Which knife to bring to the big sandbox

USAFSP

USAFSP

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Jul 2, 2000
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I am leaving around the 25th of next month. I am just waiting for my orders. I am going to either Kuwait, Qatar, or... Either way I need to choose which of my knives to bring with me. I am only bringing one, cause I don't want to put too many blades in my baggage. Here is a short list of what I own:

VG-10 Carbon Fiber Spyderco Police
William Henry T-12 Jigged Bone
T-10 Wood (I think its Redwood)
T-09 Carbon Fiber Damascus
Evolution S-12 Maple Burl
S-09 Maple Burl
Benchmade Benchmite
Daryl Ralph Venturi

I am aware that the Spyderco is the Tac knife, but this is the only knife I am gonna have for the next 4-6 months. Thanx for your input.
 
Nice collection there! I see you're a WH fan. I think I'd take the Venturi. It'll give you something to play with, and balis are very useful knives in addition to being a lot of fun. I don't know how your command will feel about that though, I don't know how mine would react, I don't think I would want to find out though. Hopefully yours is better. Good luck in the sand, keep your head down and eyes open.
 
Hey buddy! Sorry to hear your going to the oven!:( In my experience seeing freinds come and go from there you really need three, well the third doesnt count as a real knife, its a Leatherman Super Tool with the attachment. I sent one with a good friend and it came in really handy. The other two would be personal, yet a good strong fixed blade would come in really handy, then for off time there would be the balisong!:D That Venturi would be really fun for those boring off hours.
Are you going to be in a static location? Or are you going to be moving a lot? Keep in touch with all of us when your there, its still not a very nice place to be in any levell. Be careful my friend and watch those natives, they're sneeky!
 
From your list, I'd take the Police model...Outside of your list, it would be a SOG PowerLock and a Camillus/Becker BK-7 Combat Utility.
 
I really want to take the Venturi. I need to send it back to DDR for tuning cause the tang pin is loose. I am pretty sure I will be getting issued the Leatherman, but they got some SOG Paratools in at our supply too. We shall see. After I am gone my Girlfriend (MD Wolf) will be posting updates for yall. I have some time yet though.
 
Hell of alot of nice stuff you got there. Out of that list I would choose the Spyderco, but it still isn't the ideal choice for that type of situation. That carbon fiber is going to get slippery with the sweaty palms probably. (Well, thats if you aren't wearing gloves.) Good luck out there friend and take care of yourself.
-Kevin
 
When you send in the Venturi to DDR put in a note saying why you need it back quickly, I'll bet he'd be willing to take care of it fast for you. I know you said you want to take just one, but you might want to pick up a Becker or something similar; it won't cost much and then you'll have a beater that you won't hesitate to abuse if need be. I played with the Beckers at Blade, they looked and felt tough as nails. I really liked the Desert blade coating too, it was a neat feature and looked nice too. And if something happens to your baggage, then you're out $50, I'm sure we've all spent more than that on a night out on the town. Just a suggestion, your needs and situation may vary, I just always try to be prepared.
 
It has been awhile since I was in the AF and was able to visit all those fun places, but I would recommend taking whatever you can afford to lose. Then take two. Where I worked we had classified stuff so one trip it was no problem. The second time I visited I almost "lost" a few items while being "checked". And this was way before 9-11.
Hope your trip is quick!! Be safe!! :)



Blades
 
Arrid right, Yup that is what people say deserts are like all right.
When I went over there I took my Emerson CQC-7 with me and found within three days of being there it started to show signs of light rust (due to the sweat, oh yea bring extra foot/bag powder). I cleaned it often and eventually found some parifin wax at the mess hall. This seemed to work okay but the problem was still there. What ever knife you choose to take with you just make sure you are comfortable with the idea of having it adopt some character.
Out of the fine knives you mentioned I would pick the Spyderco Police. It will clip to anything, anywhere and it will be handy and reliable. I entertained the notion of a balisong too, Mine is a bit on the noisy side though and I thought it would have un necessary "flash".

Good luck and GOD Bless USAFSP, be safe and come back in one piece.
 
Thanx guys. I will probably take the Spyderco, even though I would be sad if I lost it. I would be worse off if I lost my Venturi.
 
I'm slated to go to in july 27th. I'll be taking my heat anodized BM43 and I'm contemplating the LCC DA but I don't want the sand to f*** up the works. My 1SG is also a collecter (and flipper) and he'd be cool with a bali or auto on deployment.
 
Key word here is sandbox - as in "sand". Those are some fine pieces you have, and what the desert doesn't swallow up the grit will kill. My advice - leave them ALL home, take a FRN Spyderco or Cold Steel, or a Griptilian. Save your nice stuff for back home.
 
If that was the case I would take my Strider WP-2. I probably will as a backup anyway. I need a new sheath for it though.
 
USAFSP,

I have been in Iraq for going on 3 months now. With me I brought 3 blades and one Multi-tool.
I brought a Sebenza, a Shadow IV, a Med Clip Point Voyager(Cold Steel plain edge) and a SwissTool. I have used all extensively, esp the Voyager.
As the others have said, don't bring something you can't afford to lose and/scuff up. The sand gets everywhere.
I also brought a Sentry Solutions knife care kit along with some Mili-Tech. I clean up my blades about once a week with no problems as yet.
If I had my 'druthers' and I was you I would try to get stationed in Qatar. Kuwait is even nastier than Iraq, but Qatar is almost vacation worthy.
Good luck and if you happen to hit Mosul, Iraq drop by the Med Bde Toc and look me up.
Take care and watch your six.

MedOpsPogue
 
Definately take note of the SAND. any of those folders might get torn up in the joints. I would recommend a solid fixed blade, which won't be affected.
 
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