How many have done an actual SERE E&E?
I snuck out of work once...
If a knife breaks on them, in extremis, they might die.
It's not about likely, it's about being the only knife they'll have in a very bad situation.
Yes, equipment failure is a bad thing. But that is true for many situations, not just sneaking back to friendly territory. I'd be more concerned with boot failure than knife failure. Gimme an indestructible GPS first (with extra batteries).
What special demands will you put on a knife during an E&E trip that don't exist on a remote canoe trip? What's the end point? If .25" is good, would .333" be better? I once had a Busse Steel Heart--indestructible at .333". But it was way too heavy to be practical, I never used it.
I just don't see the need. In no situation do I want a broken knife. But there's nothing special about the SERE situation. The threats are different, but the knife tasks aren't.
Thinking about it now, I've never broken a knife accidentally. I once beat the shit out of a K-bar to see what it could take, but it didn't break until I really abused it with malicious intent.
When I did SERE training I used a Kershaw folder. Worked great, never doubted it, still have it 20 years later. Most of the knife tasks we did, we wouldn't do in an actual E&E situation, e.g. make a fire, carve a spoon. In an actual E&E situation, you don't need much more than a SAK or one-handed folder. Sebenza would be my choice now. Anything more would be gravy. An RC-3 or 4 would be the cat's proverbial pajamas.
Look too at guys like the early pioneers and mountain men. They relied on their knives--no PJ's out looking for them. And they carried flimsy Green River blades. Blades that became legendary. Those are what, 1/8" maybe? If they needed .25" of [inferior] steel, they could have had it made. But a Green River was more than ample. (I've got a 20 year old Green River knife in my kitchen drawer right now, still wicked sharp)
Like I said before, I don't see the need for a .25" chunk o' steel. Especially since I haven't heard of anyone breaking their RC-3, 4, or 6 with normal use. Even heavy use. If you feel better with an RC-5 on yer hip, that's cool. That's why they make it. I'm just being skeptical that that thickness of steel is really needed. And I trust my other RAT's. :thumbup:
