In a previous post, some of you expressed an interest in what knives troops are using in the desert. I take great pleasure in sharpening knives for the troops around me, so I get to see plenty of them. The good, the bad, and the down right cheap!
I am in an aviation unit of the 101st Airborne Infanty (Air Assault). It is not a SOCOM unit, or anything shiny like 160th SOAR. Most of the knives you see listed here are owned by Average (GI) Joe, and were purchased much the same way many of you would purchase a knife.
I will make an attempt to differenciate between issued, government purchased, and privately purchased knives.
Issued Knives are "lent" to soldiers for use while they are assigned to the unit. These knives remain the property of the unit, and the soldier is typically "signed" for the knife. Here are some of the issue knives I sharpen on a regular basis:
One of the most prolific knives in my unit is the old standby "KNIFE, AVIATOR SURVIVAL." This one has been around for along time because it does the job it was intended to, and there's really nothing economical to replace it with. It's made by Camillus, and is part of every aviator and crewman's aviation life support equipment (ALSE). They're made of 1095 tool steel, but they all seem pretty soft. It's widely believed that this is by design so they are "tougher." These knives get heavily abused sinced they are "free", and heavy enough to serve as a pry-bar, hammer, axe, etc... I sharpen 5 or 6 of these a week.
Also made by Camillus is the SS Camp Knife and Electricians knife. Both of these are fairly conventional slip joint multi blade folders. One or the other is included in most of the tool boxes issued by the Army. They see similar abuse, and I often re-grind the tips that have been broken. It's rather ironic, since most of the broken tips are a result of using the blade as a screw driver, and they both have a screwdrivers on them!
Occationally, I see an M9 Bayonet. These are not part of our unit's MTOE (Military Table of Equipment), since we are not a Combat Arms Unit (Infantry, Artillary and Armor). The ones I see have been "liberated" at some point, and will not likely make it back to the supply system. These are big hulking knives made by a variety of manufacturers including Buck, Lancay and Ontario Knife Company. One fellow has one of the original 1,200 Buck-made, Phrobis III marked M9s with the Buck date code ">". It's in pretty tough shape, though, and would be limited value to a collector.
Government Purchase knives have been bought by the taxpayers, and "given" to the soldiers with a very thin promise that it will be returned to the Army at some point. Few, if any of these knives make it back to the supply system.
Most of the knives in category are made by Benchmade. At some point, the marketing department at Benchmade go very cozy with the military, and set the stage for a relationship that has been very benificial for both soldiers and BM. BM sells several blades with a National Stock Number (NSN). These are knives that any supply sergeant can order just by plugging in a number on his supply request. Models in this category include the 9053SBT (same as the 9050SBT) AFO automatic, 9100SBK Stryker, 140SBK Nimravus and the 550 Griptilian. Of those mentioned, the Stryker and AFO are most common. I see between 10 and 15 of those a week. Interestingly, none of those have been purchased in the past year or so. Those soldiers that have them were lucky enough to get them when the coin was a bit easier to come by. Budgets are strerched to the wire, and these types of item, considered luxury items, are just not purchased anymore.
Privately Purchased Knives are most common. These will range in type and quality from $2.99 convenience store knives all the way up to top of the line customs. Though the former is by far the most common. The fact that the AAFES/PX (Army/Air Force Exchange Service) carries mostly "Wal-mart grade" knives is reflected in what the soldiers carry. Gerber Applegates are prolific, as well as CRKT offerings. There is also a generous sprinkling of Ka-Bar and and Cold Steel. All offerened at the PX. Polpular Ka-Bar models include the USMC Fighting knife and Dozier Folder. Of the knives that are not either supplied by the Army, or purchased at the PX, Kershaw is the most popular. The Avelanche, Blackout, and Leek being the most prolific models. I also know of one other Spec Bump besides my own. I expect to see alot more of those here in the near future. The most expensive knife I know of is a Camillus Talon. I don't get to sharpen that one. The fellow sends it somewhere once a year. Other Camillus knifes include the Cuda CQB, and BK&T BT2. Somewhere along the line, the Smith and Wesson Tactical knives became popular. I think it's the US Cavalry Store outside Fort Campbell that sells them. Plenty of folks have a variety of SWAT style S&W knives. SAKs are not so popular as they used to be, but a couple fellows still carry the Victornox Champ, and other assorted SAKs. I almost forgot Al Mar. Of all the mid-range knives available, The Al Mar SERE FB is suprisingly popular. There are 4 that I know of. Finally, there is a good mix of Multi-tools. Most pooplular are the Leatherman Super Tools, followed by a range of offerings from Gerber and Victornox.
Notabley absent knives are those from popular makers like Buck and Case.
I have also included a colage of some of the knives around the unit. It is representative, not complete
The bottom row has some of the "Army Property" knives.
