are a bit loud to open, but this can be overcome by slowly walking the knife open:).
 
Originally posted by bob bowie
A Balisong of course:).
Click to expand...
3) Practically self-cleaning, with the open design. Doesn't even have to be disassembled.

4) Less parts to break. If the pins do go, they can be replaced on an emergency basis by common nuts and bolts.

The downside could be minimized with some sort of soft material epoxied inside the handles.
 
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