Which model for someone going into the Coast Guard?

S.T.R.

S.T.R.

Joined
Apr 16, 2012
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Hey Guys, I have a buddy at work who I am working out a trade with. He is good at wood working, so he is going to make me a knife box, in return I am going to give him a knife for his son, who is joining the Coast Guard. He knows that I am into knives and wants me to get his son a good knife that he can use. He said it as long as it is in good shape, that's all he really cares about. His Son will be shipping out towards the end of January or beginning of February.

I was thinking about the following models: The cqc 8 bts, 15 bts or the Commander bts.
The reason for the BTS models are two fold, one because of the marine environment he'll be working in, and two the serrations I think would come in handy for cutting rope, line or cordage.
I currently have a Jungle 8 that I got for a really good price, but it's plain edge. I was thinking of sending it in to EKI to have serrations added. Or i might put it up to get one of the other models.

Do you think the serrations would come in handy? Or should I go with straight edge?
Any other models that I might be over looking?
Any one from the Coast Guard or Navy have an opinion?

Thanks for any input you might have.
 
Those are 3 awesome models. I prefer the 15 and Commander over the 8, but that's just me. Lot's of love for the 8 out there. While I love the looks of a PE, I'd say in a hard use long term environment, I'd go with serrations, especially since Emerson does them so well. That being said, I'm sure he'd get along with a PE too since they are so easy to field sharpen.
 
Of those choices I would choose the Commander. Any would do the job just fine but that would be my preference. Serrations are good on any of those knives since they have long enough blades that it leaves you with enough plain edge.
 
Can't offer much feedback on the specific knives you are looking at but I work at a Marina and find that just about all of the Yard workers there tend to go for the same knife. Always a Camillus U.S. Navy Marlin Spike. Won't settle for anything else. That spike will let you dig into a tight knot and loosen it up pretty fast. The sheepsfoot blade does fine with the ropes if sharp enough.

I guess it all depends on what duty this fellow is gonna be getting assigned to.That would be thing thing to find out before hooking him up with a knife. Just my opinion of course. ;)
 
This^ also, but dunt overlook a Spyderco Salt folder, if I may. Serrated. NO rust.
rolf
 
Thanks for all the recommendations guys. He is going to be a diesel mechanic. He's also 18 or 19, this would be his first quality knife. I really hadn't thought about the Sark or Psark. I guess when I think about those models, I think about first responders or EMT type jobs.
 
First off the Coast Guard has regulations, like other services. Are personal knives allowed on bases, ships, aircraft?

So if you want to buy said gift, can he have it?
 
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I would suggest a mini Commander. There may be restrictions by his future commander on the blade length on folding knives they can use on the job or on ship.
 
I looked up the NSAR (never heard of it before) and it is a black-bladed serrated SARK with a strap cutter cut into the top of the blade. Pretty cool.

That being said, it is rare and probably hard to find/expensive, but the serrated SARK is not.

So I'd recommend a black-bladed serrated SARK since it will be the closest you will find to an Emerson made for naval work.

Plus, the rounded tip will make it look less like a weapon while on board, which would probably be frowned upon. The PSARK has a pointed tip.
 
S.T.R. said:
I was thinking about the following models: The cqc 8 bts, 15 bts or the Commander bts.
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The commander is great, and there's a synergy between the serrations and their location in the reverse curved portion of the blade - it guides whatever you're sawing into the serrations and makes very fast work of anything fibrous. However, the wide recurved blade ends in a very obtuse point. Also, the Commander takes up a lot of space in a pocket, the back of the blade sticks way out of the handle when folded.

The CQC-8 is more versatile. The mildly bellied blade is easy to sharpen. The tip is very strong and well supported but works well for poking holes in...whatever. It also takes up very little space in the pocket, it's a very size efficient knife whose blade shape mirrors the handle. I think that the CQC-8 is among the most capable folding knives on the market.

I wouldn't get him a mini, or horseman, anything because some of the smaller models do not fit some folks hands. My full sized commander was barely big enough to work for me, while standard sized CQC-8s fit like they were designed for my hand. My point is that they are all different, and you're more likely to get one that will work if you go with the standard models.

S.T.R. said:
Do you think the serrations would come in handy? Or should I go with straight edge?
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Yes. The only time I'd want a plain edge is for a dedicated bushcraft knife.

Serrations stay sharp longer, and they cut through just about everything faster which matters in an emergency. Opening packages or cutting cardboard, or whatever, is mostly done with the tip and end of the blade, so they don't hold me back from doing anything.

Whichever model you get him, make sure to warn him not to let some hack sharpen his knife, it's easy to destroy an Emerson if someone doesn't understand how the unique modified V grind was designed.
 
When I first saw "coast guard" I was thinking of the NSAR or SARK. However, after finding out the recipient is going to be a mechanic, I changed my mind and felt a Commander might be better. I normally am not a fan of recurve blades, but in this case, it might be suitable for biting in to lines or wires, if that makes sense.

And do get a serrated black blade.
 
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