Author Topic: How is the military with carrying private knives? (Read 3759 times)

JeffG · « **on:** January 03, 2003, 03:46:50 PM »

Any service people out there? How is the military with carrying private knives? Rules of engagement notwithstanding, in a combat zone a real comfort to me, would be my own knife.
Parents of combat service people should consider shipping their loved one, a high quality "jump rated" personal, fixed blade knife.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2003, 12:41:40 AM »

Jeff, I don't know. in the 70-90 time frame I carried a folding Buck at my hip and a Puma Bowie on my vest. It is not the same Army now as the one I joined in '73.
My preference was staying with a broken aircraft as opposed to trying to ride down on some silk hankie, I have a question. What's a "jump rated" knife??

JeffG · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2003, 10:21:40 AM »

"Jump Rated" came with the advent of the military trials coming to private industry for knife selections for the Seals, Recon, ect.
It is a carry system that is reasonably sure by military standards to hold the knife secure, and be puncture-resistant to keep the wearer and team mates safe from a loose knife, say in an aircraft or special forces op. Examples are the M-9 bayonet, any of Blackhawk or Ranger Joe's stuff, the SOG Seal knives. It is a good standard for miltary carry.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2003, 11:15:29 AM »

Thanks Sorry I couldn't have been any help

Graycg · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2003, 04:27:22 PM »

I carry a Benchmade with me on active duty onboard a Coast Guard Cutter, we get issued Gerber easy out knives, which aren't too bad for free, but I carry the Benchmade 910s and have carried it for over 10 years. The Coast Guard encourages all our folks on boats and ships to always have a knife handy.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2003, 03:59:34 PM »

There is no issue wit carrying our own knives. Almost all of us soldiers (Army) carry at least a pocket tool of some form. Most of us that have been tactical usually have what we call a "field" knife. Something inexpensive like a SOG Seal Pup or the like that has some length to it and is cheap enough to break. I have lost and broken enough knives in the field to melt down into a nice size Mid 70's Cadillac. Ha hah hah. Honestly, I have never had a use for a Rambo 3 Fighting knife with the compass and the fishing line, GPS, and leather interior, etc., etc. These are usually too expensive and are worthless because when the grew served weapon jams, we would think twice about sticking the blade in the chamber to dig out a round. We are hard on knives, and we usually don't carry anything that we are afraid to break.

myronman3 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2003, 02:36:57 PM »

when i was in (the early nintys) it wasnt an issue. surprisingly very few of the guys carried their own knives and even fewer cared about whether their issue bayonet was even sharp. i myself carried 5 personal knives, along with my bayonet.
SAWGUNNER: a word of advise: dont be sticking nothing in the chamber of that m249 or the pig. whether by a enemy bullet, or by your own cooked off in your face, you are just as dead. use the military training provided you; getting lazy just once can cost you big.
best wishes from the myronman.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2003, 03:29:47 PM »

Nah, I never dug out live rounds, my old M249 used to have a problem with the first round after it fired, it wouldn't eject. (SOmething to do with that black plastic thing they put on the first round in the 200 round drum). We got it fixed after I broke the bipod off during a Field Problem, so They armorer did an overhaul while it was in the arms room. heh heh. I used to be pretty hard on that thing. Man, that was a long time ago.

myronman3 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2003, 06:25:12 PM »

fun things to clean, no?

SAWgunner · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2003, 02:03:20 AM »

I would rather clean a SAW than a Pig (M60) or the M240B, lol.

myronman3 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2003, 02:40:49 PM »

not me. saw has too many un-accessable spots. with i.g. inspection standards, about impossible. i could clean both pigs in half the time it took me to do a saw.

JeffG · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:41:29 AM »

I am assuming the SAW is squad automatic weapon, but what is it these days? From the TV it looks like a FN/FAL, or a Stoner, loved those Stoners... Do they let you use brake parts cleaner spray solvent?? Might make tight places a lot easier to clean...

myronman3 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2003, 05:13:32 PM »

guys typically use whatever they want to. the problem with them is that it is really hard to get it all off. and this causes the gun to "bleed" powder and grime. once put back into the armory, the gun bleeds this crap out and you get gigged because your weapon aint spotless. this is the same reason most rifles and guns arent stored oiled. one would think function would trump whether it had a bit of residue on it; but that isnt the case.

