Which folder for military purposes?

bluka94

bluka94

Joined
May 14, 2008
Messages
150
Hi!

I'm looking for backupp for my Jackhammer. It will be user within military.
Which brands do you recommend? Should I buy a half plain/half serrated blade, all plain or all serrated?

I was looking at Spyderco, but I'm lost in the jungle of folders.:confused:

Can you help me anyhow?

Thanks,
//bluka94
 
This should probably go in another forum.

I bought my BIL a Spyderco Mini-Manix plain edge prior to his most recent deployment. He is a helicopter pilot in the Army.

I would think that a stout locking folder would be useful, although for day to day cutting chores, all of us here have experienced the utility of more traditional (and smaller) patterns as well.
 
Depends on your budget....

($$$) Rick Hinderer XM-18 / Strider SnG/SMF/AR/GB
($$) Zero Tolerance line by Kershaw
($) Spyderco makes many great folders in this price range and higher
 
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emerson knives- almost any of them
benchmade rukus, skirmish, 710D2, or the ritter grip
spyderco military, manix, chinook

just a few to look at.
 
Depends on what you plan on doing with it. I've read from military folks on these forums that often a good multitool would be the most practical option for the military. If so, I like the Leatherman Charge Ti.

If you want a folder that's strictly a knife, possibly for combat, it might help to give us your budget:
Hinderer XM-18
Strider anything
Zero Tolerance 300/301/302, 0200
Lots of Spyderco, Kershaw or Benchmade choices
 
Benchmade Mini Rukus, Cold Steel Recon 1, Spyderco Military, Kershaw JYD2, Benchmade Rift, Benchmade Skirmish, Rick Hinder XM18 would be the 1st choice if you have the money and can find one. Also even though I have not handled one the Blade-Tech Rijbak looks like a good one too. GOOD LUCK! Kevin :thumbup:
 
I always carried a CRKT M16 with a partially serrated edge. It was super easy to open and close one handed and also with gloves on. This was one of the few situations where I actually preferred having serrations on my blade due to the below cutting tasks.

I used it regularly in the vehicle search pit to cut the seals on the tractor trailer doors, cut flex cuffs, stripping wire, trying screws (with the spine of the blade), among a million other things. It was a great knife for the job. It wasn't crazy expensive so I used it the way I wanted it to, and I still have it and it's in perfect working order.

What do your primary military duties consist of?
 
All the knives are good that have been recommended. Kabar Mule is another good one to look at as well as the offerings from Blade-tech, SOG, and Emerson. Don't look over Cold Steel either. Awful marketing, but the folders aren't that bad and I'm pretty sure they have a military discount. I always prefer plain edge all the way because I find it easier to sharpen, don't feel the advantages of the serrations outweigh the disadvantages, and never saw why you'd limit yourself with a half and half blade.
 
Hammer27 said:
All the knives are good that have been recommended. Kabar Mule is another good one to look at as well as the offerings from Blade-tech, SOG, and Emerson. Don't look over Cold Steel either. Awful marketing, but the folders aren't that bad and I'm pretty sure they have a military discount. I always prefer plain edge all the way because I find it easier to sharpen, don't feel the advantages of the serrations outweigh the disadvantages, and never saw why you'd limit yourself with a half and half blade.
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I've always thought the same thing about the serrations, but for what I used the knife for while on duty, especially in the search pit, the serrations were worth their weight in gold. I was not able to ever touch the blade up during the day and needed a blade that withstand very tough cutting tasks repeatedly throughout the day.

It is very difficult to get a precision cut with serrations though, but that wasn't a concern of mine on duty.
 
A nice multi-tool will be much more useful than any single-blade knife.
Back when I was a soldier, I would have thrown away my bayonet long before abandoning my Victorinox Super Tinker.
 
allenC said:
A nice multi-tool will be much more useful than any single-blade knife.
Back when I was a soldier, I would have thrown away my bayonet long before abandoning my Victorinox Super Tinker.
Click to expand...

Based on my experience I couldn't disagree more just because I always needed something that could be quickly deployed and then returned to my pocket just as quickly.

I guess it really comes down to what the OP's duties are and what he's looking to use said blade for.

Good thread, it's interesting seeing everyone's responses.
 
If I was in the Military and could afford one, my knife would be a Mission MPF Titanium folder.
 
I'd keep it modest. Something like a mid range spyderco, kershaw, or benchmade. Often, especially during deployments you will need to lose it, get rid of it, or even have things stolen or confiscated.

You might need to fly home for an emergency on civilian flight with no luggage. You might find a unit commander or aircraft commander doesn't want anybody "armed" as they don't trust the troops.

Strange things happen. Normally you're ok, but not always. Anytime you go to a school, or boot camp, things like that you will not be allowed to keep knives in the barracks.

Don't carry anything you can't afford to lose untill you've been around a while, have some rank, and know your job and it's rules and limitations. Joe
 
I don't particularly like serrations, but if it's possible that you might need to cut your (or someone else's) way in or out of something, I'd look for an assisted opening or automatic partially serrated folder.
 
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