Soldier Needs Assitance:

Mellow Chaos

Mellow Chaos

Joined
Feb 2, 2002
Messages
2,286
I have a friend shipping off to Afghanistan on the 7th of March. He would like a somewhat large, fixed tanto blade with a military style handle. Can anyone give me any suggestions, please? Thanks in advance.
 
I'd recommend the tanto Nimravus. Benchmade's drop point tanto is wonderful.
 
Not sure what price range your friend would want, but the TOPS Steel Eagle and Strider BN would be worth a look.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Not sure what price range your friend would want, but the TOPS Steel Eagle and Strider BN would be worth a look.
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I think he wants to keep it around the $200 range, maybe a little more. Thanks, guys!

By the way, those are all great suggestions, guys. The Strider is amazing and that TOPS has a cool, Busse style handle.
 
I know you mentioned 200, but perhaps your friend can get in touch with Mick Strider. Strider knives offers a good military discount. The WPs (small fixed blades) with the trisula grinds look to be really good and stout fixed blades which are 175 even before the discount. With the military discount, the bigger and badder blades could be had for around 200.

www.striderknives.com
 
Busse or Swamp Rat.

If they're too expensive talk to Justin at Ranger Knives: he makes affordable knives that will take anything a soldier might need to do with a blade.

IMO, tanto or not is the least relevant issue. Steel, heat treat, design, and handle comfort come first.

David
 
Might want to check out KaBar's D2 Extreme Fighter/Utility.

1281_large.jpg


https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=1281
 
I'd personally skip the Tanto and pick up a Chris Reeve Project II, or a SOG Bowie. If I had to have a tanto, I'd probably get a Cold Steel san mai.
 
Mellow Chaos said:
He would like a somewhat large, fixed tanto blade with a military style handle. Can anyone give me any suggestions, please?
Click to expand...

Yes. Convince him that a large, fixed-blade knife is weight and bulk he doesn't need.

It will look "Sgt. Rock" until he realises that it's about as much use as udders on a frog. It will then be consigned to his locker or swapped for what he really needs: a SAK and/or a multitool.

maximus otter
 
have him get a swamp rat howling rat and a leatherman wave multitool...total cost: about $150....

.have him spend the other fifty on a good AA led light....like maybe an XM3 or a UK 4AA eLED.
 
In the same idea as bill_G, I'd say, get him a BK10 crewman so he will have a correct blade that won't weight a ton and that he can sharpen in the field, and room in the sheath to keep a leatherman with it. A LED light would be neat too, that's true, but something that gives red light for night vision too (a little Inova 24/7 for example, small pack, lots of applications) :)

Xavier.
 
My advice: He will get issued a Gerber multiplier, so dont buy one. For a fixed blade I would suggest a Cold Steel SRK, sell in the PX for $49. If your buddy still wants a tanto, the Cold Steel Recon Tanto would also work. IMHO, spend the extra money on other gear like a good tactical rifle sling and decent cold weather gear than a $200 knife. Iraq sucks, the 'stan sucks worse.
 
The Ka-bar Tantos (or CS Recon tanto) would almost exactly fill the original bill of what he wants. IMHO though Tantos aren't worth a piss for much of anything. The Cold Steel SRK was the only fixed blade I ever really carried in the field and it does everything well for under $50. A good multi-tool and folder see a lot more use than a fixed blade 99% of the time anyway. I'm big time impressed w/ the Swamp Rat line and would probably take a Howling Rat if I were in your buddies position.
 
CS SRK, Ka-Bar, or a Sog Seal Pup. All sold on most bases/posts. If it were me, I would take the Ka-Bar or Sog but the CS will serve him fine. Agree with others about the tanto point...not as useful and I used to think.

Max
 
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