SAWgunner · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2003, 04:46:22 PM »

Quote from: JeffG

I am assuming the SAW is squad automatic weapon, but what is it these days? From the TV it looks like a FN/FAL, or a Stoner, loved those Stoners... Do they let you use brake parts cleaner spray solvent?? Might make tight places a lot easier to clean...

Yeah, it's still Squad Automatic Weapon...also known as the Minimi. It is an FAL and looks like an old stoner (although I have only seen pictures). We are not supposed to use carb or brake cleaner, or shaving cream while showering with the weapon, etc., etc...but you know what they say about soldiers, if you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.

rsr1950 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2004, 08:34:04 PM »

if you are in a war or armed conflict carry any knife you feel safe with
it's strange how a gun fight can turn into a knife fight :cry:
1ST MARINES VIET NAM

S.S. · « **Reply #15 on:** June 30, 2004, 08:52:39 AM »

Bout' to give away my age a bit!
I carried an EK "Pig Sticker" that I bought.
and a K-Bar that was actually issued to me
by my very first C.O. ....My Mother!
(She was a wonderful lady who believed in being
prepared) The only G.I. knife I ever carried was
a Camillus version of the Swiss army knife.
All kinds of built in accessories to come in handy!
I wasn't what you would think of as "Regular Military"
so we did have some choice of what we carried.
I believe the U.S. Military will allow some "Personal"
Items to be carried just so they do not Violate any
treaties,conventions or International laws.

DakotaMike · « **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2004, 03:11:18 PM »

rsr1950,
When were you in country? I was north of Pleku at Firebase 24 doing recon for 7th Cav from '70 to '73. You guys were south and east closer to TriChang City.
dakotamike
101st

doveknives · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2004, 06:40:00 AM »

As a knifemaker I have been quite busy making sharp toys for some of our soldiers and they have all told me that they have not had any problems carrying what I make into combat but that they don't carry them in Dress uniform , only, BDU field dress. Favorite carry is on the load bearing vests or on their ballistic vests. Styles are widely varied , from Karambits to daggers to large SERE or Bowie type blades. Steel choices are stainless high alloys to carbon tool steels.

bearblade · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2004, 11:56:44 AM »

I'm currently deployed to Iraq as a US Marine. (OORAH!) I carry about 5 knives on me at all times, everything from my bowie, to my multi-tool, to my pocketknife. The only problem I had was one Marine claiming my Bowie detracted from my military appearance. In the rear, I usually only carry my pocketknife or a multi-tool (or both).

TimWieneke · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2004, 05:58:39 AM »

I was trying to find out how to send some knives over to soldiers in Iraq. Nothing to sell or anything like that, I just wanted to make a couple and give them to guys who could use them.

I have a friend who is a retired lt. col. that told me they'd never get through customs. I also read a post from a retired Ranger regarding personal packages received in the field that (forgive if I can't remember the exact quote) "All the cool sh$& gets stolen by REMFs!" Gotta love Rangers...lol.

Anyway, I put the project on hold until I could find a way to get these to the guys that could really use them. Any tips on how I could get some over there? Thanks.

Tim

bearblade · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2004, 08:29:03 AM »

I've ordered knives and gotten them (just got a SOG Flash the other day). You just have to list them on the customs form. If you want, I can spread them out for you (I can stand outside the PX and hand them off to random people), or if you have other ideas, I can try to help there.

TimWieneke · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2004, 11:26:03 AM »

Thank you Bearblade! PM sent.

Tim

Markus · « **Reply #22 on:** August 07, 2004, 08:15:45 AM »

In the feild I carried a Benchmade Bushmaster. I don't think they make it anymore. It was designed to replicate the copis carried by the troops of alexander the great. Kinda like a khurki but with a rounder shape. That was on my left side and a small cheap boot knife on my left lbe strap. I was in before the age of the multi tools but wouldn't be without one now.

James B · « **Reply #23 on:** October 03, 2004, 04:12:16 PM »

The Navy had no problem with carring your own knife. As long as you had your Seal Knife as well. That was quite a few years back however.

Will52100 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2004, 06:31:25 PM »

Been out since 97, but they didn't have a problem with us carring our own knives, long as it wasn't way out of the ordinary. Most guys carried a lock back or Leatherman or Gerber, the multi tools being the most common. A few guys carried fixed blades, but it was to easy to get a K-Bar and beat hell out of it.