What knife would you bring into the military?

cricketdave said:
Really now I'd rather have a multi tool and one of the specialized ones for cleaning your M4
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Id go with a multi-tool as well.

As for the M4 specialized ones, there is the LM MUT but its honking big.

I have the Gerber 'eFect' M4 multi-tool (Field Expedient Cleaning Tool - yes, that is the name) and its quite nifty.

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Surprisingly for modern Gerber gear, its okay quality.

Its small enough, that a more traditional multi-tool can be carried as well, as the eFect dont have pliers etc.
 
DracoKrys said:
I'm not in the military but I'd like to join. I'm thinking marines intelligence specialist.

But I am very interested in what you are all suggesting, everyone seems to be very keen on multitools. I have only recently gotten interested in knives, but I have very little money to spend on them atm so I only have a Victorinox Super Tinker.
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Since you are going to spend the majority of your time in an office or a tent I'd just keep the Vic and not worry about it. You're not going to be able to take your knife with you to basic, nor to any MOS/Rate generating school so worry about it when you're out of school and with your unit.

I carried the Gerber Multitool that was issued to me and an AFO, I wouldn't carry a fixed blade unless it was light and small enough to fit somewhere in my gear i.e. a CRK Professional Soldier
 
When deployed in the Navy I took a number of knives. My general carry knife was a Benchmade Contigo. I was given a SOG Kilowatt because I worked on electronics and it was surprisingly handy for that. When handling lines I carried a Spyderco Assist Salt. I also carried a Victorinox Spirit regularly. I would never have carried anything but the Spyderco for line handling nor would I use it for a job it wasn't suited for like electronics work. No one knife for every job.
 
An amusing note: one of my friends had a Spyderco Military and it ended up getting traded away to another friend. His big complaint was that he would have preferred a different lock mechanism and the tip was too fine for much of the tasks. The tip did end up breaking once and I believe twisting slightly also.
 
In over 33 years in uniform I carried a whole pile of knives. The only one I guarantee I'd take is a good, old fashioned, traditional with at least two blades. I like a Congress Jack or a Whittler, or just a medium Congress. A 3" straight edge and a small pen bade will do almost anything.
 
I'm a signaller in the army, communications lines were my thing before I got pushed to radio comms. All I had was my army-issue Vic One-handed Trekker then. Basic tool specific for my vocation is a wire-stripper, but for my next reservist training, I'm going to bring my trusty Leatherman Surge and probably one of my fixed-blades. Ka-Bar BK11, probably. I've had to do some bushwhacking to hide my lines and it wasn't fun doing it with a SAK, even a supposedly 'tactical' one.
 
DracoKrys said:
I'm not in the military but I'd like to join. I'm thinking marines intelligence specialist.

But I am very interested in what you are all suggesting, everyone seems to be very keen on multitools. I have only recently gotten interested in knives, but I have very little money to spend on them atm so I only have a Victorinox Super Tinker.
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I See that you are a young man, save your money to buy a good knife! Don't do what many young guys do and count on a Tac-force. You don't need to spend alot to get a good knife. Look at Ontario Rat1 or something similar. We are here to help you out.
 
Carried a variety of folders during my career, many quite pricey for an NCO with a family. I did carry and use some of them in the field and down range but I don’t recommend expensive/pricey knives when asked. Knowing that expensive/pricey is a subjective thing for most people I tend to steer them to knives/multi tools less than $100.
My favorite multi tool is a SwissTool. I’ve used Leatherman and Gerber but they just never impressed me much.
As for folders, I like the Cold Steel plain edge clip point Voyager series as an inexpensive but very good user. I’ve also recommended a variety of the less expensive Spyderco Knives, specifically the Endura.
Fixed blades, the sky is the limit I suppose as far as lower price fixed blades. It really boils down to preference, intended use, environment as it relates to how it would affect the blade steel and your level of desire/skill to maintain the blade and of course what your command will allow.
I’ve used a variety of fixed blades in different shapes and sizes and have found that for me a good balance is <5” blade length, ~3/16 thickness max, a good full flat or 3/4 saber grind, stainless vs carbon is a personal choice but, for me, the best compromise would be 3V. I honestly think that a Bradford Guardian 4 would be sufficient for most tasks.
 
DracoKrys said:
Aren't you often issued a fixed blade in the military?
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USMC 69: Bayonet on day 2. If a boot he/she won't be allowed any other toys. When he or she is in longer they'll be able to decide what's appropriate. If in a peace zone job the requirement would be similar to civilian life. If combat infantry just a bayonet is all you need, weight matters.
 
DracoKrys said:
I'm not in the military but I'd like to join. I'm thinking marines intelligence specialist.

But I am very interested in what you are all suggesting, everyone seems to be very keen on multitools. I have only recently gotten interested in knives, but I have very little money to spend on them atm so I only have a Victorinox Super Tinker.
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What do you think you will use your knife for in the military, and in the position you are imterested in?
 
Minnesota Man said:
I See that you are a young man, save your money to buy a good knife! Don't do what many young guys do and count on a Tac-force. You don't need to spend alot to get a good knife. Look at Ontario Rat1 or something similar. We are here to help you out.
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I honestly don't even know what a tac-force is!

marcinek said:
What do you think you will use your knife for in the military, and in the position you are imterested in?
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Not having yet joined I honestly don't know, but I know knives are useful tools. If I knew I was going to be in administration I'd get a penknife, for opening letters and stuff, but I hear that at least in the Marines Intelligence Specialists/MOS 02XX are sometimes deployed with infantry so I would probably some time in the field. I am thinking of getting a really good durable folder like a Benchmade of some sort, which are expensive but they are really nice knives to have especially when you don't have a lot of other knives or don't want to buy a lot of cheap ones. I am perhaps a bit naive. However I wouldn't buy anything until I see what goodies I could find at PX/BX or what I'd be issued.
 
marcinek said:
What do you think you will use your knife for in the military, and in the position you are imterested in?
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^^^As an M113 APC crew member in an armor battalion, I had all the tools I could ever want or need in our shop vehicle, so I got by just fine with the Kamp King Boy Scout pattern knife I brought with me when reporting for basic training. It's main use was opening C ration cans (that's how long ago :D) and a few other uses I can't remember at the moment. Leathermans hadn't been invented yet, but maybe one of them would have been helpful, I'll never know. My best advice would be, seconding marcinek, to wait until you are training in your MOS. That will put you into contact with seasoned veterans who know what works in that field and could advise you better.
 
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LM MUT , Wave or SuperTool will likely get the most use; as will as SAK as well.

Fixed blades really depend on what you are doing. If you are humping with your gear on your back - ounces matter. But if you are on base or mechanized, a sturdy yet inexpensive knife of a forgiving carbon steel (1095 or 1095 CroVan comes to mind) for prying open supply crates and the like, I would go with a time tested/time honored Ka-Bar military knife or, better yet IMHO, a Becker BK-7 or BK-10.
 
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