Spot Report - Knives in Use by Desert Warriors

Wow... There's a lot of response to this post. Thank you all for the kind words of support. Here's some answers to your questions.

shaldag said:
...You mentioned that you have seen some top-of-the-line customs. Out of curiosity, care to name names?...
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There are two that come to mind. One fellow has a knife made by Daniel Pretice from Clarksville,TN. It is a slender, thin blade, stag handle affair. A Very nice knife. The troop who owns it is a Blackhawk Crewman. I can't recall the name of the fellow who made the other one, and the guy who owns it isn't answering his phone. I'm pretty sure it was made in Minnesota. It is a truely beautiful Fixed blade with a ~5" gracefully offset, upswept blade, brass bolster, and a positively radiant rosewood handle. I believe he said it originally had a leather sheath, but the fellow carries it in a homemade kydex rig.

db said:
...I'm a little surprised there aren't more SAKs...
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SAKs have been almost completly surplanted by the Leatherman and Gerberr multi-tool. I used to carry a SAK 15-or-so years ago. When I changed to a Leatherman, I was fond of saying "Imgine what MacGyver could have done with a Leatherman!" Anyway, There are still a few in use. They'll be around forever.

Tweakmeister said:
...Curious to know how the Benchmades are holding up. Are the Strykers any good, and what kind of steel is on them (I'm guessing 154cm)?
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DGG said:
...Any problems with folders and dust storms, sand, etc.? Autos work okay? What do you use to sharpen and lube them?
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Yep. 154CM. Oddly, they still have the BT2 coating, and not the new stuff that promises not to wear off. The coating has always been a source of angst between me and benchmade. Any use of the knife eventually results in the "paint" rubbing off the blade and handle. Functionally, they are great. Sand and dust have been an issue for folders and autos just about everywhere I've been. They all need a little love when they start getting "gritty." Part of my "kit" is a set of hex, torx, and philips screw drivers. Often times I will pop a knife open to wipe the dust out and lube it. BM is pretty particular about their warrenties, so I always ask on those. For lube I use Sentry Solutions Tuf-glide. For sharpening, I use Spyderco fine and ultra fine bench stones, an Edgepro Apex, and a leather strop. For serrations, I use Spyderco Pro-files. I also have an odd assortment of replacement springs and screw for minor repairs. I havn't seen any respectable knives flat out fail as a direct result of "sand poisoning."

ERINT said:
...odd that there were no spydies.
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LJK said:
... I would have thought Spyderco's would be a pretty common choice. Interesting.
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Sorry that I neglected to mention Spyderco. I know of only one "better" Spyderco (On a scale of good-better-best). A Eudora. There are a couple of the "good" FRN dragonflies and ladybugs. My appologies to all the Spyderco fans for missing these.

Thanks again for the interest and the support.
 
Interesting report; I've often wondered what are troops are carrying! I'm surprised to see the prevalence of folders, I always assumed the majority would be utilizing fixed blades.

Treadwell
 
That's an excellent post! Thanks for sharing, very interesting.

My ''little'' brother just re-upped with the Army for another 3 yrs. and is eventually heading back over to Iraq. He's done one year there already, but is now in Germany for a short stint. (He's attached to some sort of MP unit currently...very much one of the "average GI Joes", not a SOCOM type of dude as you put it.)

Couple times a year I put together a "care" package for him to share with his buddies. Last time I sent him a Surefire light and about ten of the CRKT "For Those Who Serve" models. I figured they were neat enough designs to have and reasonably decent performers for these guys- not to mention inexpensive enough to forget about if they got lost or completely destroyed.

Apparently, they were a big hit...he wanted to know when I was going to send more!

Thanks for your service to our country and keep safe!

Scott
 
Very interesting post. I'm betting the custom you mentioned that was made in Minnesota was by Jay Maines at Sunrise River Custom Knives...

My son got back not too long ago from a tour in Afghanistan. He carried the Camillus Ka-Bar clone...

Long ago I too carried a Camillus when I was with the 1st MP Co, 1st Infantry Division during the Cold War days. It has seen at least 6 countries that immediately come to mind, and did every job you can think of, short of taking human life. I still have that knife, and just refinished the handle...
 
jemelby,

thank-you very much for your stellar post! Lots of info, great pics, who could ask for anything more.

Since you get to handle so many knives, I am curious if there are one or two that stand out for any reason, say one you thought would be bad but was a good piece, or vice versa? Just curious since you get to handle way more knives than I!
 
Interesting. Thanks for the great post!

No Daltons and no Microtechs?

Just shows the dalton combat knive hype is pure bs.
 
Great post. I'm suprised you aren't seeing more Spyderco Natives since the Wal-Mart deal. You'd figure someone would get one sent from home.

Non-knife question. What does LSA stand for?

Stay safe, come home okay, we all support you guys no matter what the media says. God bless you all.
 
Thanks for your grerat post! And more importantly thanks for your survice and keep safe.
 
jemelby,

Very interesting post.

You mentioned Cold Steel in the opening. I would like to know which models you have seen in use.

Thanks

A
 
I'm guessing there aren't many Spydercos on the list because Spydercos don't need to be sharpened as much!
 
Here's another round of answers for all:
Treadwell said:
... I always assumed the majority would be utilizing fixed blades...
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Because of the nature of our unit (Aviation Maintenance and Distribution), our knife needs are much more urbane than that of our door busting, road patroling brethren in the infantry and SOCOM units.
ndterminator said:
I'm betting the custom you mentioned that was made in Minnesota was by Jay Maines at Sunrise River Custom Knives...
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Yep. That's the one. It's a Persian.
Crayola said:
... I am curious if there are one or two that stand out for any reason, say one you thought would be bad but was a good piece, or vice versa? ...
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I'll have to get a bit personal for this answer. I've never been impressed with CRKT, even when they used better ingredients. I own an M16 and a KISS that sit in my sock drawer back at Campbell. Since the PX here sells a pretty good selection of the CRKTs (Titanium, M16-13, M16-14, Cruiser, and Crawford to name a few), there are quite a few in the troops pockets. They have a propensity for getting sloppy, and the blades need regular sharpening, but with a little lock-tite on the pivot screw, they are holding up pretty good. I am offering these positive comments grudgingly, but for the money, the troops are getting a decent knife.
bladesdujour said:
...No Daltons and no Microtechs?...
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The only Dalton I've ever seen outside a knife show is the Warcom I own. I brought it with, but don't use it too much. I also have the only microtech I know of here: a Mini UMS. It's not a serious knife, but fun to have. It's not that these knives aren't worthy, they just arn't attainable by Average (GI) Joe.
Bayoublaster said:
...Non-knife question. What does LSA stand for?...
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LSA = Logistical Support Area. This link to a Wahington Post story that paints a pretty cheary picture of LSA Anaconda:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020302994.html?nav=rss_world
Augustus said:
...You mentioned Cold Steel in the opening. I would like to know which models you have seen in use....
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The PX sells a ~6" SRK Tanto FB model. This is the only one I've seen in any quantitiy. There is also a Scimitar and a drop point voyager folder that I know of. The SRKs are pretty nice knives, but I've always been a bit leary of Cold Steel and their "World's Strongest, Sharpest Knives" claim. Once again, plenty of knife for the money, though.
 
jemelby: Great post and thanks for the follow ups. You do our country proud. Take good care out there.:thumbup:
 
With regard to the not many Spydercos thing - notice he's also not seeing many/any Benchmades that aren't NSN pieces. I think it comes back to price point - note that, except for the Al Mar fixed blade, it sounds like the private purchase knives are overwhelming in the Wal-mart price range (if not selection).

I think we're seeing guys who don't want to waste money on toy factor and steel snobbery. Average guys, not knife knuts.:)
 
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