Searching for "best" combat fixed blade

C

CitizenSoldier

Joined
Apr 10, 2006
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I am deploying in support of OIF and am looking to purchase a fixed blade. Can you suggest some options. I have gotten lost in the minutia of blade compositions and brands...

Thank you for your time.
 
http://www.ztknives.net/FixedBlades.aspx

^Check out the 0100.

3V is one of the absolute toughest blade steels available on the factory market, textured 3-D machined G10 scales, full blade thickness close to the tip (which is centered), good semi-discreet carry size, Ken Onion design. Doesn't get a whole lot better than that, unfortunately the price reflects it @ $295.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums and thanks for your service!

The best knife depends on what you mean to use it for. All the expensive blades in the world won't do you any good if they're too heavy, too clumsy, or flat out prohibited in your unit.

Most military uses for knives seem to revolve around the multitool these days, not the fixed blade, but a medium size fixed blade is a great piece of equipment -- if you really need it.

You might look at Becker Knife & Tool, specifically the BK-10 Crewman or BK-7 Combat/Utility, maybe even the old BK-2 Campanion. These have big, hard handles.

Another popular and tough knife for a combat zone is the Cold Steel SRK.

All of these are high carbon steel, so they will sharpen up well, and they're relatively inexpensive, so you won't have to worry as much about them "taking a walk".
 
i like the extrema ratio range of knives, the Col Moschin looks like a very nice knife.
i have handeled some extrema's in a store in treviso italy and they all seemed to be very well made indeed
 
If you don't mind buying from Cold Steel, and you are OK with Carbon V steel, you might take a look at their line of fixed blade knives.

Consider the following:

SRK (single edge, 6" blade, 3/16" thick, 8.2 oz.)
UWK (single edge, 6 1/2" blade, 3/16" thick, 7.8 oz.)
ODA (single edge, 7" blade, 3/16" thick, 8.7 oz.)
Recon Tanto (single edge, 7" blade, 3/16" thick, 9 oz.)
OSS (double edge, 8 1/4" blade, 3/16" thick, 9 oz.)

Recon Scout (single edge, 7 1/2" blade, 5/16" thick, 15 oz.)
Trail Master (single edge, 9 1/2" blade, 5/16" thick, 16.7 oz.)

I have only handled the Recon Tanto, but it was very sharp and seemed very well made.
 
SOG has some nice Bowies that would be appropriate for a knife you are likely to use and abuse. I feel as though I can't yield a blade over about 7" effectively (unless you are a really big guy) and the SOGs fit into that length. If you had time, I would look at the Randall No 15 Airman which has a 5.5" blade. It is really a nice knife for tactical situations. I would also have a good folder with me as well, perhaps a SAK.
 
Honestly though, you will be best served by a good folder backed by a Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife (SAK). Majority of my time in the Army I carried a Gerber or SOG Multi-Tool, Spyderco Remote Release on my LBV, and various other folders (Emerson CQC-7 was one) I rotated in my pocket.

My 1st field exercise I took a Al Mar Warrior on my belt. Thing was jabbing the hell out of me while riding around in the Chinook. Later I got jabbed hard enough to bruise myself doing Bunker clearing exercises. After that it got stowed in my Ruck and I got by just fine with a Spyderco Delica. Of course the Plt Sgt I was Medic for got a good laugh out of telling the guys I brought it for Amputations.

If you do go for a Fixed Blade I would suggest Ontario Spec Plus knives, the venerable Ka Bar, Gerber's LMF 2, and Benchmades new CSK looks promising. Custom Fixed Blades I would suggest the CRK Green Beret, Ranger Knives, Busse, & Swamp Rat. A lot more out there, just all that popped into my mind at the moment.

Stay safe over there.
 
It's more comfortable to attach a fixed blade to your vest. If you have one that's not longer than the vest there will be no jabbing. 5" blade is about the max then it's off to the leg. Unless you're out in the woods somewhere I'd suggest something a lot lighter than most like a benchmade nimravus or the new laminated al mar shiva. At around 5 ounces it's light and not too cumbersome.
 
BUSSE..........

the mater of fact, i stop buying other knives, because of BUSSE. Just trying to save some money for the right time.
 
ranger88 said:
:thumbup: There is no other combat knife than a good kabar. Period.
Click to expand...

I dont get your meaning, it isn't clear. :confused:

There are tons of superior knives to the venerable old Kabar, not that a Kabar is a bad choice.


Knives:
Busse is a great choice- but you pay extra for the quality. Swamp Rat is good, but the new line is not yet available. TOPS has a nice blade called the Bush Ranger now available in 52100 Tool Steel, that is a nice size and design from a reputable company. For cheaper blades, the Beckers have already been mentioned. They are better than Kabar, for a similar price.

Also consider bark river.:thumbup:
 
what do you expect to be doing with it? Big knives are good for chopping, digging, building shelters. If you don't expect to be doing any of that, or have other tools that will serve, I'd say look at the Spyderco Fred Perrin Street Bowie. Very light, good steel, enough blade to handle most any general chore.
 
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