Thanks for the interest in what the troops are up to.
I am in an aviation unit of the 101st Airborne Infanty (Air Assault). It is not a SOCOM unit, or anything shiny like 160th SOAR. Most of the knives you see listed here are owned by Average (GI) Joe, and were purchased much the same way many of you would purchase a knife.
I will make an attempt to differenciate between issued, government purchased, and privately purchased knives.
Issued Knives are "lent" to soldiers for use while they are assigned to the unit. These knives remain the property of the unit, and the soldier is typically "signed" for the knife. Here are some of the issue knives I sharpen on a regular basis:
One of the most prolific knives in my unit is the old standby "KNIFE, AVIATOR SURVIVAL." This one has been around for along time because it does the job it was intended to, and there's really nothing economical to replace it with. It's made by Camillus, and is part of every aviator and crewman's aviation life support equipment (ALSE). They're made of 1095 tool steel, but they all seem pretty soft. It's widely believed that this is by design so they are "tougher." These knives get heavily abused sinced they are "free", and heavy enough to serve as a pry-bar, hammer, axe, etc... I sharpen 5 or 6 of these a week.
Also made by Camillus is the SS Camp Knife and Electricians knife. Both of these are fairly conventional slip joint multi blade folders. One or the other is included in most of the tool boxes issued by the Army. They see similar abuse, and I often re-grind the tips that have been broken. It's rather ironic, since most of the broken tips are a result of using the blade as a screw driver, and they both have a screwdrivers on them!
Occationally, I see an M9 Bayonet. These are not part of our unit's MTOE (Military Table of Equipment), since we are not a Combat Arms Unit (Infantry, Artillary and Armor). The ones I see have been "liberated" at some point, and will not likely make it back to the supply system. These are big hulking knives made by a variety of manufacturers including Buck, Lancay and Ontario Knife Company. One fellow has one of the original 1,200 Buck-made, Phrobis III marked M9s with the Buck date code ">". It's in pretty tough shape, though, and would be limited value to a collector.
Government Purchase knives have been bought by the taxpayers, and "given" to the soldiers with a very thin promise that it will be returned to the Army at some point. Few, if any of these knives make it back to the supply system.
Most of the knives in category are made by Benchmade. At some point, the marketing department at Benchmade go very cozy with the military, and set the stage for a relationship that has been very benificial for both soldiers and BM. BM sells several blades with a National Stock Number (NSN). These are knives that any supply sergeant can order just by plugging in a number on his supply request. Models in this category include the 9053SBT (same as the 9050SBT) AFO automatic, 9100SBK Stryker, 140SBK Nimravus and the 550 Griptilian. Of those mentioned, the Stryker and AFO are most common. I see between 10 and 15 of those a week. Interestingly, none of those have been purchased in the past year or so. Those soldiers that have them were lucky enough to get them when the coin was a bit easier to come by. Budgets are strerched to the wire, and these types of item, considered luxury items, are just not purchased anymore.
Privately Purchased Knives are most common. These will range in type and quality from $2.99 convenience store knives all the way up to top of the line customs. Though the former is by far the most common. The fact that the AAFES/PX (Army/Air Force Exchange Service) carries mostly "Wal-mart grade" knives is reflected in what the soldiers carry. Gerber Applegates are prolific, as well as CRKT offerings. There is also a generous sprinkling of Ka-Bar and and Cold Steel. All offerened at the PX. Polpular Ka-Bar models include the USMC Fighting knife and Dozier Folder. Of the knives that are not either supplied by the Army, or purchased at the PX, Kershaw is the most popular. The Avelanche, Blackout, and Leek being the most prolific models. I also know of one other Spec Bump besides my own. I expect to see alot more of those here in the near future. The most expensive knife I know of is a Camillus Talon. I don't get to sharpen that one. The fellow sends it somewhere once a year. Other Camillus knifes include the Cuda CQB, and BK&T BT2. Somewhere along the line, the Smith and Wesson Tactical knives became popular. I think it's the US Cavalry Store outside Fort Campbell that sells them. Plenty of folks have a variety of SWAT style S&W knives. SAKs are not so popular as they used to be, but a couple fellows still carry the Victornox Champ, and other assorted SAKs. I almost forgot Al Mar. Of all the mid-range knives available, The Al Mar SERE FB is suprisingly popular. There are 4 that I know of. Finally, there is a good mix of Multi-tools. Most pooplular are the Leatherman Super Tools, followed by a range of offerings from Gerber and Victornox.
Notabley absent knives are those from popular makers like Buck and Case.
I have also included a colage of some of the knives around the unit. It is representative, not complete
The bottom row has some of the "Army Property" knives.Thanks for the interest in what the troops are up to.
