Who has contracts with military?

F

fbi428

Joined
Feb 17, 2005
Messages
19
I was wondering if any of the brands commonly mentioned in the forums have contracts with the U.S. military right now. I was talking to some knife guy from a store over the phone and he mentioned that benchmade has a military contract for the year. Is that true? How would you find out who has contracts with the military?

thanks
 
im not to sure about a contract but i do know that some service men are getting benchmade autos issued to them.
 
Benchmade is struggling to keep up with its military contracts.

Gerber also has good military contracts.

So, it's good for the Portland area.

Most military contracts are run out of Wright Patterson Airforce Base (even Army, Navy, and Marines) in Dayton, Ohio. They can probably provide you with a complete list.
 
Are Kabar USMC fighters issued anymore? What kind of bayonets are issued these days? Are bayonets even issued anymore? I've read that SEALS get Cold Steel Kukris issued to them after Hell Week, these would seem to bulky to carry on missions, any insight into that?
 
I'm not a contracting guy but will share what I know.

Many knives have NSN's (national stock numbers) assigned to them (I know the Benchmade autos do, ordered some). This lets a unit order them through their standard supply system. Since they must keep some in stock then I guess those guys would have a contract, not sure about that part though.

If I remember right though almost anyone can submit something to be given an NSN. Just in case someone wants to order it and to keep gov't business open to smaller guys.

The situation gets a bit more cloudy though since a unit can do a local purchase for almost anything the CO will sign off on. Therefore, if the boss was a big Cold Steel fan then he could buy Cold Steel stuff for his guys. If a company wants to get some ad mileage then they could easily donate or sell at a cut price to a unit.

My opinion is that many people really blow the military contract thing WAY out of proportion. Someone has a contract to sell us everything from tampons to floor wax, they aren't using it as an advertising ploy.
 
Ontario has a few. They have done the new offical Marine Bayonet -- designed in conjunction with the Marines. The CEO, Nick Trbovich, Sue Green, and Ken Trbovich all had to go through the Marine's official bayonet course to learn how they use them.

It's the first one pictured here:

http://www.ontarioknife.com/milissue.html
 
I believe Camillus has, and still may, but I'm not entirely sure about that.
 
I would expect the mililtary to put some knives through really hard tests to determine what the soldier of today should carry with them, folder and fixed of course.
 
Camillus has a contract and I have heard won another contract over a well known company.
 
This is what I found:

Benchmade Nivramus 140 NSN-1095-01-466-8569
Benchmade Model 9100SBT has the NSN 1095-01-456-4457
Benchmade Model 9050SBT has the following NSN 1095-01-446-4348
Mission MPK Titanium - NSN 1386-01-417-1263
Cammilus - BK2SG Campanion - NSN #1095-01-493-1798
Cammilus - BK3SG Tac Tool NSN #1095-01-493-1802
Cammilus - CQB1SG NSN #1095-01-493-1793
Cammilus - CAM1A1 NSN #1095-01-496-5107
Cammilus - Air Force Survival Knife NSN# 7340-00-098-4327
Cammilus - Marine Combat Knife NSN# 1095-00-392-4102

Is it suppose to be some kind of testing done to get NSN?

If it is not, then there is no value in this. Then it is only well known knves like KaBar or NR-40 widely used in combat may have some respect, because they were really used by military.

Thanks, Vassili
 
ohen cepel said:
I'm not a contracting guy but will share what I know.

Many knives have NSN's (national stock numbers) assigned to them (I know the Benchmade autos do, ordered some). This lets a unit order them through their standard supply system. Since they must keep some in stock then I guess those guys would have a contract, not sure about that part though.

If I remember right though almost anyone can submit something to be given an NSN. Just in case someone wants to order it and to keep gov't business open to smaller guys.

The situation gets a bit more cloudy though since a unit can do a local purchase for almost anything the CO will sign off on. Therefore, if the boss was a big Cold Steel fan then he could buy Cold Steel stuff for his guys. If a company wants to get some ad mileage then they could easily donate or sell at a cut price to a unit.

My opinion is that many people really blow the military contract thing WAY out of proportion. Someone has a contract to sell us everything from tampons to floor wax, they aren't using it as an advertising ploy.
Click to expand...


What he said.

Vassili,

No testing required for an NSN--simply a function of the supply guys.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I would expect the mililtary to put some knives through really hard tests to determine what the soldier of today should carry with them, folder and fixed of course.
Click to expand...

God I wish that were the case. The sad truth is that GarageBoy has it exacly right. Lowest bidder always wins.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I would expect the mililtary to put some knives through really hard tests to determine what the soldier of today should carry with them, folder and fixed of course.
Click to expand...

I think that if they tried to do that, they would just end up spending several hundred thousand dollars of taxpayers money to come up with the same results that have been established within the private sector. I think knives are a more personal expression of taste and style. They would be better off setting some guidlines and letting soldiers choose their own knives. They could then buy their own knives too. Saving me the taxpayer mucho bucks.

In modern warfare, one shouldnt get in many knife fights.
:)
 
Tops has dealings with military and law enforcement. Most enlisted men are limited on what they are allowed to carry. The Special Operations community can carry what they want but they have to purchase it with their own money.
Scott
 
Mr. Cepel's got it right on the nose. If it has a NSN (national stock numbers), the firm has a contract. If not, any military purchases are local deals. Local deals can depend upon an officer's personal preference, unit history or sadly the old boy network. Strider doesn't have a contract, local purchase only. A lot of other firms claiming military authorization for their wares are local purchase only.

A contract means the company has been vetted and the military believes it will get good product at a fair price...not lowest bidder. The price only comes into play once the firm shows sufficient experience to do the job and the ability to meet technical, quality, and production number specifications. Many "military knife companies" could never meet the production numbers no matter how great their knives. The US military would not be the best in the world with 'lowest bidder" being the only contractual requirement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top