USAF gift ideas

GPB

GPB

Joined
Nov 9, 2000
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Our son graduates from USAF basic next week. Very late getting this done but we want to order him somethng from the Custom Shop to celebrate his achievement and commitment to our Freedom. He wants to go to Columbus and try to earn the Tab (rare bird), but his mom wants no part of him in the forward grinder. Regardless his decision(s), we are VERY PROUD and want to give him something extraordinary.

EDC size utility and thinking custom SAR3ish (personal favorite). Custom kydex rig for IWB ultra C so he isn't out of uniform (don't know their dress code these days).

Any suggestions from the Trough?
 
Dont know what to suggest...But Congrats and all the Best to your son !
 
First, Congratulations and Thank You to your Son and You!
A SAR3 is an awesome choice.
Now the hard part. Finish options, handle materials, NM treatment, and so on...
 
That's awesome news. Good going for him.
For some reason, a Game Warden, maybe Fat, with a penetrator tip stands out to me. The first "pilot's survival knife" I ever came across was the ESEE-5, pretty thick at 0.25", so that's the one that stuck with me. I'm aware others are thinner, like the Fallkniven F1's 0.18". I just feel like the Game Warden is narrow and short enough that excessive thickness wouldn't cause too much of a problem as a utility knife or if he ever needs to cut deep through anything. The only issue with that is that the handle is pretty short... I don't know what your son will be doing, but if he has gloves on, the knife could get lost in his palms somewhere. Just offering an alternative to the SAR3--I'm sure that one would be a great gift, too.

Congrats again, you must be proud!
 
Given your deserved preference for the SAR3 for EDC usage, then SAR3 seems like a natural choice. I might lean more toward a AD or MS but for general usage, the belly of the SAR3 is likely best. After that, you are into preferences of finish and color. A natural choice might be some shading of blue to signify the USAF tie-in, especially if you like the blue G10 finishes. An alternative to the g-10 might be some of the exotic stabilized wood slabs that includes some blue variations. I'll try to find it but I've seen some wood grips from the Custom Shop that had streaks of both blue and gold that would look fantastic.

Congratulations, Frank!
 
Paddling_man said:
I've seen some wood grips from the Custom Shop that had streaks of both blue and gold that would look fantastic.
Click to expand...
That might have been buckeye burl -- typical for it to have tans and gold shades intermingled with darker greys that can tend toward the blue end of the spectrum.
http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=971&bih=637&q=buckeye+burl+wood

Congrats to your son on passing this milestone of his military career. I would ask any of the Hogs that have been in the past or currently are active AF if there are any regulations or restrictions re: what can and cannot be carried in various jobs, locales, or ranks.

In an all-sizes-allowed situation, my vote would for the BOSS Jack Combat Grade currently offered on the Busse site, with a tanker grey blade coating and black-&-blue G10 scales for AF tie-in, if not the simple black-black configuration. Or one of the Basic 6 LE model if you prefer Res-C for a handle. The reason I like them is that I've found 6"-7" long blades to offer a good combination of "long enough to do *most* things" blade length with "short enough to actually carry *easily* on a belt" utility. That is IMHO, YMMV, IME, etc.

Otherwise, there is the blue-dyed curly maple scales that can be quite striking in appearance, especially when coupled with a satin or DC blade. Choices, choices, choices. :)

For smaller EDC size, I like the old SH Badger Attack or ABA III. Since you are looking custom shop prices, getting one of those vintage warhorses would likely run around the same price +/-. Even smaller would be a Game Warden, especially the Smog Warden in 3/16" if it comes in that size. I've found blades with EDC short length and short spine-to-edge height coupled with 0.25" thickness or more to be overkill on fatness and wedgy enough in shape to not offer optimum line-of-sight to the edge. Those little fellas IME get used for cutting and slicing, not for chopping or even much prying where the thickness contributes to durability and lateral strength -- so I advocate a thinner blade for slicers.

Have you talked to him about what his preferences are re: size and color and model?
 
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RokJok said:
In an all-sizes-allowed situation, my vote would for the BOSS Jack Combat Grade currently offered on the Busse site, with a tanker grey blade coating and black-&-blue G10 scales for AF tie-in...
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If you're considering this, here's how it looks (the middle one)
IMG_5390.JPG
 
picture2179.jpg
i have seen some beautiful light blue giraffe and mammoth bone handle scales on some custom shop pieces... That would be my choice if you can afford to spend the extra $$$

picture4595.jpg
 
The sheath is on me when you figure out what you want to get him.
My way of saying thank you for your service or up-coming service :)

Please e-mail me and we will get it done.
 
I did 6 yrs in the USAF as a Security Forces member and Military Working Dog handler.

Honestly, get him something that if he loses and/or if it's stolen, he won't be too upset. Alot of our gear can sometimes come up missing from deployments. Get him something he can beat on in the field and not worry too much about.

