What knives do Special Forces use?

Graphyfotoz said:
I know this has been discussed before but it's been quite a while.
Different knives and times......but has anything changed?

I've been having a on going "discussion" with a fellow at work about this.

He is animate that our Sec Op's Guys use high end knives like Busse.
I asked him where he got his info and I haven't got a straight answer.
He claims that many Guys are sent knives from home and they are upper quality.

From what I read......most Guys carry a $25 Ka-Bar or the like.
Also many Spyderco's and BM folders.
SOME units aren't even allowed to carry anything they weren't issued (issue = M9 Bayonet?)
Many don't carry upper end cuz they don't make that kinda pay nor do they wanna lose a $300 knife.

I'm also pretty certain that 95% of the knives out there that companies CLAIM are used by Spec Op's is BS!

Sooooooo you Guys out there with experience and in the know.....
What do you have to say about this.....please base your info on facts and not hear say.

Should make for interesting discussion and be educational for all :thumbup:
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"Special Forces" is a big place so about everything gets carried by somebody. Guys that like knives carry expensive models and guys that don't care carry what ever comes their way. As for issue knives, it is still mostly the M-9 bayonet, Pilot Survival and "kabar" style sheath knife.
 
A guy I know was recently home from afghanistan and I was talking about this with him. He personally carried a sog pentagon and pentagon mini. I would imagine the range of what is being carried is just as wide as with civilians.
 
Bill Harsey is widely regarded as the bladesmith of the Quiet Professionals. All are presented one of his knives upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Aside from that, in personal use, you'll find them using any knife you can imagine.
 
I know an ex-special forces dude turned private contractor, he carried the humble BM griptillian, part serrated no-less. Beat to crap, he told me, "It's a tool, I buy another when I wear it out".
 
Hellion son, Hellion...

MykelHawkesknivesfeatures.jpg
 
I was in line behind an Airborne Ranger in the sporting goods store the other day and he had a Benchmade folder on his pocket. I dunno if he uses it on super secret missions or not though.

Honestly, I don't know of too many scenarios where a knife would be such a critical piece of kit that which one to carry would be scrutinized. I imagine most times when guys are gearing up, they're thinking things like, "okay, so my med kit is clearly marked and since we don't need to carry food, I can stuff an extra mag or four in my loadout..."
 
Spec ops guys are among the best logistically supported guys on the planet. The team that goes in is only the tip of the iceberg. Behind them is a legion of support staff making sure things go down without a hitch. Transport, supplies, recon, medical, command etc etc. The mission is in and out quickly with surgical precision, not living in a jungle for 6 months with no support. Though I suppose there are many flavors of special operations.

Using a knife often entails some level of improvising a solution. Improvising means you've have done goof'ed somewhere along the line in your mission prep, I don't really see it happening. They'll have their gear sorted out so they have the right tool for whatever job they are doing. As for "taking people out with a knife", well I don't really see that as a realistic thing to come up on a mission. There are better ways. Building big fires for smores is probably out too.

So yeah, they probably carry whatever they like, or just leave it at home like most people do.
 
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crom said:
I know an ex-special forces dude turned private contractor, he carried the humble BM griptillian, part serrated no-less. Beat to crap, he told me, "It's a tool, I buy another when I wear it out".
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you mean he's not a flipper?:p
 
cards94 said:
that's classified. :D
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That's what I figured. Only a deep spec ops high speed secret squirrel type would know enough about spec ops to know that none of them use folders...and you guys are pretty hush-hush.

Some regular guy making those types of generalizations would be crazy talk! :D
 
One of my training Sgts told me that he carried an M16, .45 and 3 frags everywhere (including the latrine) during 4 tours in Vietnam. Head said that if he needed a knife, he just broke a whisky bottle.
 
Well I saw on Spike's Deadliest Warrior that the US Navy Seals carry the Cold Steel Recon 1. So that along with my Ontario XM1-S must be the only real knives in combat :D Funny that Cold Steel with all its marketing gimmicks have never put that on the Recon 1... :rolleyes:

On a side note, I have known real operators and not a single one has ever discussed what they ever did. They just always have that look and feel to them, kinda like that big bad dog that doesn't bark but you know he will eat you alive kinda thing ;) All the respect in the world to you guys that serve. Thank you for what you do :thumbup:
 
If we are just talking about SF they carry what ever they want to carry. The reverse of that is they don't carry anything they don't want or need to carry unless there is a mission specific item. As far as regular Infantry type soldiers you are some what more regulated with packing lists usually given by your CO or XO. But to be honest most of those lists are shit.
 
My uncle was given a police model at some point and I know he used it. He still carries one often.
 
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