I was last in theatre in 2005 while still on active duty. I am also no expert on knives. While my information is lacking because of these negative factors, I can offer information that reflects exactly what an almost completely light, highly-exercised line infantry unit was utilizing during our year in Ar-Ramadi (1/503rd).

I understand why the prevailing thought here would lead to the assumption that being “cool” outweighs utility in terms of equipment choices by current soldiers. In many regards, I would agree. However, I would totally disagree with this sentiment as far as blades are concerned. Case in point: our soldiers decided to disregard certain grooming standards (*COUGH* haircuts…shaving *COUGH*) because it was cool, however hardly anyone carried any sort of extensive knives out of vanity.

With that being said, the 1/503rd’s most popular choice of blade, in my assessment, was any sort of multi-tool. I think the Leatherman versions were more popular then the Gerber products as they were given to us freely (REPEATEDLY) through the Rapid Fielding initiative. I knew of only a single soldier that carried a blade any larger then a utility knife. He was my P.L. and he, undoubtedly, did so because he thought it was “cool.”

I think it would come as a surprise to most; however, in my experience, the usefulness and interest in the carrying of blades has been lost on this generation’s line soldiers. In all honesty, the most useful knife for us was one that could handle opening MREs repeatedly without dulling, which- apparently- was asking a lot from our multi-tools.

My bottom line is this: If I were publishing an article of the sort as being done by the original poster, I would emphasize just how little attention line soldiers give to blades these days. If I had to pick a single example as being the most utilized, I would suggest some sort of Leatherman multi-tool.

I know some of this was said before but, if so, the restating was done for emphasis.

Thank you.

WhiskeyBoarder,

You have an interesting perspective. If all your guys are carrying Leathermans, of course thay don't have to care about knives, they already have them.

I know from various point of sales information and returns for maintenance that many knives are being carried and used by Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen in the current war zones. One single project I'm involved with has delivered 50,000 knives to guys going over.

Half the damn Oregon National Guard working "over there" is outfitted like SF guys when it comes to knives.

One of my biggest mistakes involved a Knife. It was a KGB Knife. I bought it off a Russian Street vendor in Ecuador. That is the real name for this Knife. It was a little bigger then a Kbar. The blade was spring loaded into the handle. It required applying all of my wight to load it. When you pressed a button on the handle it shot a good 15 feet accurately. It would penetrate a solid wooden door no problem. No safeties on it at all. Very heavy.
I sold the dam thing not realizing it was actually an issued Russian Knife. I later found out right before I purchased this Knife. The Russian Embassy closed down in Ecuador. A lot of the Russian residents decided to stay in Ecuador. Many of them living on the streets around Quito. I paid about ten bucks for it in 1993. Sold it for $100 thinking I would pick up another one in Ecuador.
Seems I actually did get lucky encountering this Russian selling a knife. Never could find another one. I saw one very similar with the same name in a Magazine. But it looked like a cheap copy. This one was forged from molten steel, Muscle and hammer.
Wasn't sure if it was legal or not. So we loaded it to get thru customs. To appear like a regular Knife. What we did was take it apart and remove the spring. It probably would of went thru my suitcase if it went off during flight. It was that powerful. Or imagine a customs Agent launching The KGB Assassins Knife inside Miami Airport
" Please let me go Officer, it's the truth, the guy who sold it to me, didn't mention anything about launch type capabilities"

Kgoerz,
Did that knife look anything like this?

Fair point. In that case, I guess my only further point of clarification is that I saw, within the limited viewpoint of my own battalion living in near isolation, very little demand from the soldiers for knives to add to their arsenals outside of the already provided Leathermans. Looking back, this just seems interesting and maybe even poignant. Mileage may vary among units as you have clearly shown.

The handle might of been different. But the inside looks very familiar. It's been awhile since I last saw it. If I sold some rare treasure, break it to me easy.

Forgot, if thats a safety pin. Mine didn't have it. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a hole for one either. I remember thinking how dangerous it was to carry because there wasn't a way to render it safe.

The only 2 that I can speak for as fact are my office manager's nephews. They each have Harsey T-3 folders and Strider BT fixed blades;)

Sitting here in my room in Baghdad, I have a Leatherman Wave on my belt and a Microtech LUDT Automatic (gift from my father-in-law) in my pocket.

Out on missions, I carry the above mentioned plus a SOG Pentagon (borrowed) in my assault pack.

My Bark River Teddy is now locked in my footlocker, soon to be shipped home.

To add to what Mr. Harsey was saying, I would carry a fixed blade knife on me on missions if I could find a sheath system that I could attach to my belt and still be able to sheath the knife with my IBA and crap on. Right now, I need help putting my knife back in its sheath because the IBA is in the way. I think some of the joes are eschewing non-folding knives because of all of the crap we have to wear outside the wire.

Hope this helps

Rob
B 3/144 IN

I was told by my senior Drill Sergeant back in 2000 that a soldier should always carry paper, a pen, a good knife, and a leatherman. I took that advice. Daily I carry an Emerson CQC-15 clipped in my pocket and a Leatherman Surge on my belt. On mission I still carry both of those, the Emerson in my weak pocket, the Leatherman on the MOLLE of my thigh holster, and I also have an SOG SealPup attached to my thigh holster. I have had the SealPup since 2004 in Korea. I have used it for everything from a trowel digging for that last freakin piece of 9mm brass to get 100% to a pry bar to break banding. It has been utterly reliable. I love the customer service at Emerson and the CQC-15 is actually my second Emerson. Their knives are really well made. IMHO.

Just a quick note
 

All good stuff to carry but a Pencil is better than a pen. ink runs in the rain. Blitz

And won't flow in the cold.

Hello John,

Missed you at the Blade Show. Hope all is well with you in the Northwest.

Jeff, sorry for the slow reply but I was working the Spec Ops Trade Show in Tacoma, WA. Get paid to do that, have to pay to go to the Blade Show. Maybe next year.

It is a class 1 misdomenor to even posses it NC.
The two that I have seen have sold in $2000 and up range.

We (2d Bn 8th Marines) were never issued knives outside of bayonets and those Marines who were issued M9s got a Kabar. We all carried CRKT M16s, though. Likely because they were always in the PX, and pretty cool. They work great for throwing at each other's boots, too...

I always carried a SOG Sealpup because it was rugged enough to beat around as a utility/survival blade and small enough to not be ridiculous. I've bought them for friends as "deployment gifts" as I think a good knife should be a part of an infantryman's kit - whether it's a SOG or not.

Good thing for me, their factory outlet store is just down the street from my place.