Also, I wouldn't advise he carry a fixed blade in uniform unless he's a cop, and even then it's not usually a good idea unless he's in the field/deployed. The military has a serious freak-fest when it comes to any sort of concealed blade.

Were it my brother, my son, etc. I'd get him a good folder (since Busse doesn't make one I'd suggest a Strider SNG) that he can carry/use daily and not scare anyone, and a nice fixed blade for the field/deployments (BOSS Jack, etc. - nothing too outrageous in size).
 
Congratulations to your son, Frank!!! :):thumbup:

Me suggesting a knife to you is a bit humorous, considering how much longer you've been around Busse knives than myself...so I'll stick to suggesting combos for your idea (SAR3). :)

One with a DCBB blade and blue/black G-10 jumps to mind. Light, non reflective and tough, with that Navy color thing going on. Either hand shaped or machined would both look great!

Another idea is... Well, a bit out of the box, but over the years I've seen some really cool blue jeans denim micarta created for custom knives elsewhere on BladeForums, and it hit me that maybe some micarta created from the fabric of an old Navy uniform, and/or layered with maybe an old pair of his or your blue jeans might look really cool hand shaped to a SAR3 with the layers and some palm swell shaping to expose the different colored layers in the handle. You'd most likely have to get it made elsewhere (I've no idea if Busse ever makes their own micarta), but if possible, surely the Custom Shop could provide input on how large the pieces would need to be for them to mate it to the knife for a handle if you chose to do this. :) You might even be able to make it yourself, but coming from someone who hasn't even looked into the process, I might be way off on this.
Personal, sentimental, unique, and probably not very expensive. :thumbup:

Just a thought! :)

Again, Congrats to your son, and I thank him for his service!
 
CABS might be nice. but I agree with Phil. probably not a good idea to EDC it on base, and since he'll be going to tech school next I definitely suggest not carrying anything there. I've worn a HRLM IWB a under my ABUs a few times, but mostly I stick with my Rat Trap. The only thing I took with me on my deployment was a ZT300
 
Appreciate the wishes, feedback, and ideas. Will definitely let him know the HOG's Hail Their Best!

One that INFInitely folds and a SAR3 sounds familiar all of the sudden.:yawn:;)

Copy that Phil. He'll be CONUS REMFing it a while and a folder would probably be best. Question; if he's eventually deployed to a beach with no water (hotter AO), is it risky to IWB deep conceal @ <4" on base?

Jazz, your DCBB with blue denim micarta (wonder if Koval has it) sounds very cool whatever geometry we choose.

Big thanks Dave, I'll get in touch with you soon! No surprise and we thank you brother.
 
GPB,
Congratulations to your son. I know you and your family must be very proud. Tell Mom she must let him fly... no regrets.
All great suggestions from everyone. Can't go wrong with any Busse as a keeper and if he gets in deep, but in ED uniform, I agree with Phil on the folder.
The Strider is a great choice and you might consider the fast and very capable Kershaw "Rake". Try one and you will see what I mean.
Godspeed to your son.
 
Congratulations. I'm proud of young Americans who step up and put on the uniform. Prayers going out for his safety.
 
Brother, I left a VM about this. Sorry just responding here but I been sick.

Heres a public hoorah for you and your son:cool::thumbup:

love and respect my friend:cool:
 
GPB said:
Copy that Phil. He'll be CONUS REMFing it a while and a folder would probably be best. Question; if he's eventually deployed to a beach with no water (hotter AO), is it risky to IWB deep conceal @ <4" on base?
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That depends largely upon what his job is and where he's at (big built up base or smaller FOBs).

As SP's (Security Police; I don't use the "SF" term so as not to confuse with Special Forces), even we were sometimes ordered to get our fixed blade knives off our kit. Many of us took to strapping them to our packs, or if someone with rank got to be real gear nazi-ish, we'd keep them inside our packs.

I still suggest a good folder (Strider SNG is about as close to perfect as one can come) for EDC on the base, both CONUS & OCONUS. Without knowing what his job is going to be, I honestly can't suggest more.
 
I guess the air force is a lot different than the army. All of us (granted we were infantry) carried fixed blades around base in the rear (especially since you can't carry a gun) and everywhere at all times while deployed. we had a couple forward observers with us in Afghanistan and they also all carried at least one fixed blade with them. You wouldn't think folks in the military would be scared by a tool. Granted I don't know much about the air force and their rules but me even if it was against the rules a IWB set up would never be noticed and always there if you need it. I love my sar 3 and think that would be a solid choice. and as for a folder I have to agree a sng tanto would be my choice :)

congrats to him for making it and doing something for this country.
 
Phil the SP said:
even we were sometimes ordered to get our fixed blade knives off our kit. Many of us took to strapping them to our packs, or if someone with rank got to be real gear nazi-ish, we'd keep them inside our packs.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that feedback Phil, PC Service must be just a blast these days.
 
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