What Knives Are Popular With Military?

T

TPU

Joined
Feb 25, 2003
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114
When I went to "Nam" in 1968, the popular knives were, Randall Made, Buck (one of the first sheath knives in stainless steel), Gerber Mark ll, and Kbar made by Camillus. What are the favorite knives used by the military nowdays?
 
Stuff sold at the PX-Cold Steel, CRKT, Smith & Wesson, Leatherman and Gerber multiools (which are both simply referred to as 'gerbers'), a Spyderco on the shelves on rare occasion, and that same old Camillus.
 
I'm not military (hell, I got kicked out of the Boy Scouts!). But from everything I've read here on bladeforums, mult-tools are very very popular.
 
Depends on the unit. Most carry what ever cheep knife they find at the PBX. Only knife buffs like us or specific units carry any real knives. I have often wondered why fellow soldiers would spend money on $300.00 Gold plated Oakley's or save up and buy an expensive watch or neckless but skimp on a folder. The way I look at it is if it may save your a$$ or you will use it every day then aren't you worth $400.00. I would never buy a $50.00 hand gun for backup. Why complain about spending the same amount on a knife as I would a backup firearm. I have always carried the best possible gear that I can afford even if I have to eat beans and franks for a few weeks. While I was in the military I had a lot of extra cash as I had nothing else to spend it on. Except booze and women LOL! Now I rarely have extra cash but when I do it goes on my duty gear and every year at tax time I buy at least one expensive knife.
 
The military guys I know all use M-Tech and similiar brands.
Only the best steal and materials for profesionals like us :thumbup:

Sometimes I like my gerber too or then I often use this

MT042.jpg
 
Two of my friends have sons over there, and they both asked their dads for CS SRKs. From their E-mails, the SRK seems to be vey popular with the helicopter crews.
 
merc4hire said:
The military guys I know all use M-Tech and similiar brands.
Only the best steal and materials for profesionals like us

Sometimes I like my gerber too or then I often use this
Click to expand...

!?!Boogle!?!

Dude, are you in the Air Force? That's the only U.S. Military that likes to refer to themselves as "professionals"?
 
merc4hire said:
The military guys I know all use M-Tech and similiar brands.
Only the best steal and materials for profesionals like us :thumbup:

Sometimes I like my gerber too or then I often use this
Click to expand...


You're kidding right?!

"steal"........"profesionals".............M-Tech..........

:rolleyes:
 
We all liked Spydercos in my platoon in the Corps, as well as Ka-bar fighting knives, which they only let you carry when you are going into the field and you pay for yourselves.

Education is the reason for cheap bad knives being carried. I simply at the time did not know better knives existed until I got older. The Exchange/PX/Aafes/PBX was the only way to buy most things when I was in. The Spydeco was the queen of the Px at $50.

Do you know how much beer and women the price of a lg uncustomized CR Sebenza will get you overseas?!!!
 
As far as steel quality goes. A 440c hurts just as much as S30V when it is jammed in your flesh and kills just as fast too. I bet you all did not know that :-)
 
hardheart said:
Stuff sold at the PX-Cold Steel, CRKT, Smith & Wesson, Leatherman and Gerber multiools (which are both simply referred to as 'gerbers'), a Spyderco on the shelves on rare occasion, and that same old Camillus.
Click to expand...
As was true in "Nam." How many draftees could afford a Randall? Buck was a far more likely choice, as was Western.
 
merc4hire said:
The military guys I know all use M-Tech and similiar brands.
Only the best steal and materials for profesionals like us :thumbup:

Sometimes I like my gerber too or then I often use this

MT042.jpg
Click to expand...

Best steal? MTech? Something that costs $10?:confused:
 
Most things that are sold at the PX are popular like said. I wish they would sell more spyderco and benchmade. We got issued HK auto knives a while ago and then gerber gators. Also issued SOG seal knives a while ago and one of their EOD model multi-tools. I was highly dissapointed while using the phillips screwdriver it stripped using it just once.
 
Depends on what you do in the military. My only knife while in the army (late "50s-mid "60s ) was a boy scout style Kamp King, used often, sharpened seldom. OTOH, as a mechanic I worked with tools all day either in a well equipped shop or in the field (armor) out of an APC outfitted with everything necessary. My knife was used for opening C rations, sharpening pencils, etc., all light duty. If I had to take out a sentry, probably something else would have been more effective. It is always best to use the right tool for the job.
 
myers6541 said:
As far as steel quality goes. A 440c hurts just as much as S30V when it is jammed in your flesh and kills just as fast too. I bet you all did not know that :-)
Click to expand...

I'm glad you have a smiley on that one. I'll avoid that except to remark knives are almost never used in modern combat as a weapon. They are tools first, opening MRE's, cutting paracord, trimming strings from uniforms - you know, stuff the average soldier armed with an M4 needs done every day.

The best knives for a soldier are Swiss Army knives with scissors and saw blades, multitools with a file, and good locking folders. A soldier can groom themself in the field, perform repairs, build and enhance shelter, and cut stuff when nobody else has the presence of mind to include it in their kit.

Getting more specific than that brings in a lot of personal differences that may or may not apply: an MP squad leader doing house to house probably has different needs compared to others. But both could really use the three. Even the commander.

And they all know high speed jacketed lead does a much better, faster job than a minor stab wound. :D
 
tirod3 said:
knives are almost never used in modern combat as a weapon.
Click to expand...

======================

Heck, knives were seldom used in combat in the Civil War! I read recently where edged weapons (presumably swords, bayonets and knives) were responsible for about 4% of battlefield casualties. To me, the idea of a "knife fight" in a combat scenario is pure fantasy. :rolleyes: At a very minimum, two guns would have to jam up first - his and mine!
 
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