What folding knife would you reccomend for a marine?

I got my first Leatherman long after I got out of the military.

I remember thinking "Damn, I wish I'd had one of these back in the military."

Leatherman MUT and Benchmade AFO II.
 
The MUT is pretty much where it's at. Be sure to get the extra blade pack, especially if he's gonna lend it out to other lower enlisted. It's one of the most important bits of my in-uniform EDC.
 
Most people have already said it at this point, but I'd suggest the following:

Leatherman MUT or Charge
Cold Steel Recon 1 in CTS-XHP (clip point or tanto)
 
Knives are like wives, if the USMC wanted you to have one, they would issue it.

Kidding.

Best.
 
When I was an active duty Marine, I would have luv'ed to have a Leatherman MUT to go with my Barlow folder. My Army sons carry Leatherman MUT's along with their Benchmade Ritter Griptilians in M390.

For a folder ...
Spyderco Military
Benchmade Ritter Griptilian M390
Cold Steel Recon 1 CTS-XHP Spear point

Personally, for a dependable hard user on deployment, I'd rather have 2 $100 Recon 1's than 1 $200 ZT.
 
Last edited:
Niddhogg said:
The MUT is pretty much where it's at. Be sure to get the extra blade pack, especially if he's gonna lend it out to other lower enlisted. It's one of the most important bits of my in-uniform EDC.
Click to expand...

Yep! There's a saying that isn't far from true:
If you lock a young Marine in a dark room with three anvils, when you unlock the door an hour later, you'll see that he lost one, broke one & the other one will be pregnant.
 
Sosa said:
I'd go with a triad.
Click to expand...

This would be my recommendation. He can have 5 for that price, with stronger locks.

The thumb plate models open fast out of pocket.

Talwar xl or regular.

I have two recon 1's and they have been durable and useful. The old ultra lock one I have is still going strong after nearly 2 decades?

Pair it with a multi tool, and you are good to go.

One issue I have heard is keeping your gear from sticky finger walking.
 
OP - I realize your friend is likely a young man, just entering the Corps...perhaps meaning he hasn't even hit basic yet, so his question in regards to a folding knife is certainly understandable.

I think he'll come to realize something in the near future....Marines = Fixed Blades. Spend that budget on a nice fixed or two, or maybe 1/2 of a Busse. I kid. Seriously, I spent most of my 5 years in Camp Lejeune, as did both of my parents...so I wish you're buddy a great experience - he chose the correct branch!
 
Niddhogg said:
The MUT is pretty much where it's at. Be sure to get the extra blade pack, especially if he's gonna lend it out to other lower enlisted. It's one of the most important bits of my in-uniform EDC.
Click to expand...

I disagree.

The Charge Tti is where it's at.

half-opened-Leatherman-Charge-TTi.jpg


I'll never sacrifice a file, a wood/PVC saw and a fully serrated blade with seatbelt cutter for a brass scraper and a hammer and some tacticool looks.

Charge Tti all the way.

I'd still get a Cold Steel though, and maybe a Wave is a better choice, because nice things usually get stolen.
 
Yeah, the Charge ftw. I eyed the MUT when they first came out. Too many tools I really don't need for every day use. I've got two Charges, one plain titanium, the other all black titanum. Bought them both when they first came out some ten years ago. Great tools.

 
I'll concede that point. My EDC multi tool is a WAVE, can't say I've carried a Charge Tti- but as a gunner, the MUT got all sorts of use with the weapons specific blades and tools (though the star keys have yet to be used). Different strokes for different jobs! :cool:

DPC said:
I disagree.

The Charge Tti is where it's at.

half-opened-Leatherman-Charge-TTi.jpg


I'll never sacrifice a file, a wood/PVC saw and a fully serrated blade with seatbelt cutter for a brass scraper and a hammer and some tacticool looks.

Charge Tti all the way.

I'd still get a Cold Steel though, and maybe a Wave is a better choice, because nice things usually get stolen.
Click to expand...
 
So I'm hearing here the best choice is to reccomend a leatherman charge ti and a cold steel recon 1?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
Unk said:
Knives are like wives, if the USMC wanted you to have one, they would issue it.

Kidding.

Best.
Click to expand...

But it's true. I would heed those who say wait until he gets to his first duty station and what he's going to do. If he's going to need it in boot camp, they would give it to him.

But when he gets settled down, I do think a multitool would be very handy at all times.
 
Those would not be my picks but they would no doubt serve.

The recon 1 is heavy. You could get a folder or even a larger fixed blade that weighs less.

Folders
spyderco endura (3.6oz),
spyderco military (4.5 oz)
CS voyager large tanto (4.6 oz)
CS Recon 1 (5.3 oz)

Fixed blades
Spyderco aqua salt (4.6oz just knife or 7.0oz total with the sheath),
street bowie (3.8 oz just knife + ? oz sheath)

The charge would not be my top pick for a multitool. It's heavy with an odd assortment of tools. The juice models weigh half as much, the MUT is more geared towards the shooter, or if you want a heavy weight the wave or swiss tool would be a better choices.
 
Rennd said:
So I'm hearing here the best choice is to reccomend a leatherman charge ti and a cold steel recon 1?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Hold off with the multi-tool I was issued a Gerber. I know the Marines are issued different stuff but every Marine I've run into has that same black Gerber I had.
 
Depends a bit on what kind of guy he is would he want something purely functional or does he like high end materials like titanium and carbon fiber? Not that you can't get both, I would avoid bearings in the pivot maybe an crk 25 or anot xm18 for higher end a bunch of cold steel knives would work. Zero tolerance is knit of a happy medium again avoid bearingstrange@amerispec.net 0200 0300 0909 hope that helps a little good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top