What is the best fixed tactical/combat knife?

ZT 0100

Strider [you have to go to knifeart]

ESEE is very popular, I can't knock them per se but I'm not into them.

BK 7* maybe, but does he have big hands? he will need to.

Do not get him a Gerber LHR*, it's a great knife but not for a working knife, not so much.

KaBar* Next Gen, i would pass due to handle issues and 440c series steel and that might have a mediocre heat treat.

Entrek* on the other hand has 440 but the heat treat is GONNA be there. Very solid knives but not for everyone and pay attention to your sheath options, you may find a knife you like but not the sheath and will have to find a sheath.

Like the other poster mentioned he may not even use or be allowed to carry it, but even so I don't see anything wrong with having a reliable and competent fixed blade on call.

*asterisk next to the knives I have or have had.
 
So many variables on what the specific need is and so many choices out there, Nternal you may be right it can [almost] be a trick question.
 
Strider SnG if he has normal hands, SMF if he has larger than average hands. I carried an SMF (with slightly below average sized hands) everyday for 11.5 months in Iraq and used it regularly. A fixed blade is not necessary, and will probably be available for issue if it is. A nice folder will be with him all the time, and see 100x more use IME. An SnG and a Leatherman Wave (or similar) is the perfect combo for just about any deployment. If he (or you) would prefer a fixed blade, the Strider MT or BT are both great general use knives. I also carried the slightly larger BN when outside the wire and to the chow hall but it very rarely got used for anything interesting.
 
And I actually have done tests with the oss and it stabs through thick jackets and clothing like nothing. I have mine sharp enough to push cut paper on both sides.
 
I have no direct experience with thier knives, but Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works makes several models that look ready for war in my opinion.
 
ZT_ZTBayonet.gif


Feels very solid on grip (G-10) and slice off small branches with ease.
1/4" thick spine for baton-ning, large bevel for chopping and pointy tip for stabbing
Full tang construction is a plus.
Compatible with your guns though i doubt it will be mounted on rifles anytime.

S30V makes it easy to maintain on sand box.
 
TwinStick said:
IMHO, you'd be hard pressed to find a better knife for the money than an Ontario Knife Company Ranger Ready Deployment RD6. 1/4" thick, great point, finger choil, thumb jimping, full width full tang that extends past the handle, made of 5160 high carbon steel & black textured powder coated, made in America, for only $83 + shipping. Sheath is NOT, IMHO, combat ready. You WILL need a custom kydex sheath. A good custom sheath will be about the same as the knife cost.

Also, be advised, depending on the unit, & the people in charge of same, a knife like this may be useless to the soldier. They may not be allowed to carry something like this at all. Multi-tools are also popular. Talk to this person & ask them what they need & IF they will be allowed to carry it.

Here is a pic of my RD6---but it is a limited edition signature series & is not 1/4" thick. It is 3/8" thick-not a misprint.
100_0806.jpg


100_0805.jpg
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I'm really sold on the OKC Ranger RD Series. I currently have the RD-4 and it is a heck of a knife. It has a 4.5" blade that is 1/4" thick. If the RD-6 that Twinstick mentioned is too long, then the RD-4 may be your ticket.

Btw, the new Ranger Falcon is a knife I will have to have. It has a 3 7/8" blade that is 1/4" thick. Also called the mini-Afghan. Will be a nice edc for my walking time. There is also the Ranger RTB with a 4.75" blade of 3/16" stainless 440C, sweet looking knife!

Twinstick, is the RD-6 you have an OKC product or is it a custom model? It must be massive with a 3/8" ( .375" ) thick blade!!
 
Swamp rat rmd for a fixed blade. Spyderco manix 2 for a folder. The rmd is much better than my rc-4 or any other knife I own. And the manix 2 is my second favorite folder and a good choice for the military. Rugged enough, reliable and if need be a good stabbing tool.
 
Wow I really like the look of the Ranger RD series. They all look really rugged and functional in a combat situation.
 
Is there a reason why winkler knives are so pricey? Is it because it's handforged?
 
If you are truely getting a knife for your brothers deployment (in which you are doing a very special and noble deed) you want to do more than get a "cool" knife. Answer these questions and understand these facts:
1. What is your budget? Money can make a big difference in materials and options
2. Think about weight. A 2 pound knife is a lot of extra weight when you are wearing 40-80 pounds of gear daily. Do him a favor and try to go as light as possible
3. Think about size. A 4" blade will be more than enough for any task he should need a knife for. Big knives are heavy (see above) and take up valuable space which is limited (see above).
4. Function is more important than looks. Don't get him some douchbag "tacticool" knife that when he gets it out will look like spends too much time on the Airsoft forums.

I would recommend the following:
1. EESE 3 or 4 (1095 which is easy to sharpen and tough)
2. EESE Izula or Izula II (small knife with big punch) - Becker & Ka-Bar make similar knives
3. Bark River - Excellent knives but expensive
4. Falknieven F1 or S1
Note: The BK2 is a great knife but it is very heavy.. for camping it is great, but I wouldn't want for my deployment pack.

Good luck..
 
Again guys just wanna thank you for all of your thoughts and replies. To answer some of you: money really isn't an issue and I'm not sure what his unit allows or if there are limits but I really appreciate the incite from those of you who have served.
-redrob
 
TwinStick said:
:mad: Unfortunately this is true. WTF-over ? This just ain't right, IMHO. We had rifles with live ammo & were trusted with that, but NOOOOO we could'nt have a blade like the one i posted pics of---??? :jerk it: ;) :D
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Well obviously. When I see a squad of people rushing at me with M4s and M249s, I always watch out for the guy who has a knife. Probably because I am aware of the true threats.
 
Loving my Ontario SP8 for everything that a knife shouldn't be and should NOT be used for, after convexing the blade its a choppa, a splitter, a pry bar and I used it to clean channel cats on vacation last month so I would pick it as my one knife to go fight zombies with, but then again my ESEE 5 and Carbon V Ghurka Khuk live in my BOB...oh bother...
 
I guess if i needed a one knife do all and didnt want to break the bank id go for an esee with the double edge, it would be tough as nails and easy to maintain, also the entrek 11bravo is an excellent choice. These knives are at sweet spots of price and performance after that you reach a point of diminishing returns and if he isnt either a knife guy or a high speed operator then the extra bucks wont matter and if he is he robably knows exactly what he wants or needs.

The ZT bayonet is another great choice saw it earlier and i have to say it would make most people envious in a marine corp line unit, however yet again its more of a kewl tool for the ground pounders i cant imagine an sf guy wearing one of those when he has a high end fixed blade and a nice folder and his weapon probably cant even accept a bayonet.
 
most units have a 6 inch limit on blades but it might be a little less. we got to carry whatever we wanted i knew guys who had a machete on them in their camelbak holders like swords when your in the middle of nowhere no one cares you do what works for you.
 
Twinstick, is the RD-6 you have an OKC product or is it a custom model? It must be massive with a 3/8" ( .375" ) thick blade!!
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Cutter, I'll answer this one for you. It is a production model from Ontario, but very limited production. They came in two lengths, both were the same width and both were S7 steel. They are about as tough as you're gonna find, though I wouldn't want to have one as my main fish cleaning knife.

The "signature" series sold out pretty fast but there was talk that they might do some other stuff in the ranger line with S7 steel.
 
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