what to choose for my service knife?

I have carried quite a few different knives during my time in the military and I think some of the best utility fixed blades to carry are the ESEE 4, gerber lMf 2, sog seal 2000 (original Seki model) and cold steel srk. Any of these will do the job and are not going to break the bank.
As far as folders go the ones I have used and am happy with are the spyderco endura ffg, para 2,
Sog Pentagon elite 2 (very large folder and more CQB orientated blade than utility though) and strider sng.

On deployment I always carry a good fixed blade, a folding knife and also a Swiss army knife or sog multi-tool.
This will cover you for all eventualities you may face in the field, good luck!
 
Most of the suggestions you will get on this forum will make you Mr Most Mocked In The British Military 2014. Check on ARSSE (Brit mil forum) if you don't believe me.

As for Hinderers - these are probably the classic "Walt" knife (Walt = Walter Mitty = pitiful loser tactical wannabe.) If you check US LEO forums, you'll find real cops carry cheap expendable folders, serrated Spydies, or CRKT/Bokder Cop Tools. Wait - you mentioned the BK2: that might get you laughed at even harder. Your best bet is not to buy anything at all until you join a unit and know what you need and won't get you laughed at. If you must get something, then a Victorinox Soldier is one handed opening, versatile and unembarrassing. Very seriously: do not underestimate the ruthlessness and persistence of British military humour.

Otoh, if you want to be known as "Rambo", "Mr Big Chopper" or "That tw*t with more money than sense"...
 
Last edited:
I would shoot for the $75 dollar range for both. Should be able to get a nice fixed and a nice folder for that money that will survive abuse and it won't be the end of the world if they get lost.
 
Leatherman and a UKPK (at most)
I'm ex UK Military, you will be mercilessly mocked and ridiculed if you have much more than that, and anything shiney/expensive will be stolen.
 
graham_s said:
Leatherman and a UKPK (at most)
I'm ex UK Military, you will be mercilessly mocked and ridiculed if you have much more than that
Click to expand...

An RAF Regiment member especially. (They're notorious for confiscating sharp objects from soldier's luggage even when they are flying to combat zones.)
 
meanwhile said:
An RAF Regiment member especially. (They're notorious for confiscating sharp objects from soldier's luggage even when they are flying to combat zones.)
Click to expand...

Just curious, but why all the hate for fixed blades in the UK forces? I can well understand a huge chopper getting a fella laughed at when carried around on base but something utilitarian and understated like an ESEE-4, Bravo 1, or Fallkniven F1 seem like decent choices for prying open ammo crates or using as a tool when needed in addition to run of the mill cutting tasks.
 
Torm said:
Just curious, but why all the hate for fixed blades in the UK forces? I can well understand a huge chopper getting a fella laughed at when carried around on base but something utilitarian and understated like an ESEE-4, Bravo 1, or Fallkniven F1 seem like decent choices for prying open ammo crates or using as a tool when needed in addition to run of the mill cutting tasks.
Click to expand...

I don't think the British military hate these knives any more than US soldiers do. But if you read posts by real US infantry soldiers, they don't waste precious pack weight or "beer tokens" on these knives either. If they're in a role where they need a knife they'll be issued one - and they already have a bayonet, which will open crates quite handily I think. Wasting money and weight on a heavy and expensive knife is "Walt-ish", and there's very little worse:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Walts

..Buying your own better-than-issue parang from a native maker for $20 while you are on jungle training and know what you need from experience is cool; turning up for training with a $200 choad knife will make everyone either wince or laugh.

An over-interest in hardware and the paraphanalia of military life is seen as shallow and indicative of someone with a counterproductive attitude - and an item as macho but useless as a knife would probably be a worst case. What people want to see is the guy who has done his own PT, practised map reading, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top